JP2010231023A - Endless belt and endless belt unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endless belt which can maintain an initial press-contact state with a cleaning blade over a long period of time, and to provide an endless belt unit for maintaining the initial press-contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning belt over a long period of time. <P>SOLUTION: Provided is the endless belt 1 which is arranged so that the cleaning blade is brought into press-contact with it, wherein the endless belt 1 includes a resin layer containing polyamide resin and a fluorine compound. Provided is also the endless belt unit which includes this endless belt 1 travelling on an endless track by being wound around a plurality of rotary bodies and the cleaning blade to be brought into press contact with the outer surface of the endless belt 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endless belt, and more particularly, an endless belt capable of maintaining an initial pressure contact state with a cleaning blade for a long period of time, and an initial pressure contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning blade for a long period of time. It is related with the endless belt unit which can be performed.

  Various image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system are employed in printers such as laser printers and video printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multi-function machines thereof. Such an image forming apparatus is equipped with various endless belts. Examples of such an endless belt include a transfer conveyance belt that conveys a recording medium onto which a developer is transferred during conveyance, and conveys the intermediate transfer belt in a secondary transfer type image forming apparatus. Examples thereof include a fixing belt wound around a roller.

  These endless belts are usually configured to perform their intended functions each time they travel on an endless track, and repeatedly perform their intended functions by traveling repeatedly on the endless track. Since the endless belt contacts or may come into contact with the developer during traveling, the developer may adhere to the outer surface of the endless belt and become contaminated. The transfer conveyance belt will be specifically described as an example. The recording material conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt is transferred with the developer from, for example, an image carrier that carries the developer image, for example, a photoconductor, during the conveyance. At this time, the developer carried on the image carrier or the developer transferred to the recording medium may be scattered and a part of the developer may adhere to the outer surface of the transfer conveyance belt. On the other hand, if the rotation of the image carrier and the running of the transfer conveyance belt are not accurately synchronized, the developer carried on the image carrier or the like is not transferred to the recording body, and the transfer conveyance belt It may be transferred to the outer peripheral surface.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus usually includes a cleaning unit that removes the developer attached to the outer surface of the endless belt. This cleaning means has, for example, a cleaning blade that presses against the outer surface of the endless belt, and scrapes off the developer adhering to the outer surface of the endless belt with this cleaning blade until the endless belt makes one revolution. It is configured.

  As an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning unit, for example, “two stretch rolls, a transport belt supported movably on the two stretch rolls, a back surface side of the transport belt, and the 2 A plurality of transfer units arranged between the stretching rolls of the book, in contact with one surface of the back surface of the transport belt, and with a predetermined gap formed between the other surface of the back surface of the transport belt Means and a front end portion of the conveyor belt that is in contact with the conveyor belt at a predetermined pressure, and a rear surface of the conveyor belt that is distorted by the distal end portion is disposed at a position that does not contact the tension roll, and remains on the conveyor belt. Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus including a cleaning blade that removes residual toner.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 2 describes “a member for an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein a dynamic friction coefficient with respect to a polyurethane blade having a JIS A hardness of 65 to 80 is 0.9 or less.”

  An example of the endless belt cleaning means is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, the cleaning blade 101 that presses the endless belt 102 to remove the developer attached to the endless belt 102 is usually the outer surface of the endless belt 102, and the endless belt 102. The end surface or end edge of the outer surface 104 (hereinafter referred to as a non-functional outer surface) when the endless belt 102 is in a track that does not perform a predetermined function in the endless track is the traveling direction of the endless belt 102. In the state where the other end portion or the other end edge is disposed on the downstream side with respect to the traveling direction of the endless belt 1 (on the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 4A), the endless belt 102 On the other hand, the endless belt 102 is arranged in the middle of a track (return track) that does not function so as to come into pressure contact with a predetermined angle and a predetermined pressing load.

  Since the cleaning blade 101 is pressed against the endless belt 102 as described above, when the endless belt 102 travels, the cleaning blade 101 is endless as shown in FIG. 4B due to friction with the endless belt 102 and the like. The belt 102 may turn back in the traveling direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4) and may not function sufficiently as the cleaning blade 101. In particular, in an image forming apparatus in which the printing speed, that is, the traveling speed of the endless belt 102 is increased, an excessive load is applied to one end or one edge of the cleaning blade 101 that presses the endless belt 102 when the endless belt 102 travels. , The cleaning blade 101 is more easily turned over.

JP 2007-298536 A JP 2002-341614 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an endless belt capable of maintaining an initial pressure contact state with a cleaning blade for a long period of time.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an endless belt unit that can maintain the initial pressure contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning blade over a long period of time.

As means for solving the problems,
A first aspect of the present invention is an endless belt disposed so that a cleaning blade comes into pressure contact with the endless belt, wherein the endless belt includes a resin layer containing a polyamideimide resin and a fluorine compound. Yes,
2. The endless product according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine compound is contained in the resin layer at a ratio of 0.01 to 2 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin. Belt,
Claim 3 is the endless belt according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resin layer contains a silicone compound.
4. The endless resin composition according to claim 3, wherein the silicone compound is contained in the resin layer at a ratio of 0.1 to 2 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin. Belt,
A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the endless belt according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is wound around a plurality of rotating bodies and travels on an endless track, and a cleaning blade that presses against an outer surface of the endless belt. It is an endless belt unit provided.

  Since the endless belt according to the present invention is provided with a resin layer containing a polyamideimide resin and a fluorine compound, the endless belt travels on the cleaning blade without giving an excessive load and excessive vibration to the cleaning blade. Can pass smoothly. As a result, the endless belt according to the present invention can smoothly pass over the cleaning blade over a long period of time and maintain the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade even if the traveling speed is high. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endless belt capable of maintaining the pressure contact state with the cleaning blade for a long period of time.

  Further, according to the present invention, the endless belt unit according to the present invention includes the endless belt according to the present invention and the cleaning blade, so that the initial pressure contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning blade can be maintained for a long period of time. It is possible to provide an endless belt unit.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an endless belt which is an embodiment of an endless belt according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a tandem color image forming apparatus which is an example of an image forming apparatus provided with an endless belt unit according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view showing the cleaning blade in the endless belt unit according to the present invention, FIG. 3A is a front view showing the cleaning blade in the endless belt unit according to the present invention, and FIG. It is a side view which shows the cleaning blade in the endless belt unit which concerns on invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining the pressure contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning blade in the endless belt unit, and FIG. 4 (a) is a view for explaining the initial pressure contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning blade in the endless belt unit. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the cleaning blade is turned over in the endless belt unit.

  An endless belt as an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the endless belt 1 has a single-layer structure composed only of a resin layer formed in a ring shape by a polyamideimide resin composition described later. The thickness of the endless belt 1 is not particularly limited, but usually, for example, preferably 0.03 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.05 to 0.2 mm, and about 0.07 to 0.14 mm. Is particularly preferred. If the thickness of the endless belt 1 is less than 0.03 mm, the mechanical strength of the endless belt 1 may decrease. On the other hand, if the thickness exceeds 1 mm, the flexibility of the endless belt 1 decreases and durability increases. May be inferior. The width and inner peripheral diameter of the endless belt 1 are set as appropriate. For example, the endless belt 1 has a width of 200 to 350 mm and an inner peripheral diameter of 200 to 2,500 mm.

  The endless belt 1 contains a polyamideimide resin described later and a fluorine compound described later. When the endless belt 1 contains a polyamide-imide resin and a fluorine compound, the endless belt 1 itself has excellent mechanical characteristics and the like, as will be described later, and the endless belt 1 smoothly passes over the cleaning blade. The initial pressure contact state with can be maintained. Moreover, the electroconductivity imparting agent contained in the endless belt 1 can be uniformly dispersed, and the resistance value of the obtained endless belt 1 can be made highly uniform. Further, when the endless belt 1 is manufactured by centrifugal molding as will be described later, the leveling property is improved and the flatness of the inner surface of the endless belt 1 becomes highly uniform.

  The content of the fluorine compound contained in the endless belt 1 is preferably 0.01 to 2 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin constituting the endless belt 1, and 0.05 to 0.5 Part by mass is particularly preferred. When the endless belt 1 contains a fluorine compound within the above range, the endless belt 1 can pass through the cleaning blade more smoothly. The content of the fluorine compound contained in the endless belt 1 can be measured by analyzing the endless belt 1 with a photoelectron spectrometer (ESCA). Usually, the content of the fluorine compound in the endless belt 1 substantially matches the content of the fluorine compound with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin contained in the polyamide-imide resin composition forming the endless belt 1. The fluorine compound contained in the endless belt 1 may be one type or two or more types.

  The endless belt 1 preferably contains a silicone compound described later. This silicone compound cooperates with the fluorine compound to further enhance the effect of the fluorine compound and reduce the coefficient of friction with the cleaning blade described later, resulting in a high contact angle (n-dodecane) and small friction. The coefficient can be made compatible at a high level. Therefore, when the endless belt 1 further contains a silicone compound in addition to the fluorine compound, the object of the present invention can be achieved even better. Thus, it is possible to smoothly travel on the endless track and maintain the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade. Further, this silicone compound can effectively prevent the material bleeded out from the cleaning blade, particularly its elastic body, such as a low molecular weight component, from contaminating the outer surface of the endless belt 1.

  The content of the silicone compound contained in the endless belt 1 is preferably 0.1 to 2 parts by mass, and 0.1 to 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin constituting the endless belt 1. The ratio is particularly preferably. When the endless belt 1 contains a silicone compound within the above range, the endless belt 1 can pass through the cleaning blade more smoothly. The content of the silicone compound contained in the endless belt 1 can be measured by elemental analysis of the endless belt 1 with a photoelectron spectrometer (ESCA). Usually, the content of the silicone compound in the endless belt 1 substantially matches the content of the silicone compound with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin contained in the polyamideimide resin composition forming the endless belt 1. The silicone compound contained in the endless belt 1 may be one type or two or more types.

  The endless belt 1 may contain various additives, which will be described later, in addition to the polyamideimide resin and the fluorine compound, and, if desired, the silicone compound.

  The endless belt 1 preferably has a static friction coefficient in the range of 2 to 3.3 in the following measurement method, and particularly preferably in the range of 2 to 3. When the coefficient of static friction of the endless belt 1 is within the above range, it can pass through the cleaning blade more smoothly, and the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade can be maintained for a longer period of time. Further, the endless belt 1 preferably has a dynamic friction coefficient in the range of 2 to 2.8 in the following measurement method, and particularly preferably in the range of 2 to 2.5. When the coefficient of dynamic friction of the endless belt 1 is within the above range, it can pass through the cleaning blade more smoothly, and the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade can be maintained for a longer period of time.

  The static friction coefficient and dynamic friction coefficient of the endless belt 1 are obtained by measuring a surface property measuring instrument (trade name: 14FW, Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.) by cutting the endless belt 1 into a circumferential length of 200 mm and a width direction of 100 mm. As shown in FIG. 2, the contact angle θ between the surface of the test sheet and the cleaning blade when the cleaning blade is not set is 23 °, and the pressing load P is as shown in FIG. One end edge of the tip of the cleaning blade is pressed against the test sheet so that the pressure is 1 MPa (At this time, the cleaning blade has one end edge upstream of the running direction of the test sheet and the other end edge It is arranged on the downstream side with respect to the traveling direction of the test sheet). In this state, the test sheet is caused to travel in one direction at a speed of 10 mm / second, and the resistance force applied to the cleaning blade during the travel is measured. From the measured resistance force, it is obtained from “resistance force / pressing load”. The coefficient of static friction and the coefficient of dynamic friction are obtained from the obtained numerical values. Here, the “pressing load” in the calculation formula when calculating the static friction coefficient is the “peak pressing load at the beginning of measurement” when the test sheet is run and the resistance force is measured, and the dynamic friction coefficient is calculated. The “pressing load” in the above calculation formula is “the average pressing load excluding the peak pressing load at the beginning of measurement, ie, when the test sheet is running” when the resistance value is measured by running the test sheet. Average pressing load ”. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning blade has a thickness of 1. mm so that a urethane elastic body having a thickness of 2.0 mm, a width of 20 mm, and a length of 50 mm overlaps the surface of the width of 20 mm × the length direction of 25 mm. The urethane elastic body is bonded to an iron plate having a width of 0 mm, a width of 20 mm, and a length of 50 mm. The urethane elastic body is adjusted to a JIS A hardness of 70, a tensile permanent strain characteristic of 50%, and a wear amount of 50 mg in the measurement method described later. The

  The endless belt 1 preferably has a contact angle of n-dodecane of 10 to 60 degrees, and more preferably 20 to 60 degrees. When the contact angle of n-dodecane in the endless belt 1 is within the above range, it can pass through the cleaning blade more smoothly, and the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade can be maintained for a longer period of time. it can.

  The contact angle of n-dodecane in the endless belt 1 can be measured using a contact angle meter (trade name “CA-DT type”, manufactured by Kyowa Interface Chemical Co., Ltd.). A sample obtained by cutting the endless belt 1 into a square of about 10 mm is set on a contact angle meter, and droplets of n-dodecane having a droplet diameter of 2 mm are adhered onto the sample. The measurement of the contact angle is obtained by reading the angle formed at the contact point between the sample and the droplet and the apex portion of the droplet with an angle scale built in the contact angle meter and converting it to double.

  In the endless belt 1, it is more preferable that one of the static friction coefficient and the dynamic friction coefficient and the contact angle of the n-dodecane are within the above ranges, respectively, the static friction coefficient, the dynamic friction coefficient, and the n-dodecane. It is particularly preferable that each of the contact angles is within the above range.

The endless belt 1 preferably has a surface resistivity in the range of 1 × 10 ¹⁰ to 1 × 10 ¹⁵ Ω / □, and particularly preferably in the range of 1 × 10 ¹² to 1 × 10 ¹⁴ Ω / □. When the surface resistivity of the endless belt 1 is within the above range, a high-quality image can be formed when the endless belt 1 is used in an image forming apparatus. This surface resistivity can be measured according to the surface resistivity measuring method described in JIS C2151 (1990).

  The endless belt 1 preferably has a Young's modulus in the range of 2000 to 4000 MPa, and particularly preferably in the range of 2500 to 3500 MPa. When the Young's modulus of the endless belt 1 is within the above range, even when a driving force is applied to the endless belt 1 when the endless belt 1 is mounted, a dimensional change such as elongation occurs in the endless belt 1, and color misregistration or the like occurs. It is possible to effectively prevent image failure. This Young's modulus can be measured according to JIS K7113 (1995).

  The endless belt 1 preferably has an ISO folding endurance number in the range of 500 to 10,000 times, particularly preferably in the range of 1,000 to 5,000 times. When the ISO folding endurance number of the endless belt 1 is within the above range, even if the endless belt 1 is mounted on an image forming apparatus and travels, the endless belt 1 is less susceptible to fatigue due to a bending operation when the support roller or the like is passed. The service life of 1 itself is extended. This ISO folding endurance number can be measured according to JIS P8115 (2001).

  The endless belt 1 is manufactured by forming a resin layer in an annular shape from a polyamideimide resin composition described later. That is, the endless belt 1 is manufactured by curing a polyamideimide resin composition described later.

  The endless belt 1, that is, the resin layer is formed of a polyamideimide resin composition. This polyamideimide resin composition contains a polyamideimide resin, a fluorine compound, preferably a silicone compound, and various additives as required.

  Examples of the polyamideimide resin include a polyamideimide resin, a polyimide resin, and a polyamide resin. In particular, the aromatic polyamideimide resin is preferable in that it has excellent balance of mechanical properties such as strength, flexibility, dimensional stability, and heat resistance.

  The aromatic polyamideimide resin can be produced by a diisocyanate method in which a tricarboxylic acid anhydride and a diisocyanate compound are reacted, and the diisocyanate method is excellent in terms of availability of raw materials, reactivity and less by-products. . In addition to the aromatic polyamideimide resin produced by the diisocyanate method, an aromatic polyamideimide resin produced using a diamine compound instead of the diisocyanate compound can be used as long as the polycondensation reaction can be suitably advanced. preferable. The aromatic polyamideimide resin obtained by using the diamine compound has a high Young's modulus and is suitable as a resin contained in the polyamideimide resin composition forming the endless belt 1. Moreover, the aromatic polyamide-imide resin in which part of the tricarboxylic acid anhydride is replaced with tetracarboxylic dianhydride to increase the imide bond is excellent in moisture resistance. The aromatic polyamideimide resin can be easily synthesized by reacting in an appropriate solvent under normal pressure and at normal temperature or under heating.

  The tricarboxylic acid anhydride is preferably an aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydride, such as trimellitic acid anhydride, 3,4,4′-diphenyl ether tricarboxylic acid anhydride, 3,4,4′-benzophenone tricarboxylic acid anhydride. 2,3,5-pyridinetricarboxylic acid anhydride, naphthalenetricarboxylic acid anhydride, and derivatives thereof. These acid anhydrides can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the tetracarboxylic dianhydride used in place of a part of the tricarboxylic acid anhydride include pyromellitic dianhydride, 3,3 ′, 4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3, 3 ′, 4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,3,6,7-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2, 2'-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) propane dianhydride, bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) sulfonic dianhydride, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride Bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) ether dianhydride, ethylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, and derivatives thereof. These tetracarboxylic dianhydrides may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Preferred examples of the diisocyanate compound include aromatic diisocyanate compounds. In addition, as the diisocyanate compound, an aliphatic diisocyanate compound and / or an alicyclic diisocyanate compound, or amines that are derivatives thereof can be used together with or in place of the aromatic diisocyanate compound.

  Examples of aromatic diisocyanate compounds include m-phenylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate, 4,4′-diisocyanate diphenyl ether, 4,4′-diisocyanate diphenyl sulfone, and 4,4′-diisocyanate. Biphenyl, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diisocyanate biphenyl, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate and the like can be mentioned. Diamines that are derivatives of these aromatic diisocyanate compounds can also be used as raw materials. Examples of the aliphatic diisocyanate compound include ethylene diisocyanate, propylene diisocyanate, and hexamethylene diisocyanate. Examples of the alicyclic diisocyanate compound include 1,4-cyclohexane diisocyanate, 1,3-cyclohexane diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and the like. Among these diisocyanate compounds, considering the heat resistance, mechanical properties, solubility, and the like of the endless belt 1, 60% by mass or more, preferably 70% by mass or more of all the diisocyanate compounds used is diphenylmethane-4,4. It is preferable to use diamines that are '-diisocyanate, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-diisocyanate biphenyl, isophorone diisocyanate, or derivatives thereof. Furthermore, considering the dimensional stability of the endless belt 1, 70% by mass or more of all diisocyanate compounds used may be diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate or its derivative 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane. preferable.

  As the solvent used in the polycondensation reaction for synthesizing the aromatic polyamideimide resin, a polar solvent is preferable in terms of solubility, and an aprotic polar solvent is particularly preferable in consideration of reactivity. As aprotic polar solvents, for example, N, N-dialkylamides include, for example, N, N-dimethylformamide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-diethylformamide, N, N-diethylacetamide, and N, N-dialkylamides such as N, N-dimethylmethoxyacetamide and the like. Further, as a polar solvent, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, pyridine, dimethyl sulfoxide, tetramethylene sulfone, dimethyltetramethylene sulfone, and the like are also preferable. These solvents can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The polyamideimide resin may contain a raw material for forming a polyamideimide resin, for example, the polyvalent carboxylic acid, the polyvalent amine, the polyvalent isocyanate, or the like, instead of part or all of the polyamideimide resin. Good. That is, the polyamide-imide resin contained in the endless belt 1 may be any component that becomes a polyamide-imide resin when formed into a ring shape.

The fluorine compound is preferably a compound having a perfluoroalkyl group (—C _n F _{2n + 1} ) in the molecule, and the perfluoroalkyl group is preferably a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, Perfluorobutyl group, perfluorohexyl group and the like are preferable.

  As such a fluorine compound, a fluorine surfactant is preferable, and a low molecular weight compound fluorine surfactant and an oligomer fluorine surfactant are particularly preferable. In the fluorosurfactant, perfluoro groups are easily oriented near the surface of the resin layer, and can contribute to maintaining the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade for a long period of time. Examples of the low molecular weight compound fluorine surfactant include various acids having a perfluoroalkyl group in the molecule or salts thereof, and specific examples thereof include perfluorobutyl sulfonate and perfluoroalkyl. Examples thereof include a group-containing carboxylate, a perfluoroalkyl group-containing phosphate ester, a perfluoroalkyl group-containing phosphate ester-type compound, and an ethylene oxide adduct. Examples of the perfluorobutyl sulfonate include a trade name “Megafac” (product number F-114), and examples of the perfluoroalkyl group-containing carboxylate include a product name “megafuck” (product number F-410). As a fluoroalkyl group-containing phosphate ester, for example, trade name “Megafac” (product number F-493), and as the perfluoroalkyl group-containing phosphate ester type compound, for example, product name “Megafuck” (product number F-494). As the ethylene oxide adduct, for example, a product name “megafuck” (product number F-443), a product name “megafuck” (product number F-444), a product called a perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adduct, Name “Mega Fuck” (Part No. F-445) and Product Name “Mega Fuck” (Part No. F-44) ) (Above, manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals) and the like.

  As the oligomeric fluorosurfactant, the main chain is a perfluoroalkyl group, and the molecular weight is preferably from 500 to 10,000, more preferably from 600 to 9000, particularly preferably from 700 to 8000, in terms of polystyrene by GPC. Examples of such oligomeric fluorosurfactants include oligomers containing perfluoroalkyl groups, hydrophilic groups, and lipophilic groups. More specifically, the oligomeric fluorosurfactant includes, for example, a perfluoroalkyl group / hydrophilic group / lipophilic group-containing oligomer (trade names “Megafac” (Part Nos. F-470, F-471, F— 475, F-477, F-479, R-08, R-30 and R-110), etc., perfluoroalkyl group / hydrophilic group-containing oligomer (trade name “Megafac” (product number F-480SF), perfluoro Alkyl group / lipophilic group-containing oligomers (trade names “Megafac” (Part Nos. F-482, F-483, F-489) (manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.), etc.) For example, a surfactant containing a perfluorobutane sulfonic acid group may be used, and as such a surfactant, for example, a trade name “Novec FC-443” may be mentioned. "And" Novec FC-4432 "(Sumitomo 3M Limited), and the like.

  The ionicity of the fluorosurfactant is not particularly limited, but it is preferably nonionic because it does not affect the dispersibility of the carbon black for adjusting conductivity.

  In this invention, the fluorine compound contained in the endless belt 1 may be one type, or two or more types.

  The fluorine compound is preferably contained in a proportion of 0.01 to 2 parts by mass, and in a proportion of 0.05 to 0.5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin. Particularly preferred. When the fluorine compound is contained within the above range, the object of the present invention can be well achieved.

  The silicone compound is preferably a silicone surfactant. This silicone surfactant is at the end in terms of excellent compatibility with the solvent used when synthesizing the aromatic polyamideimide resin and the solvent used when adjusting the viscosity of the polyamideimide resin composition described below. A reactive polysiloxane having a hydroxyl group, a silicone compound called a silicone surface conditioner, and the like are preferable.

  Examples of the reactive polysiloxane having a hydroxyl group at the end include, for example, polyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane, polyether polyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane, and the terminal of silicone oil is modified with carbinol, and the terminal hydroxyl group derived from carbinol. A silicone oil having a hydroxyl group derived from a compound containing a hydroxycarbonyl group at the terminal by modifying the terminal of the silicone oil with a compound containing a hydroxycarbonyl group, for example, acyloin (referred to as carbinol-modified silicone oil) This is called carboxy-modified silicone oil.) A diol compound containing two hydroxy groups, such as ethylene glycol, is used to modify the end of the silicone oil to have a hydroxyl group derived from the diol compound at the end. That (referred to as a diol-modified silicone oil.) Silicone oil.

  Among these, the polyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane, the polyether polyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane, and the silicone surface conditioner are preferable because they are more excellent in reducing the surface tension.

  The reactive polysiloxane having a hydroxyl group at the terminal is not particularly limited as long as it has a hydroxyl group at the terminal, and various reactive polysiloxanes can be mentioned. Specifically, examples of the polyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane include a trade name “BYK-370” (manufactured by BYK Chemie), and the polyether polyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane includes, for example, Trade name “BYK-375” (manufactured by Big Chemie) and the like, and examples of the carbinol-modified silicone oil include trade name “KF-6001” (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like. Examples of the silicone compound referred to as a surface conditioner include “silicone surface conditioner” (trade name “BYK3500”, manufactured by BYK Chemie) and the like, and examples of the carboxyl-modified silicone oil include a trade name “X-22”. -162C "(manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) The diol-modified silicone oils, for example, trade name "X-22-176DX" (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like.

  The silicone compound is preferably contained in a proportion of 0.05 to 2 parts by mass, particularly preferably 0.1 to 1 part by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin. . When the silicone compound is contained within the above range, the above effect is exhibited at a higher level.

  The polyamideimide resin composition may contain various additives as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. Examples of such additives include a conductivity imparting agent, a coupling agent, a lubricant, an antioxidant, a plasticizer, a colorant, an antistatic agent, an anti-aging agent, a reinforcing filler, a reaction aid, and a reaction. Various additives such as an inhibitor may be used. The polyamideimide resin composition may contain other resins as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. The content of these other components in the polyamideimide resin composition can be appropriately determined according to the characteristics that are manifested in the polyamideimide resin composition by the addition of these other components. These additives are contained in the polyamideimide resin composition at an appropriate content.

As said electroconductivity imparting agent, electroconductive powder, an ion conductive substance, etc. can be mentioned, for example. As the conductive powder, for example, in addition to conductive carbon such as ketjen black and acetylene black, rubber carbons such as SAF, ISAF, HAF, FEF, GPF, SRF, FT and MT, titanium oxide, and oxidation Examples thereof include metals such as zinc, nickel, copper, silver, germanium, metal oxides, conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polyacetylene, and nanoparticles. Examples of the ion conductive material include inorganic ionic conductive materials such as sodium perchlorate, lithium perchlorate, calcium perchlorate, and lithium chloride. Among these, conductive carbon and carbon for rubber are preferable, and carbon black is particularly preferable. As the conductivity-imparting agent, one of these various substances can be used alone, or two or more of them can be used in combination. A preferable shape of the conductivity-imparting agent is spherical or irregular. The size of the particles of the conductivity-imparting agent having a spherical or irregular shape is preferably about 0.01 to 10 μm as the primary particle diameter. If conductive agent is carbon black, the BET specific surface area, strong correlation between the primary particle diameter is preferably ^{50~300m 2 / g, 100~200m 2 /} g is more preferable.

  The content of the conductivity-imparting agent in the polyamide-imide resin composition may be appropriately adjusted according to the conductivity and particle size of the conductivity-imparting agent and the conductive properties required for the endless belt 1. It is preferably 1 to 25% by mass, more preferably 5 to 20% by mass, and more preferably 10 to 20% by mass with respect to 100% by mass of the imide resin composition and the conductivity-imparting agent. Is particularly preferred. When the addition amount of the conductivity-imparting agent is less than 1% by mass, the distance between the conductive materials is too far away, and the expression of conductivity in the endless belt 1 may be deteriorated. On the other hand, the addition amount of the conductivity-imparting agent is low. When it exceeds 25 mass%, the mechanical strength of the endless belt 1 may be lowered. In order to disperse the conductivity-imparting agent in the resin, a known method can be appropriately selected. Examples of known methods include mixing rolls, pressure kneaders, extruders, three rolls, homogenizers, ball mills, pot mills, and the like. The mixing method using bead mill etc. is mentioned.

  The endless belt 1 is obtained by uniformly dispersing the polyamideimide resin, the fluorine compound, preferably a silicone compound, and optionally various additives by a usual method, and curing and molding the obtained polyamideimide resin composition. ,can get. That is, the endless belt 1 is manufactured by molding the polyamideimide resin composition into a ring shape by a known molding method.

  For example, the endless belt 1 having a single layer structure is produced by molding the prepared polyamideimide resin composition into a ring shape by a known molding method. When a thermoplastic resin is selected as the resin contained in the polyamideimide resin composition forming the endless belt 1, when a thermosetting resin is selected as the resin by centrifugal molding, extrusion molding, injection molding, or the like The endless belt 1 can be formed by centrifugal molding, RIM molding, or the like. Among these molding methods, centrifugal molding is preferable in that it can be applied regardless of the material and is excellent in thickness accuracy.

  When the endless belt 1 is molded by centrifugal molding, the polyamideimide resin composition is preferably adjusted to have a viscosity of 50,000 mPa · s or less during molding. When the viscosity exceeds 50,000 mPa · s, it may be difficult to produce the endless belt 1 having a uniform thickness. The lower limit of the viscosity of the polyamideimide resin composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 mPa · s or more. When the viscosity of the polyamideimide resin composition is outside the above range, the viscosity of the polyamideimide resin composition can be adjusted within the above range by adjusting the amount of the solvent added. As a solvent, the solvent used for the polycondensation reaction which synthesize | combines the said aromatic polyamideimide resin is mentioned.

  According to centrifugal molding, a polyamide-imide resin composition that exhibits fluidity by containing a solvent is poured into a cylindrical mold, and the mold is rotated and the polyamide-imide resin composition is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mold by centrifugal force. The layer of the product is uniformly developed, and the solvent is dried and removed from the layer of the polyamideimide resin composition to produce an endless molded substrate. Various metal pipes can be used for the mold. As a suitable mold, the inner peripheral surface of the mold is mirror-polished, and the inner peripheral surface that has become the mirror surface is subjected to a release treatment with a release agent such as a fluororesin or a silicone resin, and the formed endless base is formed. Examples thereof include a metal tube that can be easily removed from the inner peripheral surface.

  In addition to the above-described centrifugal molding, a solution of polyamic acid in which tricarboxylic acid anhydride, which is a raw material of polyamideimide resin, and a diisocyanate compound are partially polymerized is immersed in the inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface of the mold, and centrifuged. It is coated by a method, a coating method, etc., or is developed into a cylindrical shape by an appropriate method such as filling the casting mold with the solution of the polyamic acid, and the developed layer is dried and formed into a belt shape. A known method of heat treating the molded product to convert the polyamic acid into an imide and recovering it from the mold (JP-A 61-95361, JP-A 64-22514, JP-A 3-180309, etc.) An endless molded substrate can also be produced by such means.

  The solvent is removed from the polyamideimide resin composition layer developed on the inner peripheral surface of the mold to produce an endless molded substrate. Here, the solvent to be removed is a solvent contained in the layer of the polyamideimide resin composition developed on the inner peripheral surface of the mold, and is used, for example, when adjusting the viscosity of the polyamideimide resin composition. In addition to the solvent, examples include a solvent used when the aromatic polyamideimide resin is synthesized. Examples of the treatment for removing the solvent from the polyamideimide resin composition layer developed on the inner peripheral surface of the mold include heat treatment. To remove the solvent, the following primary solvent removal step and secondary solvent can be used. It is preferable to perform a solvent removal treatment comprising a removal step.

  In the primary solvent removing step, the mold is formed while rotating the mold while removing the solvent from the polyamideimide resin composition layer developed on the inner peripheral surface of the mold, and the polyamideimide resin composition layer is formed into a film-like molded body. And In the primary solvent removal step, the solvent is removed by passing hot air of 40 to 150 ° C. through the mold for 5 to 60 minutes while rotating the mold. When the hot air temperature exceeds 150 ° C. and / or when the heating time exceeds 60 minutes, the molded film-like molded body may be oxidized.

  In the secondary solvent removing step, the film-like molded body formed in the primary solvent removing step is taken out from the centrifugal molding machine together with the mold, heated together with the mold to remove the solvent from the film-shaped molded body, To do. For example, when using a heater such as a hot air dryer or oven, the film-like molded body may be heated together with the mold at 200 to 300 ° C. for 1 to 3 hours, and when a superheated steam furnace is used. What is necessary is just to heat a film-like molded object for 0.5 to 3 hours with 200-260 degreeC superheated steam with a metal mold | die. In addition, if a deformation | transformation etc. of a film molded object can be prevented, a film molded object can be demolded from a metal mold | die, and a film molded object can also be heated on the said conditions.

  After producing an endless molded substrate from which the solvent has been removed in this manner, the endless molded substrate is taken out of the mold and allowed to cool. When the endless molded substrate is allowed to cool together with the mold, the endless molded substrate can be removed due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the mold and the endless molded substrate.

  After removing the endless molded substrate in this way, both end portions of the annular endless molded substrate are removed and cut into a predetermined width. The cutting machine that cuts the endless molded substrate may be an apparatus that can cut the endless molded substrate so that the cutting start point and the cutting end point substantially coincide with each other. In this way, the endless belt 1 having a single layer structure made of only the resin layer is manufactured.

  The endless belt 1 manufactured in this manner contains a polyamide-imide resin, a fluorine compound, and, optionally, a silicone compound, and the cleaning of the endless belt 1 without excessive load on the cleaning blade and excessive vibration due to running of the endless belt 1. It can pass smoothly over the blade. As a result, the endless belt 1 can smoothly travel on the endless track over a long period of time even if the traveling speed is high, and can maintain the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade. In other words, the endless belt 1 can prevent the cleaning blade from turning over for a long period of time.

  The endless belt according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within a range in which the object of the present invention can be achieved. For example, the endless belt 1 is composed of a resin layer having a single layer structure. However, in the present invention, the endless belt may have a multilayer structure in which two or more layers are laminated. In this case, an adhesive layer or a primer layer may be formed between the layers.

  The endless belt having the multilayer structure includes another layer formed on the outer surface or the inner surface of the resin layer, and is capable of maintaining the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade. It is preferable to provide another layer formed on the surface. Examples of the other layer include a base layer, a coat layer, a surface layer, and an elastic layer. The endless belt having such a multilayer structure is manufactured, for example, by forming another layer on the outer surface or inner surface of the resin layer formed in an annular shape as described above. Specifically, for example, in order to produce an endless belt having a multi-layer structure including other layers on the outer surface of the resin layer, the outer surface of the resin layer formed in an annular shape is formed on the outer surface of the resin layer in the same manner as the endless belt 1. A method of forming another layer is adopted. Here, the material for forming the other layer is appropriately selected according to the characteristics required for the other layer. For example, when the other layer is a coat layer, a desired resin composition is selected. When the layer is an elastic layer, a desired rubber composition or elastomer composition is selected. Then, these materials are applied to the outer peripheral surface of the resin layer by a dipping method, a spray method, a roll coater method, a doctor blade coating method, or the like, and cured to form another layer on the outer surface of the resin layer. be able to.

  On the other hand, in order to produce a multi-layered endless belt having other layers on the inner surface of the resin layer, the resin layer is formed on the inner surface of the other layer formed in the same manner as the endless belt 1. Is adopted. Here, the material for forming the other layer is appropriately selected according to the properties required for the other layer. For example, when the other layer is an elastic layer, the rubber composition or the elastomer composition may be used. Selected. Then, to form a resin layer on the inner surface of the other layer, the material is applied to the inner surface of the other layer by a dipping method, a spray method, a roll coater method, a doctor blade coating method, etc., and cured. The method to be made can be selected.

  In the present invention, the endless belt is provided with a string-like or belt-like elongated guide member made of an elastic material, if desired, on at least one end in the axial direction of the endless belt on the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt. May be. This guide member functions as a guide for preventing side shake while the endless belt is running. Examples of the material for the guide member include elastic materials having appropriate rubber elasticity and wear resistance, such as urethane elastomers, silicone elastomers, fluororesin elastomers, and styrene elastomers. Among these, urethane-based elastomers having an A hardness of 30 or more and 95 or less according to JIS K 6253-1997, which is excellent in wear resistance, are preferable. Preferably, the guide member is provided so as to go around the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt base at both ends in the axial direction of the endless belt base.

  Since the endless belt according to the present invention can maintain the initial pressure contact state with the cleaning blade for a long period of time, the endless belt is attached to the image forming apparatus so that the cleaning blade is in pressure contact. That is, the endless belt according to the present invention is suitably used in an image forming apparatus including a cleaning blade whose one end or one end edge is pressed against the outer surface thereof, and constitutes an endless belt unit together with the cleaning blade. As shown in FIG. 2, an endless belt unit 50 according to an embodiment of the endless belt unit according to the present invention includes an endless belt 1 wound around a plurality of rotating bodies, for example, support rollers 42, and traveling on an endless track. A cleaning blade 51 is provided in pressure contact with the outer surface of the endless belt 1. Since the endless belt constituting the endless belt unit according to the present invention is basically the same as the endless belt 1, description thereof will be omitted. As will be described later, the cleaning blade constituting the endless belt unit according to the present invention usually removes the developer attached or transferred to the endless belt.

  The cleaning blade 51 only needs to include an elastic body 53 that presses against the outer surface of the endless belt 1. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cleaning blade 51 includes a support body 52, an elastic body 53, and the like. I have.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the support 52 has a plate-like portion 55 extending in one direction, and substantially extends from one end edge to the plate-like portion 55 along one longitudinal edge of the plate-like portion 55. The mounting portion 56 is formed so as to extend vertically. That is, the support body 52 is formed as a plate-like member having a substantially L-shaped cross section in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The support 52 supports an elastic body 53 to be described later, and makes the elastic body 53 contact the endless belt 1 with a desired pressing load. Therefore, the support body 52 is formed of a material that can support the elastic body 53, such as a metal material. In general, the support 52 preferably has a thickness of 50 to 250 μm, and particularly preferably has a thickness of 80 to 120 μm. The support 52 preferably has a uniform thickness over the entire surface. The support body 52 is adjusted so that the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the axial direction of the endless belt 1.

  The elastic body 53 can be formed in an arbitrary shape. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the elastic body 53 is formed in a rectangular plate shape or a rectangular parallelepiped having a predetermined thickness. The elastic body 53 has one end portion or one end edge 54A (referred to as a front end pressure contact portion) abutted against the endless belt 1 with a desired pressing load, and the non-functional outer surface 6 of the endless belt 1 (see FIG. 2). Slide on the top. As described above, when the tip pressure contact portion 54A of the elastic body 53 slides on the non-functional outer surface 6, the developer or the like attached to the non-functional outer surface 6 can be effectively removed. Here, the non-functional outer surface 6 is an outer surface of the endless belt 1 and is in a track in which the endless belt 1 does not function in an endless track of the endless belt 1 (in other words, in a return track). The outer surface. For example, the endless belt 1 in FIG. 2 refers to an outer surface on which the recording body 16 is not held and transported after the recording body 16 is transported to the fixing device 30.

  The elastic body 53 is formed of an elastic material having elasticity, for example, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, or the like so as not to damage the endless belt 1. Examples of the urethane rubber include thermoplastic urethane rubber. More specifically, urethane rubber using polyester polyol and polyether polyol as a polyol component, and tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and an isocyanate component. Examples include urethane rubber using hexamethylene diisocyanate and the like. Examples of the silicone rubber include HTV rubber (high temperature curable millable silicone rubber, etc.), liquid silicone rubber (LTV, RTV, etc.) and the like.

  The thickness of the elastic body 53 is adjusted to an arbitrary thickness, specifically 0.1 to 3 mm. The elastic body 53 preferably has a uniform thickness over the entire surface. Further, like the support body 52, the elastic body 53 is preferably adjusted so that the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the axial direction of the endless belt 1. The length in the vertical direction is not particularly limited, and is adjusted to about 10 to 30 mm, for example.

  Since the elastic body 53 is pressed against the endless belt 1, the JIS A hardness is preferably in the range of 40 to 90, and particularly preferably in the range of 50 to 80. Further, since the elastic body 53 is in pressure contact with the endless belt 1, the tensile permanent strain characteristics (25% strain, 70 ° C., 22 hours) according to JIS K6262 are preferably 50% or less, and 30% or less. Particularly preferred.

  The elastic body 53 slides on the non-functional outer surface 6 of the endless belt 1 and removes the developer adhering to the outer surface of the endless belt 1, so that JIS-K7311 (load 1 Kg, wear wheel H-22). The amount of wear measured at 1000 rpm is preferably 50 mg or less, and particularly preferably 30 mg or less.

  In the cleaning blade 51, the support body 52 and the elastic body 53 are respectively made of the above-described materials by a known method, and if desired, an adhesive is applied to the support body 52, and the elastic body 53 is overlaid on the applied adhesive. It can be produced by curing the adhesive by a known method.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the endless belt unit 50 includes the endless belt 1 and the cleaning blade 51, and the cleaning blade 51 is wound around the endless belt 1, on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the endless track. It is arranged in the vicinity of the downstream direction of the support roller 42 located. That is, the cleaning blade 51 is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the support roller 42 that converts the forward path to the return path during the return path after the forward path in which the endless belt 1 holds and conveys the recording medium and transfers it to the fixing device. Has been. In the cleaning blade 51, the outer surface 5 when the endless belt 1 holds and conveys the recording medium 16 (sometimes referred to as a recording medium conveying outer surface) releases the recording medium 16 to the fixing device. The non-functional outer surface 6 after being transferred is pressed against the developing unit Y side of the image forming apparatus 10 so as to be pressed. At this time, the cleaning blade 51 only needs to have its tip pressure contact portion 54A in pressure contact with the non-functional outer surface 6, and in other words, the length direction of the tip pressure contact portion 54A extends along the axis of the endless belt 1. The endless belt 1 is preferably pressed against the non-functional outer surface 6 so as to be substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction. In particular, in the cleaning blade 51, as shown in FIG. 2, the tip pressure contact portion 54A is located upstream of the traveling direction of the endless belt 1 (the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2), and the width direction of the tip pressure contact portion 54A. It is preferable that the other end edge 54 </ b> B is disposed on the downstream side with respect to the traveling direction of the endless belt 1. When the cleaning blade 51 is arranged in this way, the tip pressure contact portion 54A comes into pressure contact with the non-functional outer surface 6 of the endless belt 1 from the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the endless belt 1, so The attached developer can be highly removed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning blade 51 has a virtual line (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) in the width direction of the elastic body 53 and a virtual line of the endless belt 1 in a state where the cleaning blade 51 is not in contact. It is particularly preferable that the pressure contact angle θ formed with the running surface is in pressure contact with the non-functional outer surface 6 of the endless belt 1 such that the pressure contact angle θ is in a range of 15 ° to 25 °. The pressure load P applied to the non-functional outer surface 6 of the cleaning blade 51 is preferably 0.2 to 2 MPa when the pressure angle θ is in the above range. When the cleaning blade 51 is in pressure contact with the non-functional outer surface 6 so as to have the pressure contact angle θ and the pressure contact load P, the pressure contact state with the endless belt 1 can be maintained over a long period of time, and the endless belt 1 The developer attached to the outer surface can be removed as desired.

  The endless belt unit according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within a range where the object of the present invention can be achieved. For example, the endless belt unit 1 includes one cleaning blade 51. However, in the present invention, the endless belt unit may include a plurality of cleaning blades.

  Since the endless belt unit 50 has the above-described configuration, the endless belt 1 can smoothly pass over the elastic body 53 of the cleaning blade 51. As a result, the endless belt unit 51 can maintain the initial pressure contact state between the endless belt 1 and the cleaning blade 51 for a long period of time even if the endless belt 1 travels at a high speed.

  As described above, the endless belt and the endless belt unit according to the present invention are attached to the image forming apparatus. In particular, the endless belt and the endless belt unit according to the present invention can maintain the initial pressure contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning blade for a long period of time, so that the printing speed, that is, the traveling speed of the endless belt is increased. It is suitably used for a forming apparatus. Since the endless belt unit according to the present invention includes the cleaning blade, the endless belt according to the present invention mounted on the image forming apparatus is mounted as a belt to which the developer adheres or is transferred in the image forming apparatus. It is good. Examples of such belts include a transfer conveyance belt that conveys a recording medium onto which a developer is transferred during conveyance while conveying the recording medium, an intermediate transfer belt of a secondary transfer type image forming apparatus, and a fixing roller of a fixing apparatus. And a fixing belt for fixing the developer onto the recording medium.

  An example of an image forming apparatus including the endless belt 1 according to the present invention and the endless belt unit 51 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a plurality of image carriers 11B, 11C, 11M, and 11Y that are mounted on the developing units B, C, M, and Y of each color in series on an endless belt 1. Therefore, the developing units B, C, M, and Y are arranged in series on the endless belt 1.

  In the tandem type color image forming apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 2, the endless belt 1 of the present invention is a transfer conveyance belt that conveys the recording medium onto which the developer is transferred on the outer surface during conveyance. 1, the outer peripheral surface is mounted so as to be in pressure contact with the cleaning blade 50. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a transfer conveyance belt 1 wound around a plurality of rotating bodies, for example, support rollers 42, and traveling on an endless track in the direction of arrow A in FIG. An endless belt unit 50 having a cleaning blade 51 that is disposed on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the endless track and presses against the outer surface of the transfer conveyance belt 1 after releasing the recording medium 16 is provided. As described above, the cleaning blade 51 is in pressure contact with the non-functional outer surface 6 of the transfer conveyance belt 1 so that the tip pressure contact portion 54A has the pressure contact angle θ and the pressure load P in the above-described range.

  Of the outer surface of the transfer / conveying belt 1 that runs while being wound around two support rollers 42, the side on which developing units B, C, M, and Y, which will be described later, are disposed, holding the recording body 16 ( The outer surface of the transfer conveyance belt 1 traveling on the outward path side is referred to as a recording medium conveyance outer surface 5, and the held recording medium 16 is released so that the developing units B, C, M, and Y are not disposed ( The outer surface of the transfer conveyance belt 1 traveling on the return path side is referred to as a non-functional outer surface 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing unit B in the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image carrier 11B such as a photoreceptor (also referred to as a photosensitive drum), a charging unit 12B such as a charging roller, an exposure unit 13B, and a developing unit. Means 20B, transfer means 14B that contacts the image carrier 11B via the transfer conveyance belt 1, for example, a transfer roller, and an image carrier cleaning means 15B are provided. The developing unit 20B adjusts the thickness of the casing 21B that accommodates the one-component non-magnetic developer 22B, the developer carrier 23B that supplies the developer 22B to the image carrier 11B, such as a developing roller, and the thickness of the developer 22B. Developer amount adjusting means 24B, for example, a blade. The developing units C, M, and Y are basically configured in the same manner as the developing unit B. 2, the fixing device 30 includes a fixing roller 31 and an endless belt support roller disposed in the vicinity of the fixing roller 31 in a housing 34 having an opening 35 through which the recording medium 16 passes. 33, a fixing belt 36 wound around the fixing roller 31 and the endless belt support roller 33, and a pressure roller 32 disposed so as to face the fixing roller 31, and pressurizing the fixing roller 31 via the fixing belt 36. The roller 32 is a pressure heat fixing device that is rotatably supported so as to abut or press against each other. At the bottom of the image forming apparatus 10, a cassette 41 that houses the recording body 16 is installed.

  Each of the developers 22B, 22C, 22M and 22Y used in the image forming apparatus 10 may be a dry developer or a wet developer as long as it can be charged by friction, and a non-magnetic developer or a magnetic developer. An agent may be used. One component non-magnetic black developer 22B, cyan developer 22C, magenta developer 22M and yellow developer 22Y are accommodated in the housings 21B, 21C, 21M and 21Y of the developing units.

  The recording medium 16 used in the image forming apparatus 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is a recording medium 16 capable of fixing a developer, and examples thereof include normal sheet paper, high-quality paper, and medium-quality paper. Since the endless belt 1 which is an embodiment of the endless belt according to the present invention is attached to the image forming apparatus 10 as a transfer conveyance belt, even if it is a replenishment sheet that is easy to adhere to the developer and is difficult to remove. , The adhered developer can be removed as desired.

  The image forming apparatus 10 forms a color image on the recording body 16 as follows. First, in the developing unit B, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 11B by the exposure unit 13B, and the black electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer 22B supplied by the developer carrier 23B. The black electrostatic latent image is transferred to the surface of the recording medium 16B when the recording medium 16 passes between the transfer means 14B and the image carrier 11B. Next, in the same manner as in the developing unit B, a cyan image, a magenta image, and a yellow image are superimposed on the recording medium 16 in which the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a black image by the developing units C, M, and Y, respectively. A color image is visualized. Next, the recording body 16 in which the color image is visualized is fixed to the recording body 16 by the fixing unit 30 as a permanent image. In this way, a color image can be formed on the recording body 16.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, as described above, when the developers 22B, 22C, 22M, and 22Y are transferred to the recording medium 16 by the developing units B, C, M, and Y, the developers 22B, 22C, 22M and 22Y may be scattered on the transfer / conveying belt 1 in some cases. However, since the image forming apparatus 10 includes the endless belt unit 50 according to the present invention, the developer attached to the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 1 can be removed as desired over a long period of time. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can maintain the initial pressure contact state between the endless belt and the cleaning blade for a long period of time and can form a high-quality image.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer. The image forming apparatus 10 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, in the present invention, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the electrophotographic system. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 is an electrostatic image forming apparatus. Also good. Further, an endless belt according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus to which the endless belt unit according to the present invention is attached include a tandem type color image forming apparatus in which a plurality of image carriers having developing units of respective colors are arranged in series on a transfer conveyance belt. For example, a monochrome image forming apparatus having a single developing unit, a four-cycle color image forming apparatus that repeats primary transfer of a developer image carried on an image carrier to an endless belt in sequence, for example. Etc. The developer used in the image forming apparatus 10 is a one-component non-magnetic developer. However, in the present invention, a one-component magnetic developer or a two-component non-magnetic developer may be used. Or a two-component magnetic developer.

Example 1
In a reaction vessel, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, trimellitic anhydride, an equivalent amount of diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate, and reaction raw materials (trimellitic anhydride and diphenylmethane-4,4′- 2 mol% of potassium fluoride (catalyst) is added to the total number of moles of diisocyanate), and the temperature is raised from room temperature to 150 ° C. over 30 minutes with stirring. (Substantially fully ring-closed polyamideimide resin) A 20% by mass aromatic polyamideimide solution was obtained. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone was further added to this solution to prepare a polyamideimide solution having a reactant concentration of 15% by mass.

  In the polyamideimide solution thus obtained, 15% by mass of carbon black (trade name “Special Black 4”, manufactured by Degussa) with respect to 100% by mass of the polyamideimide resin and carbon black in total. In addition, the fluorine compound “perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adduct” (trade name “F-444”, manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) is added to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin (solid content). It added so that it might become a ratio of 0.5 mass part, and it mixed and disperse | distributed for 24 hours with the bead mill, and prepared the polyamideimide resin composition.

  On the other hand, a ring-shaped lid (inner diameter 170 mm, outer diameter) is formed at both ends of a cylindrical mold having an inner diameter of 226 mm, an outer diameter of 246 mm, and a length of 400 mm, and the inner surface of the mold is mirror-polished by polishing. 250 mm) was fitted, the cylindrical mold was closed, and a molding mold was prepared.

  190 g of the prepared polyamideimide resin composition was injected into the inner periphery of a molding die rotating at a speed of 1,000 rpm. Next, the molding die was rotated at the same speed for 30 minutes to uniformly spread the polyamideimide resin composition layer on the inner peripheral surface of the molding die. Next, while rotating the molding die at the same speed, the temperature around the molding die was kept at 80 ° C. with a hot air dryer, and this state was maintained for 30 minutes to form a film-like molded body. Thereafter, the rotation of the molding die is stopped, the film-like molded body is taken out from the centrifugal molding machine together with the molding die, subjected to superheated steam treatment in a superheated steam furnace adjusted to 250 ° C. for 2 hours, and then allowed to cool at room temperature. An endless molded substrate was obtained. The endless molding substrate was cooled together with the molding die, the endless molding substrate was peeled off due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the molding die and the endless molding substrate, and the endless molding substrate was removed from the molding die. Both end portions of the endless molded substrate that had been removed from the mold were cut and cut into a size having a circumference of about 226 mm, a width of 240 mm, and a thickness of 100 μm to produce an endless belt.

(Example 2)
Instead of the fluorine compound “perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adduct”, the fluorine compound “perfluoro group-containing hydrophilic group / lipophilic group-containing oligomer” (trade name “F-477”, manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc. ) Was added in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an endless belt was produced.

Example 3
Implemented except that the fluorine compound “perfluorobutanesulfonic acid group-containing oligomer” (trade name “FC-4432”, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited) was added in place of the fluorine compound “perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adduct”. An endless belt was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

(Examples 4 to 7)
Endless belts of Examples 4 to 7 were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the content of the fluorine compound “perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adduct” was changed to the contents shown in Table 1.

(Example 8)
Example 1 except that 0.5 parts by mass of polyetherpolyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane (trade name “BYK375”, manufactured by BYK Chemie) was further added to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin (solid content). In the same manner, an endless belt was produced.
Example 9
Except for adding 0.5 parts by mass of a silicone compound (trade name “BYK3500”, manufactured by BYK Chemie) called a silicone surface conditioner to 100 parts by mass of a polyamideimide resin (solid content). In the same manner as in Example 1, an endless belt was produced.

(Examples 10 and 11)
Endless belts of Examples 10 and 11 were produced in the same manner as in Example 8, except that the content of the polyether polyester-modified hydroxyl group-containing polydimethylsiloxane was changed to the contents shown in Table 2.

(Comparative Example 1)
An endless belt was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the fluorine compound “perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adduct” was not added.

(Comparative Example 2)
An endless belt was produced in the same manner as in Example 8 except that the fluorine compound “perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adduct” was not added.

(Production of cleaning blade)
A polyester polyol (trade name “Desmophen 1652”, manufactured by Sumika Bayer Urethane Co., Ltd.) and an equivalent amount of hexamethylene diisocyanate polyisocyanate (trade name “Sumijour N3300”, manufactured by Sumika Bayer Urethane Co., Ltd.) are weighed and mixed in a beaker. Thus, a urethane raw material was prepared. On the other hand, a ring-shaped lid (inner diameter 170 mm, outer diameter) is formed at both ends of a cylindrical mold having an inner diameter of 226 mm, an outer diameter of 246 mm, and a length of 400 mm, and the inner surface of the mold is mirror-polished by polishing. 250 mm) was fitted, the cylindrical mold was closed, and a molding mold was prepared. The prepared urethane raw material was poured into the inner periphery of a molding die rotating at a speed of 1,000 rpm so that the thickness after drying was 2 mm. Next, while rotating the molding die at the same speed, the temperature around the molding die was maintained at 150 ° C. with a hot air dryer, and this state was maintained for 30 minutes to form a cylindrical urethane molded body. Thereafter, the rotation of the molding die is stopped, the cylindrical urethane molded body is taken out from the centrifugal molding machine together with the molding die, cooled, and then cut by a cutting machine to have a thickness of 2 mm (in the circumferential direction of the molding die). Was cut into a width of 20 mm and a length of 50 mm (in the direction corresponding to the axial direction of the molding die) to produce a substantially curved urethane elastic body having a slightly curved shape.

  The urethane elastic body thus produced was bonded to an iron support having a thickness of 1.0 mm, a width of 20 mm, and a length of 250 mm to produce a cleaning blade. As shown in FIG. 3, the urethane elastic body was bonded to the iron support so that the surface of its width 20 mm × length direction 25 mm overlapped. The urethane elastic body had a JIS A hardness of 70, a tensile set characteristic of 50%, and a wear amount of 50 mg in the measurement method.

(Measurement of friction coefficient between endless belt and urethane blade)
A test sheet and a surface property measuring instrument (trade name “14FW”, manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.) cut from each endless belt manufactured in Examples and Comparative Examples to a circumferential length of 200 mm and a width direction of 100 mm. And the measurement blade was measured several times according to the measurement method, and the arithmetic average value was obtained as the static friction coefficient and the dynamic friction coefficient of each test sheet. The obtained values were defined as the static friction coefficient and the dynamic friction coefficient of the endless belt. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

(Physical properties of endless belt)
Tables 1 and 2 show the results of measuring the contact angle, surface resistivity, Young's modulus, and ISO folding resistance of each endless belt manufactured in Examples and Comparative Examples according to the above methods.

(Content of fluorine compound and silicone compound in endless belt)
Each endless belt manufactured in Examples and Comparative Examples was analyzed by a photoelectron spectrometer (ESCA) (trade name “1600S”, manufactured by PHI). As a result, the contents of the fluorine compound and the silicone compound contained in each endless belt almost coincided with the contents of the fluorine compound and the silicone compound in the polyamideimide resin composition forming each endless belt, respectively.

(Rounding evaluation of urethane blade)
An endless belt unit test apparatus similar to the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 (for example, trade name “MicroLine 9055c”, manufactured by Oki Data Co., Ltd.) is assembled, and each endless belt is attached to the endless belt for 1 hour under the same conditions as the friction coefficient measurement method. Ran over. This running test was repeated 20 times for each endless belt, and the number of times the cleaning blade turned over during the running of the endless belt was counted to calculate the cleaning blade turning ratio (%). The evaluation was “accepted” when the dripping rate (%) was less than 20%, which was practically acceptable, and “failed” when the dripping rate (%) exceeded 20%. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

1 Endless belt (transfer conveyor belt)
5 Non-functional outer surface 10 Image forming apparatus 11, 11B, 11C, 11M, 11Y Image carrier 12, 12B, 12C, 12M, 12Y Charging means 13, 13B, 13C, 13M, 13Y Exposure means 14 , 14B, 14C, 14M, 14Y Transfer means 15B, 15C, 15M, 15Y Image carrier cleaning blade 16 Recording body 20B, 20C, 20M, 20Y Developing means 21B, 21C, 21M, 21Y Housings 22B, 22C, 22M, 22Y Developer 23B, 23C, 23M, 23Y Developer carrier 24B, 24C, 24M, 24Y Developer amount adjusting means 30 Fixing device 31 Fixing roller 32 Pressure roller 33 Fixing belt support roller 34 Housing 35 Opening 36 Fixing belt 41 Cassette 42 Support roller 50 Endless belt unit 51 Cleaning Blade 52 Support body 53 Elastic body 54A Tip pressure contact portion 54B Other end edge 55 Plate-like portion 56 Mounting portion B, C, M, Y Developing unit

Claims (5)

  An endless belt disposed so that a cleaning blade is pressed against the endless belt, wherein the endless belt includes a resin layer containing a polyamideimide resin and a fluorine compound.   The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine compound is contained in the resin layer at a ratio of 0.01 to 2 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin.   The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the resin layer contains a silicone compound.   The endless belt according to claim 3, wherein the silicone compound is contained in the resin layer at a ratio of 0.1 to 2 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyamideimide resin. The endless belt according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the endless belt is wound around a plurality of rotating bodies and travels on an endless track.
An endless belt unit comprising a cleaning blade that presses against an outer surface of the endless belt.

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