JP2011150013A - Sealing material for preventing leakage of fine powder and granular material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sealing material for preventing leakage of fine powder and granular material capable of preventing the fine powder and granular material such as toner from leaking and preventing a fiber in a surface sealing layer from dropping or being cut by planting vinylon fibers on a cushion layer through an adhesive layer directly and forming the surface sealing layer. <P>SOLUTION: This sealing material 1 for preventing leakage of the fine powder and granular material includes the cushion layer 10 and the surface sealing layer 11. The layer 11 is formed by planting vinylon fibers on the cushion layer 10 through the adhesive layer 12 directly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles such as toner. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles such as toner, which is used in an apparatus that displays an image by an electrophotographic method.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electrophotographic developing device includes a toner cartridge in which toner is accommodated in a housing 20 and a toner supply roller 22 is rotatably supported in an opening 21 of the housing. The toner is attached to the surface of the toner supply roller 22, the toner is supplied to the exposed photoconductor, the toner is transferred from the photoconductor to a recording paper or the like, and is fixed to the paper surface by heat and pressure. ing.

  The bearing portion 23 that receives both ends of the toner supply roller 22 in the housing 20 of the toner cartridge is provided with a toner seal material to prevent the toner in the housing 20 from leaking sideways from the bearing portion 23. ing.

  Conventionally, as a toner seal material, a composite cushion material including a surface seal layer of a fiber material and a cushion layer has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In general, a composite cushion material is manufactured by first implanting fibers in a woven fabric or the like and preparing a surface seal layer and then combining with a cushion layer such as urethane foam or nonwoven fabric. However, when such a composite cushion material is used as a toner seal material by being curved, wrinkles are generated on the surface of the surface seal layer due to a difference in curvature rate between the fabric layer and the cushion layer. In this state, when used in a bearing portion that receives both ends of a toner supply roller in a toner cartridge of a copying machine or a printer, a fatal phenomenon that a wrinkle spreads and toner leaks from the gap occurs. Further, in recent years, a thin shaft toner supply roller having a shaft diameter of 6 mm or less is used, and the toner diameter tends to be as small as about 5 μm, so even a small amount of wrinkles on the surface of the toner seal material can be removed from the toner cartridge. There is a problem that it leads to a fatal phenomenon such as toner leakage.

  Further, when the fibers are dropped or cut from the surface seal layer and enter the cartridge, they are mixed with the toner, preventing the formation of a uniform toner layer on the toner supply roller and causing the image to become defective.

JP 2007-1113750 A

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention improves the leakage of fine particles such as toner by forming a surface seal layer by implanting vinylon fibers directly into the cushion layer via an adhesive layer, Provided is a sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles with improved fiber dropout or cutting of a surface sealing layer.

  The sealing material of the present invention is a sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles, and includes a cushion layer and a surface sealing layer. The surface sealing layer is formed by directly attaching vinylon fibers to the cushion layer via an adhesive layer. It is formed by flocking.

  The present invention includes a cushion layer and a surface seal layer, and vinylon fibers are directly implanted into the cushion layer through the adhesive layer to form the surface seal layer, thereby reducing the difference in curvature between the cushion layer and the surface seal layer. Eliminates the occurrence of wrinkles on the surface seal layer when it is used in a curved shape, effectively preventing leakage of fine particles such as toner, and effectively removing or cutting fibers of the surface seal layer Provided is a sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles that can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge.

  The sealing material of the present invention includes a cushion layer and a surface seal layer, and vinylon fibers are directly planted on the cushion layer via an adhesive layer to form a surface seal layer. Hereinafter, although embodiment of this invention is described based on drawing, this invention is not limited to these.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the sealing material 1 for preventing leakage of fine particles, vinylon fibers are directly planted on the cushion layer 10 via the adhesive layer 12 to form the surface sealing layer 11.

The cushion layer 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is made of an elastic body such as a non-woven fabric or a resin sheet having a relatively high elasticity. From the viewpoint of further reducing the generation of wrinkles when used in a curved manner, the thickness of the cushion layer 10 is preferably 0.1 to 3.0 mm, and more preferably 0.5 to 2.0 mm. . The cushion layer 10 needs to be flexible enough not to cause wrinkles when bent in a U shape along the bearing portion of the rotating body such as the toner supply roller. It is necessary to have elasticity that can be pivotally supported. From the viewpoint of excellent elasticity, it is preferable to use a foamed material such as urethane foam as the resin sheet, and it is preferable to use wool / animal felt or needle punched nonwoven fabric as the nonwoven fabric. Further, from the viewpoint of resilient, foamed urethane is preferably density of 50~500kg / m ^3, the nonwoven fabric is preferably density of 50~500kg / m ^3, a 80~350kg / m ³ Is more preferable.

  The adhesive layer 12 is formed by coating the surface of the cushion layer 10 in contact with the cushion layer 10 and the surface sealing layer 11 with an adhesive. In the sealing material 1, the adhesive layer 12 plays a role of fixing fibers implanted in the cushion layer 10 through the adhesive layer 12. The thickness of the adhesive layer 12 may be 0.05 to 1.0 mm, and is 0.1 to 0.3 mm from the viewpoint of further reducing the generation of wrinkles of the sealing material when curved and used. Is preferred.

  Examples of the adhesive include polyurethane, acrylic, and polyester adhesives, and are not particularly limited. However, it is preferable to use a material that is compatible with the material of the fiber to be planted or the material of the cushion layer. preferable.

The surface sealing layer 11 is formed by flocking vinylon fibers directly on the cushion layer 10 via the adhesive layer 12. The flocking may be electrostatic flocking and may be performed by a generally used method. From the viewpoint of further reducing the generation of wrinkles when used in a curved manner, the thickness of the surface seal layer 11 is preferably 0.3 to 3.0 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 1.5 mm. preferable. From the viewpoint of improving the sealing performance, the weight of flocked fibers (basis weight) is preferably 30~300g / m ^2, and more preferably 70~120g / m ^2.

  As a fiber material for a surface seal layer in a toner seal material, rayon fibers are often used. However, rayon fibers are not stiff, that is, have a low Young's modulus, and the elasticity decreases due to the weight of a rotating body such as a toner roll. The thickness may change and wrinkles may occur on a part of the surface of the surface seal layer, causing toner leakage. Further, the fiber may be cut by a rotational load, and the cut fiber may be mixed with the toner and cause an image defect. Further, since it is a semi-synthetic fiber, it can contain a large amount of moisture, so that the charge to the fiber is not stable during the rainy season, and unevenness in the flocking density tends to occur. As a countermeasure, when a nylon fiber with stiffness is used, since the nylon fiber is rigid, a rotating body such as a toner supply roller is polished, and scraped roll scraps are generated. The roll waste and toner mix to cause image defects. In the present invention, by using the vinylon fiber, the fiber is prevented from dropping or being cut from the surface seal layer and entering the cartridge, and polishing of a rotating body such as a toner supply roller is reduced.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following Example.

(Production Example 1)
Urethane foam having a thickness of 1.5 mm (Inoac Corporation "PORON LE-20", density 200 kg / m ³⁾ after applying the polyurethane adhesive to the surface of, vinylon fiber having a fineness of 2.2dtex length 1.2mm Was electrostatically implanted at a basis weight of 120 g / m ² to produce a sealing material of Production Example 1 having a thickness of 2.7 mm.

(Production Example 2)
After applying a polyester adhesive to the surface of a non-woven fabric (density 200 kg / m ³ ) of 100% polyester fiber with a thickness of 1.5 mm, vinylon fibers with a length of 1.2 mm and a fineness of 2.2 dtex are 120 g / m ^2. The sealing material of Production Example 2 having a thickness of 2.7 mm was produced by electrostatic flocking.

(Production Example 3)
A sealing material of Production Example 3 was obtained in the same manner as Production Example 1 except that rayon fiber having a length of 1.2 mm and a fineness of 2.2 dtex was used instead of the vinylon fiber as the fiber to be planted.

(Production Example 4)
A sealing material of Production Example 4 was obtained in the same manner as Production Example 1 except that nylon fibers having a length of 1.2 mm and a fineness of 2.2 dtex were used instead of vinylon fibers as the fibers to be planted.

(Production Example 5)
A polyurethane adhesive is applied to a 0.4 mm-thick woven fabric (weighing 200 g / m ² ) woven with polyester multifilaments, and then a rayon fiber having a length of 0.8 mm and a fineness of 2.2 dtex is 120 g / m ^2. A base material having a thickness of 1.2 mm was produced by flocking. The obtained base material and urethane foam having a thickness of 1.5 mm (“Polon LE-20” manufactured by INOAC) are adhered to each other with a non-woven fabric baseless double-sided tape (“NP203” manufactured by SONY), and the thickness is 2.7 mm. The sealing material of Production Example 5 was prepared.

(Production Example 6)
A polyurethane adhesive is applied to a 0.4 mm-thick woven fabric (weighing 200 g / m ² ) woven with polyester multifilament, and then a vinylon fiber having a length of 0.8 mm and a fineness of 2.2 dtex is weighted to 120 g / m ^2. A base material having a thickness of 1.2 mm was produced by flocking. The obtained base material and a nonwoven fabric (density 200 kg / m ³ ) of 100% polyester fiber having a thickness of 1.5 mm are bonded to each other with a non-woven fabric baseless double-sided tape (“NP203” manufactured by Sony Corporation). A 7 mm sealing material of Production Example 6 was produced.

(Production Example 7)
A polyurethane adhesive is applied to a 0.4 mm-thick woven fabric (weighing 200 g / m ² ) woven with polyester multifilament, and then a vinylon fiber having a length of 0.8 mm and a fineness of 2.2 dtex is weighted to 120 g / m ^2. A base material having a thickness of 1.2 mm was produced by flocking. The obtained base material and urethane foam having a thickness of 1.5 mm (“Polon LE-20” manufactured by INOAC) are adhered to each other with a non-woven fabric baseless double-sided tape (“NP203” manufactured by SONY), and the thickness is 2.7 mm. The sealing material of Production Example 7 was prepared.

  The sealing properties of the sealing materials of Production Examples 1 to 7 were evaluated based on the state of wrinkles and the number of rotations until toner leakage as follows.

(State of cocoon)
The dough of the sealing material was cut into a width of 5 mm and a length of 18 mm, and set at both ends of a toner supply roll having a diameter of 8 mm so as to follow the roll, and the wrinkle state was evaluated in the following two stages.
No wrinkle: 1
With wrinkles: 2

(Toner leakage)
The sealing material is cut into a width of 5 mm and a length of 18 mm, and the toner supply roll 22 having a diameter of 8 mm as shown in FIG. Was fixed to the opening 21 of the housing so that the compressibility of the sealing material was 10%, and the housing 20 was filled with toner having a particle diameter of 5 to 8 μm from the back surface of the toner supply roll 22. Next, the toner supply roll 22 was rotated at about 360 rpm, and toner leakage was confirmed every 1000 revolutions. Judgment of toner leakage was made when a 2 mm square double-sided adhesive tape was installed outside the sealing material, and the toner was covered when the entire surface of the tape was covered with toner. Here, the compression rate of the sealing material is represented by the following formula. The same applies to the following.

(Equation 1)
Compression rate (%) = (Thickness of original sealing material−Thickness of sealing material after setting toner supply roll) / Thickness of original sealing material × 100
Table 1 below shows the state of wrinkles of the sealing materials of Production Examples 1 to 7 and the results of toner leakage. In Production Examples 1 to 7, Production Examples 1 and 2 are examples, Production Examples 3 to 4 are reference examples, and Production Examples 5 to 7 are comparative examples.

  From the results shown in Table 1, the sealing material in which the fabric layer is removed and the fibers are directly planted on the cushion layer through the adhesive layer has less wrinkle generation when used in a curved shape, and the fine particles such as toner It has been found that the lifetime is increased against leakage.

  In the sealing materials of Production Examples 1, 3, and 4, fiber breakage and damage to the toner supply roll due to fibers in the surface sealing layer of the sealing material were evaluated as follows.

(Fiber breakage and roll damage)
Using a sealing material having a width of 12 mm and a length of 18 mm, a double-sided tape Nitto 5000NS (re-release type) was attached to the bottom layer of the sealing material, and the release paper was peeled off. Next, the adhering material on the surface was sucked with a vacuum cleaner, and the weight of the sealing material was measured. The weight of the toner supply roll 22 was also measured. Next, the toner supply roll 22 was fixed to the opening 21 of the housing so that the compression ratio of the sealing material was 10%, and the toner was not filled, but was rotated 50,000 at about 360 rpm. After rotation, peel off the sealing material, and after removing the surface deposits with a vacuum cleaner so that there is no extraneous matter, measure the weight again, and change the weight of the sealing material before and after rotation (weight of sealing material before rotation- The weight of the sealing material after rotation was calculated, and fiber breakage was evaluated. Similarly, the toner supply roll 22 was weighed after the surface adhering material was sucked off by a vacuum cleaner. In addition, the toner supply roll 22 was visually checked for scratches.

  Table 2 below shows the results of fiber breakage and roll damage of the sealing materials of Production Examples 1, 3, and 4.

  From the results shown in Table 2, it can be seen that the vinylon fiber is superior as a fiber for flocking with less hair breakage and no damage to the roll.

  The sealing material of the present invention is used for preventing leakage of fine particles such as toner in an apparatus for displaying an image by an electrophotographic method, but is not limited thereto, and is not limited to this. It can also be used for maintaining the distance between the developing mechanism and the cleaning mechanism in the above, and hermetically maintaining various rotating rollers and reciprocating members.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles 10 Cushion layer 11 Surface sealing layer 12 Adhesive layer 2 Toner cartridge 20 Housing 21 Housing opening 22 Toner supply roll 23 Housing bearing

Claims (4)

  A sealing material for preventing leakage of fine particles, including a cushion layer and a surface sealing layer, wherein the surface sealing layer is formed by implanting vinylon fibers directly on the cushion layer via an adhesive layer. Sealing material characterized by   The sealing material according to claim 1, wherein the cushion layer is formed of a resin sheet or a nonwoven fabric.   The sealing material according to claim 2, wherein the nonwoven fabric is wool felt.   The sealing material according to claim 2, wherein the resin sheet is a foam.

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