JP2013020012A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method, and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that applies the fixed amount of metal soap in applying metal soap to a photoreceptor, and has excellent image quality and quality of reliability; and a process cartridge; as well as an image forming method.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a photoreceptor 1; charging means 2; exposure means; developing means 4 that develops using toner; transfer means 5, 6; cleaning means for removing toner remains on the photoreceptor 1; and lubricant supply means 11 for supplying lubricant 12 to the surface of the photoreceptor 1. The photoreceptor 1 has a conductive support, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a cross-linking charge transport layer formed by curing a specific radical polymerizable monomer and a specific radical polymerizable compound; the cleaning means is provided with a plurality of cleaning members, one of which has non-woven fabric 10; the non-woven fabric 10 is not arranged most upstream among the plurality of cleaning members, and is arranged in contact with the photoreceptor 1; the lubricant supply means 11 is arranged downstream the non-woven fabric 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image while supplying a lubricant containing a metal soap to a photoreceptor, a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and an image forming method.

As electrophotographic photoreceptors used in electrophotographic methods widely used in copying machines, printers, etc. (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as photoreceptors), because of advantages such as low cost, mass productivity, and non-pollution, Organic photosensitive materials have been widely used. However, the organic photoreceptor has lower abrasion resistance than the inorganic photoreceptor and is inferior in durability.
Further, in recent years, there has been a demand for full-color and high-speed electrophotographic systems, and tandem full-color image forming apparatuses having a photoreceptor for each color have been put into practical use. In order to reduce the size of the tandem image forming apparatus, it is essential to reduce the diameter of the photoconductor. However, as the diameter is reduced, the number of printed sheets per unit length of the photoconductor increases, so the wear resistance of the photoconductor is increased. There has been a strong demand for improvement in mechanical durability mainly.

As a method for improving the wear resistance of an organic photoreceptor, a method in which a protective layer containing a filler made of a metal or a metal oxide is provided is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-170951.
In addition to improving the wear resistance of the photoreceptor itself by providing a protective layer on the photoreceptor surface, a method for reducing the surface energy of the photoreceptor with a lubricant is known. As a method for supplying the lubricant to the photoreceptor, a solid lubricant is applied by an application means such as a brush (Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-162881), and a lubricant is externally added to the toner and supplied to the photoreceptor. Various methods are known (Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent No. 2859646). Further, by reducing the surface energy of the photoconductor with the lubricant, not only the wear of the photoconductor can be reduced, but also the transfer rate can be improved, and the occurrence of abnormal images such as omission in transfer can be prevented.

  However, even these conventional techniques do not have sufficient durability (abrasion resistance) of the photoreceptor, and have sufficiently fulfilled the demands for higher image quality and higher reliability (stabilization) that have been increasing in recent years. Not in.

By applying metal soap to the surface of the photoconductor with a lubricant application mechanism, it is possible to reduce the surface energy of the photoconductor, further protect the photoconductor from intense charging loads such as corona charging, and reduce wear. is there.
However, it has been found that the image forming apparatus for applying metal soap has the following problems that need to be solved.
It is desirable that the amount of metal soap applied be constant from the initial use of the image forming apparatus to the end of its life. However, the amount of metal soap applied and the amount of consumption have changed due to changes in the image area ratio and usage environment, and image quality such as transfer dropout and transfer rate that occurs during transfer, photoconductor wear, and metal soap In some cases, problems such as deterioration in reliability quality such as replacement frequency occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and stabilizes the amount of metal soap applied to the photoconductor for a long period of time, and dramatically improves the photoconductor's performance compared to the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a process cartridge capable of improving durability (wear resistance) and dramatically improving image quality and reliability quality. .

As a result of various studies, the present inventors have found that there are toners and toner external additives that cannot be cleaned by the cleaning means, and they enter the area where the metal soap (lubricant) is supplied, and have a great influence on the amount of metal soap applied. give. More specifically, when the image area ratio to be formed changes or the environment of the image forming apparatus changes, the performance of the cleaning means in front of the area where metal soap is supplied (applied) changes, and the cleaning means The amount of slip-through toner and the amount of slip-out external additive that cannot be completely removed by fluctuate. Since these enter the area where the metal soap is supplied next, the amount of metal soap that can be supplied from the metal soap also changes when the amount of slip-through toner changes.
Reducing the variation in the amount of slipping toner is greatly effective in reducing the variation in the supply amount from the supply means of the lubricant containing the metal soap, and the combination of the nonwoven fabric and the photoreceptor in the present invention The inventors have found that the effect can be remarkably exhibited and have completed the present invention.

  In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge, and the image forming method according to the present invention specifically have the technical features described below.

  That is, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a photoconductor that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction, a charging unit that charges the photoconductor, an exposure unit that exposes the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image, and A developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image from the photoconductor to a transfer material, and the toner image is transferred to the photoconductor by the transfer unit. Cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive member later, and lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant containing metal soap to the surface of the photosensitive member, the photosensitive member comprising a conductive support, A charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a crosslinkable charge transport layer, which are sequentially laminated on the conductive support, wherein the crosslinkable charge transport layer has a trifunctional or higher functionality not having a charge transport structure. Radically polymerizable monomer and monofunctional And a radical polymerizable compound having a load transporting structure. The cleaning means includes a plurality of cleaning members, and at least one of the plurality of cleaning members includes a nonwoven fabric. The non-woven fabric is not arranged upstream of the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor among the plurality of cleaning members, and is arranged in contact with the photoconductor, and the lubricant supply means The photosensitive member is disposed downstream of the nonwoven fabric with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photosensitive member. However, in the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor, the arrangement position of the charging unit is the most upstream, and the position immediately before the photoconductor rotates by one round from the upstream is the most downstream.

  In addition, a process cartridge according to the present invention is a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and includes at least a photosensitive member, and a cleaning member having a non-woven fabric disposed in contact with the photosensitive member, It is characterized by providing.

  Further, the image forming method according to the present invention includes a charging step of charging a photosensitive member rotating in a predetermined rotation direction, an exposure step of exposing the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image. A developing step for developing the toner image to form a toner image, a transfer step for transferring the toner image from the photoconductor to a transfer material, and the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred to the photoconductor by the transfer step. A cleaning process for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface; and a lubricant supply process for supplying a lubricant containing metal soap to the surface of the photoconductor. The photoconductor includes a conductive support, and the conductive support. A charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a cross-linked charge transport layer, which are sequentially laminated on the tri- or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure; Monofunctional charge transport A radically polymerizable compound having a structure, and the cleaning step includes cleaning a toner remaining on the photoreceptor with a plurality of cleaning members, and at least one of the plurality of cleaning members. 1 has a non-woven fabric, and the non-woven fabric is not arranged at the most upstream with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor among the plurality of cleaning members, and is arranged in contact with the photoconductor. The lubricant supplying step is arranged downstream of the nonwoven fabric with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photoreceptor. However, in the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor, the arrangement position of the charging unit is the most upstream, and the position immediately before the photoconductor rotates by one round from the upstream is the most downstream.

  According to the present invention, the lubricant is stably supplied to the photoconductor, and further, the wear of the photoconductor itself due to the non-woven cloth arranged in contact with the photoconductor can be suppressed over a long period of time. The image forming apparatus and the image forming method, and the process cartridge, in which the image quality such as the transfer rate and the reliability quality such as the photoconductor wear amount and the metal soap replacement frequency are drastically improved, can be provided.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration in a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the structure in 2nd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the structure in 3rd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the structure in 4th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A) It is a top view of the nonwoven fabric roller 10. FIG. (B) It is an expanded sectional view of the nonwoven fabric roller 10 in the IIb-IIb sectional line shown to Fig.5 (a). 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a photoreceptor used in the present invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the structure in one Embodiment of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the pattern of the image imaged in the Example.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a photosensitive member 1 rotating in a predetermined rotation direction, a charging unit 2 for charging the photosensitive member 1, and an exposure unit for exposing the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image. Development means 4 for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image, transfer means 5 and 6 for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor 1 to a transfer material, and transfer means 5 and 6. Cleaning means 9 and 10 for cleaning toner remaining on the photoconductor 1 after the toner image is transferred to the photoconductor 1, and a lubricant for supplying a lubricant 12 containing metal soap to the surface of the photoconductor 1. Supply means 11, and the photoreceptor includes a conductive support, and a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a cross-linked charge transport layer, which are sequentially laminated on the conductive support, The cross-linked charge transport layer does not have a charge transport structure It is formed by curing a radical polymerizable monomer having a functionality or higher and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure, and the cleaning means 9 and 10 include a plurality of cleaning members, At least one of the plurality of cleaning members has a non-woven fabric 10, and the non-woven fabric 10 is not arranged upstream of the predetermined rotation direction of the photoreceptor 1 among the plurality of cleaning members, In addition, the lubricant supply means 11 is disposed in contact with the photosensitive member 1, and is arranged downstream of the nonwoven fabric 10 with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1. However, in the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor 1, the arrangement position of the charging unit 2 is the most upstream, and the position immediately before the photoconductor 1 rotates one round from the most upstream is the most downstream.

  The image forming method according to the present invention includes a charging step of charging a photosensitive member rotating in a predetermined rotation direction, an exposure step of exposing the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image. Developing with a toner to form a toner image, a transfer step for transferring the toner image from the photoconductor to a transfer material, and the toner image transferred to the photoconductor by the transfer step A cleaning process for cleaning toner remaining on the photoconductor, and a lubricant supply process for supplying a lubricant containing metal soap to the surface of the photoconductor. The photoconductor includes a conductive support and the conductive material. A charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a crosslinkable charge transport layer, which are sequentially laminated on a support, wherein the crosslinkable charge transport layer has a trifunctional or higher-functional radical polymerizability having no charge transport structure. Monomer and monofunctional charge And a radically polymerizable compound having a transportable structure, and the cleaning step includes cleaning a toner remaining on the photoconductor with a plurality of cleaning members. At least one of the plurality of non-woven fabrics has a non-woven fabric, and the non-woven fabric is not arranged upstream of the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor among the plurality of cleaning members, and is arranged in contact with the photoconductor. The lubricant supplying step is arranged downstream of the non-woven fabric with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor. However, in the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor, the arrangement position of the charging unit is the most upstream, and the position immediately before the photoconductor rotates by one round from the upstream is the most downstream.

Next, the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge, and the image forming method according to the present invention will be described in more detail.
Although the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, various technically preferable limitations are attached thereto, but the scope of the present invention is intended to limit the present invention in the following description. Unless otherwise described, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

<Image forming apparatus and image forming method>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the image forming process, first, the photosensitive member 1 rotating in a predetermined rotation direction (counterclockwise arrow direction in FIG. 1) is charged by a charging roller 2 as a charging means (charging process).
Next, the photosensitive member 1 is exposed by writing light 3 emitted from an exposure unit (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image (exposure process), and the electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image by the developing roller 4 as a developing unit. (Development process).
The toner image on the photosensitive member 1 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 6 by a transfer roller 5 serving as a transfer unit, and further transferred onto a transfer paper (transfer material) (not shown) (transfer process).
The transfer paper on which the toner image is placed is conveyed to a fixing unit (not shown), and the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper (fixing step) to obtain an image.

Residual toner that has not been transferred from the photosensitive member 1 to the intermediate transfer member 6 is cleaned by a cleaning blade 9 that is one of a plurality of cleaning members. Next, since the nonwoven fabric 10 which is another one of the plurality of cleaning members is disposed in contact with the photosensitive member, residual toner and toner external additives that could not be cleaned by the cleaning blade 9 are further cleaned by the nonwoven fabric 10. (The cleaning process). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning means is constituted by two cleaning members composed of the cleaning blade 9 and the nonwoven fabric 10.
A lubricant application brush 11 which is a lubricant supply means holding a lubricant containing a metal soap is brought into contact with the photoreceptor 1 on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 cleaned in this manner, and the lubricant 12 is rubbed and rubbed. A lubricant is supplied to the surface of the body 1 (lubricant supply step).
Finally, the residual charge on the photosensitive member is removed by irradiating with a QL lamp 13 as a charge eliminating means (charge eliminating step) to prepare for the next image formation.

  In this image forming process, the lubricant has a lubricating function for improving the toner cleaning property of the photosensitive member, a protective function for protecting the photosensitive member from a load due to charging, and a toner releasing function for improving the toner transferability from the photosensitive member. It is a thing. For this reason, lubricants play a very important role in image formation in the recent trend of higher image quality.

  In the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1, since the nonwoven fabric 10 is disposed in contact at the end of the cleaning process, the nonwoven fabric 10 removes toner and toner external additives that have passed through the cleaning blade 9. It can be configured. As a result, the lubricant application brush 11 is prevented from being contaminated with toner or toner external additives, the amount of lubricant 12 consumed, the amount of lubricant supplied to the photoreceptor 1, the application state of the lubricant 12 on the photoreceptor 1, The coverage can be stabilized. Especially when the image density of the original is different, such as when the original to be imaged has a very high image density or low image density, or when the rubber properties of the cleaning blade change due to the low temperature of the image forming device. The effect can be demonstrated.

  In the image forming process of the present invention, it is preferable that the image forming process flows in the order of charging, exposure, development, transfer, cleaning, lubricant application, and charge removal as necessary. Therefore, the arrangement position of the charging roller 2 is the most upstream in the image forming process, and becomes the most upstream in the next image forming process when the photoreceptor 1 is rotated once by the image forming process. That is, the arrangement position of the charging roller 2 is the most upstream, and the position immediately before the position rotated once in the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1 from the most upstream position is the most downstream.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The cleaning means has a three-member configuration including a cleaning brush 8, a cleaning blade 9, and a nonwoven fabric roller 10.
The nonwoven fabric roller 10 is disposed at the final position of the cleaning means and immediately before the lubricant application brush 11. In the example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the nonwoven fabric is in contact with the photoreceptor 1 in the form of a roller. When the nonwoven fabric is in the form of a roller, the area of the nonwoven fabric that can be contacted with the photoreceptor can be made larger than that in the plate-like form, so that the cleaning performance and durability performance can be improved.
The nonwoven fabric roller 10 having a cylindrical metal shaft with a diameter of 5 to 30 mm covered with a nonwoven fabric with a thickness of 1 to 30 mm is suitable because it is easy to adjust the pressing force and nip to the photoreceptor. .

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
The cleaning means is constituted by three members: a cleaning brush 8, a cleaning blade 9, and a nonwoven fabric belt 10. In the configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the pre-cleaning exposure is performed by the PCL lamp for the purpose of assisting the cleaning means.
The non-woven belt 10 is disposed at the final position of the cleaning means and immediately before the lubricant application roller 11. With the configuration of the nonwoven fabric belt 10, the area that can be brought into contact with the photoreceptor 1 can be increased, and the cleaning performance and durability performance can be improved more easily than the roller configuration of FIG.

  The non-woven fabric roller shown in FIG. 2 and the non-woven fabric belt shown in FIG. 3 are rotating bodies, and the direction of rotation may be forward with respect to the photoreceptor 1 or opposite to the photoreceptor. In the forward direction, it is preferable to provide a peripheral speed difference from the photoreceptor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The cleaning means is composed of four members: a cleaning brush 8, a cleaning blade 9, a nonwoven fabric brush 10a, and a nonwoven fabric brush 10b.
The nonwoven fabric brush 10b is disposed at the final position of the cleaning means and immediately before the lubricant supply roller 11.

  When the nonwoven fabric brush has a two-stage configuration, the nonwoven fabric fiber materials of the nonwoven fabric brush 10a and the nonwoven fabric brush 10b are preferably different. For example, if the binder resin on the outermost layer of the photoreceptor is a polycarbonate resin, the nonwoven fabric brush 10a uses fibers having a positive charge column on the positive side of polycarbonate such as polymethyl methacrylate, wool, and nylon, and the nonwoven fabric brush 10b. In this case, it is preferable to use a fiber having a negative charge column on the negative side of polycarbonate such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride, and Teflon (registered trademark). In this way, even if the residual toner and the residual external additive have different polarities, good cleaning performance can be obtained.

[Nonwoven fabric]
Next, the nonwoven fabric according to the present invention will be described.
The nonwoven fabric according to the present invention is a fiber sheet, web or vat, in which fibers are oriented in one direction or randomly, and the fibers are bonded by alternating current and / or fusion and / or adhesion. . In the present invention, shredded felt is also regarded as a nonwoven fabric.

  The nonwoven fabric has a porous structure and has basic characteristics such as air permeability, filterability and heat retention. In addition, this non-woven fabric brings out this feature to enhance its function according to the purpose and application, and can be made into various shapes such as cloth, leather, cotton, paper, etc. by combining various raw materials and manufacturing methods, and supple It is a thing that can be made from things to strong ones. In other words, the greatest feature is that functions and shapes can be freely designed as needed.

The fiber materials used for the nonwoven fabric according to the present invention include natural fibers such as cotton, wool, hemp, kenaf, bamboo, banana, pulp and silk, and chemical fibers such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic fiber, vinylon and aramid fiber. Glass fiber etc. can be used.
Natural fibers and synthetic fibers as well as glass, metals, ceramics, pulp and carbon fibers can be used as raw materials, and almost all synthetic fibers such as polyester are generally used.
Various fibers can also be used in the present invention.

Further, as described above, it is preferable to select fibers from a charge train having a polarity opposite to the charge train of the toner or external additive remaining on the photoreceptor.
Furthermore, when the nonwoven fabric has a two-stage structure and the binder resin on the outermost layer of the photoreceptor is a polycarbonate resin or a similar resin, one nonwoven fabric may be made of polymethyl methacrylate, wool, nylon, etc. Use fibers with a positive side of the charge column than polycarbonate, or use fibers with a negative side of the charge column than polycarbonate such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride, and Teflon (registered trademark) for the other non-woven fabric. I can do it. In this way, even if the residual toner and the residual external additive have different polarities, good cleaning performance can be obtained.

  The manufacturing process of the nonwoven fabric includes two steps: (1) fleece formation and (2) interfiber bonding. First, a fiber accumulation layer called a fleece is formed, and then the fibers are bonded together.

(1) Fleece formation There are three formation methods for fleece formation: a dry method, a wet method, and a spunbond method.
In the dry method, short fibers (15 to 100 mm) are formed in a certain direction or randomly by a machine called a card or an air flow called an air array.
In the wet method, as in the case of making paper, very short fibers (6 mm or less) such as glass fibers and pulp raw materials are dispersed in water and rolled up on a net-like net to form a fleece. When formed by this method, the thickness is uniform, and the basis weight (mass per unit area) can be freely changed.
The spunbond method is a method in which a melted raw resin is directly eluted and spun from the tip of a nozzle to form a fleece with continuous long fibers. It has features that can be used for wide width and high-speed production.

(2) Bonding between fibers There are four methods for bonding between fibers: a chemical bond method, a thermal bond method, a needle punch method, and a hydroentanglement method.
The chemical bond method is a method of adhering an emulsion type adhesive resin to a fleece by a method such as impregnation or spraying, and heating and drying to bond the intersections of fibers, and has a feature that is rich in flexibility and drape.
The thermal bond method is a method of fusing a fleece mixed with low-melting heat-bonding fibers between hot rolls, or applying hot air to bond the fibers together, and since no adhesive is used, the characteristics of the fibers are There is a feature that is easy to maintain even after the combination.
The needle punch method is a method in which a fleece is repeatedly pierced with a needle that moves up and down at a high speed, and fibers are entangled by protrusions called barbs carved in the needle, and has a feature that it is rich in bulk and does not peel between fibers.
The water entanglement method is a method in which fibers are entangled by injecting a high-pressure water stream into a fleece in a columnar shape, and is characterized by being flexible and draping and not fuzzing.

  In the present invention, the wet thickness method is suitable for forming the fleece and the thermal bond method is suitable for bonding between the fibers because the thickness uniformity of the nonwoven fabric and the characteristics of the single fiber can be utilized.

The fineness of the fiber used for the nonwoven fabric according to the present invention is determined by the following procedure.
First, vapor deposition is performed so that the cut surface of a test piece sampled from 10 arbitrary parts of the fiber fleece can be observed, and 10 arbitrary fibers cut almost at right angles to the direction crossing the fiber axis with a scanning electron microscope. Take a photo about. Subsequently, a diameter is calculated | required from the cross section of each fiber, and those values are averaged and the diameter of a fiber is computed. Using this diameter and the solid density of the fiber, the weight at a length of 10,000 m can be calculated to determine the fineness (dtex: decitex).

The fineness is preferably 0.1 to 20 dtex (in the case of a fiber having a specific gravity of 1.1 g / cm ³ , the fiber diameter is 3 to 50 μm). When the fineness is less than 0.1 dtex, the durability of the fiber is low, and the nonwoven fabric tends to wear due to repeated use, and the nonwoven fabric itself generates dust, which is not preferable for the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, if the fineness exceeds 20 dtex, the cleaning properties of the residual toner and particularly external additives such as silica of about 10 nm which are externally added to the toner are lowered, and the effect of the present invention is lowered.

With reference to FIG. 5, the nonwoven fabric roller 10 as a cleaning member is demonstrated more concretely.
Fig.5 (a) is a top view of the nonwoven fabric roller 10, FIG.5 (b) is an expanded sectional view of the nonwoven fabric roller 10 in the IIb-IIb sectional line shown to Fig.5 (a).

As shown in FIG. 5A, the nonwoven fabric roller 10 includes a core material 110 and a coating layer 120 that covers the core material 110. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the coating layer 120 includes a surface layer 120 a constituting the surface of the coating layer 120, and a base layer 120 b formed between the surface layer 120 a and the core material 110. And is composed of.
An adhesive layer (not shown) is provided between the surface layer 120a and the base layer 120b and between the core material 110 and the base layer 120b. The core material 110 is a cylindrical metal shaft.

  The surface layer 120a is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 1 and scrapes off residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 1, external additives that control the fluidity and chargeability of the toner, and fine particles such as paper dust. It captures and captures and is constituted by the above-described nonwoven fabric.

Further, since the surface layer 120a is formed by winding a sheet-like woven fabric around the base layer 120b, a seam T1 is formed on the surface of the surface layer 120a.
If it is a problem that the seam is simultaneously brought into contact with the photoconductor, the nonwoven fabric may be cut into a long and thin shape, and the seam may be spirally wound around the base layer 120b. I can do it. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the joint T1 is formed in a straight line.

The underlayer 120b is formed as necessary, and the purpose of the underlayer is formed when adjustments such as the pressing force, nip, and biting amount on the photoreceptor are necessary.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the foundation layer acts as a cushion layer and is made of urethane having flexibility. Specifically, a polyisocyanate and a polyol (polyether type or polyester type polyol) are reacted to initiate a polymer formation reaction and a foaming reaction at the same time. Can also be used.
In addition, as a polyisocyanate and a polyol, the kind in particular is not restrict | limited. For example, as the polyisocyanate, TDI (toluene diisocyanate), MDI (diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate), a mixture of TDI and MDI, or the like can be used. Examples of the polyol include polyether polyols to which alkylene oxide is added, polyester polyols obtained by polycondensation of carboxylic acid and glycol, addition polymerization type polyester polyols obtained by ring-opening polymerization, and the like.

[Metal soap]
Next, the process of supplying a lubricant containing metal soap will be described.
The image forming method according to the present invention includes a lubricant application step. As shown in FIG. 1, the lubricant application brush 11 is in contact with the photosensitive member 1 and the lubricant 12 at the same time, and rotates in the forward direction with a reverse rotation or a peripheral speed difference from the photosensitive member 1 when the photosensitive member 1 rotates. In this way, the lubricant 12 is scraped off by the lubricant application brush 11, held on the lubricant application brush 11, and then the lubricant 12 is supplied to the photoreceptor 1. Since the lubricant 12 should be brought into contact with the lubricant application brush 11 uniformly and at the same pressure even after repeated use, the lubricant application brush 11 is not shown in FIG. It is preferable to have a pressing mechanism such as a leaf spring on the side opposite to the side.

The metal soap according to the present invention refers to a metal salt of a fatty acid and a metal other than an alkali metal. The nature of the metal soap is determined by both the fatty acid and the metal, and has both physical properties related to hydrophobic bonds between fatty acid molecules and physical properties and chemical properties related to intermetallic bonds.
The purpose of the metal soap in the present invention is to protect the photoreceptor by coating and to improve the releasability by lowering the surface energy of the photoreceptor, so that the fatty acid of the metal soap has a long chain of C18 or more. In addition, as for the metal, a metal salt having a high contact angle such as Ba, Al, Zn or the like is preferable.

  Since the lubricant application step has the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the lubricant application brush is always in the same state. In other words, mixing of toner or toner external additives that cannot be cleaned into the lubricant application area (lubricant application brush) affects the scraping power and application ability of the metal soap, so the nonwoven fabric is immediately before the lubricant application brush. The configuration existing in is particularly effective.

[Photoconductor]
Next, a photoconductor used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
The photoreceptor has a structure in which at least a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a cross-linked charge transport layer are sequentially laminated on a conductive support, and is charged by discharge. Further, the crosslinkable charge transport layer contains a photopolymerization initiator, and at least a trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure are irradiated by light irradiation. It is preferably formed by curing.
The constituent materials of the crosslinkable charge transport layer coating solution used in the present invention will be described.

<< Radically polymerizable monomer having 3 or more functional groups that do not have charge transportability >>
The trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transporting property used in the present invention is a hole transporting structure such as triarylamine, hydrazone, pyrazoline, carbazole, such as condensed polycyclic quinone, diphenoquinone, cyano group. And a monomer having no electron transport structure such as an electron-withdrawing aromatic ring having a nitro group and having three or more radical polymerizable functional groups. The radical polymerizable functional group may be any group as long as it has a carbon-carbon double bond and is capable of radical polymerization.
Examples of these radical polymerizable functional groups include 1-substituted ethylene functional groups and 1,1-substituted ethylene functional groups shown below.

(1) Examples of the 1-substituted ethylene functional group include functional groups represented by the following formulas.

(In the formula, X ₁ is an arylene group such as a phenylene group or a naphthylene group which may have a substituent, an alkenylene group which may have a substituent, a —CO— group, a —COO— group. , —CON (R ₁₀ ) — group (R ₁₀ represents an alkyl group such as hydrogen, methyl group or ethyl group, an aralkyl group such as benzyl group, naphthylmethyl group or phenethyl group, or an aryl group such as phenyl group or naphthyl group. Or the —S— group.)

  Specific examples of these substituents include a vinyl group, a styryl group, a 2-methyl-1,3-butadienyl group, a vinylcarbonyl group, an acryloyloxy group, an acryloylamide group, and a vinyl thioether group.

(2) Examples of the 1,1-substituted ethylene functional group include functional groups represented by the following formulas.

(In the formula, Y is an aryl group such as an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an aralkyl group which may have a substituent, a phenyl group which may have a substituent, or a naphthyl group. Group, halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, alkoxy group such as methoxy group or ethoxy group, -COOR ₁₁ group (R ₁₁ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl such as an optionally substituted methyl group or ethyl group) Group, an aralkyl group such as a benzyl group optionally having a substituent, a phenethyl group, an aryl group such as a phenyl group optionally having a substituent, a naphthyl group, or -CONR ₁₂ R ₁₃ (R ₁₂ and R ₁₃ is a hydrogen atom, which may have a substituent an alkyl group such as methyl group and ethyl group, which may have a substituent group benzyl group, naphthylmethyl group, or a, such as a phenethyl group, Alkyl group or may be substituted phenyl group, an aryl group such as a naphthyl group, which may be the same or different from each other.)), Also, X ₂ is X ₁ in the formula (1) And the same substituent, a single bond, or an alkylene group, provided that at least one of Y and X ₂ is an oxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, an alkenylene group, or an aromatic ring.

  Specific examples of these substituents include an α-acryloyloxy chloride group, a methacryloyloxy group, an α-cyanoethylene group, an α-cyanoacryloyloxy group, an α-cyanophenylene group, and a methacryloylamino group.

In addition, examples of the substituent further substituted with the substituent for X ₁ , X ₂ , and Y include, for example, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a methyl group, an alkyl group such as an ethyl group, a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, and the like And an aryloxy group such as a phenoxy group, an aryl group such as a phenyl group and a naphthyl group, and an aralkyl group such as a benzyl group and a phenethyl group.

Specific examples of the trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure include the following, but the present invention is not limited to these compounds.
That is, the trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport property used in the present invention includes, for example, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane alkylene-modified triacrylate, trimethylol. Methylolpropane ethyleneoxy modified (hereinafter EO modified) triacrylate, trimethylolpropane propyleneoxy modified (hereinafter PO modified) triacrylate, trimethylolpropane caprolactone modified triacrylate, trimethylolpropane alkylene modified trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol Tetraacrylate (PETTA), glycerol triacrylate, glycerol epichlorohydride -Modified (hereinafter ECH-modified) triacrylate, glycerol EO-modified triacrylate, glycerol PO-modified triacrylate, tris (acryloxyethyl) isocyanurate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA), dipentaerythritol caprolactone-modified hexaacrylate, dipenta Erythritol hydroxypentaacrylate, alkylated dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, alkylated dipentaerythritol tetraacrylate, alkylated dipentaerythritol triacrylate, dimethylolpropane tetraacrylate (DTMPTA), pentaerythritol ethoxytetraacrylate, EO-modified triacrylate phosphate 2,2,5,5-tetrahydroxymethyl Such as cyclopentanone tetraacrylate and the like, which can be used in combination either alone or in combination.

<< Radically polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transporting structure >>
The radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure used in the cross-linked charge transport layer in the present invention is a hole transport structure such as triarylamine, hydrazone, pyrazoline, carbazole, such as condensed polycyclic quinone. , A compound having an electron transport structure such as diphenoquinone, an electron-withdrawing aromatic ring having a cyano group or a nitro group, and having one radical polymerizable functional group. Examples of the radical polymerizable functional group include functional groups represented by the above formula (1) or formula (2). More specifically, the above-mentioned radical polymerizable monomers can be mentioned.

  The crosslinkable charge transport layer in the present invention is obtained by curing at least a trifunctional or higher radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure. Monofunctional and bifunctional radically polymerizable monomers and radically polymerizable oligomers are used in combination for the purpose of imparting functions such as viscosity adjustment during coating, stress relaxation of the cross-linked charge transport layer, lower surface energy and reduced friction coefficient. be able to. Known radical polymerizable monomers and oligomers can be used.

  Examples of the monofunctional radical monomer include 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl carbitol acrylate, 3-methoxybutyl acrylate, benzyl acrylate, and cyclohexyl acrylate. , Isoamyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, methoxytriethylene glycol acrylate, phenoxytetraethylene glycol acrylate, cetyl acrylate, isostearyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, styrene monomer, and the like.

  Examples of the bifunctional radical polymerizable monomer include 1,3-butanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, 1, Examples include 6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, bisphenol A-EO modified diacrylate, bisphenol F-EO modified diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, and the like.

  Examples of the functional monomer include those substituted with a fluorine atom such as octafluoropentyl acrylate, 2-perfluorooctylethyl acrylate, 2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate, 2-perfluoroisononylethyl acrylate, No. 60503, JP-B-6-45770, siloxane repeating units: 20-70 acryloyl polydimethylsiloxane ethyl, methacryloyl polydimethylsiloxane ethyl, acryloyl polydimethylsiloxane propyl, acryloyl polydimethylsiloxane butyl, diacryloyl polydimethylsiloxane Examples include vinyl monomers having a polysiloxane group such as diethyl, acrylates and methacrylates.

  Examples of the radical polymerizable oligomer include epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, and polyester acrylate oligomers. However, if a large amount of monofunctional and bifunctional radically polymerizable monomers and radically polymerizable oligomers are contained, the three-dimensional crosslink density of the crosslinkable charge transport layer is substantially decreased, leading to a decrease in wear resistance. For this reason, the content of these monomers and oligomers is limited to 50 parts by weight or less, preferably 30 parts by weight or less, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the tri- or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer.

  The cross-linked charge transport layer in the present invention is obtained by curing at least a radical polymerizable monomer having at least three functional groups having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure by light irradiation. However, in order to allow this curing reaction to proceed efficiently, a photopolymerization initiator is contained in the crosslinking charge transport layer coating solution.

  Examples of the photopolymerization initiator include diethoxyacetophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethane-1-one, 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone, 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2 -Hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1- (4-morpholinophenyl) butanone-1,2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, 2- Acetophenone-based or ketal-based photopolymerization initiators such as methyl-2-morpholino (4-methylthiophenyl) propan-1-one, 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione-2- (o-ethoxycarbonyl) oxime, Benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isobutyl ether Benzoin ether photopolymerization initiators such as benzoin isopropyl ether, benzophenone, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, methyl o-benzoylbenzoate, 2-benzoylnaphthalene, 4-benzoylbiphenyl, 4-benzoylphenyl ether, acrylated benzophenone, Benzophenone photopolymerization initiators such as 1,4-benzoylbenzene, thioxanthones such as 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2,4-dimethylthioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2,4-dichlorothioxanthone Examples of photopolymerization initiators and other photopolymerization initiators include ethyl anthraquinone, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic acid. Phenylethoxyphosphine oxide, bis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phenylphosphine oxide, bis (2,4-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphine oxide, methylphenylglyoxyester, 9,10 -Phenanthrene, an acridine type compound, a triazine type compound, an imidazole type compound is mentioned. Moreover, what has a photopolymerization acceleration effect can also be used individually or in combination with the said photoinitiator. Examples include triethanolamine, methyldiethanolamine, ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, isoamyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, (2-dimethylamino) ethyl benzoate, 4,4'-dimethylaminobenzophenone, and the like.

  These polymerization initiators may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The content of the polymerization initiator is 0.5 to 40 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the total content having radical polymerizability.

  Furthermore, the crosslinkable charge transport layer coating liquid according to the present invention may contain additives such as various plasticizers (for the purpose of stress relaxation and adhesion improvement), leveling agents, and low molecular charge transport materials having no radical reactivity. Can be contained. As these additives, known additives can be used, and as plasticizers, those used in general resins such as dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate can be used, and the amount used is the total solid content of the coating liquid. To 20% by weight or less, preferably 10% or less. As leveling agents, silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil and methylphenyl silicone oil, polymers or oligomers having a perfluoroalkyl group in the side chain can be used, and the amount used is based on the total solid content of the coating liquid. 3% by weight or less is appropriate.

  The crosslinkable charge transport layer in the present invention will be described later with a coating liquid containing at least a trifunctional or higher-functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure. It is formed by coating and curing on the charge transport layer. When the radically polymerizable monomer is a liquid, such a coating liquid can be applied by dissolving other components in the liquid, but if necessary, it is diluted with a solvent and applied.

  Solvents used at this time include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone, esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and propyl ether. And ethers such as dichloromethane, dichloroethane, trichloroethane, and chlorobenzene, aromatics such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, and cellosolves such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, and cellosolve acetate. These solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The dilution ratio with the solvent varies depending on the solubility of the composition, the coating method, and the target film thickness, and is arbitrary. The coating can be performed using a dip coating method, spray coating, bead coating, ring coating method or the like.

  In the present invention, after applying such a crosslinkable charge transport layer coating solution, energy is applied from the outside and cured to form a crosslinkable charge transport layer. The external energy used at this time is light. .

As the energy of light, UV irradiation light sources such as high-pressure mercury lamps and metal halide lamps, which mainly have an emission wavelength in ultraviolet light, can be used, but a visible light source can also be selected according to the absorption wavelength of radically polymerizable substances and photopolymerization initiators. Is possible. Irradiation light amount is 50 mW / cm ² or more, preferably 1000 mW / cm ² or less, it takes time for the curing reaction is less than 50 mW / cm ^2. If it is higher than 1000 mW / cm ^2, the progress of the reaction becomes non-uniform, and local flaws are generated on the surface of the cross-linked charge transport layer, or many unreacted residues and reaction termination ends are generated. In addition, internal stress increases due to rapid crosslinking, which causes cracks and film peeling. In view of the ease of reaction rate control and the simplicity of the apparatus, those using light energy are useful.

  The composition of the crosslinkable charge transport layer coating liquid includes radical polymerization in addition to the above-described trifunctional or higher radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure. When a large amount of additives such as binder resins, antioxidants, and plasticizers that do not have a functional functional group are included, the crosslinking density is reduced, the cured product resulting from the reaction and phase separation of the above additives occur, and the organic solvent It becomes soluble to. Specifically, it is important to suppress the total content to 20% by weight or less with respect to the total solid content of the coating liquid. Further, in order not to dilute the crosslinking density, the total content of monofunctional or bifunctional radical polymerizable monomers, reactive oligomers, and reactive polymers is 20% by weight or less based on the trifunctional radical polymerizable monomers. It is desirable. Further, when a large amount of a radical polymerizable compound having a bifunctional or higher functional charge transporting structure is contained, a bulky structure is fixed in the crosslinked structure by a plurality of bonds, so that distortion is likely to occur. It is easy to become an aggregate. This can cause solubility in organic solvents. Although different depending on the compound structure, the content of the radical polymerizable compound having a bifunctional or higher functional charge transporting structure is preferably 10% by weight or less based on the radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transporting structure.

  Regarding the diluting solvent of the crosslinkable charge transport layer coating solution, if a solvent with a low evaporation rate is used, the remaining solvent may interfere with curing or increase the amount of the lower layer component mixed, resulting in uneven curing. And the cured density is reduced. For this reason, it tends to be soluble in organic solvents. Specifically, tetrahydrofuran, a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran and methanol, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl cellosolve and the like are useful, but are selected according to the coating method. Moreover, regarding the solid content concentration, if it is too low for the same reason, it tends to be soluble in an organic solvent. Conversely, the upper limit concentration is constrained by the limitations of film thickness and coating solution viscosity. Specifically, it is desirable to use in the range of 10 to 50% by weight.

  As a coating method for the cross-linked charge transport layer, for the same reason, a solvent content at the time of forming a coating film, a method of reducing the contact time with the solvent is preferable, specifically, a spray coating method, a coating liquid amount A ring coat method in which the above is regulated is preferable. In order to suppress the amount of the lower layer component mixed, it is also effective to use a polymer charge transport material as the charge transport layer and to provide an insoluble intermediate layer for the coating solvent for the cross-linked charge transport layer.

As curing conditions for the cross-linked charge transport layer, if the energy of light irradiation is low, the curing is not completely completed and the solubility in the organic solvent is increased. On the other hand, when cured with very high energy, the curing reaction becomes non-uniform, and it tends to increase the number of uncrosslinked parts and radical stopping parts and to form an aggregate of minute cured products. For this reason, it may become soluble in an organic solvent. In order to insolubilize in an organic solvent, the curing conditions by UV light irradiation are 50 to 1000 mW / cm ² , 5 seconds to 5 minutes, and the temperature rise is controlled to 50 ° C. or less to suppress uneven curing reaction. Is desirable.

Hereinafter, the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention will be described according to its layer structure.
<About the layer structure of the electrophotographic photoreceptor>
The electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention. On a conductive support (31), a charge generation layer (35) having a charge generation function and a charge having a charge transport material function are shown. The photosensitive member has a laminated structure in which a transport layer (37) and a cross-linked charge transport layer (39) are further laminated.

<About conductive support>
As the conductive support (31), a material having a volume resistance of 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm or less, for example, a metal such as aluminum, nickel, chromium, nichrome, copper, gold, silver, platinum, tin oxide, oxidation Metal oxide such as indium is deposited or sputtered to form film or cylindrical plastic, paper coated, or aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, stainless steel, etc. After conversion, a tube that has been subjected to surface treatment such as cutting, superfinishing, or polishing can be used. Further, an endless nickel belt and an endless stainless steel belt disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-36016 can be used as the conductive support (31).

In addition, the conductive support dispersed in a suitable binder resin and coated on the support can also be used as the conductive support (31) of the present invention.
Examples of the conductive powder include carbon black, acetylene black, metal powder such as aluminum, nickel, iron, nichrome, copper, zinc and silver, or metal oxide powder such as conductive tin oxide and ITO. Can be mentioned. The binder resin used at the same time is polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. , Polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylidene chloride, polyarylate resin, phenoxy resin, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, ethyl cellulose resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl toluene, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, Examples thereof include thermoplastic, thermosetting resins, and photocurable resins such as melamine resin, urethane resin, phenol resin, and alkyd resin. Such a conductive layer can be provided by dispersing and coating these conductive powder and binder resin in a suitable solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, methyl ethyl ketone, and toluene.

  Further, a heat shrinkable tube in which the conductive powder is contained in a material such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, chlorinated rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene-based fluororesin on a suitable cylindrical substrate. Those provided with a conductive layer can be used favorably as the conductive support (31) of the present invention.

<About photosensitive layer>
(Charge generation layer)
The charge generation layer (35) is a layer mainly composed of a charge generation material having a charge generation function, and a binder resin can be used in combination as necessary. As the charge generation material, inorganic materials and organic materials can be used.

  Inorganic materials include crystalline selenium, amorphous selenium, selenium-tellurium, selenium-tellurium-halogen, selenium-arsenic compounds, and amorphous silicon. In amorphous silicon, dangling bonds that are terminated with hydrogen atoms or halogen atoms, or those that are doped with boron atoms, phosphorus atoms, or the like are preferably used.

  On the other hand, a known material can be used as the organic material. For example, phthalocyanine pigments such as metal phthalocyanine and metal-free phthalocyanine, azulenium salt pigments, squaric acid methine pigments, azo pigments having carbazole skeleton, azo pigments having triphenylamine skeleton, azo pigments having diphenylamine skeleton, dibenzothiophene skeleton Azo pigments having a fluorenone skeleton, azo pigments having an oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigments having a bis-stilbene skeleton, azo pigments having a distyryl oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigments having a distyrylcarbazole skeleton, perylene Pigments, anthraquinone or polycyclic quinone pigments, quinoneimine pigments, diphenylmethane and triphenylmethane pigments, benzoquinone and naphthoquinone pigments, cyanine and azomethine pigments, Goido based pigments, and bisbenzimidazole pigments. These charge generation materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

  The binder resin used as necessary for the charge generation layer (35) is polyamide, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyketone, polycarbonate, silicone resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl ketone, polystyrene, poly-N-. Examples thereof include vinyl carbazole and polyacrylamide. These binder resins can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more. In addition to the binder resin described above as a binder resin for the charge generation layer, a polymer charge transport material having a charge transport function, such as an arylamine skeleton, benzidine skeleton, hydrazone skeleton, carbazole skeleton, stilbene skeleton, pyrazoline skeleton, etc. Polymer materials such as polycarbonate, polyester, polyurethane, polyether, polysiloxane, and acrylic resin, polymer materials having a polysilane skeleton, and the like can be used.

The charge generation layer (35) may contain a low molecular charge transport material. Low molecular charge transport materials that can be used in combination with the charge generation layer (35) include hole transport materials and electron transport materials.
Examples of the electron transporting material include chloroanil, bromanyl, tetracyanoethylene, tetracyanoquinodimethane, 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenone, 2,4 , 5,7-tetranitroxanthone, 2,4,8-trinitrothioxanthone, 2,6,8-trinitro-4H-indeno [1,2-b] thiophen-4-one, 1,3,7-tri Examples thereof include electron-accepting substances such as nitrodibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide and diphenoquinone derivatives. These electron transport materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.
Examples of the hole transporting material include the electron donating materials shown below and are used favorably. As hole transport materials, oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, monoarylamine derivatives, diarylamine derivatives, triarylamine derivatives, stilbene derivatives, α-phenylstilbene derivatives, benzidine derivatives, diarylmethane derivatives, triaryls Other known materials such as methane derivatives, 9-styrylanthracene derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives, divinylbenzene derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, indene derivatives, butadiene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, bisstilbene derivatives, enamine derivatives, and the like can be given. These hole transport materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

Methods for forming the charge generation layer (35) include a vacuum thin film preparation method and a casting method from a solution dispersion system.
As the former method, a vacuum deposition method, a glow discharge decomposition method, an ion plating method, a sputtering method, a reactive sputtering method, a CVD method, or the like is used, and the above-described inorganic materials and organic materials can be satisfactorily formed.
In addition, in order to provide a charge generation layer by the casting method described later, if necessary, the inorganic or organic charge generation material together with a binder resin, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dioxolane, toluene, dichloromethane, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethane, cyclohexanone, cyclohexane. Can be formed by dispersing with a ball mill, attritor, sand mill, bead mill, etc. using a solvent such as pentanone, anisole, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, etc. . Moreover, leveling agents, such as a dimethyl silicone oil and a methylphenyl silicone oil, can be added as needed. The coating can be performed using a dip coating method, spray coating, bead coating, ring coating method or the like.
The thickness of the charge generation layer provided as described above is suitably about 0.01 to 5 μm, preferably 0.05 to 2 μm.

(About charge transport layer)
The charge transport layer (37) is a layer having a charge transport function. A charge transport material having a charge transport function and a binder resin are dissolved or dispersed in an appropriate solvent, and this is coated on the charge generation layer (35) and dried. To form.
As the charge transport material, the electron transport material, hole transport material and polymer charge transport material described in the charge generation layer (35) can be used. As described above, the use of the polymer charge transport material can reduce the solubility of the lower layer when the cross-linked charge transport layer is applied and is particularly useful.
As the binder resin, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, Polyvinylidene chloride, polyarylate resin, phenoxy resin, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, ethyl cellulose resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl toluene, poly-N-vinyl carbazole, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, melamine resin, urethane resin And thermoplastic or thermosetting resins such as phenol resins and alkyd resins.
The amount of the charge transport material is appropriately 20 to 300 parts by weight, preferably 40 to 150 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. However, when a polymer charge transport material is used, it can be used alone or in combination with a binder resin.

  As the solvent used for coating the charge transport layer, the same solvent as that used for the charge generation layer can be used, but a solvent that dissolves the charge transport material and the binder resin is suitable. These solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The lower layer portion of the charge transport layer can be formed by a coating method similar to that for the charge generation layer (35).

If necessary, a plasticizer and a leveling agent can be added.
As a plasticizer that can be used in combination with the charge transport layer, those used as plasticizers for general resins such as dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate can be used as they are, and the amount used is 0 with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. About 30 parts by weight is appropriate.
Leveling agents that can be used in combination with the charge transport layer include silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil and methylphenyl silicone oil, and polymers or oligomers having a perfluoroalkyl group in the side chain. The amount used is a binder resin. About 0 to 1 part by weight is appropriate for 100 parts by weight.

  The thickness of the charge transport layer is suitably about 5 to 40 μm, preferably about 10 to 30 μm. On the charge transport layer thus formed, the above-described crosslinkable charge transport layer coating solution is applied, dried as necessary, and a curing reaction is started by external energy of heat or light irradiation, thereby crosslinkable charge. A transport layer is formed.

<About the intermediate layer>
In the photoreceptor used in the present invention, an intermediate layer is provided between the charge transport layer and the crosslinkable charge transport layer for the purpose of suppressing charge transport layer component mixing into the crosslinkable charge transport layer or improving adhesion between the two layers. Can be provided. For this reason, as the intermediate layer, those which are insoluble or hardly soluble in the cross-linked charge transport layer coating solution are suitable, and generally a binder resin is used as a main component. Examples of these resins include polyamide, alcohol-soluble nylon, water-soluble polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl butyral, and polyvinyl alcohol. As a method for forming the intermediate layer, a generally used coating method is employed as described above. In addition, about 0.05-2 micrometers is suitable for the thickness of an intermediate | middle layer.

<About the undercoat layer>
In the photoreceptor used in the present invention, an undercoat layer can be provided between the conductive support (31) and the photosensitive layer. In general, the undercoat layer is mainly composed of a resin. However, considering that the photosensitive layer is coated with a solvent on these resins, the resin may be a resin having high solvent resistance with respect to a general organic solvent. desirable. Examples of such resins include water-soluble resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, casein, and sodium polyacrylate, alcohol-soluble resins such as copolymer nylon and methoxymethylated nylon, polyurethane, melamine resin, phenol resin, alkyd-melamine resin, and epoxy. Examples thereof include a curable resin that forms a three-dimensional network structure such as a resin. Further, a metal oxide fine powder pigment exemplified by titanium oxide, silica, alumina, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide and the like may be added to the undercoat layer in order to prevent moire and reduce residual potential.

These undercoat layers can be formed using an appropriate solvent and a coating method like the above-mentioned photosensitive layer. Furthermore, a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, a chromium coupling agent, or the like can be used as the undercoat layer of the present invention. In addition, in the undercoat layer of the present invention, Al ₂ O ₃ is provided by anodization, organic substances such as polyparaxylylene (parylene), SiO ₂ , SnO ₂ , TiO ₂ , ITO, CeO ₂ A material provided with an inorganic material such as a vacuum thin film can also be used favorably. In addition, known ones can be used. The thickness of the undercoat layer is suitably from 0 to 5 μm.

<Addition of antioxidant to each layer>
Further, in the present invention, in order to improve environmental resistance, in particular, for the purpose of preventing a decrease in sensitivity and an increase in residual potential, a cross-linked charge transport layer, a charge transport layer, a charge generation layer, an undercoat layer, an intermediate layer An antioxidant can be added to each layer.
The following are mentioned as antioxidant which can be used for this invention.

(Phenolic compounds)
2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, butylated hydroxyanisole, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-ethylphenol, stearyl-β- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4 -Hydroxyphenyl) propionate, 2,2'-methylene-bis- (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis- (4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4, 4'-thiobis- (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-butylidenebis- (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 1,1,3-tris- (2-methyl-4 -Hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene, tetrakis- [methylene- -(3 ', 5'-di-t-butyl-4'-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] methane, bis [3,3'-bis (4'-hydroxy-3'-t-butylphenyl) butyric acid ] Cryol ester, tocopherols and the like.

(Paraphenylenediamines)
N-phenyl-N'-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N'-di-sec-butyl-p-phenylenediamine, N-phenyl-N-sec-butyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N'- Di-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N′-dimethyl-N, N′-di-t-butyl-p-phenylenediamine and the like.

(Hydroquinones)
2,5-di-t-octylhydroquinone, 2,6-didodecylhydroquinone, 2-dodecylhydroquinone, 2-dodecyl-5-chlorohydroquinone, 2-t-octyl-5-methylhydroquinone, 2- (2-octadecenyl) ) -5-methylhydroquinone and the like.

(Organic sulfur compounds)
Dilauryl-3,3′-thiodipropionate, distearyl-3,3′-thiodipropionate, ditetradecyl-3,3′-thiodipropionate, and the like.

(Organic phosphorus compounds)
Triphenylphosphine, tri (nonylphenyl) phosphine, tri (dinonylphenyl) phosphine, tricresylphosphine, tri (2,4-dibutylphenoxy) phosphine, and the like.

These compounds are known as antioxidants such as rubbers, plastics and fats and oils, and commercially available products can be easily obtained.
The addition amount of the antioxidant in the present invention is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the layer to be added.

<Process cartridge>
The image forming means of the present invention may be fixedly incorporated in a copying apparatus, facsimile, or printer, but may be incorporated in these apparatuses in the form of a process cartridge and detachable.
That is, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus may be configured so as to be detachably provided with a process cartridge including at least a photosensitive member and a cleaning member having a nonwoven fabric disposed in contact with the photosensitive member. In addition, the process cartridge may further include one or more selected from a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a lubricant supply unit, and other cleaning members (such as a cleaning blade).
An example of the process cartridge is shown in FIG.

The process cartridge for the image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor (101), and in addition, a charging unit (102), a developing unit (104), a transfer unit (106), a cleaning unit (107), and a discharging unit (not shown). ), And an apparatus (part) that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.
Referring to the image forming process by the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7, the surface of the photoreceptor (101) is exposed by charging by the charging means (102) and exposure by the exposure means (103) while rotating in the direction of the arrow. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing means (104). The toner development is transferred to the transfer body (105) by the transfer means (106), and printed. Be out. Next, the surface of the photoreceptor after the image transfer is cleaned by a cleaning means (107) having a non-woven fabric (not shown), and the lubricant is further supplied to the photoreceptor by a lubricant supply means (not shown), and finally the static elimination means. The charge is removed by (not shown) and the above operation is repeated again.
The present invention has a very high wear resistance and scratch resistance, and a cleaning means having a laminated photoreceptor having a cross-linked charge transport layer on the surface and a non-woven fabric that is less prone to cracks and film peeling, and charging as necessary. The present invention provides a process cartridge for an image forming apparatus in which development, transfer, lubricant supply, and static elimination means are integrated.

  As is apparent from the above description, the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention is not only used in an electrophotographic copying machine, but also in electrophotographic applications such as laser beam printers, CRT printers, LED printers, liquid crystal printers, and laser plate making. It can be widely used in the field.

  In the present invention, toner, charging member (charging means), developing member (developing means), transfer member (transfer means), cleaning member other than non-woven fabric (cleaning means), static elimination member (static elimination means), etc. are conventionally used. To publicly known techniques.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to what is illustrated here. The part in an Example represents a weight part.

[Example 1]
A nylon fiber having a fineness of 2 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm was formed by a wet method and then bonded between fibers by a thermal bond method to obtain a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 1000 g / m ² and a thickness of 5 mm.
The nonwoven fabric was cut into a width of 10 mm and a length of 320 mm to obtain a cleaning member.

[Photoreceptor a]
By coating and drying an undercoat layer coating solution, a charge generation layer coating solution, and a charge transport layer coating solution in the following order on a φ30 mm aluminum cylinder in sequence, an undercoat layer of 3.5 μm A 0.2 μm charge generation layer and an 18 μm charge transport layer were formed. On this charge transport layer, a coating solution for a cross-linked charge transport layer having the following composition is spray-coated and naturally dried for 20 minutes, and then a metal halide lamp: 160 W / cm, irradiation distance: 120 mm, irradiation intensity: 500 mW / cm ^2. Irradiation time: Light irradiation was performed under conditions of 60 seconds to cure the coating film. Further, drying was performed at 130 ° C. for 20 minutes to provide an 8.0 μm cross-linked charge transport layer, whereby a photoreceptor a was obtained.

[Coating liquid for undercoat layer]
-Alkyd resin 6 parts (Beccosol 1307-60-EL, manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.)
Melamine resin 4 parts (Super Becamine G-821-60, manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals)
・ Titanium oxide 40 parts ・ Methyl ethyl ketone 50 parts

[Coating liquid for charge generation layer]
-Bisazo pigment of the following structural formula (I) 2.5 parts-Polyvinyl butyral (XYHL, manufactured by UCC) 0.5 part-Cyclohexanone 200 parts-Methyl ethyl ketone 80 parts

[Coating liquid for charge transport layer]
・ 10 parts of bisphenol Z polycarbonate (Panlite TS-2050, manufactured by Teijin Chemicals)
-7 parts of low molecular charge transport material (D-1) of the following structural formula (II)-100 parts of tetrahydrofuran-0.2 part of tetrahydrofuran solution of 1% silicone oil (KF50-100CS, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)

[Coating liquid for cross-linked charge transport layer]
Trifunctional or higher-functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transporting structure 10 parts trimethylolpropane triacrylate (KAYARAD TMPTA, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) Molecular weight: 296, number of functional groups: trifunctional, molecular weight / number of functional groups = 99
・ 10 parts of a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transporting structure (the following structural formula (III))
Photopolymerization initiator 1 part 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone (Irgacure 184, manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals)
・ 100 parts of tetrahydrofuran

  The obtained nonwoven fabric cleaning member and photoreceptor a were incorporated as 10 nonwoven fabric and photoreceptor 1 of the image forming apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG.

[Example 2]
A nylon fiber having a fineness of 2 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm is formed with a fleece by a wet method, followed by interfiber bonding by a thermal bond method to obtain a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 500 g / m ² and a thickness of 2.5 mm. Then, it was cut into a long strip shape having a length of 800 mm.
Next, a stainless steel cylindrical core member having a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 40 mm was prepared, and a double-sided adhesive tape was pasted thereon.
Finally, the above-described long-striped nonwoven fabric was spirally wound on the cylindrical core member without a gap to obtain a nonwoven fabric roller.
The obtained non-woven roller and photoconductor a were incorporated as non-woven roller 10 and photoconductor 1 of the image forming apparatus configured as shown in FIG.

Example 3
A nylon fiber having a fineness of 2 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm is formed by fleece by a wet method, and then interfiber bonding is performed by a thermal bond method to obtain a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 600 g / m ² and a thickness of 3 mm. The sheet was cut into a sheet of 250 mm.
Two sides of 320 mm of this sheet-like nonwoven fabric were joined and joined by braiding to obtain a nonwoven fabric belt having a width of 320 and a circumferential length of 250 mm.
The obtained non-woven belt and photoconductor a were incorporated as non-woven belt 10 and photoconductor 1 of the image forming apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 3 to obtain an image forming apparatus.

Example 4
A nylon fiber having a fineness of 0.05 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm is formed with a fleece by a wet method, and then interfiber bonding is performed by a thermal bond method to obtain a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 500 g / m ² and a thickness of 2.5 mm. It was cut into a long strip shape having a width of 10 mm and a length of 800 mm.
Next, a stainless steel cylindrical core member having a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 40 mm was prepared, and a double-sided adhesive tape was pasted thereon.
Finally, the above-described long-striped nonwoven fabric was spirally wound on the cylindrical core member without a gap to obtain a nonwoven fabric roller.
The obtained non-woven roller and photoconductor a were incorporated as non-woven roller 10 and photoconductor 1 of the image forming apparatus configured as shown in FIG.

Example 5
An image forming apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the fineness was changed to 0.1 dtex.

Example 6
An image forming apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the fineness was changed to 5 dtex.

Example 7
An image forming apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the fineness was changed to 20 dtex.

Example 8
An image forming apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the fineness was changed to 50 dtex.

Example 9
2 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the fiber material was changed from nylon to polyester.

Example 10
A nylon fiber having a fineness of 1 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm is formed by fleece by a wet method, and then interfiber bonding is performed by a thermal bond method to obtain a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 500 g / m ² and a thickness of 2.5 mm. Then, it was cut into a long strip shape having a length of 800 mm.
Next, a stainless steel cylindrical core member having a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 40 mm was prepared, and a double-sided adhesive tape was pasted thereon.
Finally, the above-mentioned long-striped nonwoven fabric was spirally wound on this cylindrical core member without a gap to obtain a nylon fiber nonwoven fabric roller.
Further, a polyester fiber having a fineness of 1 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm is formed with a fleece by a wet method, and then interfiber bonding is performed by a thermal bond method to obtain a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of 500 g / m ² and a thickness of 2.5 mm. It was cut into a long strip shape having a width of 10 mm and a length of 800 mm.
Next, a stainless steel cylindrical core member having a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 40 mm was prepared, and a double-sided adhesive tape was pasted thereon.
Finally, the above-mentioned long-striped nonwoven fabric was spirally wound on this cylindrical core member without a gap to obtain a polyester fiber nonwoven fabric roller.
The obtained nonwoven fabric roller and the photoreceptor a are incorporated with a nylon fiber nonwoven fabric roller as the nonwoven fabric roller 10a and a polyester fiber nonwoven fabric roller as the nonwoven fabric roller 10b in the image forming apparatus configured as shown in FIG. Got the device.

Example 11
A 50% nylon fiber with a fineness of 1 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm and a 50% polyester fiber with a fineness of 1 dtex and a fiber length of 51 mm are formed into a fleece by a wet mixing method, and then fiber-to-fiber bonding is performed by a thermal bond method, with a basis weight of 500 g / ^{m 2,} to obtain a thickness of 2.5mm of the nonwoven fabric. Furthermore, this nonwoven fabric was cut into a long strip shape having a width of 10 mm and a length of 800 mm.
Next, a stainless steel cylindrical core member having a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 40 mm was prepared, and a double-sided adhesive tape was pasted thereon.
Finally, the above-described long-striped nonwoven fabric was spirally wound on this cylindrical core member without a gap to obtain a nonwoven fabric roller made of nylon / polyester fibers.
The obtained non-woven roller and photoconductor a were incorporated as non-woven roller 10 and photoconductor 1 of the image forming apparatus configured as shown in FIG.

Example 12
The nylon fiber of Example 11 was changed to wool having a fineness of about 10, the polyester fiber was changed to vinyl chloride having a fineness of 5 and a fiber length of 5.1 mm, and the basis weight was 320 g / m ² . An image forming apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. 2 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 11 except that the thickness was changed to 3 mm.

[Comparative Example 1]
An image forming apparatus was obtained in exactly the same manner as in Example 2 except that the nonwoven fabric roller 10 was not incorporated.

[Comparative Example 2]
The eight cleaning brushes and the nonwoven fabric roller 10 of Example 2 were replaced and attached, and an image forming apparatus in which the nonwoven fabric roller and the cleaning brush were arranged at the beginning of the cleaning process was obtained.

[Comparative Example 3]
An image forming apparatus was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photoreceptor a was changed to the photoreceptor b.
[Photoreceptor b]
A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as the photoconductor a except that the cross-linkable charge transport layer of the photoconductor a was not provided and the thickness of the charge transport layer was 25 μm.

  Table 1 summarizes the configurations of the image forming apparatuses created in the examples and comparative examples.

A copying test was conducted using the image forming apparatus obtained as described above. In the test mode, the image shown in FIG. 8 is used as an original, an image is formed in the direction of the arrow, and an accelerated deterioration test in which the image density is different in three stages from the front side to the back side in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive member. went.
Configurations and test conditions other than those described in the above-described Examples and Comparative Examples were as follows.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus and test conditions)
Charging: Contact charging method in which DC is superimposed on AC charging Writing: 780 nm LD
Development: Two-component development toner: Polymerized toner, average particle size 5.3 μm, circularity 0.96, silica with average particle size 10 nm and 100 nm, and titanium oxide with average particle size 15 nm External transfer: polyimide intermediate transfer belt When there is a system cleaning brush: Polyester brush Cleaning brush: Urethane rubber blade Lubricant application: Polyester brush lubricant: Zinc stearate 8 × 8 × 320 mm Block shape Static neutralization: Wavelength 660 nm LED
System linear velocity: 400mm / sec
Print image: A4 size Fig. 8 Image pattern Number of prints: 100,000 Print environment: 15 ° C 30%

The above print test was evaluated as follows.
Insect-eating transfer: Is a normal character image printed after 100,000 sheets, and whether characters are missing?
Cleaning property: Whether or not a defective cleaning has occurred by removing the photoconductor from the image forming apparatus after a print test of 100,000 sheets and observing the portion of the photoconductor after the cleaning process.
Lubricant consumption status: Is the lubricant taken out after a 100,000-sheet print test, and whether the consumption (remaining lubricant thickness) is biased in the longitudinal direction due to the print image density difference. In addition, it is a level that can withstand actual use as long as there is a slight bias.
Photoconductor uneven wear: Is the photoconductor removed after a 100,000 sheet print test, and is there any bias in the wear (residual film thickness) of the photosensitive layer due to the difference in print image density in the longitudinal direction?

  The above evaluation results are shown in Table 2 below.

As is clear from the above, the image forming apparatuses of Examples 1 to 12 according to the present invention have a stable cleaning quality even in a low temperature environment and under severe cleaning conditions in which a significant difference in image density is continuously given. Therefore, it can be seen that the supply of the lubricant in the next process is stable, and therefore, a worm-eaten transfer image, a poor cleaning, and the like hardly occur and a good image is shown. Since uneven consumption of the lubricant and uneven wear of the photosensitive member due to the difference in image density are suppressed, long-term reliability can be ensured.
Moreover, it turned out that the fineness of a nonwoven fabric has the favorable range of 0.1-20 dtex.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the nonwoven fabric is disposed at the final position of the cleaning process and immediately before the lubricant application. The cleaning brush, the cleaning blade, and the cleaning nonwoven fabric should be disposed so that the cleaning strength gradually increases in this order. It can be seen that this is a more stable method.
Therefore, according to the configuration of the present invention, at least the charge generation layer, the charge transport layer, and the cross-linked charge transport layer are sequentially laminated on the conductive support and the cleaning unit in which the nonwoven fabric is in contact with the photoreceptor. A photoconductive body formed by curing a tri- or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having at least a charge transporting structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transporting structure. As a result of this synergistic effect, the amount of metal soap applied to an image forming apparatus equipped with a metal soap coating mechanism on the photoconductor is stabilized over a long period of time, and the durability (wear resistance) of the photoconductor is dramatically improved compared to conventional methods. It has been found that image quality and reliability quality can be greatly improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Charging roller (charging means)
3 Writing light 4 Developing roller (developing means)
5 Transfer roller (part of transfer means)
6 Intermediate transfer member (part of transfer means)
7 PCL lamp 9 Cleaning blade (part of cleaning means)
10 Nonwoven fabric (part of cleaning means)
11 Lubricant application brush (lubricant application means)
12 Lubricant 13 QL lamp (static elimination means)
110 Core material 120 Cover layer 120a Surface layer 120b Underlayer T1 Seam

JP-A-1-170951 JP 2000-162881 A Japanese Patent No. 2859646

Claims (10)

A photoconductor rotating in a predetermined rotation direction;
Charging means for charging the photoreceptor;
Exposure means for exposing the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to a transfer material;
Cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred to the photoconductor by the transfer means;
A lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant containing metal soap to the surface of the photoreceptor,
The photoreceptor includes a conductive support, and a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a cross-linked charge transport layer, which are sequentially laminated on the conductive support.
The crosslinked charge transport layer is formed by curing a trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure,
The cleaning means includes a plurality of cleaning members,
At least one of the plurality of cleaning members has a nonwoven fabric,
The non-woven fabric is not arranged upstream of the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor among the plurality of cleaning members, and is arranged in contact with the photoconductor,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant supplying unit is disposed downstream of the nonwoven fabric with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor.
However, in the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor, the arrangement position of the charging unit is the most upstream, and the position immediately before the photoconductor rotates by one round from the upstream is the most downstream.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-woven fabric is disposed downstream of the plurality of cleaning members with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric has a fineness of 0.1 to 20 dtex.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric roller member in which an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical metal shaft is covered with a nonwoven fabric.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric is mainly composed of a fiber having a negatively charged triboelectric series with a resin constituting the surface layer of the photoreceptor.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-woven fabric is mainly composed of fibers having a plus side of a triboelectric charge train with a resin constituting the surface of the photoreceptor. Two cleaning members among the plurality of cleaning members both have a nonwoven fabric and are arranged in contact with the photoreceptor,
The non-woven fabric that one side has as a main component is a fiber that has a plus side frictional charge train with the resin that constitutes the surface layer of the photoreceptor,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric provided on the other side is mainly composed of a fiber having a negatively charged triboelectric series with the resin constituting the surface of the photoreceptor.   The nonwoven fabric includes two types of fibers: a fiber having a plus frictional charge train with the resin constituting the photoreceptor surface layer and a fiber having a minus friction friction train with the resin constituting the photoreceptor surface layer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes the image forming apparatus. A process cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A process cartridge comprising: at least a photosensitive member; and a cleaning member having a non-woven fabric disposed in contact with the photosensitive member. A charging step for charging a photoreceptor rotating in a predetermined rotation direction;
An exposure step of exposing the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image;
A development step of developing the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image;
A transfer step of transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to a transfer material;
A cleaning step of cleaning toner remaining on the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred to the photoconductor in the transfer step;
A lubricant supply step for supplying a lubricant containing metal soap to the surface of the photoreceptor,
The photoreceptor includes a conductive support, and a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a cross-linked charge transport layer, which are sequentially laminated on the conductive support.
The crosslinked charge transport layer is formed by curing a trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure,
The cleaning step cleans toner remaining on the photoconductor with a plurality of cleaning members,
At least one of the plurality of cleaning members has a nonwoven fabric,
The non-woven fabric is not arranged upstream of the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor among the plurality of cleaning members, and is arranged in contact with the photoconductor,
The image forming method, wherein the lubricant supplying step is arranged downstream of the non-woven fabric with respect to a predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor.
However, in the predetermined rotation direction of the photoconductor, the arrangement position of the charging unit is the most upstream, and the position immediately before the photoconductor rotates by one round from the upstream is the most downstream.