JP2015152863A - Cleaning member for image forming apparatus, charging device, unit for image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress pealing of a foam elastic layer.SOLUTION: A cleaning member of an image forming apparatus includes: a core body 100A; a foam elastic layer 100B provided in such a manner that a strip-like foam elastic member having the same thickness over the entire area in the width direction spirally winds around the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A from one end to the other of the core body 100A; and an adhesion layer 100D which adheres the core body 100A with the foam elastic layer 100B, and which has a larger width than that of the foam elastic layer 100B, and protrudes from both ends in the width direction of the foam elastic layer 100B. The difference ΔW between a peripheral length W1 of a contact surface of the core body 100A and the adhesion layer 100D, and a peripheral length W2 of a contact surface of the contact adhesion layer 100D and the foam elastic layer 100B satisfies 0 mm<ΔW<1.5 mm, and the difference ΔD between the maximum value and the minimum value of the foam elastic layer 100B in the thickness direction in the state in which the foam elastic layer 100B is provided on the peripheral surface of the core body 100A satisfies 0.2 mm<ΔD<0.4 mm.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, a charging device, a unit for an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, first, the surface of an image carrier made of a photosensitive member or the like is charged by a charging device to form a charge, and an electrostatic latent image is formed with a laser beam or the like that modulates an image signal. Form. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the charged toner and a visualized toner image is formed. Then, the toner image is electrostatically transferred to a transfer medium such as a recording sheet via an intermediate transfer body, and fixed on the transfer medium, thereby obtaining an image.
By the way, in patent document 1, the method of attaching the roller which consists of sponge materials as a cleaning member of a charging roll is proposed.
Patent Document 2 proposes a method of providing a peripheral speed difference between the charging roll and the cleaning roll.
Patent Documents 3 and 4 propose a method in which a force is applied to a contaminant in the longitudinal direction of the charging roll using a spiral cleaning roll or the like.
Patent Document 5 proposes a method of forming an unbonded region at the sheet end of a spiral cleaning roll.

JP-A-2-272594 JP 7-129055 A JP 7-219313 A JP 2001-209238 A JP 2012-008493 A

  The subject of this invention is providing the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which suppressed peeling of the foaming elastic layer from the core.

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is,
The invention according to claim 1
The core,
A foamed elastic layer in which a strip-shaped foamed elastic member having an equal thickness over the entire width direction is spirally wound on the outer peripheral surface of the core body from one end to the other end of the core body, and
An adhesive layer for adhering the core and the foamed elastic layer, the adhesive layer being larger than the width of the foamed elastic layer and protruding from both ends in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer;
With
The difference ΔW between the circumferential length W1 of the contact surface of the core body and the adhesive layer and the circumferential length W2 of the contact surface of the adhesive layer and the foamed elastic layer satisfies 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm,
The difference ΔD between the maximum value and the minimum value in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer in the state of being disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core body is for an image forming apparatus satisfying 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm. It is a cleaning member

The invention according to claim 2
The foamed elastic layer is composed of at least two strip-shaped foamed elastic members, and is wound spirally with the longitudinal sides of the adhesive surfaces of the two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members in contact with each other. The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is rotated and disposed.

The invention according to claim 3
The foamed elastic layer is composed of at least two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members, and is wound and arranged spirally in a state where the longitudinal sides of the two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members are not in contact with each other. The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

The invention according to claim 4
A charging member for charging the object to be charged;
The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is disposed in contact with the surface of the charging member and cleans the surface of the charging member.
A charging device comprising

The invention according to claim 5
At least the charging device according to claim 4,
The process cartridge is detachable from the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 6
An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, the charging means having the charging device according to claim 4;
Latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with toner to form a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a transfer object;
An image forming apparatus comprising

The invention according to claim 7 provides:
A member to be cleaned;
The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning member is disposed in contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned and cleans the surface of the member to be cleaned. When,
A unit for an image forming apparatus comprising

The invention according to claim 8 provides:
At least a unit for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
The process cartridge is detachable from the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 9 is:
An image forming apparatus comprising the unit for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the foamed elastic layer is peeled off from the core as compared with the case where ΔW does not satisfy the relationship of 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm and ΔD of 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm. A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus that suppresses this is provided.

  According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus that is excellent in cleaning performance as compared with the case where the foamed elastic layer is a single strip-shaped foamed elastic member.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the cleaning member for an image forming apparatus that does not satisfy the relationship of ΔW of 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm and ΔD of 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm is provided. There is provided a charging device that suppresses peeling of the foamed elastic layer from the core in the cleaning member.

  According to the fifth and sixth aspects of the invention, the cleaning member for an image forming apparatus that does not satisfy the relationship of ΔW of 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm and ΔD of 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm is provided. As compared with the above, there are provided a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that suppress the peeling of the foamed elastic layer from the core in the cleaning member.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the cleaning member for the image forming apparatus that does not satisfy the relationship of ΔW = 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm and ΔD of 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm is provided. There is provided a unit for an image forming apparatus in which peeling of the foamed elastic layer from the core in the cleaning member is suppressed.

  According to the eighth and ninth aspects of the invention, the image includes the cleaning member for the image forming apparatus that does not satisfy the relationship of ΔW of 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm and ΔD of 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus for an image forming apparatus are provided that suppress the peeling of the foamed elastic layer from the core of the cleaning member as compared with a case where a unit for the forming apparatus is provided.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic plan view showing a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the foaming elastic layer in the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which concerns on this embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the foaming elastic layer in the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which concerns on other embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the foaming elastic layer in the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which concerns on other embodiment. It is process drawing which shows 1 process in an example of the manufacturing method of the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which concerns on this embodiment. It is process drawing which shows 1 process in an example of the manufacturing method of the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which concerns on this embodiment. It is process drawing which shows 1 process in an example of the manufacturing method of the cleaning member for image forming apparatuses which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the process cartridge which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram in which a peripheral portion of the charging member (charging device) in FIGS. 7 and 8 is enlarged.

  Embodiments that are examples of the present invention will be described below. In addition, the same code | symbol may be provided to the member which has the same function and an effect | action through all the drawings, and the description may be abbreviate | omitted.

(Cleaning member)
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the cleaning member for the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the foamed elastic layer in the cleaning member for the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, that is, a cross-sectional view of the foamed elastic layer cut along the circumferential direction of the core.

  A cleaning member 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as a cleaning member) for an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a roll-shaped member, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and includes a core body 100A and a foamed elastic layer 100B. And an adhesive layer 100D for adhering the core body 100A and the foamed elastic layer 100B.

  In the foamed elastic layer 100B, a strip-shaped foamed elastic member 100C (hereinafter referred to as a strip 100C) having the same thickness in the entire width direction is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core body from one end to the other end of the core body. It is formed by turning. Specifically, the foamed elastic layer 100B is disposed, for example, from one end to the other end of the core body 100A, with the core body 100A serving as a spiral axis, and the strips 100C being spirally wound at intervals. Yes.

  Here, the strip 100C having the same thickness over the entire width direction refers to the thickness in a state before being spirally wound around the core. In addition, when thickness is equal, when the difference (unit: mm) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the thickness is measured, the first decimal place is 0 (that is, 0.0... Mm).

The adhesive layer 100D is arranged in a state where it is larger than the width of the foamed elastic layer 100B and protrudes from both ends in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B.
Specifically, the foamed elastic layer 100B is disposed on a region excluding both ends in the width direction of the adhesive layer 100D (for example, a region in the center in the width direction) from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B. In this state, the adhesive layer 100D bonds the foamed elastic layer 100B.
In addition, the two portions at both ends in the width direction of the adhesive layer 100D protruding from both ends in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B are referred to as “protruding portions 100D1 and 100D2”, respectively.

  The difference ΔW between the circumferential length W1 of the contact surface of the core body 100A and the adhesive layer 100D and the circumferential length W2 of the contact surface of the adhesive layer 100D and the foamed elastic layer 100B is 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm. The difference ΔD between the maximum value (Dmax) and the minimum value (Dmin) in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer in the state of being disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A is 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm. Meet the relationship.

  In the cleaning member 100 according to this embodiment, the difference ΔW in the circumferential length of the protruding portion of the adhesive layer 100D is controlled to 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm, and the maximum thickness of the foamed elastic layer 100B is set. By controlling the difference ΔD between the value and the minimum value to 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm, peeling of the foamed elastic layer from the core body is suppressed.

The effect of suppressing the peeling of the foamed elastic layer is considered to be achieved based on the following reasons.
First, when the strip 100C is wound around the core body 100A and the foamed elastic layer 100B is spirally disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A, when the strip 100C is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A, the longitudinal direction (winding) It is necessary to apply a predetermined tension to (direction). The foamed elastic layer 100B in a state of being wound around the core body 100A is considered to be disposed in a state of being elastically deformed (for example, a state in which it is smaller than the thickness of the central portion in the width direction of the strip 100C before being wound).

  On the other hand, since the foamed elastic layer 100B wound around the core body 100A is fixed along the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A in an elastically deformed state, the rebound resilience accompanying the amount of elastic deformation of the foamed elastic layer 100B. It is thought that force is generated. This rebound resilience acts in the direction in which the foamed elastic layer 100B contracts, that is, in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B (the winding direction of the strips 100C), so that the foam elasticity on the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A. It is considered that one or both of the end portions in the longitudinal direction of the layer 100B are peeled off. The rebound resilience acts more strongly as the thickness and elastic modulus of the foamed elastic layer 100B and the radius of curvature of the core body are larger, so it is considered that the foamed elastic layer 100B is more easily peeled off.

  In addition, since the foamed elastic layer 100B has bubbles, there are a large number of recesses due to the bubbles (foamed skeleton structure) on the lower surface of the foamed elastic layer 100B that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A via the adhesive layer 100D. Due to this recess, compared to the non-foamed elastic layer, the adhesive layer 100D is actually out of the lower surface of the foamed elastic layer 100B in the adhesion by the adhesive layer 100D between the lower surface of the foamed elastic layer 100B and the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A. It is considered that the region in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A tends to be low through the adhesive, and the adhesive force is likely to be insufficient.

  Therefore, by controlling the difference ΔW in the circumferential length of the protruding portion of the adhesive layer 100D to 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm, the adhesive surface at the end in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B is secured. Further, by controlling the difference ΔD between the maximum value and the minimum value of the thickness of the foamed elastic layer 100B to 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm, foaming caused by the rubbing force generated between the cleaning member and the member to be cleaned. The peeling force of the elastic layer is moderately suppressed, and the peeling of the foamed elastic layer 100B from the core body 100A (particularly, the peeling from the end in the longitudinal direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B) is controlled.

  Further, there is a difference between the circumferential length W1 of the contact surface of the core body 100A and the adhesive layer 100D and the circumferential length W2 of the contact surface of the adhesive layer 100D and the foamed elastic layer 100B, that is, an exposed portion of the adhesive layer 100D is generated. As a result, foreign substances are more likely to adhere to the exposed area. When the adhered foreign matter is large (specifically, for example, in the case of a fibrous foreign matter having a length of 10 mm or more), the exposure optical path irradiated from the latent image forming unit to the image carrier in the configuration of the image forming apparatus is blocked. In some cases, image defects (for example, white spots) due to this may occur. This phenomenon tends to occur when the distance between the exposure optical path and the cleaning member is close.

Therefore, in the cleaning member 100 according to the present embodiment, the adhesive layer 100D is arranged in a state of protruding from both ends in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B, and in this state, the contact between the core body 100A and the adhesive layer 100D is achieved. A difference ΔW between the circumferential length W1 of the surface and the circumferential length W2 of the contact surface of the adhesive layer 100D and the elastic foam layer 100B is set to 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm. That is, the total length of the two protruding portions 100D1 and 100D2 at both ends in the circumferential direction of the adhesive layer 100D is set in a range of more than 0 mm and less than 1.5 mm.
Thereby, the exposed area of the adhesive layer 100D is moderately controlled, and foreign matter adhesion is suppressed.

  On the other hand, from the viewpoint of reducing the size of the cleaning member, if the diameter of the core body 100A is reduced (the curvature is increased), the foamed elastic layer 100B and the adhesive layer 100D in the wound state are more easily stretched in the outer circumferential direction as the curvature increases. Fixed in state. Therefore, if the difference ΔW in the circumferential length of the protruding portion of the adhesive layer 100D is controlled to 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm, deformation in the thickness direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B is limited, and the foamed elastic layer The difference ΔD between the maximum value (Dmax; convex portion) and the minimum value (Dmin; concave portion) of the thickness of 100B is limited to a smaller direction. If this ΔD cannot be secured above a certain value, the contact pressure and displacement when the convex part of the foamed elastic layer 100B comes into contact with the object to be cleaned will be reduced, and the cleaning performance of the cleaning member will be reduced. .

  Therefore, in the cleaning member 100 according to the present embodiment, the difference ΔD between the maximum value and the minimum value in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer 100B in the state of being disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A is 0.2 mm <ΔD <. Cleaning performance is improved by controlling to 0.4 mm.

The difference ΔD between the maximum value (Dmax) and the minimum value (Dmin) of the thickness of the foamed elastic layer 100B
In the foamed elastic layer 100B formed by winding a strip 100C having the same thickness in the width direction with respect to the core body, the central portion in the width direction is usually recessed due to elastic deformation. When the cross section of the foamed elastic layer 100B in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is observed, the thickness of the central portion is usually the minimum value and the thickness of both end portions is the maximum value. In this embodiment, by setting the difference ΔD between the maximum value (Dmax) and the minimum value (Dmin) to be in a range of more than 0.2 mm and less than 0.4 mm, the cleaning performance is improved and the foamed elastic layer is peeled off. Has the effect of suppressing Furthermore, the range of 0.3 mm or more and less than 0.4 mm is preferable.
When ΔD is 0.2 mm or less, a sufficient cleaning performance improvement effect cannot be obtained.
When ΔD is 0.4 mm or more, an even contact with the object to be cleaned cannot be obtained, and particularly, the foamed elastic layer 100B recess does not function, and the cleaning function of only the protrusion becomes dominant, and sufficient cleaning performance is obtained. I can't get it. Moreover, since the convex part of the cleaning member slides and rotates while being tilted with respect to the object to be cleaned and stress is applied in a wider area in the direction in which the foamed elastic layer is peeled off, peeling of the foamed elastic layer cannot be controlled.
Moreover, the adhesive surface of the width direction edge part of the foaming elastic layer 100B is ensured, and peeling of the foaming elastic layer 100B from the core body 100A (especially peeling from the longitudinal direction edge part of the foaming elastic layer 100B) is suppressed. .

  As a method for controlling ΔD to be in the above range, when the strip 100C is wound around the core body 100A, the elastic deformation (change in thickness at the center in the width direction) of the strip 100C is minimized. The method of arranging by is mentioned. In addition, as a method of suppressing the elastic deformation, a method of controlling the thickness of the strip 100C, the angle at which the strip 100C is wound, the tension at the time of winding the strip 100C, and the like can be given.

The difference ΔW between the circumferential length W1 of the contact surface of the core and the adhesive layer and the circumferential length W2 of the contact surface of the adhesive layer and the foamed elastic layer
The difference ΔW between the circumferential length W1 of the contact surface of the core and the adhesive layer and the circumferential length W2 of the contact surface of the adhesive layer and the foamed elastic layer is in the range of more than 0 mm and less than 1.5 mm. Adherence of foreign substances is suppressed and the foamed elastic layer is prevented from peeling off. However, from the viewpoint of further suppressing peeling of the foamed elastic layer 100B from the core body 100A and further suppressing adhesion of foreign matter to the adhesive layer 100D, the difference ΔW between the circumferential length W1 and the circumferential length W2 is Further, it is desirable to be within the range of 0.5 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less, and more desirably within the range of 0.7 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

  From the same viewpoint, the circumferential length W31 of the protruding portion 100D1 and the circumferential length W32 of the protruding portion 100D2 at both circumferential ends of the adhesive layer 100D are 0.25 mm or more and 0.6 mm, respectively. It is desirable to be within the following range, more desirably 0.35 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

  As described above, in the charging device, the process cartridge, and the image forming apparatus including the cleaning member 100 according to the present embodiment, the image defect caused by the adhesion of the foreign matter to the adhesive layer 100D in the cleaning member 100 and the cleaning of the member to be cleaned are performed. A decrease in performance due to defects can be suppressed, and suppression of peeling of the foamed elastic layer 100B from the core body 100A can also be achieved.

  Hereinafter, each member will be described.

-Core body First, the core body 100A will be described.
Examples of the material used for the core body 100A include metals (for example, free-cutting steel or stainless steel) or resins (for example, polyacetal resin (POM)). In addition, it is desirable to select a material, a surface treatment method, etc. as needed.

  In particular, when the core body 100A is made of metal, it is desirable to perform plating. Further, in the case of a material such as a resin that does not have conductivity, it may be processed by a general process such as a plating process, and may be used as it is.

-Adhesive layer Next, adhesive layer 100D is demonstrated.
The adhesive layer 100D is not particularly limited as long as the core body 100A and the foamed elastic layer 100B can be bonded to each other. For example, the adhesive layer 100D includes a double-sided tape or other adhesive.

-Foam elastic layer Next, the foam elastic layer 100B is demonstrated.
The foamed elastic layer 100B is made of a material having bubbles (so-called foam).
Examples of the material of the foamed elastic layer 100B include foamable resins such as polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide, and polypropylene, or silicone rubber, fluororubber, urethane rubber, EPDM, NBR, CR, chlorinated polyisoprene, isoprene, Examples thereof include materials obtained by mixing one kind or two or more kinds of rubber materials such as acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, hydrogenated polybutadiene, and butyl rubber.

  In addition, you may add adjuvants, such as a foaming adjuvant, a foam stabilizer, a catalyst, a hardening | curing agent, a plasticizer, or a vulcanization accelerator, to these.

  In particular, the foamed elastic layer 100B is desirably a polyurethane foam that is resistant to pulling from the viewpoint of preventing scratches on the surface of the member to be cleaned due to rubbing and preventing tearing and damage over a long period of time.

Examples of the polyurethane include polyol (for example, polyester polyol, polyether polyol, and acrylic polyol) and isocyanate (for example, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and tolidine). Reaction products such as diisocyanate and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate), and chain extenders (1,4-butanediol, trimethylolpropane) may be included.
In general, foaming of polyurethane is performed using a foaming agent such as water or an azo compound (for example, azodicarbonamide, azobisisobutyronitrile).

  You may add adjuvants, such as a foaming assistant, a foam stabilizer, and a catalyst, to foamed polyurethane.

  Among these foamed polyurethanes, ether-based foamed polyurethane is preferable. This is because ester-based foamed polyurethane tends to be susceptible to wet heat degradation. Ether-based polyurethanes mainly use silicone oil foam stabilizers, but image quality defects due to transfer of silicone oil to the member to be cleaned (eg, charging roll) during storage (especially long-term storage under high temperature and high humidity) May occur. Therefore, image quality defects of the foamed elastic layer 100B are suppressed by using a foam stabilizer other than silicone oil.

  Here, specific examples of the foam stabilizer other than silicone oil include organic surfactants that do not contain Si (for example, anionic surfactants such as dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and sodium lauryl sulfate). . Moreover, the manufacturing method which does not use the silicone type foam stabilizer described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2005-301000 is applicable.

  Whether or not the ester-based foamed polyurethane uses a foam stabilizer other than silicone oil is determined by component analysis based on whether or not it contains “Si”.

  The thickness of the foamed elastic layer 100B (thickness at the center in the width direction) is, for example, preferably 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, and more preferably 1.4 mm or more and 2.6 mm or less.

The thickness of the foamed elastic layer 100B is measured as follows, for example.
Using a laser measuring machine (laser scanning micrometer manufactured by Mitutoyo Corporation, model: LSM6200), the circumferential direction of the cleaning member is fixed, and the cleaning member is moved in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) at a traverse speed of 1 mm / s. The profile of the foamed elastic layer thickness (foamed elastic layer thickness) is measured by scanning. Then, the circumferential direction position is shifted and the same measurement is performed (the circumferential direction position is 120 ° interval, 3 locations). Based on this profile, the thickness of the foamed elastic layer 100B is calculated.

  The foamed elastic layer 100B is arranged in a spiral shape. Specifically, for example, the spiral angle θ is 10 ° to 65 ° (desirably 20 ° to 50 °), and the spiral width R1 is 3 mm to 25 mm. Or less (preferably 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less). Further, the spiral pitch R2 is preferably, for example, 3 mm or more and 25 mm or less (desirably 15 mm or more and 22 mm or less).

  The foamed elastic layer 100B has a coverage ratio (spiral width R1 / foam elastic layer 100B / [spiral width R1 of foamed elastic layer 100B + spiral pitch R2 of foamed elastic layer 100B: (R1 + R2)]) of 20% or more and 70% or less. It is often 25% or more and 55% or less.

  When the coverage is equal to or less than the above upper limit value, the time during which the foamed elastic layer 100B is in contact with the member to be cleaned is shortened, and the adhering matter adhering to the surface of the cleaning member is suppressed from being recontaminated to the member to be cleaned. On the other hand, when the coverage is equal to or higher than the lower limit, the thickness (wall thickness) of the foamed elastic layer 100B is stabilized and the cleaning ability is improved.

2, the spiral angle θ means an angle (acute angle) at which the longitudinal direction P (spiral direction) of the foamed elastic layer 100B intersects the axial direction Q (core axis direction) of the cleaning member. .
The spiral width R1 means a length along the axial direction Q (core axis direction) of the cleaning member 100 of the foamed elastic layer 100B.
The spiral pitch R2 means a length between adjacent foamed elastic layers 100B along the axial direction Q (core axis direction) of the cleaning member 100 of the foamed elastic layer 100B.

  The foamed elastic layer 100B refers to a layer made of a material that can be restored to its original shape even when deformed by applying an external force of 100 Pa.

  Here, the foamed elastic layer 100B is not limited to an embodiment composed of one strip 100C, and is composed of at least two strips 100C (strip-shaped foamed elastic member) as shown in FIGS. More than 100 strips 100 </ b> C may be configured by being spirally wound around the core body 100 </ b> A.

  By using a configuration in which the foamed elastic layer 100B is formed by spirally winding two or more strips 100C around the core body 100A, the cleaning performance of the cleaning member 100 is easily improved.

  As the number of strips 100C to be wound increases, the effect of improving the cleaning performance is obtained. However, the spiral width R1 of the foamed elastic layer 100B when wound is preferably, for example, 3 mm or more and 25 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less. It is good.

  When the spiral width R1 is 3 mm or more, the effect of improving the cleaning performance can be obtained by using two or more strips 100C constituting the foamed elastic layer 100B.

  Further, the foamed elastic layer 100B formed by spirally winding two or more strips 100C (strip-shaped foamed elastic members) around the core 100A is an adhesive surface of the strips 100C (the outer peripheral surface of the core 100A in the strips 100C). (The surface on the opposite side) may be arranged so as to be spirally wound with the longitudinal sides in contact with each other (see FIG. 4), or spirally wound without contact. The structure (refer FIG. 5) arrange | positioned by turning may be sufficient.

  In particular, when the foamed elastic layer 100B is disposed so as to be spirally wound with the longitudinal sides of the adhesive surfaces of the two strips 100C in contact with each other (see FIG. 4), for example, the same spiral Compared with the case of using one foamed elastic member with the width R1 (FIG. 3), it is considered that a higher cleaning pressure is easily obtained because a higher contact pressure to the object to be cleaned is provided.

  In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 4, that is, the foamed elastic layer 100B is composed of at least two or more strips 100C, and the longitudinal sides of the bonding surfaces of the two or more strips 100C are in contact with each other. In the case of being wound and arranged in a spiral, each of W1, W2, W31, and W32 is determined as a single foamed elastic layer 100B, which is a foamed elastic layer 100B composed of two or more strips 100C.

  On the other hand, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 5, that is, the foamed elastic layer 100B is composed of at least two strips 100C, and is wound spirally without contacting the longitudinal sides of the two or more strips 100C. In the case of being arranged, each W1, W2, W31, W32 is determined for each foamed elastic layer 100B composed of two or more strips 100C.

-Manufacturing method of cleaning member Next, the manufacturing method of the cleaning member 100 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.
6A to 6C are process diagrams illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing the cleaning member 100 according to the present embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 6A, a sheet-like foamed elastic member (a foamed polyurethane sheet or the like) that has been subjected to slicing processing to obtain a target thickness is prepared, and the member is punched by a punching die to obtain a target width, Get a sheet of length. The sheet obtained here has the same thickness in the width direction.
A double-faced tape 100D is affixed to one side of the sheet-like foamed elastic member to obtain a strip 100C having a desired width and length (a strip-like foamed elastic member with a double-sided tape 100D). Note that the double-sided tape 100D to be applied at this time has a circumferential length satisfying the numerical value range of ΔW with respect to the circumferential length of the strip 100C when being applied to the core body 100A. The double-sided tape 100D is attached so as to protrude from both ends of the strip 100C in the width direction.
On the other hand, the core body 100A is also prepared.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the strip 100C is arranged with the surface with the double-sided tape 100D facing upward, and in this state, one end of the release paper of the double-sided tape 100D is peeled off, and the release paper is peeled off. One end of the core body 100A is placed on the top.
Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, while peeling the release paper of the double-sided tape, the core body 100A is rotated at a target speed, and the strip 100C is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core body 100A. The cleaning member 100 which has the elastic layer 100B arrange | positioned helically on the outer peripheral surface of the body 100A is obtained.

  In this embodiment, from the viewpoint of controlling ΔD to be in the above-described range, when the strip 100C is wound around the core body 100A, elastic deformation of the strip 100C (change in thickness at the central portion in the width direction) It is preferable to arrange in a state where the degree is as small as possible. Specifically, it is desirable to control the angle at which the strip 100C is wound and the tension at which the strip 100C is wound according to the thickness of the strip 100C.

  Here, when the strip 100C to be the elastic layer 100B is wound around the core 100A, the strip 100C is positioned so that the longitudinal direction of the strip 100C becomes a target angle (spiral angle) with respect to the axial direction of the core 100A. Just add. Further, the outer diameter of the core body 100A is preferably, for example, from φ3 mm to φ6 mm.

  The tension applied when winding the strip 100C around the core body 100A may be such that no gap is generated between the core body 100A and the double-sided tape 100D of the strip body 100C, and it is preferable that the tension is not excessively applied. If too much tension is applied, it is not easy to satisfy the numerical range of ΔD. In addition, it is because tensile permanent elongation is increased, and the elastic force of the foamed elastic layer 100B necessary for cleaning tends to decrease. Specifically, for example, the tension may be greater than 0% and less than 5% with respect to the length of the original strip 100C.

On the other hand, when the strip 100C is wound around the core body 100A, the strip 100C tends to extend. This elongation differs in the thickness direction of the strip 100C, and the outermost wall tends to be stretched most, and the elastic force may decrease. Therefore, it is preferable that the elongation of the outermost contour after winding the strip 100C around the core body 100A is about 5% with respect to the outermost contour of the original strip 100C.
This elongation is controlled by the curvature radius around which the strip 100C is wound around the core body 100A and the thickness of the strip 100C. Controlled by angle θ).

  The radius of curvature around which the strip 100C is wound around the core body 100A is preferably, for example, ((core body outer diameter / 2) +0.2 mm) or more ((core body outer diameter / 2) +8.5 mm) or less, preferably ( (Core outer diameter / 2) +0.5 mm) or more ((core outer diameter / 2) +7.0 mm) or less.

  The thickness of the strip 100C is, for example, 1.5 mm to 4 mm, and preferably 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm. The width of the strip 100C is preferably adjusted so that the coverage of the foamed elastic layer 100B is in the above range. The length of the strip 100C is determined by, for example, the axial length of the region wound around the core body 100A, the winding angle (spiral angle θ), and the tension at the time of winding.

(Image forming devices, etc.)
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a tandem color image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, a photosensitive member (image holding member) 12, a charging member 14, a developing device, and the like are provided with yellow (18Y), magenta (18M), cyan (18C), and black ( 18K) is provided as a process cartridge (see FIG. 8) for each color. This process cartridge is configured to be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 10.

  As the photoconductor 12, for example, a conductive cylindrical body (for example, 25 mm in diameter) whose surface is coated with a photoconductor layer made of an organic photosensitive material or the like is used, and a process speed of, for example, 150 mm / sec by a motor (not shown). Driven by rotation.

  The surface of the photoconductor 12 is charged by a charging member 14 disposed on the surface of the photoconductor 12 and then exposed to an image by a laser beam emitted from the exposure device 16 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 12 from the charging member 14. And an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 12 is developed by developing devices 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Toner image.

  For example, when a color image is formed, the charging, exposure, and development processes are performed on the surface of the photoreceptor 12 of each color in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The toner image corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 12 of each color.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images sequentially formed on the photoconductor 12 are tensioned by the support rolls 40 and 42 from the inner peripheral surface. The image is transferred to the recording sheet 24 conveyed on the sheet conveying belt 20 to the outer periphery of the photosensitive element 12 at a position where the photosensitive element 12 and the transfer device 22 are in contact with each other via the supported sheet conveying belt 20. Further, the recording paper 24 onto which the toner image has been transferred from the photoreceptor 12 is conveyed to the fixing device 64, and is heated and pressed by the fixing device 64 to fix the toner image on the recording paper 24. Thereafter, in the case of single-sided printing, the recording paper 24 on which the toner image is fixed is discharged as it is onto a discharge unit 68 provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 10 by a discharge roll 66.

  The recording paper 24 is taken out from the paper storage container 28 by the take-out roller 30 and conveyed to the paper conveyance belt 20 by the conveyance rollers 32 and 34.

  On the other hand, in the case of double-sided printing, the recording paper 24 on which the toner image is fixed on the first surface (front surface) by the fixing device 64 is not directly discharged onto the discharge portion 68 by the discharge roll 66 but by the discharge roll 66. With the rear end of the recording paper 24 being sandwiched, the discharge roll 66 is reversed. At the same time, the conveyance path of the recording paper 24 is switched to the double-sided paper conveyance path 70, and the recording paper 24 is turned upside down by the conveyance roll 72 disposed in the double-sided paper conveyance path 70. The toner image is again conveyed onto the paper conveying belt 20 and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive member 12 to the second surface (back surface) of the recording paper 24. Then, the toner image on the second surface (back surface) of the recording paper 24 is fixed by the fixing device 64, and the recording medium 24 (transfer object) is discharged onto the discharge portion 68.

  Note that the surface of the photoconductor 12 after the toner image transfer process is completed is the surface of the photoconductor 12 every time the photoconductor 12 makes one rotation, and is closer to the surface of the photoconductor 12 than the portion where the transfer device 22 contacts. Residual toner, paper dust, and the like are removed by a cleaning blade 80 disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction so as to prepare for the next image forming process.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the charging member 14 is, for example, a roll in which a foamed elastic layer 14B is formed around a conductive core 14A, and the core 14A is rotatably supported. The cleaning member 100 of the charging member 14 is in contact with the charging member 14 on the side opposite to the photosensitive member 12 to constitute a charging device (unit). As the cleaning member 100, the cleaning member 100 according to the present embodiment is used.

  Here, a method of using the cleaning member 100 in contact with the charging member 14 and being driven by the charging member 14 will be described. However, the cleaning member 100 may be used in a state of being always in contact with the charging member 14 or cleaning the charging member 14. It may be a usage mode in which it is brought into contact and driven only at times. Further, the cleaning member 100 may be brought into contact only when the charging member 14 is cleaned, and a peripheral speed difference may be given to the charging member 14 by separate driving. However, since the cleaning member 100 is always brought into contact with the charging member 14 to make a difference in peripheral speed, dirt on the charging member 14 is easily collected in the cleaning member 100 and easily reattached to the charging member 14. Is desirable.

  The charging member 14 applies a load F to both ends of the core 14A and presses it against the photoconductor 12, and is elastically deformed along the peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer 14B to form a nip portion. Further, the cleaning member 100 applies a load F ′ to both ends of the core body 100A and presses it against the charging member 14, and the foamed elastic layer 100B is elastically deformed along the peripheral surface of the charging member 14 to form a nip portion. An axial nip portion between the charging member 14 and the photosensitive member 12 is formed by suppressing the bending of the charging member 14.

  The photoconductor 12 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow X by a motor (not shown), and the charging member 14 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow Y by the rotation of the photoconductor 12. Further, the cleaning member 100 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow Z by the rotation of the charging member 14.

-Configuration of charging member-
Hereinafter, the charging member will be described, but it is not limited to the following configuration.
Although it does not specifically limit as a structure of a charging member, For example, the structure which has a resin layer instead of a core, a foaming elastic layer, or a foaming elastic layer is mentioned. The foamed elastic layer may be composed of a single layer, or may be a laminated structure composed of a plurality of different layers having several functions. Furthermore, a surface treatment may be performed on the foamed elastic layer.

  As the material of the core, free-cutting steel, stainless steel, or the like is used, and it is desirable to select the material and the surface treatment method according to applications such as slidability. Further, it is desirable to perform a plating process. In the case of a material that does not have conductivity, it may be processed by a general process such as a plating process to perform a conductive process, or may be used as it is.

  The foamed elastic layer is a conductive foamed elastic layer. For example, the conductive foamed elastic layer is an elastic material such as rubber having elasticity, or a conductive material such as carbon black or an ionic conductive material that adjusts the resistance of the conductive foamed elastic layer. Materials such as materials, other softening agents, plasticizers, curing agents, vulcanizing agents, vulcanization accelerators, anti-aging agents, fillers such as silica or calcium carbonate, and the like, which can be usually added to rubber, may be added. It is formed by coating a peripheral surface of a conductive core with a mixture in which materials usually added to rubber are added. As the conductive agent for the purpose of adjusting the resistance value, a material in which a material that conducts electricity using at least one of electrons and ions such as carbon black and an ionic conductive agent mixed in the matrix material as a charge carrier is used. The elastic material may be a foam.

  The elastic material constituting the conductive foamed elastic layer is formed, for example, by dispersing a conductive agent in a rubber material. Preferred examples of the rubber material include silicone rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide copolymer rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber, and blended rubbers thereof. These rubber materials may be foamed or non-foamed.

  As the conductive agent, an electronic conductive agent or an ionic conductive agent is used. Examples of the electronic conductive agent include carbon black such as ketjen black and acetylene black; pyrolytic carbon, graphite; various conductive metals or alloys such as aluminum, copper, nickel, stainless steel; tin oxide, indium oxide, titanium oxide And various conductive metal oxides such as tin oxide-antimony oxide solid solution and tin oxide-indium oxide solid solution; Examples of ionic conductive agents include perchlorates and chlorates of oniums such as tetraethylammonium and lauryltrimethylammonium; alkali metals such as lithium and magnesium, perchlorates of alkaline earth metals, chlorine Acid salts and the like.

  These conductive agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The amount of addition is not particularly limited, but in the case of an electronic conductive agent, it is desirable that the amount be in the range of 1 part by weight to 60 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the rubber material. In such a case, it is desirable that the amount be in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber material.

  A surface layer may be formed on the surface of the charging member. As the material for the surface layer, any of resin, rubber and the like may be used, and there is no particular limitation. For example, polyvinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polyester, polyimide, and copolymer nylon are preferable.

  The copolymer nylon includes one or more of 610 nylon, 11 nylon, and 12 nylon as polymerized units, and other polymer units contained in the copolymer include 6 nylon. 66 nylon and the like. Here, it is desirable that the ratio of polymer units composed of 610 nylon, 11 nylon, and 12 nylon to be contained in the copolymer is 10% or more in total by mass ratio.

  The polymer materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The number average molecular weight of the polymer material is preferably in the range of 1,000 to 100,000, and more preferably in the range of 10,000 to 50,000.

  Further, the surface layer may contain a conductive material to adjust the resistance value. The conductive material preferably has a particle size of 3 μm or less.

  In addition, as a conductive agent for adjusting the resistance value, carbon black or conductive metal oxide particles blended in the matrix material, or a material that conducts electricity using at least one of electrons and ions such as an ionic conductive agent as a charge carrier A material in which is dispersed may be used.

  Specifically, carbon black as a conductive agent includes “Special Black 350”, “Special Black 100”, “Special Black 250”, “Special Black 5”, “Special Black 4” manufactured by Degussa, "Special Black 4A", "Special Black 550", "Special Black 6", "Color Black FW200", "Color Black FW2", "Color Black FW2V", "MONARCH1000" manufactured by Cabot, “MONARCH1300”, “MONARCH1400”, “MOGUL-L”, “REGAL400R”, and the like.

Carbon black desirably has a pH of 4.0 or less.
The conductive metal oxide particles that are conductive particles for adjusting the resistance value are particles having conductivity such as tin oxide, tin oxide doped with antimony, zinc oxide, anatase titanium oxide, ITO, etc. Any conductive agent that uses electrons as charge carriers can be used without any particular limitation. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Any particle size may be used, but tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, and anatase-type titanium oxide are desirable, and tin oxide and antimony-doped tin oxide are desirable.

  Furthermore, a fluorine-based or silicone-based resin is preferably used for the surface layer. In particular, it is desirable to be composed of a fluorine-modified acrylate polymer. Moreover, you may add particle | grains in a surface layer. In addition, insulating particles such as alumina and silica are added to provide a concave portion on the surface of the charging member, reducing the load at the time of rubbing against the photosensitive member, and improving the wear resistance between the charging member and the photosensitive member. It may be improved.

  The outer diameter of the charging member is desirably 8 mm or greater and 16 mm or less. The outer diameter is measured using a commercially available caliper or a laser type outer diameter measuring device.

  The micro hardness of the charging member is preferably 45 ° or more and 60 ° or less. In order to reduce the hardness, it is conceivable to increase the amount of plasticizer added, or to use a low hardness material such as silicone rubber.

  Further, the micro hardness of the charging member is measured with an MD-1 hardness meter manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the process cartridge including the photosensitive member (image holding member), the charging device (unit of the charging member and the cleaning member), the developing device, and the cleaning blade (cleaning device) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes a charging device (unit of charging member and cleaning member), and is selected from other photosensitive members (image holding members), exposure devices, transfer devices, developing devices, and cleaning blades (cleaning devices). A process cartridge may be provided. Note that these devices and members may be arranged directly in the image forming apparatus without being made into a cartridge.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the configuration in which the charging device is configured by the unit of the charging member and the cleaning member has been described, that is, the configuration in which the charging member is employed as the member to be cleaned has been described. It is not limited to this. For example, examples of the member to be cleaned include a photosensitive member (image holding member), a transfer device (transfer member; transfer roll), and an intermediate transfer member (intermediate transfer belt). The unit of the member to be cleaned and the cleaning member disposed in contact therewith may be directly disposed in the image forming apparatus, or may be arranged in the image forming apparatus as a process cartridge. Also good.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above configuration, and a known image forming apparatus such as an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus may be employed.

  EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Example 1]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 1)
A urethane foam (EP-70; manufactured by Inoac Corporation) sheet having a thickness of 3.0 mm was cut into a strip having a width of 4 mm and a length of 249 mm. A double-sided tape with a thickness of 0.05 mm and a width of 4.2 mm (No. 5605, manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) was attached to the cut out strip so that the center of the strip and each other in the width direction coincided to obtain a strip with a double-sided tape. .

  The obtained strip with double-sided tape is placed on a horizontal table so that the release paper attached to the double-sided tape faces downward, and the spiral angle θ is 15 ° to the metal core (outer diameter φ4, total length 236 mm). The wound roll was wound while applying tension so that the overall length of the strip was extended to about 0% or more and 5% or less to form a foamed elastic layer arranged in a spiral shape, and the cleaning roll 1 as a cleaning member was obtained. The values of ΔW and ΔD are shown in Table 1 below.

(Preparation of charging roll)
-Formation of foamed elastic layer-
The following mixture was kneaded with an open roll, coated on the surface of a conductive support made of SUS416 with a diameter of 6 mm in a cylindrical shape so as to have a thickness of 3 mm, and placed in a cylindrical mold with an inner diameter of 18.0 mm. After vulcanization at 30 ° C. for 30 minutes and removal from the mold, polishing was performed to obtain a cylindrical conductive foamed elastic layer A.
・ Rubber material: 100 parts by mass (epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer rubber, Gechron 3106, manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.)
-Conductive agent (Carbon Black Asahi Thermal: Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd.) 25 parts by mass- Conductive agent (Ketjen Black EC: Lion Corp.) ... 8 parts by mass- Ionic conductive agent (lithium perchlorate)- -1 part by mass-Vulcanizing agent (sulfur, 200 mesh: manufactured by Tsurumi Chemical Co., Ltd.) ... 1 part by mass-Vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller DM: manufactured by Ouchi Shinsei Chemical Co., Ltd.)-2.0 Part by mass / vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller TT: Ouchi Shinsei Chemical Co., Ltd.) ... 0.5 part by mass

-Formation of surface layer-
Dispersion A obtained by dispersing the following mixture in a bead mill is diluted with methanol, dip-coated on the surface of the conductive foamed elastic layer A, and then heated and dried at 140 ° C. for 15 minutes to obtain a surface layer having a thickness of 4 μm. And a conductive roll was obtained. This was used as a charging roll.
-Polymer material: 100 parts by mass (copolymerized nylon, Alamine CM8000: manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.)
-Conductive agent: 30 parts by mass (antimony-doped tin oxide, SN-100P: manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.)
・ Solvent (methanol): 500 parts by mass Solvent (butanol): 240 parts by mass

[Example 2]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 2)
A cleaning roll 2 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the spiral angle θ of the strip with the double-sided tape on the metal core was 25 °.

[Example 3]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 3)
A cleaning roll 3 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the spiral angle θ of the strip with double-sided tape on the metal core was 45 °.

[Example 4]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 4)
The cleaning roll 4 is obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the width of the urethane foam sheet used for the production of the strip is 8 mm and the width of the double-sided tape used for the production of the strip with the double-sided tape is 8.2 mm. It was.

[Example 5]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 5)
The width of the urethane foam sheet used for the production of the strip is 8 mm, the width of the double-sided tape used for the production of the strip with double-sided tape is 8.2 mm, and the spiral angle θ of the strip with the double-sided tape to the metal core is 25 °. A cleaning roll 5 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that.

[Example 6]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 6)
Using two strips prepared with a foamed urethane sheet width of 4 mm, using a strip with double-sided tape prepared by fixing two strips on a double-sided tape with a width of 8.2 mm so that the longitudinal direction is in contact, A cleaning roll 6 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the spiral angle θ of the strip with double-sided tape on the metal core was 25 °.

[Example 7]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 7)
Using two strips with double-sided tape made with a foamed urethane sheet width of 4 mm and double-sided tape width of 4.2 mm, wrap them around the metal core 10 mm apart so as not to contact the two strips. A cleaning roll 7 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the spiral angle θ of the strip with double-sided tape was set to 25 °.

[Example 8]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 8)
The width of the urethane foam sheet used for the production of the strips is 8 mm, the width of the double-sided tape used for the production of the strips with double-sided tape is 8.2 mm, and a metal core with an outer diameter of φ6 is used. A cleaning roll 8 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the spiral angle θ of the strip with tape was 25 °.

[Example 9]
(Preparation of cleaning roll 9)
Cleaning roll 1 except that the width of the urethane foam sheet used for the production of the strip is 10 mm, the width of the double-sided tape used for the production of the strip with double-sided tape is 10.2 mm, and a metal core having an outer diameter of φ6 is used. In the same manner as above, a cleaning roll 9 was obtained.

[Comparative Example 1]
(Preparation of comparative cleaning roll 1)
Comparative cleaning roll 1 was obtained in the same manner as cleaning roll 1 except that the width of the double-sided tape used for the production of the strip with double-sided tape was 4.0 mm.

[Comparative Example 2]
(Preparation of comparative cleaning roll 2)
The width of the urethane foam sheet used for the production of the strips is 8 mm, the width of the double-sided tape used for the production of the strips with double-sided tape is 8.2 mm, and a metal core with an outer diameter of φ6 is used. A comparative cleaning roll 2 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the spiral angle θ of the strip with tape was 10 °.

[Comparative Example 3]
(Preparation of comparative cleaning roll 3)
A comparative cleaning roll 3 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that a metal core having an outer diameter of φ6 was used.

[Comparative Example 4]
(Preparation of comparative cleaning roll 4)
A comparative cleaning roll 4 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that the spiral angle θ of the strip with double-sided tape on the metal core was set to 10 °.

[Comparative Example 5]
(Preparation of comparative cleaning roll 5)
The width of the urethane foam sheet used for the production of the strip is 8 mm, the width of the double-sided tape used for the production of the strip with double-sided tape is 8.2 mm, and the spiral angle θ of the strip with the double-sided tape to the metal core is 45 °. A comparative cleaning roll 5 was obtained in the same manner as the cleaning roll 1 except that.

[Evaluation]
Using the cleaning roll and the charging roll produced in each example, peeling of the foamed elastic layer of the cleaning roll, cleaning property, and adhesion of foreign matters were evaluated. In Examples 2 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5, the same charging roll as that in Example 1 was used.
These results are shown in Table 1.

(Foreign matter adhesion evaluation)
Using the cleaning roll prepared in each of the above examples, foreign matter adhesion evaluation was performed.
In the evaluation test, 20 cellulosic fibers having a length of 10 mm and a thickness of 0.02 mm to 0.03 mm were applied from right above the cleaning roll, and a wind speed of 20 m / s was applied for 20 seconds to remain on the adhesive layer. The number of fibers was counted visually. The test was repeated 5 times, and the adhesion of foreign matter was evaluated based on the average value of the number of remaining fibers.
-Foreign matter adhesion evaluation criteria:
G0: The average value of the number of remaining fibers is 0 or more and 1 or less G1: The average value of the number of remaining fibers is 2 or more and 5 or less G2: The average value of the number of remaining fibers is more than 5

(Cleanability evaluation)
The cleaning roll and the charging roll produced in each of the above examples were mounted on a color printer DocuPrint P355d: manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., and a cleaning property evaluation test was performed.
In the evaluation test, after printing 50,000 image quality patterns with an average image density of 5% on A4 paper in an environment of 30 ° C. and 75 RH%, a halftone image with a density of 30% is output and the charging roll is cleaned. Density unevenness due to unevenness (cleaning property) was evaluated. Specifically, 10 image densities were measured randomly using X-rite 404, and the cleaning property was evaluated based on the following criteria from the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value.
-Cleaning property evaluation: criteria-
G0: The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is 0.05 or less G1: The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is greater than 0.05 and less than 0.10 G2: The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is greater than 0.10 15 or less G3: The difference between the maximum and minimum values is greater than 0.15

(Peeling evaluation)
The cleaning roll and charging roll prepared in each of the above examples were mounted on a color printer DocuPrint P355d: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. and left for 10 days in a 40 ° C./55% environment, and then the cleaning roll was foamed based on the following criteria. The peeling of the elastic layer was evaluated.
The state of occurrence of peeling of the foamed elastic layer of the cleaning roll determined here indicates a state where one or both longitudinal ends of the foamed elastic layer are separated from the metal core by 1 mm or more.
-Peeling evaluation: criteria-
G0: No peeling occurred G1: Urethane length where peeling occurred 10 mm or less G2: Urethane length where peeling occurred longer than 10 mm

  From the above results, it can be seen that this example has better evaluation of peeling as well as foreign matter adhesion and cleaning properties than the comparative example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus, 12 Photoconductor, 14 Charging roll, 14A Core body, 14B Foam elastic layer, 16 Exposure apparatus, 19, 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K Developing apparatus, 20 Paper conveyance belt, 22 Transfer apparatus, 24 Recording medium 64 fixing device, 66 discharge roll, 68 discharge section, 70 paper transport path, 72 transport roll, 80 cleaning blade, 100 cleaning member, 100A core, 100B foam elastic layer 100C strip-shaped foam elastic member, 100D adhesive layer ( Double-sided tape)

Claims (9)

The core,
A foamed elastic layer in which a strip-shaped foamed elastic member having an equal thickness over the entire width direction is spirally wound on the outer peripheral surface of the core body from one end to the other end of the core body, and
An adhesive layer for adhering the core and the foamed elastic layer, the adhesive layer being larger than the width of the foamed elastic layer and protruding from both ends in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer;
With
The difference ΔW between the circumferential length W1 of the contact surface of the core body and the adhesive layer and the circumferential length W2 of the contact surface of the adhesive layer and the foamed elastic layer satisfies 0 mm <ΔW <1.5 mm,
The difference ΔD between the maximum value and the minimum value in the width direction of the foamed elastic layer in the state of being disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core body is for an image forming apparatus satisfying 0.2 mm <ΔD <0.4 mm. Cleaning member.   The foamed elastic layer is composed of at least two strip-shaped foamed elastic members, and is wound spirally with the longitudinal sides of the adhesive surfaces of the two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members in contact with each other. The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is rotated and disposed.   The foamed elastic layer is composed of at least two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members, and is wound and arranged spirally in a state where the longitudinal sides of the two or more strip-shaped foamed elastic members are not in contact with each other. The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein A charging member for charging the object to be charged;
The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is disposed in contact with the surface of the charging member and cleans the surface of the charging member.
A charging device comprising: At least the charging device according to claim 4,
A process cartridge that is detachable from the image forming apparatus. An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, the charging means having the charging device according to claim 4;
Latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with toner to form a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a transfer object;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A member to be cleaned;
The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning member is disposed in contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned and cleans the surface of the member to be cleaned. When,
A unit for an image forming apparatus. At least a unit for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
A process cartridge that is detachable from the image forming apparatus.   An image forming apparatus comprising the unit for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7.