JP2016021002A - Lubricant application blade, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the occurrence of abnormal sounds such as the squeak and chatter of a blade, suppressing the curling of a tip ridge part, and suppressing the increase of torque with an image carrier, even in a state where toner is hardly supplied to a lubricant application blade, such as when a white paper is fed.SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus including a cleaning blade, a lubricant application brush, and the lubricant application blade from an upstream on the surface of the image carrier, the lubricant application blade comprises a strip-shaped elastic blade and in the elastic blade, a part including the tip ridge part is impregnated with a UV curable resin and/or a surface layer made of the UV curable resin is provided on the surface of the elastic blade including the tip ridge part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a lubricant application blade and a process cartridge.

Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, unnecessary transfer residual toner adhering to a surface after transferring a toner image to a transfer paper or an intermediate transfer member is cleaned on an image carrier such as a photosensitive member as a member to be cleaned. It is removed by means of a cleaning device.
As a cleaning member of this cleaning device, one that uses a strip-shaped cleaning blade is well known because it can generally be simplified in configuration and has excellent cleaning performance. This cleaning blade is made of an elastic body such as polyurethane rubber. Then, the base end of the cleaning blade is supported by a support member, and the leading edge portion is pressed against the peripheral surface of the image carrier, and the toner remaining on the image carrier is damped and scraped off and removed.

  Further, in order to meet the recent demand for higher image quality, an image forming apparatus using a toner having a small particle diameter and a nearly spherical shape (hereinafter, polymerized toner) formed by a polymerization method or the like is known. This polymerized toner has characteristics such as higher transfer efficiency than conventional pulverized toner, and can meet the above requirements. However, it is difficult to remove the polymerized toner sufficiently from the surface of the image carrier using a cleaning blade, and there is a problem that cleaning failure occurs. This is because the polymerized toner having a small particle size and excellent sphericity passes through a slight gap formed between the blade and the image carrier.

  Therefore, as a method for improving the cleaning of toner having a small particle diameter and reducing the amount of surface abrasion of the image carrier in the image forming apparatus, a lubricant is applied to the image carrier, and the space between the image carrier and the cleaning blade is reduced. There are methods for reducing the coefficient of friction. As a method of applying the lubricant to the image carrier, a block or other application means such as a brush arranged in contact with the image carrier in front of the lubricant application blade (upstream in the surface movement direction of the image carrier) may be used. For example, the solid-molded lubricant is scraped to form a powder, and the powdered lubricant held on the brush member is applied in contact with the image carrier. The powdery lubricant applied to the image carrier by the brush member moves to the nip portion of the lubricant application blade, and is crushed and uniformly thinned on the surface of the image carrier to exhibit lubricity. Accordingly, in order to uniformly apply the lubricant to the image carrier, it is necessary that the lubricant application blade stably contacts the image carrier.

As described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the edge of the ridge line of the lubricant application blade is made obtuse to reduce the wear rate, and the viscoelastic characteristics of the elastic blade are changed to change the ridge line of the tip of the lubricant application blade. It has been proposed to stabilize the applicability of the lubricant and to suppress the generation of abnormal noise by suppressing the movement of
However, when images close to white paper with a small image area are continuously passed, the toner application blade and the image carrier that have been lowered by almost no toner being put into the lubricant application blade and the toner slipping to some extent. The frictional force may increase. In such a case, it is not sufficient to suppress the movement of the leading edge portion as described above, and it has not yet solved the problem that abnormal noise occurs.
In a situation where almost no toner is supplied to the lubricant application blade, such as when passing a blank sheet, abnormal noise such as squealing of the blade, chattering, turning of the edge of the tip, and torque increase with the image carrier may occur. . If the torque rise exceeds a certain amount, the rotation of the image carrier stops, and there is a problem that image formation cannot be performed.
By supplying a small amount of toner when passing a blank paper, the friction coefficient with the image carrier is reduced, and such a problem is suppressed. However, there are problems such as an increase in toner consumption.

  The purpose of the present invention is to suppress the occurrence of abnormal noise such as squealing and chattering even in a situation where toner is hardly supplied to the lubricant application blade such as when passing blank paper, and curling the tip ridge line part, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing an increase in torque with an image carrier.

The object is achieved by the “image forming apparatus” described in (1) below.
(1) In the image forming apparatus having a cleaning blade, a lubricant application brush, and a lubricant application blade from the upstream on the surface of the image carrier, the lubricant application blade is composed of a strip-shaped elastic blade, An image forming method comprising: impregnating an ultraviolet curable resin in a portion including a tip ridge line portion and / or providing a surface layer of the ultraviolet curable resin on a surface of the elastic blade including the tip ridge line portion. apparatus."

  According to the present invention, even in a situation where toner is hardly supplied to the lubricant application blade such as when passing a blank sheet, the generation of abnormal noise such as squealing of the blade and chattering is suppressed, and the turning of the tip ridge line portion is suppressed. An extremely excellent effect that an increase in torque with the image carrier can be suppressed is exhibited.

It is a figure explaining an example of the cleaning blade in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a diagram illustrating an example of a cleaning unit in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of one of the four image formation units 1 of FIG. It is a perspective view of the cleaning blade of the present invention. (A) is a figure which shows the state where the cleaning blade front-end | tip ridgeline part in the prior art turned up, (b) is a figure explaining the local abrasion of the front end surface of the cleaning blade in a prior art. It is a figure explaining the Martens hardness calculation method of this invention blade.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The present invention includes the “image forming apparatus” and the “process cartridge” described in the following (2) to (8). explain.
(2) The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the lubricant coating blade is such that the ultraviolet curable resin is harder than a material of the elastic blade.
(3) The image forming apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the lubricant coating blade has a surface layer thickness of the ultraviolet curable resin of 0.2 μm or more and 5 μm or less. "
(4) "The impregnated ultraviolet curable resin is a cured product of an ultraviolet curable composition containing a (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in a molecule" The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3). "
(5) “The lubricant coating blade is characterized in that the ultraviolet curable resin of the surface layer is a material whose main skeleton is pentaerythritol triacrylate having a functional group equivalent molecular weight of 350 or less and a functional group number of 3 to 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4).
(6) The above-mentioned lubricant application blade is an ultraviolet curable resin containing a fluorine-based acrylic monomer, wherein the ultraviolet curable resin that permeates the portion including the tip ridge line portion of the elastic blade and coats the elastic blade, The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the inner surface is impregnated by 20 μm or more from the surface of the elastic blade.
(7) “The image forming apparatus according to (6), wherein the fluorinated acrylic monomer is an acrylate having a perfluoropolyether skeleton and having two or more functional groups.”
The present invention also includes the following “process cartridge”.
(8) “In a process cartridge having an image carrier and cleaning means for cleaning at least transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the image carrier, and detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, the cleaning means includes a cleaning blade, lubrication A lubricant application brush, a lubricant application blade, the lubricant application blade is composed of a strip-shaped elastic blade, and the elastic blade is impregnated with an ultraviolet curable resin in a portion including a tip ridge line portion, and / or A process cartridge characterized in that a surface layer of an ultraviolet curable resin is provided on the surface of the elastic blade including the tip ridge line portion.

[Lubricant application blade]
The lubricant application blade of the present invention has an elastic member that abuts on the surface of the image carrier and applies the lubricant, and has a support member and, if necessary, other members.
The lubricant application blade preferably includes a support member and a flat plate-like elastic member having one end connected to the support member and a free end having a predetermined length at the other end. The lubricant application blade is disposed such that a contact portion, which is one end on the free end side of the elastic member, contacts the surface of the image carrier along the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic blade 622 is impregnated with the tip ridge line portion 62c described later in detail. A surface layer 623 is formed on the blade tip surface 62a and the blade lower surface 62b over the blade longitudinal direction.

<Supporting member>
There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the shape, a magnitude | size, a material, etc. as said support member, According to the objective, it can select suitably. Examples of the shape of the support member include a flat plate shape, a strip shape, and a sheet shape. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a magnitude | size of the said supporting member, According to the magnitude | size of the said member to be cleaned, it can select suitably.
Examples of the material of the support member include metals, plastics, and ceramics. Among these, a metal plate is preferable from the viewpoint of strength, and a steel plate such as stainless steel, an aluminum plate, and a phosphor bronze plate are particularly preferable.

<Elastic member>
There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the shape, material, magnitude | size, structure, etc. as said elastic member, According to the objective, it can select suitably. Examples of the shape of the elastic member include a flat plate shape, a strip shape, and a sheet shape. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a magnitude | size of the said elastic member, According to the magnitude | size of the said member to be cleaned, it can select suitably.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a material of the said elastic member, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, Polyurethane rubber, a polyurethane elastomer, etc. are suitable from the point which is easy to obtain high elasticity.

  The elastic member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a polyurethane prepolymer is prepared using a polyol compound and a polyisocyanate compound, and a curing agent is added to the polyurethane prepolymer. If necessary, add a curing catalyst, crosslink in a predetermined mold, post-crosslink in a furnace, mold into a sheet by centrifugal molding, leave at room temperature, and matured in a predetermined size It is manufactured by cutting into a flat plate shape.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said polyol compound, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, high molecular weight polyol, low molecular weight polyol, etc. are mentioned.
Examples of the high molecular weight polyol include a polyester polyol which is a condensate of an alkylene glycol and an aliphatic dibasic acid; ethylene adipate ester polyol, butylene adipate ester polyol, hexylene adipate ester polyol, ethylene propylene adipate ester polyol, ethylene butylene Polyester polyols such as polyester polyols of alkylene glycol and adipic acid such as adipate ester polyol and ethylene neopentylene adipate ester polyol; polycaprolactone polyols such as polycaprolactone ester polyol obtained by ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone; Polyethers such as oxytetramethylene) glycol and poly (oxypropylene) glycol Polyol, and the like.
These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

Examples of the low molecular weight polyol include 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, hydroquinone-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) ether, and 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane. Dihydric alcohols such as 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane; 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane, glycerin, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, Examples thereof include trivalent or higher polyhydric alcohols such as 1,1,1-tris (hydroxyethoxymethyl) propane, diglycerin, and pentaerythritol.
These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said polyisocyanate compound, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), xylylene diisocyanate (XDI), naphthylene 1,5 Diisocyanate (NDI), tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (TMXDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate (H ₆ XDI), dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H ₁₂ MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), dimer acid diisocyanate (DDI), norbornene diisocyanate (NBDI), trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate (TMDI), and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

The curing catalyst is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include 2-methylimidazole and 1,2-dimethylimidazole.
The content of the curing catalyst is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 0.01% by mass to 0.5% by mass, and 0.05% by mass to 0.3% by mass. Is more preferable.

The JIS-A hardness of the elastic member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is preferably 60 degrees or more, and more preferably 65 degrees to 80 degrees. When the JIS-A hardness is less than 60 degrees, it is difficult to obtain the blade linear pressure, and the area of the contact portion with the image carrier is likely to be enlarged, so that the lubricant may not be applied uniformly.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said elastic member, According to the objective, it can select suitably, The laminated body which integrally molded two or more types of rubbers from which JIS-A hardness differs can also be used.
Here, the JIS-A hardness of the elastic member can be measured using, for example, a micro rubber hardness meter MD-1 manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd.

The resilience elastic modulus based on the JIS K6255 standard of the elastic member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
Here, the rebound resilience coefficient of the elastic member is, for example, No. manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. at 23 ° C. in accordance with JIS K6255 standard. It can be measured using a 221 resilience tester.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the average thickness of the said elastic member, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 0.8 mm-3.0 mm are preferable.
The corner angle of the elastic member can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, substantially right angle or obtuse angle.
Here, the angle of the corner portion of the lubricant application blade can be confirmed by observing the blade edge portion using, for example, a laser microscope.

<Impregnated part, surface layer>
The contact portion of the elastic member that contacts the surface of the image carrier includes an ultraviolet curable resin. It may be included not only on the surface of the abutting portion but also inside, and when a surface layer is formed on the abutting portion, it is included in the abutting portion and the surface layer is included in the abutting portion. Etc. are also included.
In addition, if at least the contact portion of the elastic member includes a cured product of the ultraviolet curable composition, the portion other than the contact portion of the elastic member also includes the cured product of the ultraviolet curable composition. It doesn't matter.

  The impregnation treatment to the tip ridge line portion 62c of the elastic blade 622 can be performed by impregnating the ultraviolet curable resin by brush coating, spray coating, dip coating, or the like.

The surface layer 623 covers the tip ridge portion 62c of the cleaning blade 62 by spray coating, dip coating, screen printing, or the like after the elastic blade 622 is impregnated with an ultraviolet curable resin and air-dried for a predetermined time. The surface layer 623 can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but is preferably an ultraviolet curable resin that is harder than the Martens hardness of the elastic blade, and is preferably coated with a thickness of 0.2 to 5 μm. Further, since the surface layer 623 is made of a member having a hardness higher than that of the elastic blade 622 and is rigid, it is difficult to be deformed, and the tip ridge line portion 62c of the lubricant application blade 62 can be prevented from being turned up.
The impregnation portion 62d shown in FIG. 1 is formed by irradiating with ultraviolet rays after impregnation with the ultraviolet curable resin or coating with the surface layer 623, thereby improving the hardness of the tip ridge line portion 62c. An effect can be produced. The elastic blade described in Patent Document 3 is modified by impregnation with an isocyanate compound, a fluorine compound, a silicone compound, or the like. However, as in Embodiment 1, it is impregnated with an ultraviolet curable resin and irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Thus, the durability can be further improved. This is thought to be due to the following reasons.

First of all, it is possible that the crosslink density of the rubber itself is increased in a pseudo manner and the wear resistance is improved due to the formation of a UV curable resin network chain inside the rubber. In this case, the point is that the ultraviolet curable resin and the urethane rubber will hardly be bonded chemically. Generally, when trying to reinforce urethane rubber by impregnation operation, isocyanate is often used as the impregnation material, but since isocyanate reacts chemically with urethane rubber, the crosslinking density increases too much, and glass rather than rubber is used. Therefore, it is conceivable that the movement of the edge is excessively suppressed and the wear resistance is deteriorated.
Another possibility is that the impregnated UV curable resin exerts a so-called “anchor effect” on the UV curable resin added to the surface to increase the adhesion between the resin film and the rubber. It is done. Accordingly, it can be considered that the durability of the ultraviolet curable resin itself is increased.

By providing the surface layer 623 harder than the elastic blade 622 with a thickness of 5 μm or less on the surface including the leading edge portion, the thickness of the surface layer 623 increases the followability of the leading edge portion to the photoreceptor 3. It can suppress that it falls. Thus, even if the surface layer 623 is thinned and the elastic blade 622 contacts the photoconductor 3 in a short time during use over time, the hardness is higher than that of the elastic blade 622 in which the base material of the elastic blade 622 and the ultraviolet curable resin are mixed. Since the high impregnated portion comes into contact with the photoreceptor 3, the occurrence of abnormal wear and abnormal noise during use over time can be suppressed.
That is, the elastic blade satisfying the above conditions is impregnated with an ultraviolet curable resin satisfying the above conditions to modify the elastic blade, and a surface layer harder than the elastic blade is provided with a surface layer having a thickness of 5 μm or less. While suppressing the occurrence of abnormal wear and abnormal noise during use, it is possible to suppress the turning of the tip ridge line portion and to improve the followability of the tip ridge line portion to the image carrier and to maintain the contact pressure. Become.

In the lubricant application blade of Embodiment 1, the base material of the elastic blade 622 made of urethane rubber was impregnated with the UV curable resin by dip coating, and further the UV curable resin forming the surface layer 623 was spray applied. Thereafter, the resin is cured by ultraviolet irradiation.
The timing of irradiating the outer line to cure the impregnated ultraviolet curable resin may be irradiated with ultraviolet rays after the elastic blade 622 is impregnated with the ultraviolet curable resin and before the surface layer 623 is coated. A structure in which urethane rubber as a base material of the elastic blade 622 is impregnated with an ultraviolet curable resin, and then the ultraviolet curable resin impregnated by irradiating with ultraviolet rays is cured, and then coated with a resin that forms the surface layer 623. If so, the impregnation state does not change even if the impregnated state of the ultraviolet curable resin is fixed to the urethane rubber before the surface layer 623 is formed and the ultraviolet curable resin for forming the surface layer 623 is applied later. The elastic blade 622 in a desired impregnated state can be created.

<Ultraviolet curing resin>
The ultraviolet curable resin can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but an ultraviolet curable resin harder than the Martens hardness of the elastic blade is preferable. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tip edge line portion 62c of the elastic blade 622 that is in contact from being deformed in the moving direction of the surface of the photoreceptor 3. Furthermore, even when the interior is exposed due to the surface layer wear over time, the deformation can be similarly suppressed by the impregnation action.

The hardness of the Martens hardness is obtained by applying an ultraviolet curable resin on a glass plate and using a microhardness meter HM-2000 manufactured by Fischer Instruments Co., Ltd. with a layer thickness of 20 [μm]. Press in 30 seconds with a force of mN], hold for 5 seconds, pull out in 30 seconds with a force of 9.8 [mN], and measure Martens hardness. The elastic power is a characteristic value obtained as follows from the accumulated stress at the time of measuring Martens hardness. If the integrated stress when pushing in the Vickers indenter is Wplast, and the integrated stress of the test load unloading temple is Welast, the elastic power is a characteristic value defined by the equation of Welast / Wplast × 100% (see FIG. 7). .
The higher the elastic power, the smaller the hysteresis loss (plastic deformation), that is, the higher the rubber property. If the elastic power is too low, it is closer to glass than rubber.
More preferably, the ultraviolet curable resin used in the impregnation part contains a (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in the molecule, and further contains other components as necessary.

<(Meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in the molecule>
Since the (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in the molecule has a bulky special alicyclic structure in the molecule, the number of functional groups is small and the molecular weight is small (meth). Since an acrylate compound can be used, the contact portion of the elastic member is easily impregnated, and the hardness of the contact portion can be improved efficiently. Moreover, when a surface layer is provided in the contact part, the surface layer can be prevented from cracking or peeling.

6-12 are preferable and, as for carbon number of the alicyclic structure of the (meth) acrylate compound which has a C6 or more alicyclic structure in the said molecule | numerator, 8-10 are more preferable. If the number of carbon atoms is less than 6, the hardness of the contact portion may be weakened, and if it exceeds 12, steric hindrance may occur.
The number of functional groups of the (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in the molecule is preferably 2 to 6, and more preferably 2 to 4. When the number of functional groups is less than 2, the hardness of the contact portion may be weakened, and when it exceeds 6, steric hindrance may occur.
The molecular weight of the (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in the molecule is preferably 500 or less. When the molecular weight exceeds 500, the molecular size increases, so that it is difficult to impregnate the elastic member, and it may be difficult to increase the hardness.
As the ultraviolet curable resin used in the surface layer, a monomer having a functional group equivalent molecular weight of 350 or less and a pentaerythritol triacrylate having 3 to 6 functional groups as a main skeleton is preferably used. If the functional group equivalent molecular weight exceeds 350, or a material other than the pentaerythritol triacrylate skeleton is used, the surface layer 623 may become too brittle. If the surface layer 623 becomes brittle, the tip ridge line portion 62c of the lubricant application blade turns over, resulting in wear of the tip surface as shown in FIG. 6B. Sound generation occurs.
Here, FIG. 6 illustrates a typical defect at the tip of the cleaning blade according to the conventional technique, and FIG. (b) is a figure explaining the local abrasion of the front end surface of the cleaning blade in a prior art.

  Returning to FIG. 1, as a material for the surface layer 623, it is preferable to appropriately mix an acrylate material having a functional group equivalent molecular weight of 100 to 1000 and a functional group of 1 to 2 in addition to the pentaerythritol / triacrylate skeleton material. Thus, flexibility can be imparted to the surface layer 623, and the properties of the surface layer 623 can be customized in accordance with the characteristics of the machine on which the cleaning blade 62 is mounted. Therefore, it is possible to improve environmental characteristics and the like, for example, by finely adjusting the blade behavior when abnormal noise occurs in a specific environment.

The layer thickness of the surface layer 623 is more preferably 0.2 μm or more and 5 μm or less when measured at a distance of 50 [μm] from the tip ridge line portion 62 c. When the film thickness is 0.2 μm or less, the surface layer disappears when wear occurs due to long-term use, and the effect cannot be obtained. If the film thickness exceeds 5 μm, the rigidity of the surface layer becomes too strong, and the behavior of the tip ridge line portion of the lubricant coating blade on sliding with the surface of the photoreceptor may be too small. As a result, the vibration energy concentrates on the edge portion of the tip, which increases the wear rate and may become impossible to use at an early stage.
Further, it is more preferable that the ultraviolet curable resin contains a fluorine-based acrylic monomer. By containing the fluorinated acrylic monomer, the frictional force between the lubricant coating blade tip ridge and the image carrier can be further reduced, and the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.

<Other ingredients>
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said other component, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a photoinitiator, a polymerization inhibitor, a diluent, etc. are mentioned.

-Photopolymerization initiator-
The photopolymerization initiator is not particularly limited as long as it generates active species such as radicals and cations by light energy and initiates polymerization, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. A radical polymerization initiator, a photocationic polymerization initiator, etc. are mentioned. Among these, a photo radical polymerization initiator is particularly preferable.

  Examples of the radical photopolymerization initiator include aromatic ketones, acylphosphine oxide compounds, aromatic onium salt compounds, organic peroxides, thio compounds (thioxanthone compounds, thiophenyl group-containing compounds, etc.), hexaarylbiimidazoles, and the like. Examples thereof include compounds, ketoxime ester compounds, borate compounds, azinium compounds, metallocene compounds, active ester compounds, compounds having a carbon halogen bond, and alkylamine compounds.

  The radical photopolymerization initiator is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, acetophenone, acetophenone benzyl ketal, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone , Xanthone, fluorenone, benzaldehyde, fluorene, anthraquinone, triphenylamine, carbazole, 3-methylacetophenone, 4-chlorobenzophenone, 4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone, 4,4'-diaminobenzophenone, Michler's ketone, benzoin propyl ether , Benzoin ethyl ether, benzyldimethyl ketal, 1- (4-isopropylphenyl) -2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1 Phenylpropan-1-one, thioxanthone, diethylthioxanthone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2-methyl-1- [4- (methylthio) phenyl] -2-morpholino-propan-1-one, bis (2 , 4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phenylphosphine oxide, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, bis- (2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4 , 4-trimethylpentylphosphine oxide, and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

Commercially available products can be used as the photoradical polymerization initiator. Examples of the commercially available products include Irgacure 651, Irgacure 184, DAROCUR 1173, Irgacure 2959, Irgacure 127, Irgacure 907, Irgacure 369, Irgacure 379, and DAROCUR. TPO, IRGACURE 819, IRGACURE 784, IRGACURE OXE 01, IRGACURE OXE 02, IRGACURE 754 (above, manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals); Speedcure TPO (manufactured by Lambson); KAYACURE DETX-S Co., Ltd. Lucirin TPO, LR8883, LR8970 (above, manufactured by BASF); Ubekrill P36 (manufactured by UCB), and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
The content of the photopolymerization initiator is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 1% by mass to 20% by mass with respect to the ultraviolet curable composition.

-Polymerization inhibitor-
The polymerization inhibitor is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include p-methoxyphenol, cresol, t-butylcatechol, di-t-butylparacresol, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, α Naphthol, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene, 2,2'-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-butylphenol) ), 4,4′-thiobis (3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol); p-benzoquinone, anthraquinone, naphthoquinone, phenanthraquinone, p-xyloquinone, p-toluquinone, 2,6-dichloro Quinone, 2,5-diphenyl-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-diacetoxy-p-benzox 2,5-dicaproxy-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-diacyloxy-p-benzoquinone, hydroquinone, 2,5-di-butylhydroquinone, mono-t-butylhydroquinone, monomethylhydroquinone, 2,5-di-t A quinone compound such as amylhydroquinone; an amine compound such as phenyl-β-naphthylamine, p-benzylaminophenol, di-β-naphthylparaphenylenediamine, dibenzylhydroxylamine, phenylhydroxylamine, diethylhydroxylamine; Nitro compounds such as nitrotoluene and picric acid; oxime compounds such as quinone dioxime and cyclohexanone oxime; and sulfur compounds such as phenothiazine. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

-Diluent-
The diluent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene and xylene; ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether Ester solvents such as acetate; ketone solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diisobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone; ether solvents such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether; ethanol, Examples thereof include alcohol solvents such as propanol, 1-butanol, isopropyl alcohol, and isobutyl alcohol. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, in the lubricant application blade of the first embodiment, the surface layer 623 harder than the elastic blade 622 is provided to reduce the friction coefficient between the tip ridge line portion 62 c and the surface of the photoreceptor 3.
Here, a configuration in which the base material of the elastic blade 622 is not impregnated with the ultraviolet curable resin, and only the surface layer 623 having a hardness higher than that of the base material will be described. Even if the surface layer 623 is provided to reduce the friction coefficient, the surface layer 623 wears and decreases over time. At this time, if the surface layer 623 is made thick so that it can withstand long-term use, elastic deformation at the tip ridge line portion 62c of the elastic blade 622 may be hindered, and the lubricant applicability may be reduced. On the other hand, if the surface layer 623 is made thin so as not to hinder elastic deformation at the tip ridge line portion 62c of the elastic blade 622, the surface layer 623 is worn to such an extent that the base material is exposed in a short time. When the low-hardness base material is exposed and directly contacts the surface of the photoconductor 3, the friction coefficient between the lubricant coating blade and the surface of the photoconductor 3 increases, and abnormal wear and noise occur.

In the first embodiment, the lubricant coating blade is present so that the ultraviolet curable resin has a gradient with respect to the base material of the elastic blade 622 inside the surface layer 623 having high hardness. As a result, the mechanical strength and rigidity of the elastic rubber (urethane rubber) serving as the base material is moderately strengthened, and the behavior of the blade tip is moderately suppressed during sliding with the surface of the photosensitive member 3, thereby generating abnormal noise and By suppressing abnormal wear, it is possible to exhibit high wear resistance.
Further, if only the surface layer 623 having a high hardness is provided on the base material of the elastic blade 622, the hardness changes suddenly at the boundary between the high hardness layer and the base material layer, stress concentrates, and the elastic blade 622 may be damaged. There is. On the other hand, by causing the base material of the elastic blade 622 to have a gradient in content, it is possible to suppress a sudden change in hardness at the boundary between the high hardness layer and the base material layer, resulting in stress concentration. Thus, the elastic blade 622 can be prevented from being damaged.

[Lubricant application equipment]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an example of a lubricant application device according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lubricant application device 1 is in contact with the solid lubricant 61 and the solid lubricant 61, scraped by rotation to scrape off the lubricant, and applies the lubricant to the object to be coated 2. A lubricant application member 62 and pressing means 63 for pressing the solid lubricant 61 against the lubricant application member 62 are provided. In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes an electrostatic latent image forming means, reference numeral 4 denotes a developing means, and reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming apparatus.

In the lubricant application device 1 of the aspect shown in FIG. 2, the solid lubricant 61 is held by a holding member and accommodated in a holder 64. A compression spring 63, which is a pressing means, is disposed between the bottom of the holder 64 and the holding member, and urges the solid lubricant 61 toward the brush roller 62, which is a lubricant application member. The brush roller 62 and the photosensitive member 2 that is an object to be coated are rotationally driven counterclockwise in the drawing by a driving unit (not shown). A leveling blade (not shown) and a cleaning blade 51 for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor 2 are provided on the downstream side of the brush roller 62 in the rotation direction.
Further, the removal object transferred to the brush roller 62 is separated by the flicker member, and the brush roller 62 contacts the lubricant 61 in a clean state.

In the lubricant application device 1 of the aspect shown in FIG. 2, a solid lubricant 61 and a brush roller 62 are provided in a fixed case, and the solid lubricant 61 is pressed against the brush roller 62 by a compression spring 63.
As in FIG. 2, the brush roller 62 and the photosensitive member 2 that is the object to be coated are rotationally driven counterclockwise in the drawing by a driving unit (not shown), and the leveling blade is downstream of the brush roller 62 in the rotational direction. 66 and a cleaning blade 51.

Lubricant application by the lubricant application device 1 is performed by scraping the solid lubricant 61 solidly formed into a block shape by a lubricant application member 62 such as a brush roller into powder and holding the powder held by the lubricant application member 62. It is carried out by applying a body-like lubricant in contact with the substrate 2 such as a photoreceptor.
Since the lubricant application member 62 is disposed in contact with the object to be applied 2 before the lubricant application blade such as the cleaning blade 51, the powdery lubricant applied to the object to be applied is not contained in the lubricant application blade. It moves to the nip portion and is crushed to form a thin film uniformly on the surface of the object to be coated 2 so that it exhibits lubricity.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner application from the surface of the photoreceptor 2 that is the object to be coated is improved by applying the lubricant. Since the lubricant is applied to the surface, the coefficient of friction of the surface is reduced, and deposits attached to the surface are easily removed. That is, it becomes possible to easily remove toner that cannot be transferred onto a recording medium such as paper or an intermediate transfer member and remains on the photosensitive member or the intermediate transfer belt.
Spherical toners prepared by a polymerization method used in recent years have a uniform particle size distribution and a small particle size, which has been shown to improve image quality in image formation. It is known that the cleaning from the photoreceptor is difficult. Also from such a technical background, it is important to improve the cleaning property by applying the lubricant.

Furthermore, it is possible to prevent oxidative degradation due to discharge on the surface of the photoreceptor by applying a lubricant. In order to form an electrostatic charge image (electrostatic latent image) on the photoreceptor, it is necessary to uniformly charge it by charging means. As a specific charging means, in recent years, a means for applying a high voltage to the charging roller member to directly discharge and charge the photosensitive member is used. However, the surface of the photosensitive member is directly discharged to the image carrier. The problem of deterioration occurs. In particular, in the so-called non-contact charging roller system in which the charging roller member is not brought into contact with the photosensitive member, it is known that an AC voltage needs to be applied to the roller member, and the surface of the photosensitive member is likely to deteriorate.
It has been clarified that the deteriorated photoreceptor surface is easily worn by mechanical rubbing with a cleaning member (cleaning brush or cleaning blade). Therefore, the technique of applying a lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor is important for reducing damage to the image carrier due to discharge.

  The lubricant constituting the solid lubricant 61 contains at least one of a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant.

Examples of fatty acid metal salts include barium stearate, lead stearate, iron stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate , Zinc oleate, magnesium oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, copper oleate, lead oleate, manganese oleate, zinc palmitate, cobalt palmitate, lead palmitate, magnesium palmitate, aluminum palmitate, palmitate Calcium acid, lead caprylate, lead caprate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, calcium linolenate, zinc ricinoleate, cadmium ricinoleate and mixtures thereof However, the present invention is not limited to this. Moreover, you may mix and use these. Zinc stearate is most preferably used because it is particularly excellent in film formability on an image carrier.
By containing the fatty acid metal salt, the protective effect of the photoreceptor 2 as the coated body and the effect of reducing cleaning defects can be obtained.

An inorganic lubricant refers to an inorganic compound that cleaves and lubricates itself or causes internal slip. Specific examples of substances include talc, mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, kaolin, smectite, hydrotalcite compound, calcium fluoride, graphite, plate-like alumina, sericite, and synthetic mica. However, it is not limited to this. Boron nitride is preferable because hexagonal mesh surfaces in which atoms are firmly combined overlap with each other at a wide interval, and the force acting between the layers is only a weak van der Waals force, so that it is easily cleaved and lubricated. These inorganic lubricants may be surface-treated as necessary for the purpose of imparting hydrophobicity.
By containing the inorganic lubricant, it is possible to obtain particularly an effect of reducing the deterioration of the blade over time, an effect of reducing the deterioration of the charging roller with time, and an effect of reducing the cleaning failure.

An embodiment in which the fatty acid metal salt is zinc stearate and the inorganic lubricant is boron nitride will be described.
Compared to zinc stearate, boron nitride can further improve the cleaning properties of the belt. However, when boron nitride is used alone, the amount of scraping with respect to the brush is too large, so that a large capacity of the solid lubricant 61 is required, and the installation space is also increased. Accordingly, zinc stearate may be mixed with boron nitride. Even if it mixes and uses, the effect which improves the cleaning property by boron nitride does not change, and cleaning property can be improved rather than the material of zinc stearate alone.
In addition, for example, by adopting a structure in which the lubricant has a two-layer structure and the material structure of each layer is different, the cleaning property can be improved in the aging state rather than the initial state.
By making the components of the respective layers of the lubricant having the two-layer structure into components containing at least a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant, the cleaning property can be improved over time from the initial stage. Furthermore, it is possible that one component of the lubricant having a two-layer structure contains at least a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant, and the other component contains at least a fatty acid metal salt. The cleaning property can be improved.

  By making the lubricant constituting the solid lubricant 61 into an aspect containing both the fatty acid metal salt and the inorganic lubricant, it is possible to improve the deterioration over time of the photoreceptor 2 and its peripheral members as the coated body. Therefore, a very large effect can be obtained in improving the life of peripheral parts including the photoreceptor 2.

(Image forming apparatus and image forming method)
The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises at least an image carrier, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a cleaning unit, and a lubricant applying unit, Other means appropriately selected as necessary are provided. The charging unit and the exposure unit may be collectively referred to as an electrostatic latent image forming unit.

  The image forming method used in the present invention includes at least a charging step, an exposure step, a development step, a transfer step, a fixing step, a cleaning step, and a lubricant coating step, and further appropriately selected as necessary. Other steps. The charging process and the exposure process may be collectively referred to as an electrostatic latent image forming process.

  The image forming method used in the present invention can be preferably implemented by the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the charging step can be performed by the charging unit, and the exposure step can be performed by the exposing unit. The developing step can be performed by the developing unit, the transferring step can be performed by the transferring unit, the fixing step can be performed by the fixing unit, and the cleaning step can be performed by the cleaning unit. The lubricant application step can be performed by the lubricant application means, and the other steps can be performed by the other means.

<Image carrier>
The image carrier (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “electrophotographic photoreceptor” or “photoreceptor”) is not particularly limited in terms of material, shape, structure, size, etc., and is appropriately selected from known ones. can do. Examples of the shape of the image carrier include a drum shape and a belt shape. Examples of the material of the image carrier include inorganic photoreceptors such as amorphous silicon and selenium, and organic photoreceptors (OPC) such as polysilane and phthalopolymethine.

<Charging step and charging means>
The charging step is a step of charging the surface of the image carrier, and is performed by a charging unit.
The charging can be performed, for example, by applying a voltage to the surface of the image carrier using the charging unit.
The charging means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. And non-contact chargers using corona discharge such as corotrons and corotrons.
The shape of the charging means may take any form, such as a roller, a magnetic brush, or a fur brush, and can be selected according to the specifications and form of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. When using a magnetic brush, the magnetic brush is composed of, for example, various ferrite particles such as Zn-Cu ferrite as a charging means, a non-magnetic conductive sleeve for supporting it, and a magnet roll included therein. . Or when using a brush, for example, as the material of the fur brush, a fur treated with carbon, copper sulfide, metal or metal oxide is used, and this is wound around a metal or other conductive core. Make it a charger by sticking.
The charger is not limited to the contact charger as described above, but has an advantage that an image forming apparatus in which ozone generated from the charger is reduced can be obtained.
It is preferable that the charger is arranged in contact or non-contact with the image carrier and charges the surface of the image carrier by applying a direct current and an alternating voltage.
In addition, there is a charging roller in which a charging roller having a gap tape on the image carrier and arranged in a non-contact manner and charging the surface of the image carrier by applying a direct current and an alternating voltage to the charging roller in a superimposed manner. preferable.

<Exposure process and exposure means>
The exposure step is a step of exposing the charged image carrier surface, and is performed by the exposure means.
The exposure can be performed, for example, by exposing the surface of the image carrier imagewise using the exposure unit.
The optical system in the exposure is roughly classified into an analog optical system and a digital optical system. The analog optical system is an optical system that projects a document directly onto an image carrier by an optical system, and the digital optical system receives image information as an electrical signal, converts this into an optical signal, and converts it into an electrophotographic photosensitive device. It is an optical system that exposes and forms a body.
The exposure means is not particularly limited as long as it can be exposed like an image to be formed on the surface of the image carrier charged by the charging means, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include various exposure devices such as a copying optical system, a rod lens array system, a laser optical system, a liquid crystal shutter optical system, and an LED optical system.
In the present invention, an optical back side system in which imagewise exposure is performed from the back side of the image carrier may be adopted.

<Development process and development means>
The developing step is a step of developing the electrostatic latent image with the toner to form a visible image.
The visible image can be formed, for example, by developing the electrostatic latent image using the toner, and can be performed by the developing unit.
The developing unit is not particularly limited as long as it can be developed using the toner, for example, and can be appropriately selected from known ones. For example, the toner is accommodated and the electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrostatic latent image. Preferable examples include those having at least a developing unit capable of applying the toner in contact or non-contact.

  The developing unit may be a dry developing type, a wet developing type, a single color developing unit, or a multi-color developing unit. For example, a toner having a stirrer for charging the toner by frictional stirring and a rotatable magnet roller is preferable.

  In the developing unit, for example, the toner and, if necessary, a carrier are mixed and agitated, and the toner is charged by friction at that time, and held on the surface of the rotating magnet roller in a raised state. Is formed. Since the magnet roller is disposed in the vicinity of the image carrier, a part of the toner constituting the magnetic brush formed on the surface of the magnet roller is electrically attracted to the image carrier. Move to the surface. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner to form a visible image with the toner on the surface of the image carrier.

-Toner-
The toner contained in the developing device may be a developer containing the toner, and the developer may be a one-component developer or a two-component developer.
The toner contains toner base particles and an external additive, and further contains other components as necessary.
The toner may be a monochrome toner or a color toner.
The toner base particles include at least a binder resin and a colorant and, if necessary, other components such as a release agent and a charge control agent.

---- Binder resin ---
The binder resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, styrene such as polystyrene resin or polyvinyltoluene resin or a homopolymer of a substituted product thereof, styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer. Polymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate Copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymer, Styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene Polymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene Resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, phenol resin, aliphatic hydrocarbon, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, paraffin wax, etc. Is mentioned. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, polyester resins are particularly preferable in that the melt viscosity can be lowered while ensuring the stability during storage of the toner as compared with styrene resins and acrylic resins.

  The polyester resin can be obtained, for example, by a polycondensation reaction between an alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said alcohol component, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, polyethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, triethyleneglycol, 1,2-propyleneglycol, 1,3-propyleneglycol, 1,4 -Diols such as propylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, 1,4-butenediol; 1,4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane, bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol A, polyoxyethylenated bisphenol A, polyoxypropylenated bisphenol Etherified bisphenols such as A; divalent alcohol units in which these are substituted with a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 3 to 22 carbon atoms; other divalent alcohol units; sorbitol, 1, 2, 3 , 6-Hexaneteto , 1,4-sorbitan, pentaesitol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, sucrose, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,5-pentanetriol, glycerol, 2 -Trivalent or higher polyhydric alcohol monomers such as methylpropanetriol, 2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, 1,3,5-trihydroxymethylbenzene, etc. Is mentioned.

  The carboxylic acid component is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include monocarboxylic acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid; maleic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid , Terephthalic acid, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, malonic acid, divalent organic acid monomers in which these are substituted with a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 3 to 22 carbon atoms, these Acid anhydride, lower alkyl ester and dimer acid from linolenic acid; 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 2,5,7-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, 1 , 2,4-Naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-hexanetricarboxylic acid, 3,3-dicarbo Shimechirubutan acid, tetra carboxymethyl methane, 1,2,7,8-octane tetracarboxylic acid Enboru trimer acid, a trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid monomers anhydrides of these acids, and the like.

--- Colorant ---
The colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known dyes and pigments according to the purpose. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), Cadmium yellow, Yellow iron oxide, Ocher, Yellow lead, Titanium yellow, Polyazo yellow, Oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), Pigment yellow L, Benzidine yellow (G, GR) , Permanent Yellow (NCG), Vulcan Fast Yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, Isoindolinone Yellow, Bengala, Red Dan, Lead Zhu, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Mercury Red, Antimony Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, Parallel , Faise red, parachlor ortho nitroaniline red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carmine BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Risor Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B , Rhodamine lake Y, alizarin lake, thioindigo red B, thioindigo maroon, oil Quinacridone red, pyrazolone red, polyazo red, chrome vermilion, benzidine orange, perinone orange, oil orange, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, alkaline blue rake, peacock blue rake, Victoria blue rake, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue (RS, BC), Indigo, Ultramarine Blue, Bitumen, Anthraquinone Blue, Fast Violet B, Methyl Violet Lake, Cobalt Purple, Manganese Purple, Dioxane Violet, Anthraquinone Violet, Chrome Green, Zinc Green, Oxidation Chrome, Pyridian, Emerald Green, Pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Acid Guri En lake, malachite green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, lithopone, and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content in the said toner of the said coloring agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 1 mass%-15 mass% are preferable, and 3 mass%-10 mass% are more preferable.

  The colorant may be used as a master batch combined with a resin. The resin is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, styrene or a substituted polymer thereof, styrene copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate resin, polybutyl Methacrylate resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene Examples thereof include resins, aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, and paraffins. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

---- Release agent ---
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said mold release agent, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, waxes etc. are mentioned.
Examples of the waxes include carbonyl group-containing waxes, polyolefin waxes, and long-chain hydrocarbons. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, a carbonyl group-containing wax is preferable.
Examples of the carbonyl group-containing wax include polyalkanoic acid esters, polyalkanol esters, polyalkanoic acid amides, polyalkylamides, dialkyl ketones, and the like. Examples of the polyalkanoic acid ester include carnauba wax, montan wax, trimethylolpropane tribehenate, pentaerythritol tetrabehenate, pentaerythritol diacetate dibehenate, glycerin tribehenate, and 1,18-octadecane. And diol distearate. Examples of the polyalkanol ester include tristearyl trimellitic acid, distearyl maleate, and the like. Examples of the polyalkanoic acid amide include dibehenyl amide. Examples of the polyalkylamide include trimellitic acid tristearylamide. Examples of the dialkyl ketone include distearyl ketone. Among these carbonyl group-containing waxes, polyalkanoic acid esters are particularly preferable.
Examples of the polyolefin wax include polyethylene wax and polypropylene wax.
Examples of the long chain hydrocarbon include paraffin wax and sazol wax.
The content of the release agent in the toner is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 5% by mass to 15% by mass.

---- Charge control agent ---
The charge control agent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.For example, nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, chromium-containing metal complex dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, Alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (including fluorine-modified quaternary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus simple substances or compounds, tungsten simple substances or compounds, fluorine activators, salicylic acid metal salts, metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives, etc. Can be mentioned.

  The content of the charge control agent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 0.1 parts by mass to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner. 2 mass parts-5 mass parts are more preferable.

--External additive--
The external additive is not particularly limited as long as it contains at least silica particles, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Also, for example, inorganic particles such as silica, titanium oxide, alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron nitride; polymethyl methacrylate particles and polystyrene particles having an average particle size of 0.05 μm to 1 μm obtained by a soap-free emulsion polymerization method Such resin particles may be included. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, silica whose surface is hydrophobized is particularly preferable.

Examples of the silica include silicone-treated silica. The silicone-treated silica is silica whose surface has been surface-treated (hydrophobized) with silicone oil.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as the method of the said surface treatment, According to the objective, it can select suitably.
Examples of the silicone oil include dimethyl silicone oil, methyl hydrogen silicone oil, and methylphenyl silicone oil.
A commercially available product can be used as the silicone-treated silica. As said commercial item, RY200, R2T200S, NY50, RY50 (above, Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd. product) etc. are mentioned, for example.

-Other ingredients-
The other components in the toner are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a fluidity improver, a cleaning improver, a magnetic material, and a metal soap.

The fluidity improver can be surface-treated to increase hydrophobicity and prevent deterioration of fluidity and charging characteristics even under high humidity. For example, a silane coupling agent, a silylating agent, and a fluoride can be used. Silane coupling agents having an alkyl group, organic titanate coupling agents, aluminum coupling agents, silicone oils, modified silicone oils, and the like.
The cleaning property improver is added to the toner in order to remove the toner after transfer remaining on the image carrier or intermediate transfer member. For example, a fatty acid metal salt such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, stearic acid; Examples thereof include polymer fine particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization such as methyl methacrylate fine particles and polystyrene fine particles.
The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution, and those having a volume average particle size of 0.01 μm to 1 μm are suitable.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said magnetic material, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, iron powder, magnetite, a ferrite, etc. are mentioned. Among these, white is preferable in terms of color tone.

--Method of manufacturing toner--
The method for producing the toner is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected from conventionally known toner production methods according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a kneading / pulverizing method, a polymerization method, a dissolution suspension method, and a spraying method. Granulation method and the like. Among these, in order to improve the image quality, a polymerization method such as a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion polymerization method, or a dispersion polymerization method, which can easily increase the circularity and reduce the particle size, is preferable.

---- Kneading and grinding method ---
The kneading and pulverizing method is, for example, a method of producing the toner base particles by melt-kneading a toner material containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, pulverizing and classifying the obtained kneaded product. is there.
In the melt kneading, the toner materials are mixed, and the mixture is charged into a melt kneader and melt kneaded. As the melt kneader, for example, a uniaxial or biaxial continuous kneader or a batch kneader using a roll mill can be used. For example, a KTK type twin screw extruder manufactured by Kobe Steel, a TEM type extruder manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd., a twin screw extruder manufactured by Casey Kay, a PCM type twin screw extruder manufactured by Ikegai Iron Works, a Kneader manufactured by Buss, etc. are suitable. Used for. This melt-kneading is preferably performed under appropriate conditions so as not to cause the molecular chains of the binder resin to be broken. Specifically, the melt-kneading temperature is determined with reference to the softening point of the binder resin. If the temperature is higher than the softening point, cutting is severe, and if the temperature is too low, dispersion may not proceed.

  In the pulverization, the kneaded material obtained by the melt-kneading is pulverized. In this pulverization, it is preferable that the kneaded material is first coarsely pulverized and then finely pulverized. At this time, a method of pulverizing by colliding with a collision plate in a jet stream, pulverizing particles by colliding with each other in a jet stream, or pulverizing with a narrow gap between a rotor and a stator that rotate mechanically is preferably used. .

In the classification, the pulverized product obtained by the pulverization is classified and adjusted to particles having a predetermined particle diameter. The classification can be performed, for example, by removing the fine particle portion with a cyclone, a decanter, a centrifuge, or the like.
After the pulverization and classification are completed, the pulverized product is classified into an air stream by centrifugal force or the like, and toner base particles having a predetermined particle diameter can be produced.

  Next, the external additive is externally added to the toner base particles. By mixing and stirring the toner base particles and the external additive using a mixer, the surface of the toner base particles is coated while being crushed. At this time, it is important in terms of durability that the external additive such as silica particles is uniformly and firmly attached to the toner base particles.

--- Polymerization method ---
As a method for producing a toner by the polymerization method, for example, a toner material containing a modified polyester resin capable of at least urea or urethane bond and a colorant is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent. Then, the solution or dispersion is dispersed in an aqueous medium, subjected to a polyaddition reaction, the solvent of this dispersion is removed and washed.

  Examples of the modified polyester resin capable of being bonded with urea or urethane include, for example, a polyester prepolymer having an isocyanate group, obtained by reacting a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group at the terminal of a polyester with a polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC). Etc. The modified polyester resin obtained by crosslinking and / or extending the molecular chain by the reaction of this polyester prepolymer and amines can improve the hot offset property while maintaining the low temperature fixability.

Examples of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (for example, tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethyl caproate); alicyclic polyisocyanates (for example, Isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); aromatic diisocyanate (eg, tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); aromatic aliphatic diisocyanate (eg, α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); And those obtained by blocking the polyisocyanate with a phenol derivative, oxime, caprolactam or the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
The ratio of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. The equivalent ratio of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group [NCO ] / [OH] is preferably 5/1 to 1/1, more preferably 4/1 to 1.2 / 1, and still more preferably 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1.

  The isocyanate group contained per molecule in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. 5 to 3 is more preferable, and an average of 1.8 to 2.5 is more preferable.

Examples of amines (B) to be reacted with the polyester prepolymer include divalent amine compounds (B1), trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compounds (B2), amino alcohols (B3), amino mercaptans (B4), and amino acids. (B5), and those obtained by blocking the amino groups of B1 to B5 (B6).
Examples of the divalent amine compound (B1) include aromatic diamines (eg, phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane); alicyclic diamines (eg, 4,4′-diamino-). 3,3′-dimethyldicyclohexylmethane, diaminecyclohexane, isophoronediamine, etc.); aliphatic diamines (eg, ethylenediamine, tetramethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, etc.), and the like.
Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine.
Examples of the amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline.
Examples of the amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan and aminopropyl mercaptan.
Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid.
Examples of the blocked B1-B5 amino group (B6) include ketimine compounds and oxazolidine compounds obtained from the amines of B1-B5 and ketones (for example, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.) Is mentioned.
Among these amines (B), B1 and a mixture of B1 and a small amount of B2 are particularly preferable.

  The ratio of the amines (B) is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. The isocyanate group [NCO] in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group and the amines (B The equivalent ratio [NCO] / [NHx] of the amino group [NHx] is preferably 1/2 to 2/1, more preferably 1.5 / 1 to 1 / 1.5, and 1.2 / 1. -1 / 1.2 is more preferable.

  According to the method for producing a toner by the polymerization method as described above, a toner having a small particle diameter and a spherical shape can be produced at low cost with little environmental load.

The disperser for the dispersion is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a low-speed shear disperser, a high-speed shear disperser, a friction disperser, and a high-pressure jet disperser. And an ultrasonic disperser.
Among these, a high-speed shearing disperser is preferable in that the particle size of the dispersion (oil droplets) can be controlled to 2 μm to 20 μm.
When the high-speed shearing disperser is used, conditions such as the number of rotations, the dispersion time, and the dispersion temperature can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said rotation speed, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 1,000 rpm-30,000 rpm are preferable, and 5,000 rpm-20,000 rpm are more preferable.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said dispersion | distribution time, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, In the case of a batch system, 0.1 minute-5 minutes are preferable.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said dispersion | distribution temperature, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 0 degreeC-150 degreeC is preferable under pressure, and 40 degreeC-98 degreeC is more preferable. In general, dispersion is easier when the dispersion temperature is higher.

  The amount of the aqueous medium used when the toner material is dispersed in the aqueous medium is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is 50 masses per 100 mass parts of the toner material. Parts to 2,000 parts by mass are preferable, and 100 parts to 1,000 parts by mass are more preferable.

The method for removing the organic solvent from the dispersion is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the temperature of the entire reaction system is gradually raised to evaporate the organic solvent in the oil droplets. And a method of spraying the dispersion into a dry atmosphere to remove the organic solvent in the oil droplets.
When the organic solvent is removed, toner base particles are formed. The toner base particles can be washed, dried, etc., and further classified. The classification may be performed by removing fine particle portions in a liquid by a cyclone, a decanter, centrifugation, or the like, or may be performed after drying.

The obtained toner base particles may be mixed with the external additive and, if necessary, particles such as the charge control agent. At this time, by applying a mechanical impact force, it is possible to prevent the particles such as the external additive from detaching from the surface of the toner base particles.
The method for applying the mechanical impact force is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a method for applying the impact force to the mixture using blades rotating at high speed, For example, a method may be used in which the mixture is charged and accelerated to cause the particles or particles to collide with an appropriate collision plate.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as an apparatus used for the said method, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, remodeling and grind | pulverizing an Ong mill (made by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), and an I-type mill (made by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.) Examples include an apparatus in which the air pressure is lowered, a hybridization system (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), a kryptron system (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.), and an automatic mortar.

The average circularity of the toner is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 0.97 or more, and more preferably 0.97 to 0.98. If the average circularity is less than 0.97, satisfactory transferability and high-quality images without dust may not be obtained.
The average circularity of the toner can be measured using, for example, a flow type particle image analyzer FPIA-1000 manufactured by Sysmex Corporation.

The volume average particle diameter of the toner is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 5.5 μm or less.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as ratio (Dv / Dn) of the said volume average particle diameter (Dv) and number average particle diameter (Dn), Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 1.00-1. 40 is preferred. The closer the ratio (Dv / Dn) is to 1.00, the sharper the particle size distribution. With such a toner having a small particle size and a narrow particle size distribution, the toner charge amount distribution is uniform, a high-quality image with little background fogging can be obtained, and the electrostatic transfer method has a high transfer rate. can do.

  The volume average particle size and particle size distribution of the toner are measured by, for example, Coulter Counter TA-II, Coulter Multisizer II (both manufactured by Coulter Co., Ltd.), etc. can do.

  The toner can be mixed with a magnetic carrier and used as a two-component developer. In this case, the mass ratio of the carrier and the toner in the two-component developer is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. However, the toner is 1 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the carrier. Part is preferred.

Examples of the magnetic carrier include iron powder, ferrite powder, magnetite powder, and magnetic resin carrier having a particle diameter of about 20 μm to 200 μm.
The coating resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, urea resin, polyamide resin, epoxy resin, polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resin , Halogenated olefin resins such as acrylic resin, polymethyl methacrylate resin, polyacrylonitrile resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polystyrene resin, styrene-acryl copolymer resin, polyvinyl chloride; polyethylene terephthalate terephthalate Polyester resins such as resins; polycarbonate resins, polyethylene resins, polyvinyl fluoride resins, polyvinylidene fluoride resins, polytrifluoroethylene resins, polyhexafluoropropylene Fluorine such as fat, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic monomer, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and vinyl fluoride, terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride and non-fluorinated monomer A terpolymer, a silicone resin, etc. are mentioned.

Furthermore, you may make conductive powder etc. contain in coating resin as needed. Examples of the conductive powder include metal powder, carbon black, titanium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide.
These conductive powders preferably have an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less. When the average particle diameter exceeds 1 μm, it may be difficult to control electric resistance.
The toner can be used as a one-component magnetic toner that does not use a carrier, or a non-magnetic toner.

<Transfer process and transfer means>
The transfer step is a step of transferring the visible image onto a recording medium. After the primary transfer of the visible image onto the intermediate transfer member using an intermediate transfer member, the visible image is transferred onto the recording medium. A primary transfer step of forming a composite transfer image by transferring a visible image onto an intermediate transfer body using two or more colors, preferably full color toner as the toner, and a composite transfer image; A mode including a secondary transfer step of transferring the transfer image onto the recording medium is more preferable.
The transfer can be performed, for example, by charging the image carrier with the visible image using a transfer unit, and can be performed by the transfer unit. The transfer means includes a primary transfer means for transferring a visible image onto an intermediate transfer member to form a composite transfer image, and a secondary transfer means for transferring the composite transfer image onto a recording medium. Embodiments are preferred.
The intermediate transfer member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known transfer members according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a transfer belt.

The transfer unit (the primary transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit) preferably includes at least a transfer unit that peels and charges the visible image formed on the image carrier to the recording medium side. . There may be one transfer means or two or more transfer means. Examples of the transfer device include a corona transfer device using corona discharge, a transfer belt, a transfer roller, a pressure transfer roller, and an adhesive transfer device.
The recording medium is typically plain paper, but is not particularly limited as long as it can transfer an unfixed image after development, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. A PET base or the like can also be used.

<Fixing process and fixing means>
The fixing step is a step of fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium, and can be fixed using a fixing unit. When two or more color toners are used, the toner may be fixed each time the toner of each color is transferred to the recording medium, or the toner of all colors may be transferred to the recording medium and fixed in a stacked state. Also good. The fixing unit is not particularly limited, and a heat fixing method using a known heating and pressing unit can be employed. Examples of the heating and pressing means include a combination of a heating roller and a pressure roller, and a combination of a heating roller, a pressure roller, and an endless belt. At this time, the heating temperature is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 80 ° C to 200 ° C. If necessary, for example, a known optical fixing device may be used together with the fixing means.

<Cleaning process and cleaning means>
The cleaning step is a step of removing the toner remaining on the image carrier and can be suitably performed by a cleaning unit.
As the cleaning means, the cleaning blade of the present invention is used.
The elastic member of the cleaning blade is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. However, it is preferable that the elastic member is in contact with the surface of the image carrier with a pressing force of 10 N / m to 100 N / m. . If the pressing force is less than 10 N / m, cleaning failure due to toner passing through the contact portion where the elastic member of the cleaning blade contacts the surface of the image carrier is likely to occur. The cleaning blade may be swung up due to an increase in the frictional force of the part. The pressing force is preferably 10 N / m to 50 N / m.
The pressing force can be measured using, for example, a measuring apparatus incorporating a small compression type load cell manufactured by Kyowa Denki Co., Ltd.

The angle formed between the tangent at the portion where the elastic member of the cleaning blade abuts on the surface of the image carrier and the end face of the cleaning blade is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. It is preferable that the angle is not more than °.
If the angle θ formed is less than 65 °, the cleaning blade may be swung up, and if it exceeds 85 °, a cleaning failure may occur.

<Other processes and other means>
Examples of the other means include a static elimination means, a recycling means, and a control means.
Examples of the other processes include a static elimination process, a recycling process, and a control process.

-Static elimination process and static elimination means-
The neutralization step is a step of performing neutralization by applying a neutralization bias to the image carrier, and can be suitably performed by a neutralization unit.
The neutralization means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known neutralizers as long as it can apply a neutralization bias to the image carrier. It is done.

-Recycling process and recycling means-
The recycling step is a step of recycling the toner removed by the cleaning step to the developing unit, and can be suitably performed by the recycling unit.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said recycling means, A well-known conveyance means etc. are mentioned.

-Control process and control means-
The control step is a step of controlling each of the steps, and can be suitably performed by a control unit.
The control means is not particularly limited as long as the movement of each means can be controlled, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include devices such as a sequencer and a computer.

Here, an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus 500 of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 500 includes four image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (hereinafter sometimes referred to as Y, C, M, and K). These use Y, C, M, and K toners of different colors as image forming substances for forming an image, but the other configurations are the same.

Above the four image forming units 1, a transfer unit 60 including an intermediate transfer belt 14 as an intermediate transfer member is disposed. The toner images of the respective colors formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K included in the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K, which will be described in detail later, are superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. It is a configuration to be transferred.
Further, an optical writing unit 40 is disposed below the four image forming units 1. The optical writing unit 40 serving as a latent image forming unit irradiates the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K with the laser light L emitted based on the image information. Thereby, electrostatic latent images for Y, C, M, and K are formed on the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K. The optical writing unit 40 polarizes the laser light L emitted from the light source by the polygon mirror 41 that is rotationally driven by a motor, and passes the photosensitive members 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K through a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors. Is irradiated. Instead of the configuration described above, it is also possible to employ one that performs light scanning with an LED array.

  Below the optical writing unit 40, a first paper feed cassette 151 and a second paper feed cassette 152 are arranged to overlap in the vertical direction. In each of these paper feed cassettes, a plurality of recording media P are stored in a stack of sheets, and the top recording medium P includes a first paper feed roller 151a and a second paper feed. The rollers 152a are in contact with each other. When the first paper feed roller 151a is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by a driving means (not shown), the uppermost recording medium P in the first paper feed cassette 151 is vertically oriented on the right side of the cassette in FIG. The paper is discharged toward a paper feed path 153 disposed so as to extend to the front. Further, when the second paper feeding roller 152a is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by driving means (not shown), the uppermost recording medium P in the second paper feeding cassette 152 is discharged toward the paper feeding path 153. Is done.

  A plurality of conveying roller pairs 154 are arranged in the paper feed path 153. The recording medium P sent to the paper feed path 153 is conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in FIG. 3 while being sandwiched between the rollers of the conveyance roller pair 154.

  A registration roller pair 55 is disposed at the downstream end of the paper feed path 153 in the transport direction. The registration roller pair 55 temporarily stops the rotation of both rollers as soon as the recording medium P sent from the conveying roller pair 154 is sandwiched between the rollers. Then, the recording medium P is sent out toward a secondary transfer nip described later at an appropriate timing.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of one of the four image forming units 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming unit 1 includes a drum-shaped photosensitive member 3 as an image carrier. The photoconductor 3 has a drum shape, but may have a sheet shape or an endless belt shape.
Around the photoreceptor 3, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a primary transfer roller 7, a cleaning device 6, a lubricant application device 10, a static elimination lamp (not shown), and the like are disposed. The charging roller 4 is a charging member provided in a charging device as a charging unit, and the developing device 5 is a developing unit that converts a latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 3 into a toner image. The primary transfer roller 7 is a primary transfer member provided in a primary transfer device as a primary transfer unit that transfers a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 14. The cleaning device 6 is a cleaning unit that cleans the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 3 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 14. The lubricant application device 10 is a lubricant application unit that applies a lubricant onto the surface of the photoreceptor 3 after the cleaning device 6 performs cleaning. A neutralizing lamp (not shown) is a neutralizing unit that neutralizes the surface potential of the photoreceptor 3 after cleaning.

The charging roller 4 is arranged in a non-contact manner with a predetermined distance from the photoconductor 3, and charges the photoconductor 3 to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential. The surface of the photoreceptor 3 uniformly charged by the charging roller 4 is irradiated with laser light L from an optical writing unit 40 serving as a latent image forming unit based on image information, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image.
The developing device 5 has a developing roller 51 as a developer carrier. A developing bias is applied to the developing roller 51 from a power source (not shown). In the casing of the developing device 5, a supply screw 52 and a stirring screw 53 are provided for stirring the developer contained in the casing while conveying the developer in opposite directions. A doctor 54 for regulating the developer carried on the developing roller 51 is also provided. The toner in the developer stirred and conveyed by the two screws of the supply screw 52 and the stirring screw 53 is charged to a predetermined polarity. The developer is pumped up on the surface of the developing roller 51, and the developer pumped up is regulated by the doctor 54, and the toner adheres to the latent image on the photoconductor 3 in the development area facing the photoconductor 3. .

  The cleaning device 6 includes a fur brush 101, a cleaning blade 62, and the like. The cleaning blade 62 includes a flat support member 621 made of a rigid material such as metal or hard plastic, and a flat elastic member 622. The elastic member 622 is fixed to one end side of the support member 621 by an adhesive or the like, and the other end side of the support member 621 is cantilevered by the case of the cleaning device 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning blade 62 includes a support member 621 and a flat elastic member 622 having one end connected to the support member and a free end having a predetermined length at the other end. A contact portion 62c, which is one end on the free end side of the member 622, is disposed so as to contact the surface of the image carrier 3 along the longitudinal direction. The cleaning blade 62 is in contact with the photoconductor 3 in the counter direction with respect to the surface movement direction of the photoconductor 3.
The lubricant application device 10 includes a solid lubricant 103, a lubricant pressure spring 103 a, and the like, and uses a fur brush 101 as an application brush for applying the solid lubricant 103 onto the photoreceptor 3. The solid lubricant 103 is held by the bracket 103b and is pressed toward the fur brush 101 by a lubricant pressurizing spring 103a. Then, the solid lubricant 103 is scraped by the fur brush 101 that rotates in the rotational direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 3, and the lubricant is applied onto the photoconductor 3. By applying lubricant to the photoreceptor, the friction coefficient on the surface of the photoreceptor 3 is maintained at 0.2 or less during non-image formation.

  The charging device is a non-contact proximity arrangement system in which the charging roller 4 is brought close to the photosensitive member 3, and as the charging device, known devices such as a corotron, a scorotron, and a solid state charger (solid state charger) are known. A configuration can be used. Among these charging methods, the contact charging method or the non-contact proximity arrangement method is more desirable, and has advantages such as high charging efficiency, a small amount of ozone generation, and miniaturization of the apparatus.

The light source of the laser light L of the optical writing unit 40 and the light source such as a static elimination lamp include a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a sodium lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), a semiconductor laser (LD), and an electroluminescence (EL). ) And other luminescent materials can be used.
In addition, various types of filters such as a sharp cut filter, a band pass filter, a near infrared cut filter, a dichroic filter, an interference filter, and a color temperature conversion filter can be used to irradiate only light in a desired wavelength range.
Among these light sources, light emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers are used favorably because they have high irradiation energy and long wavelength light of 600 nm to 800 nm.

3 includes a belt cleaning unit 162, a first bracket 63, a second bracket 64, and the like in addition to the intermediate transfer belt 14. In addition, four primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K, a secondary transfer backup roller 66, a driving roller 67, an auxiliary roller 68, a tension roller 69, and the like are also provided.
The intermediate transfer belt 14 is endlessly moved counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by the rotational driving of the driving roller 67 while being stretched around these eight roller members. The four primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 14 that is moved endlessly between the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K to form primary transfer nips. . Then, a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner (for example, plus) is applied to the back surface (loop inner peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 14. The intermediate transfer belt 14 sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips for Y, C, M, and K along with the endless movement thereof, and on the front surface thereof, the intermediate transfer belt 14 is on the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K. Y, C, M, and K toner images are superimposed and primarily transferred. As a result, a four-color superimposed toner image (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a four-color toner image) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  The secondary transfer backup roller 66 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 14 with the secondary transfer roller 70 disposed outside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 14 to form a secondary transfer nip. The registration roller pair 55 described above feeds the recording medium P sandwiched between the rollers toward the secondary transfer nip at a timing at which the recording medium P can be synchronized with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 14. The four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 14 is affected by the secondary transfer electric field formed between the secondary transfer roller 70 to which the secondary transfer bias is applied and the secondary transfer backup roller 66, and the influence of the nip pressure. Then, the secondary transfer is batch-transferred onto the recording medium P in the secondary transfer nip. Then, combined with the white color of the recording medium P, a full color toner image is obtained.

  Untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 14 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. This is cleaned by the belt cleaning unit 162. The belt cleaning unit 162 has a belt cleaning blade 162a in contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14, thereby scraping off and removing the transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  The first bracket 63 of the transfer unit 60 swings at a predetermined rotation angle about the rotation axis of the auxiliary roller 68 as the solenoid (not shown) is turned on / off. When forming a monochrome image, the image forming apparatus 500 slightly rotates the first bracket 63 counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by driving the solenoid described above. By this rotation, the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, and 7M for Y, C, and M are revolved counterclockwise in FIG. , M is separated from the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M. Of the four image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K, only the K image forming unit 1K is driven to form a monochrome image. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid wear of each member constituting the image forming unit 1 due to wasteful driving of the Y, C, M image forming unit 1 during monochrome image formation.

  A fixing unit 80 is disposed above the secondary transfer nip in FIG. The fixing unit 80 includes a pressure heating roller 81 that contains a heat source such as a halogen lamp, and a fixing belt unit 82. The fixing belt unit 82 includes a fixing belt 84 as a fixing member, a heating roller 83 containing a heat source such as a halogen lamp, a tension roller 85, a driving roller 86, a temperature sensor (not shown), and the like. Then, the endless fixing belt 84 is endlessly moved in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 while being stretched by the heating roller 83, the tension roller 85, and the driving roller 86. In the process of endless movement, the fixing belt 84 is heated from the back side by the heating roller 83. A pressure heating roller 81 that is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 is in contact with the surface of the fixing belt 84 that is heated in this manner. Thus, a fixing nip where the pressure heating roller 81 and the fixing belt 84 abut is formed.

  A temperature sensor (not shown) is disposed outside the loop of the fixing belt 84 so as to face the front surface of the fixing belt 84 with a predetermined gap, and the fixing belt 84 just before entering the fixing nip. Detect surface temperature. This detection result is sent to a fixing power supply circuit (not shown). The fixing power supply circuit performs on / off control of power supply to the heat generation source included in the heating roller 83 and the heat generation source included in the pressure heating roller 81 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor.

  The recording medium P that has passed through the secondary transfer nip described above is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14 and then sent into the fixing unit 80. Then, in the process of being conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in FIG. 3 while being sandwiched by the fixing nip in the fixing unit 80, the full-color toner image is fixed on the recording medium P by being heated and pressed by the fixing belt 84. Is done.

  The recording medium P on which the fixing process has been performed in this manner is discharged outside the apparatus after passing between the rollers of the discharge roller pair 87. A stack portion 88 is formed on the upper surface of the casing of the image forming apparatus 500 main body, and the recording media P discharged to the outside by the discharge roller pair 87 are sequentially stacked on the stack portion 88.

  Above the transfer unit 60, four toner cartridges 100Y, 100C, 100M, and 100K that store Y, C, M, and K toners are disposed. The Y, C, M, and K toners in the toner cartridges 100Y, 100C, 100M, and 100K are appropriately supplied to the developing devices 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5K of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K. These toner cartridges 100Y, 100C, 100M, and 100K are detachable from the image forming apparatus main body independently of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K.

Next, an image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 500 will be described.
First, when a print execution signal is received from an operation unit (not shown) or the like, a predetermined voltage or current is sequentially applied to the charging roller 4 and the developing roller 51 at predetermined timings.
Similarly, a predetermined voltage or current is sequentially applied to the optical writing unit 40 and a light source such as a static elimination lamp at a predetermined timing. In synchronism with this, the photosensitive member 3 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 by a photosensitive member driving motor (not shown) as driving means.

When the photoreceptor 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3, first, the surface of the photoreceptor 3 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging roller 4. Then, the laser beam L corresponding to the image information is irradiated onto the photoconductor 3 from the optical writing unit 40, and the portion irradiated with the laser light L on the surface of the photoconductor 3 is neutralized to form an electrostatic latent image. .
The surface of the photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is rubbed by a developer magnetic brush formed on the developing roller 51 at a portion facing the developing device 5. At this time, the negatively charged toner on the developing roller 51 is moved to the electrostatic latent image side by a predetermined developing bias applied to the developing roller 51 to be converted into a toner image (development). In each image forming unit 1, the same image forming process is executed, and toner images of the respective colors are formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K. .
As described above, in the image forming apparatus 500, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 3 is reversely developed by the developing device 5 with the negatively charged toner. In this embodiment, an example using a non-contact charging roller system of N / P (negative positive: toner adheres to a place where the potential is low) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The toner images of the respective colors formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K are sequentially primary-transferred so as to overlap on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14. As a result, a four-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 14.
The four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 14 is fed from the first paper feed cassette 151 or the second paper feed cassette 152, passed between the rollers of the registration roller pair 55, and fed to the secondary transfer nip. To the recording medium P to be transferred. At this time, the recording medium P is temporarily stopped while being sandwiched between the registration roller pair 55, and is supplied to the secondary transfer nip in synchronization with the leading edge of the image on the intermediate transfer belt 14. The recording medium P onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14 and conveyed to the fixing unit 80. Then, the recording medium P to which the toner image is transferred passes through the fixing unit 80, whereby the toner image is fixed on the recording medium P by the action of heat and pressure, and the recording medium P on which the toner image is fixed is an image. It is discharged out of the forming apparatus 500 and stacked on the stack unit 88.

On the other hand, the transfer residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 that has transferred the toner image onto the recording medium P at the secondary transfer nip is removed by the belt cleaning unit 162.
Further, the surface of the photoreceptor 3 on which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 14 at the primary transfer nip, the residual toner after the transfer is removed by the cleaning device 6, and the lubricant is applied by the lubricant applying device 10. Thereafter, the charge is removed by a charge removal lamp.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 1 of the image forming apparatus 500 includes a photosensitive member 3 and a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 6, and a lubricant applying device 10 as process means. It has been. The image forming unit 1 can be integrally attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus 500 as a process cartridge. In the image forming apparatus 500, the image forming unit 1 integrally replaces the photosensitive member 3 as a process cartridge and the process means, but the photosensitive member 3, the charging roller 4, the developing device 5, and the cleaning device 6. Alternatively, the lubricant application device 10 may be replaced with a new one in units.

  As the toner used in the image forming apparatus 500, a polymerized toner manufactured by a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion polymerization method, or a dispersion polymerization method, which is easy to increase the circularity and reduce the particle size from the viewpoint of improving the image quality, is used. Is preferred. Among these, from the viewpoint of forming a high-resolution image, it is preferable to use a polymerized toner having an average circularity of 0.97 or more and a volume average particle size of 5.5 μm or less.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Elastic blade]
As the elastic blade 622, two urethane rubbers having physical properties of tan δ peak temperature, 23 ° C. hardness, 10 ° C. hardness in Table 1 were prepared. In addition, each JIS-A hardness and rebound resilience are shown.

ウレタンゴムのｔａｎδピーク温度は、エスアイアイ・ナノテクノロジー社製ＤＭＳ６１００を用いて測定した。試料は２×２×４０［ｍｍ］とし、引張りモード、１Ｈｚにて、−５０℃から＋１００℃まで、３℃／分の温度上昇をさせながら、連続的に測定した。
ウレタンゴムの硬度／ＪＩＳ−Ａは、島津製作所製デュロメーターを用いて測定した。
試料は厚さ１２［ｍｍ］以上となるように約２［ｍｍ］のシートを重ね合わせたものとした。
ウレタンゴムのマルテンス硬度ＨＭは、フィシャー・インストルメンツ社製、微小硬度計 ＨＭ−２０００を用いて、ビッカース圧子９．８［ｍＮ］の力で３０秒で押し込み、５秒保持し、９．８［ｍＮ］の力で３０秒間で抜き、マルテンス硬度を計測した。

The tan δ peak temperature of the urethane rubber was measured using DMS6100 manufactured by SII Nano Technology. The sample was 2 × 2 × 40 [mm], and was continuously measured while increasing the temperature by 3 ° C./min from −50 ° C. to + 100 ° C. in the tensile mode and 1 Hz.
The hardness of urethane rubber / JIS-A was measured using a durometer manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation.
The sample was a stack of about 2 [mm] sheets so that the thickness was 12 [mm] or more.
The Martens hardness HM of the urethane rubber was pushed in with a Vickers indenter 9.8 [mN] for 30 seconds using a micro hardness tester HM-2000 manufactured by Fischer Instruments, and held for 5 seconds. mN] was extracted in 30 seconds and the Martens hardness was measured.

[Curing material]
As the curable material used for the impregnation treatment and the surface layer 623 formation treatment, the curable materials 1 to 6 in Table 2 were used.

  Table 3 shows acrylic materials and structural formulas of ultraviolet curable resins used for the curable materials.

Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus for which the verification experiment has been performed will be described.
Using one of the urethane rubbers 1 and 2 above, cut out into a strip shape with a thickness of 1.5 [mm], and fix it with an adhesive to a sheet metal holder that can be mounted on the Ricoh color composite machine imagio MP C5001. Produced.

[Example 1]
An elastic blade made of urethane rubber 1 was used as an impregnation material, immersed in the curable material 1, held for 90 seconds, and then pulled up to form an impregnation portion. Then, the residue was wiped off with bemcot (Asahi Kasei Co., Ltd.) soaked with methyl ethyl ketone. Thereafter, ultraviolet irradiation was performed within 5 minutes. The ultraviolet irradiation uses a high-pressure mercury lamp, and the wavelength of the light source has an intensity peak at 365 nm in the range of 200 to 500 nm. A lubricant coating blade was placed on the conveyor, and an ultraviolet curing treatment was performed so that the irradiation light quantity was 6000 J / cm ² while passing under a high-pressure mercury lamp at a speed of 50 cm / min. Thereafter, it was dried at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to obtain a lubricant application blade 1.
The lubricant application blade 1 was attached to a color composite machine “imageo MP C5001” manufactured by Ricoh, and the image forming apparatus 1 was manufactured. As the cleaning blade, a urethane rubber blade (JIS-A hardness 71, 23 ° rebound resilience 18%) manufactured by Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. was used.

[Example 2]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 2 was produced by replacing the lubricant application blade with the lubricant application blade 2 produced by the following method.
That is, an elastic blade made of urethane rubber 1 is immersed in the curable material 1 and subjected to a wiping process, and then the curable material 2 is used to spray coat the blade tip surface 62a shown in FIG. A surface layer 623 is formed. As a spray gun, SV-91 manufactured by Sanei Tech Co., Ltd. was used. The lubricant application blade was fixed so that the longitudinal direction was horizontal, the blade tip surface 62a in FIG. 5 was vertical, and the tip of the spray gun was centered on the short axis of the tip surface. The distance from the gun tip of the spray gun to the urethane rubber was 60 mm. The spray gun had a liquid discharge speed of 0.06 [cc / min], an atomization pressure of 0.05 [MPa], and was reciprocated once at 5 [mm / sec] in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade.
Next, the curable material 2 is used to spray coat the blade lower surface 62b of FIG. 5 to form the surface layer 623 also on the blade lower surface 62b. The lubricant application blade was fixed so that the longitudinal direction was horizontal, the blade lower surface 62b was vertical, and the gun tip of the spray gun was the same height as the front edge ridge portion 62c of urethane rubber. The distance from the gun tip of the spray gun to the urethane rubber was 60 mm. The spray gun had a liquid discharge speed of 0.06 [cc / min], an atomization pressure of 0.05 [MPa], and was reciprocated once in the longitudinal direction of the blade at 5 [mm / sec]. Thereafter, touch drying was performed for 3 minutes, and ultraviolet irradiation and drying were performed in the same manner as the lubricant application blade 1 to obtain the lubricant application blade 2.

[Example 3]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 3 was produced by replacing the lubricant application blade with the lubricant application blade 3 produced by the following method.
Lubricant coating blade 2 was coated in the same manner except that the impregnation step was eliminated, the curing material for forming the surface layer was changed to 3, and the liquid discharge rate of the spray gun was changed to 0.03 [cc / min]. Blade 3 was obtained.

[Example 4]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 4 was produced by replacing the lubricant application blade with the lubricant application blade 4 produced by the following method.
In the lubricant application blade 2, the lubricant application blade 4 is changed in the same manner except that the hardener to be impregnated is changed to 4, the hardener to form the surface layer is changed to 4, and the spray gun is changed to two reciprocations in the longitudinal direction. Got.

[Example 5]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 5 was manufactured by changing the lubricant applying blade to the lubricant applying blade 5 manufactured by the following method.
In the lubricant application blade 2, the urethane rubber 2 is changed, the impregnated hardener is changed to 5, the hardener forming the surface layer is changed to 6, and the liquid discharge speed of the spray gun is set to 0.03 [cc / min. The lubricant application blade 5 was obtained in the same manner except that the

[Example 6]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 6 was produced by replacing the lubricant application blade with the lubricant application blade 6 produced by the following method.
In the lubricant coating blade 5, the same applies except that the impregnating hardener is changed to 6, the hardener forming the surface layer is changed to 2, and the spray gun liquid discharge speed is changed to 0.04 [cc / min]. Thus, the lubricant application blade 4 was obtained.

[Example 7]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 7 was produced by replacing the lubricant application blade with the lubricant application blade 7 produced by the following method.
In the lubricant coating blade 5, the hardener to be impregnated is changed to 3, the hardener to form the surface layer is changed to 5, the liquid discharge speed of the spray gun is changed to 0.05 [cc / min], and the spray gun A lubricant application blade 7 was obtained in the same manner except that the length was changed to 3 reciprocations in the longitudinal direction.

[Example 6]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 8 was produced by replacing the lubricant application blade with the lubricant application blade 8 produced by the following method.
In the lubricant coating blade 5, the angle of the edge of the urethane rubber 2 is changed to 110 ° (obtuse angle), and the impregnated hardener is changed to 2, and the hardener forming the surface layer is changed to 6. Then, the lubricant application blade 6 was obtained in the same manner except that the liquid discharge speed of the spray gun was changed to 0.04 [cc / min].

[Comparative Example 1]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 9 was manufactured by changing the lubricant coating blade to the elastic blade made of the urethane rubber 1.

[Comparative Example 2]
In Example 1, the image forming apparatus 10 was manufactured by changing the lubricant application blade to an elastic blade in which the angle of the edge portion of the urethane rubber 2 was 110 ° (obtuse angle).

〔Evaluation item〕
Make sure that the lubricant is applied normally and that the cleaning is good. The method was evaluated.
Using an image obtained by adding a partial band to a chart with an image area ratio of 5% (A4 size side), 10,000 prints were output at 2 prints / job, and the cleaning property was evaluated. After that, 5,000 sheets of white paper were passed to evaluate abnormal noise and torque increase.
The evaluation items are shown in the following table.

  The results of the verification experiment are shown below. In addition, the layer thickness of the surface layer was measured with a cross section of a separately applied elastic blade using a Keyence microscope VHX-100. The sample was a cross-section cut using a trimming razor for SEM sample preparation manufactured by Nisshin EM.

[Consideration of results]
In Examples 1 to 8, the lubricant coating blade is impregnated with the ultraviolet curable resin in the portion including the tip ridge line portion, and / or the surface layer of the ultraviolet curable resin is provided on the surface of the elastic blade including the tip ridge line portion. By using the elastic blade, the friction force between the lubricant coating blade and the surface of the photosensitive member was reduced, so that the generation of abnormal noise and the increase in torque could be suppressed.
As a coating resin for forming the surface layer 623, as shown in Example 4, a resin having the same formulation as the ultraviolet curable resin to be impregnated can be used. Further, as shown in other examples, the coating resin forming the surface layer 623 may be different from the ultraviolet curable resin to be impregnated. If the surface layer 623 is a resin harder than the elastic blade 622, the above effect can be obtained.
In Example 7 in which the film thickness of the surface layer exceeded 5 μm, abnormal noise was generated when an additional 10,000 sheets were tested after this evaluation. This is because the thickness of the surface layer is too strong, and the rigidity of the surface layer becomes too strong, and the behavior of sliding with the photoreceptor surface of the tip ridge line portion of the lubricant application blade becomes too small, so the wear progresses quickly. .

(About Figure 1)
3 Photosensitive member 62 Cleaning blade 62a Blade tip surface 62b Blade lower surface 62c Tip ridge line portion 62d Impregnation portion 621 Holder 622 Elastic blade 623 Surface layer (FIG. 2)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lubricant coating device 2 Photoconductor 3 Electrostatic latent image forming means 4 Developing means 10 Image forming apparatus 51 Cleaning blade 61 Solid lubricant 62 Brush roller 63 Compression spring (spring)
64 Lubricant holder 66 Blade (Figure 3)
1Y, 1C, 1M, 1K Image forming unit 3Y, 3C, 3M, 3K Photoconductor 7Y, 7C, 7M, 7K Primary transfer roller 14 Intermediate transfer belt 40 Optical writing unit 41 Polygon mirror 55 Registration roller pair 60 Transfer unit 63 1st One bracket 64 Second bracket 66 Secondary transfer backup roller 67 Driving roller 68 Auxiliary roller 69 Tension roller 70 Secondary transfer roller 80 Fixing unit 81 Pressure heating roller 82 Fixing belt unit 83 Heating roller 84 Fixing belt 85 Tension roller 86 Driving roller 87 Paper discharge roller pair 88 Stack unit 100Y, 100C, 100M, 100K Toner cartridge 151 First paper feed cassette 151a First paper feed roller 152 Second paper feed cassette 152a Second paper feed roller 153 Paper feed path 1 4 conveying roller pair 162 belt cleaning unit 162a belt cleaning blade 500 image forming apparatus L laser beam P recording medium (for 4)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming unit 2 Frame 3 Photoconductor 4 Charging roller 5 Developing device 6 Cleaning device 7 Primary transfer roller 10 Lubricant coating device 14 Intermediate transfer belt 51 Developing roller 52 Supply screw 53 Stirring screw 54 Doctor 62 Cleaning blade 101 Fur brush 103 Solid lubricant 103a Lubricant pressure spring 103b Bracket L Laser light (FIGS. 5 and 6)
62 Cleaning blade 62a Blade tip surface 62b Blade bottom surface 62c Tip ridge line portion 621 Holder 622 Elastic blade 623 Surface layer

JP 2011-48326 A JP 2013-195508 A JP 2010-152295 A

Claims (7)

  In the image forming apparatus having a cleaning blade, a lubricant application brush, and a lubricant application blade from the upstream on the surface of the image carrier, the lubricant application blade is composed of a strip-shaped elastic blade, and the elastic blade has a tip ridge line portion. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a portion containing a UV curable resin is impregnated and / or a surface layer of a UV curable resin is provided on the surface of the elastic blade including a tip ridge line portion.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet curable resin of the lubricant application blade is harder than a material of the elastic blade.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant coating blade has a thickness of a surface layer of the ultraviolet curable resin of 0.2 μm to 5 μm.   The impregnated ultraviolet curable resin is a cured product of an ultraviolet curable composition containing a (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure having 6 or more carbon atoms in the molecule. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.   2. The lubricant coating blade according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet curable resin of the surface layer is a material having a main skeleton of pentaerythritol triacrylate having a functional group equivalent molecular weight of 350 or less and a functional group number of 3 to 6. 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 4 to 4.   The lubricant application blade is an ultraviolet curable resin containing a fluorinated acrylic monomer, wherein the ultraviolet curable resin that permeates the portion including the tip ridge line portion of the elastic blade and coats the elastic blade is a fluorine-based acrylic monomer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is further impregnated to 20 μm or more.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the fluorinated acrylic monomer is an acrylate having a perfluoropolyether skeleton and having two or more functional groups.

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