JP2017211488A - Cleaning blade, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning blade that can reduce the coefficient of friction with a cleaning target member.SOLUTION: There is provided a cleaning blade including a removing member that is in contact with a surface of a cleaning target member to remove a residual material on the surface of the cleaning target member, wherein the removing member includes an elastic body and a surface layer containing a polymethylpentene resin, and the surface layer is supported by the elastic layer and is arranged on a plate surface of the removing member including a contact side in contact with the cleaning target member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2B

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning blade, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the cleaning blade.

  Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, residual toner adhering to the surface of an image carrier (also referred to as a member to be cleaned) after transferring a toner image to a recording medium or an intermediate transfer member in an image forming process , Removed by cleaning means.

  As the cleaning means, a cleaning blade is used because of its simple structure and excellent cleaning performance. The cleaning blade is usually composed of an elastic member made of polyurethane rubber or the like and a support member. Then, the base end of the elastic member is supported by a support member, the contact portion (tip ridge line portion) of the elastic member is pressed against the surface of the image carrier, and the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is dammed and scraped. Dropped and removed.

  However, conventional polyurethane rubber cleaning blades have a problem in that the frictional force between the image carrier and the cleaning blade increases and the contact portion is lost, resulting in an increase in torque of the image forming apparatus.

Therefore, a cleaning blade has been proposed in which a fluorine paint or a silicon paint is applied to reduce the friction (for example, see Patent Document 1).
However, this proposed technique has a problem that the effect of reducing friction is low.

  An object of this invention is to provide the cleaning blade which can reduce a friction coefficient with a to-be-cleaned member.

The cleaning blade of the present invention as means for solving the above problems is
A cleaning blade having a removal member that contacts the surface of the member to be cleaned and removes residue on the surface of the member to be cleaned,
The removal member has an elastic body and a surface layer containing polymethylpentene resin,
The surface layer is supported by the elastic body, and is disposed on a plate surface including a contact side that contacts the member to be cleaned of the removal member.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the cleaning blade which can reduce a friction coefficient with a member to be cleaned can be provided.

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the contact portion of the cleaning blade is turned up. FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which local wear has occurred on the tip surface of the cleaning blade. FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the contact portion of the cleaning blade is missing. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example showing a state where the cleaning blade of the present invention is in contact with the surface of the image carrier. FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of another example showing a state where the cleaning blade of the present invention is in contact with the surface of the image carrier. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an image forming unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG.

(Cleaning blade)
The cleaning blade of the present invention has at least a removal member, and further has other members as necessary.
The removal member abuts on the surface of the member to be cleaned and removes the residue on the surface of the member to be cleaned.
The removal member has an elastic body and a surface layer containing polymethylpentene resin.
The surface layer is supported by the elastic body, and is disposed on a plate surface including a contact side that contacts the member to be cleaned of the removal member.

  Here, when the contact side contacts the surface of the member to be cleaned, not only the contact side but also a plate surface including the contact side and an end surface including the contact side are the member to be cleaned. Therefore, the plate surface including the contact side and the end surface including the contact side in the vicinity of the contact side may be referred to as a “contact portion”. In addition, an end face including the abutting side may be referred to as a “tip face”.

In the conventional polyurethane rubber cleaning blade (FIG. 1A), when an image is formed using an image forming apparatus, the frictional force between the image carrier 123 and the cleaning blade removing member 622 (elastic body) is increased, and the image is removed. The member 622 is pulled in the moving direction of the image carrier 123, and the contact portion (tip ridge line portion) 62c of the cleaning blade is rolled. Further, when the cleaning is continued with the contact portion 62c of the cleaning blade being swollen, as shown in FIG. 1B, local wear X occurs at a location several μm away from the contact portion 62c of the tip surface 62a of the cleaning blade. Will occur.
If the cleaning is further continued in such a state, the local wear X increases, and finally, as shown in FIG. 1C, the contact portion 62c is lost. If the contact portion 62c is missing as described above, there is a problem that the frictional force is further increased and the torque of the image forming apparatus is increased.

  In the present invention, in the cleaning blade, a low friction property can be exhibited by using a surface layer having a low surface tension at the contact point with the member to be cleaned.

<Removal member>
The removal member has at least an elastic body and a surface layer, and preferably has an adhesive layer.

<< Elastic body >>
The shape of the elastic body is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose.For example, a pair of plate surfaces facing each other in the thickness direction of the elastic body, and a right angle to the plate surface, The shape which consists of two pairs of end surfaces which oppose in the in-plane direction of a plate surface is mentioned, Flat shape, strip shape, sheet shape, etc. are preferable.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a magnitude | size of the said elastic body, 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 structure of the said elastic body, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the single layer structure which consists of one type of material, the two-layer structure which integrally molded two types of different materials, number A multilayer structure in which different types of materials are integrally formed is exemplified.
When producing the elastic body having two or more layers, delamination does not occur by continuously injecting raw materials having different mixing ratios into the centrifugal mold before each layer is completely cured. It is possible to form integrally.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a material of the said elastic body, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, Polyurethane rubber etc. are suitable from the point which is easy to obtain high elasticity.

  The method for preparing the elastic body is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a polyurethane prepolymer is prepared using a polyol compound and a polyisocyanate compound, and the polyurethane prepolymer is used as the polyurethane prepolymer. A curing agent and, if necessary, a curing catalyst are added, crosslinked in a predetermined mold, post-crosslinked in a furnace, formed into a sheet by centrifugal molding, left at room temperature, and aged It is manufactured by cutting into a flat plate shape with the dimensions.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said polyol compound, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a high molecular weight polyol, a 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), naphthalene 1,5 -Diisocyanate (NDI), tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (TMXDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate (H6XDI), dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H12MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), dimer acid diisocyanate (DDI), Examples include norbornene diisocyanate (NBDI) and trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate (TMDI). 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.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the usage-amount of the said curing catalyst, According to the objective, it can select suitably.

The elastic body preferably has a JIS-A hardness of 65 degrees to 83 degrees. When the JIS-A hardness is within a preferable range, the following problems can be prevented.
・ Blade pressure cannot be obtained, the area of contact with the image carrier increases, and cleaning failure occurs.
・ A defect that becomes too hard and causes chipping.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said elastic body, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, Wear resistance and follow-up use the laminated body which integrally molded two or more types of rubbers from which JIS-A hardness differs. It is preferable in terms of compatibility.

  Here, the JIS-A hardness of the elastic body can be measured using, for example, a micro rubber hardness meter MD-1 manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd.

The rebound resilience based on the JIS K6255 standard of the elastic body can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but is preferably 36% or more and 73% or less, more preferably 52% or more and 73% or less at 23 ° C. If the rebound resilience coefficient is in a preferred range, the following problems can be prevented.
The problem is that the entire elastic body loses its flexibility and cannot follow the shake and roughness of the image carrier, resulting in poor cleaning.
・ Blade noise due to excessive repulsion.

  Here, the rebound resilience coefficient of the elastic body 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 as average thickness of the said elastic body, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less are preferable.
The average thickness of the elastic body can be measured using, for example, a micrometer.
As a method for obtaining the average thickness, for example, a method of selecting an arbitrary plurality of points with respect to the elastic body and calculating an average of the thicknesses of the plurality of points can be cited. The average is preferably an average of 5 points, more preferably an average of 10 points, and particularly preferably an average of 20 points. The average thickness of other members and layers can be calculated in the same manner.

<< surface layer >>
The surface layer contains a polymethylpentene resin.
The surface layer is supported by the elastic body.
The surface layer is disposed on a plate surface including an abutting side that abuts on the member to be cleaned of the removing member.

  The surface layer may be the polymethylpentene resin itself.

The polymethylpentene resin is a homopolymer of 4-methyl-1-pentene, or a crystalline copolymer of 4-methyl-1-pentene and an α-olefin other than ethylene or 4-methyl-1-pentene. It is a coalescence.
The polymethylpentene resin is a crystalline polymer mainly composed of 4-methyl-1-pentene containing 4-methyl-1-pentene in an amount of 85 mol% to 100 mol%, preferably 90 mol% to 100 mol%. It is preferable that Examples of the α-olefin other than ethylene or 4-methyl-1-pentene copolymerized with 4-methyl-1-pentene include propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene and 1-tetradecene. And an α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms such as 1-octadecene. Among these, 1-decene, 1-tetradecene, and 1-octadecene are preferable because copolymerization with 4-methyl-1-pentene is good and good toughness is obtained.

  The melt flow rate (MFR) of the polymethylpentene resin is preferably 0.5 g / 10 min to 200 g / 10 min, preferably 5 g / min under the measurement conditions of a temperature of 260 ° C. and a load of 5.0 kg in accordance with ASTM D1238. 10 minutes or more and 100 g / 10 minutes or less are more preferable. If the melt flow rate is 200 g / 10 min or less, the melt viscosity is sufficiently high and the moldability is excellent, while if the melt flow rate is 0.5 g / 10 min or more, sufficient mechanical strength is obtained.

  The melting point of the polymethylpentene resin is preferably 220 ° C. or higher and 240 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 225 ° C. or higher and 240 ° C. or lower.

  The polymethylpentene resin can be produced by a conventionally known method. For example, as described in JP-A-59-206418, 4-methyl-1-pentene and the above-described polymethylpentene resin can be produced in the presence of a catalyst. It can be obtained by polymerizing ethylene or α-olefin.

  A commercially available product may be used as the polymethylpentene resin. As said commercial item, Mitsui Chemicals make Opuran X-44B, X-88B etc. are mentioned, for example. Since these are films, they can be used as the surface layer.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as average thickness of the said surface layer, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 25 micrometers or more and 100 micrometers or less are preferable. When the average thickness is in a preferable range, the following problems can be prevented.
A problem that the surface layer is reduced due to wear, and the elastic body is exposed at an abutting side at an early stage to increase the friction coefficient.
-In the removal member, the influence of the elasticity of the elastic body is reduced, and the cleaning property is deteriorated.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as surface tension of the said surface layer, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 30 mN / m or less is preferable and 25 mN / m or less is more preferable. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a lower limit of the said surface tension, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the said surface tension includes 20 mN / m or more.
The surface tension can be measured by a method described in JIS K 6768, for example.

  The surface layer may be formed on the entire surface of the removing member, or may be formed on a part of the surface of the removing member. However, when it is formed in a part, it needs to be formed on the contact side that contacts the member to be cleaned.

<< Adhesive layer >>
The surface layer is preferably bonded to the elastic body via an adhesive layer. Since the polymethylpentene resin has a low surface energy and a low adhesive force to the elastic body, if the surface layer is directly bonded to the elastic body, there is a possibility that the polymethylpentene resin may be peeled off after long-term use. Therefore, by adhering the surface layer to the elastic body via an adhesive layer, the surface layer is hardly peeled off and can be used for a long time.

  The adhesive layer is not particularly limited as long as it can adhere the elastic body and the surface layer, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. However, the elastic body and the surface layer are adhered to each other. In particular, a cured product of cyanoacrylate is preferable in terms of excellent adhesive strength.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as average thickness of the said contact bonding layer, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 1 micrometer or more and 200 micrometers or less are preferable, 5 micrometers or more and 150 micrometers or less are more preferable, and 10 micrometers or more and 100 micrometers or less are especially preferable.
The average thickness of the adhesive layer is preferably thinner than the average thickness of the surface layer.

<Other members>
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said other member, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a support member etc. are mentioned.

<< support member >>
As long as the support member is a member that supports the removal member, the shape, size, material, and the like of the support member are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a shape of the said supporting member, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, flat form, strip shape, a sheet form etc. are mentioned.
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.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a material of the said supporting member, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a metal, a plastic, a ceramic etc. are mentioned. 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.

<To be cleaned>
The member to be cleaned is not particularly limited in its shape, structure, size, material, etc., and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include an image carrier.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a shape of the said to-be-cleaned member, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, drum shape, belt shape, flat plate shape, sheet shape etc. are mentioned.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a magnitude | size of the said to-be-cleaned member, According to the objective, it can select suitably.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a material of the said to-be-cleaned member, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, a metal, a plastic, a ceramic etc. are mentioned.

<Residue>
The residue is not particularly limited as long as it is attached to the surface of the member to be cleaned and is to be removed by the cleaning blade, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include lubricants, inorganic fine particles, organic fine particles, dust, dust, and mixtures thereof.

  By reducing the friction between the cleaning blade and the image carrier, it is possible to suppress an increase in torque for rotating the image carrier (hereinafter also referred to as “image carrier driving torque”). In the so-called tandem type system in which a plurality of image forming units are combined, the increase in the image carrier driving torque induces a reduction in image quality due to jitter and misalignment, so the image carrier driving torque is maintained below a certain value. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a deterioration in image quality.

  The cleaning blade of the present invention has the characteristics described above and can be widely used in various fields, but is particularly preferably used for the image forming apparatus and process cartridge of the present invention described below.

Here, an example of the cleaning blade in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the following constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be set to a preferable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example showing a state where the cleaning blade of the present invention is in contact with the surface of the image carrier.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the cleaning blade 62 includes a holder 621 that is the support member, and a removal member 622. The cleaning blade 62 contacts the photoconductor 3 in the counter direction with respect to the surface movement direction of the photoconductor 3. ing. For this reason, the toner scraped off is collected at the position indicated by X in FIG. 2A.
The removing member 622 is fixed to one end side of the holder 621 with an adhesive or the like, and the other end side of the holder 621 is cantilevered by the case of the cleaning device.
The removal member 622 includes an elastic body 622a and a surface layer 622b. The surface layer 622b is supported by the elastic body 622a and is formed on the surface of the plate surface including the contact side. The surface layer 622b is formed on a part of the surface of the elastic body 622a.

FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of another example showing a state where the cleaning blade of the present invention is in contact with the surface of the image carrier.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the cleaning blade 62 includes a holder 621 that is the support member, and a removal member 622. The cleaning blade 62 contacts the photoconductor 3 in the counter direction with respect to the surface movement direction of the photoconductor 3. ing. For this reason, the scraped toner and the like gather at the position indicated by X in FIG. 2B.
The removing member 622 is fixed to one end side of the holder 621 with an adhesive or the like, and the other end side of the holder 621 is cantilevered by the case of the cleaning device.
The removal member 622 includes an elastic body 622a and a surface layer 622b. The surface layer 622b is supported by the elastic body 622a and is formed on the surface of the plate surface including the contact side. The surface layer 622b is formed on the entire surface of one surface of the elastic body 622a.

(Image forming apparatus and image forming method)
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes at least an image carrier, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a cleaning unit, and other components appropriately selected as necessary. It has the means. 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, and a cleaning step, and further includes other steps appropriately selected as necessary. . 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 is performed by the cleaning unit. 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 the charging unit.
The charging means is not particularly limited as long as it can charge the surface of the image carrier, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a conductive or semiconductive roller, Examples thereof include a contact charger known per se provided with a brush, a film, a rubber blade, and the like, and a non-contact charger using corona discharge such as corotron and scorotron.
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 surface of the image carrier, and is performed by the exposure unit. 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 directly projects a document onto the surface of the image carrier by an optical system, and the digital optical system receives image information as an electrical signal and converts the electrical signal into an optical signal. An optical system that exposes an image carrier to form an image.
The exposure unit is not particularly limited as long as the charged image carrier can be exposed to form an electrostatic latent image, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a copying optical system, Various exposure devices such as a rod lens array system, a laser optical system, a liquid crystal shutter optical system, and an LED optical system may be mentioned.
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 into the toner image, and is performed by the developing unit.
The developing means is not particularly limited as long as the electrostatic latent image can be developed into a toner image, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the toner is accommodated and the electrostatic latent image is stored. A toner having at least a developing device capable of applying the toner in a contact or non-contact manner is preferably used.
The developing device may be of a dry developing method or a wet developing method, and may be a single color developing device or a multi-color developing device. For example, the stirring for charging the toner by friction stirring. Suitable examples include those having a container and a rotatable magnet roller.
In the developing unit, for example, the toner and a carrier as necessary are mixed and stirred, and the toner is charged by friction at that time, and is held on the surface of the rotating magnet roller in a raised state. A brush 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 electrostatic latent image. It moves to the surface of the image carrier by force. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner, and the toner image is formed on the surface of the image carrier.
The toner stored 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 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 toner image to a recording medium, and is performed by the transfer unit.
As the transfer process, for example, an intermediate transfer body is used, and a primary transfer process in which the toner image is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body to form a composite transfer image, and the composite transfer image is transferred to a recording medium. An embodiment including a secondary transfer step is preferable.
The transfer unit is not particularly limited as long as the toner image can be transferred to a recording medium, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. The toner image is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member to form a composite transfer image. An embodiment having a primary transfer unit that transfers the composite transfer image onto a recording medium is preferable.
The primary transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit preferably include at least a transfer unit that peels and charges the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier onto a recording medium.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said transfer device, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the corona transfer device by a corona discharge, a transfer belt, a transfer roller, a pressure transfer roller, an adhesive transfer device etc. are mentioned. There may be one transfer unit or two or more transfer units.

  The recording medium is not particularly limited as long as it can transfer the unfixed toner image after development, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and is typically plain paper. However, for example, a PET base for OHP 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 is performed by the 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 as long as the toner image transferred to the recording medium can be fixed. The fixing unit can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and a heat fixing method using a known heating and pressing unit. Can be adopted.
Examples of the heating and pressing means include a combination of a heating roller and a pressure roller, a combination of a heating roller, a pressure roller, and an endless belt. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as heating temperature, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 80 to 200 degreeC is preferable. If necessary, for example, a known optical fixing device may be used together with the fixing unit.

<Cleaning process and cleaning means>
The cleaning step is a step of removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and is performed by the cleaning unit.
As the cleaning means, a cleaning blade of the present invention fixed to a support member is used.

The linear pressure applied to the surface of the image carrier by the removing member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10 N / m or more and 100 N / m or less, and is preferably 10 N / m or more. 50 N / m or less is more preferable. When the linear pressure is 10 N / m or more and 100 N / m or less, it is difficult for the toner to pass through between the contact portion and the member to be cleaned, and the elastic body is prevented from curling. It can be made easier.
In addition, the said linear pressure can be measured using the measuring apparatus incorporating the small compression type load cell made from Kyowa Denki Co., Ltd., for example.

There is no particular limitation on the angle (hereinafter referred to as “cleaning angle”) formed by the tangent line of the member to be cleaned at the position where the contact portion of the removal member abuts and the front end surface of the free end of the removal member. Although it can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, it is preferably 65 ° or more and 85 ° or less.
When the cleaning angle is 65 ° or more and 85 ° or less, it is possible to easily prevent the removal member from being turned and to reduce the occurrence of defective cleaning.

<Other processes and other means>
As said other process, a static elimination process, a recycle process, a control process etc. are mentioned, for example.
Examples of the other means include a static elimination means, a recycling means, and a control means.

-Static elimination process and static elimination means-
The neutralization step is a step of performing neutralization by applying a neutralization bias voltage to the image carrier, and is performed by the neutralization unit.
The neutralization means is not particularly limited as long as a neutralization bias voltage can be applied to the image carrier, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a neutralization lamp.

-Recycling process and recycling means-
The recycling step is a step of recycling the toner removed in the cleaning step to the developing unit, and is performed by the recycling unit.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said recycling means, According to the objective, it can select suitably, 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 is 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 sequencers and computers.

(Process cartridge)
The process cartridge of the present invention is an apparatus (unit) that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus. The cleaning blade of the present invention may be provided fixed to the image forming apparatus or may be provided in the process cartridge. In this case, the process cartridge is in contact with the image carrier and at least one of the charging unit, the exposure unit, the developing unit, and the transfer unit, and the image carrier. The cleaning blade of the present invention for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the toner, and further having other means if necessary.

Here, an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention using the cleaning blade of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the following constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be set to a preferable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 500 as the image forming apparatus has four colors for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (hereinafter referred to as “Y”, “C”, “M”, and “K”, respectively). Two image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K are provided. 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 later, are superimposed and transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14. The
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 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 deflects the laser light L emitted from the light source by the polygon mirror 41 that is rotationally driven by a motor, and passes through the photosensitive members 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K via a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors. Is irradiated. Instead of such a configuration, one that performs optical scanning with an LED array may be employed.

  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 transfer papers P as recording media are accommodated in a stack of paper sheets. The uppermost transfer paper P includes a first paper feed roller 151a and a first paper feed roller 151a. The two paper feed rollers 152a are in contact with each other. When the first paper feed roller 151a is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a driving means (not shown), the uppermost transfer paper P in the first paper feed cassette 151 is vertically oriented on the right side of the cassette in the figure. The paper is discharged toward a paper feed path 153 disposed so as to extend to the front. When the second paper feed roller 152a is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by a driving means (not shown), the uppermost transfer paper P in the second paper feed cassette 152 is directed toward the paper feed path 153. Discharged.

A plurality of conveying roller pairs 154 are arranged in the paper feed path 153. The transfer paper 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 transfer paper P sent from the conveyance roller pair 154 is sandwiched between the rollers. Then, the transfer paper 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 is in contact with the photoconductor 3 in the counter direction with respect to the surface movement direction of the photoconductor 3. Details of the cleaning blade 62 will be described later.
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.

  In FIG. 4, a non-contact proximity arrangement method in which the charging roller 4 is brought close to the photosensitive member 3 is adopted. A known configuration can be used. Of these charging methods, a contact charging method or a non-contact proximity arrangement method is particularly desirable, and has advantages such as high charging efficiency and 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 charge removal lamp are not particularly limited, and all luminescent materials can be used. Specific examples 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 electroluminescence (EL).
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 have long wavelength light of 600 nm to 800 nm.

  In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 14, the transfer unit 60, which is a transfer means, includes a belt cleaning unit 162, a first bracket 63, a second bracket 64, and the like. Further, 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 the figure 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 thus moved endlessly with the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K to form primary transfer nips, respectively. Yes. 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 its endless movement, 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 referred to as “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 transfer paper P sandwiched between the rollers toward the secondary transfer nip at a timing at which the transfer paper 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. The secondary transfer is performed on the transfer paper P in the secondary transfer nip. Then, combined with the white color of the transfer paper P, a full color toner image is obtained.

  Transfer residual toner that has not been transferred to the transfer paper 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 printer 500 rotates the first bracket 63 a little counterclockwise in the drawing by driving the solenoid described above. This rotation causes the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, and 7M to revolve counterclockwise in the drawing around the rotation axis of the auxiliary roller 68, thereby separating the intermediate transfer belt 14 from the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, and 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. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the Y, C, and M image forming units 1 from being driven unnecessarily during monochrome image formation, and to avoid the consumption of each member constituting the image forming unit 1.

  A fixing unit 80 is disposed above the secondary transfer nip in the drawing. 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 the drawing 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 the drawing is in contact with the surface of the fixing belt 84 that is heated in this manner, around the heating roller 83. 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. The 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 by the temperature sensor.

The transfer paper P that has passed through the secondary transfer nip is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14 and then sent into the fixing unit 80. The full color toner image is fixed on the transfer paper P by being heated and pressed by the fixing belt 84 while being conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in the figure while being sandwiched by the fixing nip in the fixing unit 80. The
The transfer paper P subjected to the fixing process in this manner is discharged between the discharge roller pair 87 and then discharged outside the apparatus. A stack unit 88 is formed on the upper surface of the housing of the printer 500 main body, and the transfer paper P discharged to the outside by the discharge roller pair 87 is sequentially stacked on the stack unit 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 these toner cartridges are appropriately supplied to the developing devices 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5K of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K. The toner cartridges 100Y, 100C, 100M, and 100K are detachable from the printer main body independently of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K.

Next, an image forming operation in the printer 500 will be described.
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 a light source such as the optical writing unit 40 and the static elimination lamp at a predetermined timing. In synchronization with this, the photosensitive member 3 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in the figure by a photosensitive member driving motor (not shown) as a driving means.

When the photoconductor 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the surface of the photoconductor 3 is first 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 moves to the electrostatic latent image side by a predetermined developing bias applied to the developing roller 51, and is formed into a toner image (development). A similar image forming process is executed in each image forming unit 1, and toner images of respective colors are formed on the surfaces of the respective photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K.
As described above, in the printer 500, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 3 is reversely developed by the developing device 5 with the negatively charged toner. Here, an example using a non-contact charging roller system of N / P (negative positive: toner adheres to a low potential) 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. The transfer paper P is transferred. At this time, the transfer paper 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 transfer paper 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 transfer paper P on which the toner image is transferred passes through the fixing unit 80, whereby the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper P by the action of heat and pressure, and the transfer paper P on which the toner image is fixed is the printer 500. It is discharged out of the apparatus 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 transfer paper 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. 4, the image forming unit 1 of the printer 500 includes a photosensitive member 3 and a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 6, a lubricant applying device 10, and the like as process means. ing. The image forming unit 1 can be integrally attached to and detached from the main body of the printer 500 as a process cartridge. In the printer 500, the image forming unit 1 integrally replaces the photoconductor 3 as a process cartridge and the process means. However, the photoconductor 3, the charging roller 4, the developing device 5, the cleaning device 6, and the lubricant applying device 10 may be replaced with new ones.

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

<JIS-A hardness of elastic body>
The JIS-A hardness of the elastic body was measured according to JIS K6253 using a micro rubber hardness meter MD-1 manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd.

<Rebound resilience of elastic body>
The rebound resilience of the elastic body is No. manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. The measurement was performed according to JIS K6255 using a 221 regilynester. The measurement sample was obtained by superposing sheets having a thickness of about 2 mm so that the thickness was 4 mm or more. At the time of measurement, the part other than the reforming part was measured.

Example 1
<Preparation of cleaning blade 1>
As an elastic body, a polyurethane rubber sheet having a thickness of 1.8 mm and having the following physical properties at 23 [° C.] was prepared.
Elastic body 1: hardness 76 degrees, rebound resilience 36 [%] (manufactured by Toyo Tire & Rubber)

After the surface of the elastic body was wiped with ethanol, F front primer manufactured by Far Front Co. was applied, and cyanoacrylate-containing adhesive FRONT # 107 manufactured by Far Front Co. was applied, and then heated and melted at 300 ° C. or higher to be molded. Mitsui Chemicals polymethylpentene resin TPX film X-44B (surface tension: 24 mN / m, thickness: 50 μm) is pressed and pasted to form a surface layer of polymethylpentene resin, and then the sheet is cut with a razor, A blade having a thickness of 1.8 mm, 11.5 mm × 32.6 mm was produced. The thickness of the adhesive layer was 10 μm.
Next, the blade was fixed to a sheet metal holder as a support member with an adhesive, and the cleaning blade 1 was produced.
Next, the produced cleaning blade 1 was attached to a color multifunction machine (image MPC5001, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) with a predetermined tip biting amount (linear pressure) and attachment angle. Also, the lubricant application device was removed.

<Evaluation>
Three prints of an image area ratio 0.5% chart (A4 size side) provided with a vertical belt part in an environment of 54% RH at 32 ° C. using the color multifunction machine (image MPC5001, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) / Jobs were evaluated for the presence or absence of abnormal images when 10,000 sheets were output.
In addition, a sample before evaluation and a cleaning blade after evaluation were cut into a length of 20 mm, and polycarbonate was used at a load of 2 g / mm and an angle of 23 ° using a load fluctuation type friction wear test system TYPE HHS-2000 manufactured by Shinto Kagaku. The friction coefficient was measured.
The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 2)
A cleaning blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the TPX film was changed to a X-44B thickness of 25 μm in Example 1.
Evaluation similar to Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 3)
A cleaning blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the TPX film was changed to X-88B (surface tension: 24 mN / m, thickness 100 μm) in Example 1.
Evaluation similar to Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 4
In Example 2, a cleaning blade was produced in the same manner as Example 2 except that the thickness of the adhesive layer was changed to 5 μm.
Evaluation similar to Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 5)
In Example 3, a cleaning blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the thickness of the adhesive layer was changed to 50 μm.
Evaluation similar to Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 6)
In Example 3, a cleaning blade was produced in the same manner as Example 3 except that the thickness of the adhesive layer was changed to 100 μm.
Evaluation similar to Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 1)
A cleaning blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the surface layer and the adhesive layer were not provided using the elastic body of Example 1.
Evaluation similar to Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 2)
A cleaning blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the TPX film was changed to a Teijin DuPont Films polyethylene terephthalate film Teijin Tetron film (surface tension: 44 mN / m, thickness: 50 μm). .
Evaluation similar to Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

In Examples 1 to 5, there was no abnormal image.
In Example 6, there were two vertical stripes.
In all of Examples 1 to 6, the friction coefficient was 0.3 both before and after the evaluation, and the low friction coefficient was maintained.
In Comparative Example 1, many abnormal images of white spots were generated.
In Comparative Example 2, no abnormal image was generated.
About Comparative Examples 1-2, the friction coefficient was rising after evaluation.

As an aspect of this invention, it is as follows, for example.
<1> A cleaning blade having a removal member that contacts a surface of a member to be cleaned and removes residues on the surface of the member to be cleaned,
The removal member has an elastic body and a surface layer containing polymethylpentene resin,
The cleaning blade is characterized in that the surface layer is disposed on a plate surface that is supported by the elastic body and includes a contact side that contacts the member to be cleaned of the removal member.
<2> The cleaning blade according to <1>, wherein the surface layer has a surface tension of 30 mN / m or less.
<3> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <2>, wherein the surface layer has a surface tension of 10 mN / m to 30 mN / m.
<4> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein an average thickness of the surface layer is 25 μm or more and 100 μm or less.
<5> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the surface layer is bonded to the elastic body through an adhesive layer.
<6> The cleaning blade according to <5>, wherein an average thickness of the adhesive layer is 5 μm or more and 150 μm or less.
<7> An image carrier, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit that exposes the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image as a toner A developing means for developing an image; a transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium; a fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium; and a surface of the image carrier, A cleaning blade for removing residues on the surface of the image carrier,
The cleaning blade is the cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <6>.
<8> An image carrier, a charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit for exposing the charged surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image as a toner At least one of developing means for developing an image and transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium and the surface of the image carrier are removed to remove residues on the surface of the image carrier. A cleaning blade,
The cleaning blade is the cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <6>.

  The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <6>, the image forming apparatus according to <7>, and the process cartridge according to <8> solve the conventional problems, and The object of the present invention can be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming unit 3 Photoconductor 4 Charging roller 5 Developing device 6 Cleaning device 7 Primary transfer roller 14 Intermediate transfer belt 40 Optical writing unit 51 Developing roller 60 Transfer unit 62 Cleaning blade 62a Front end surface 62c Abutting portion 123 Image carrier 162 Belt cleaning unit 162a Belt cleaning blade 500 Printer 621 Holder 622 Removal member 622a Elastic body 622b Surface layer

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-072957

Claims (6)

A cleaning blade having a removal member that contacts the surface of the member to be cleaned and removes residue on the surface of the member to be cleaned,
The removal member has an elastic body and a surface layer containing polymethylpentene resin,
The cleaning blade, wherein the surface layer is supported on the elastic body, and is disposed on a plate surface including a contact side that contacts the member to be cleaned of the removal member.   The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer has a surface tension of 30 mN / m or less.   The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein an average thickness of the surface layer is 25 μm or more and 100 μm or less.   The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer is bonded to the elastic body via an adhesive layer. An image carrier, a charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit for exposing the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image Developing means, transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium, fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium, and the image carrier in contact with the surface of the image carrier A cleaning blade for removing residues on the surface of
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade is the cleaning blade according to claim 1. An image carrier, a charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit for exposing the charged surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image At least one of a developing unit that transfers the toner image to a recording medium, and a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the image carrier and removes the residue on the surface of the image carrier. Have
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade is the cleaning blade according to claim 1.