JP2020160266A - Cleaning blade, cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cleaning blade that can achieve both prevention of passing of a removed substance and prevention of uneven wear.SOLUTION: A cleaning blade comprises, at least on a belly surface, a carbon-containing layer that contains a carbon having an sp2 bond and a carbon having an sp3 bond, wherein a ratio between an average content Asp2 of the carbon having an sp2 bond and an average content Asp3 of the carbon having an sp3 bond at a position 100 μm from a contact corner part in a blade height direction, and a ratio between an average content Bsp2 of the carbon having an sp2 bond and an average content Bsp3 of the carbon having an sp3 bond at a position 300 μm from the contact corner part in the blade height direction, satisfy a relationship of [(Asp2/Asp3)>(Bsp2/Bsp3)].SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

The present invention relates to cleaning blades, cleaning devices, process cartridges, and image forming devices.

Conventionally, in electrophotographic copiers, printers, facsimiles, etc., a cleaning blade has been used as a cleaning means for cleaning the surface of a member to be cleaned such as an image holder to remove residual toner and other removed substances. ing.

For example, Patent Document 1 states, "A rubbing member arranged so as to be rubbed while in contact with a contacted member in an image forming apparatus, and at least the contacted member includes a carbon-containing region containing carbon having a sp3 bond. It is provided with a base material having a base material on the contact side with, and (A) "the carbon-containing region constitutes a contact portion with the contacted member" and (a) "at least the carbon-containing region includes the contact portion". A part of the region has a concentration change region in which the concentration of carbon having the sp3 bond changes stepwise or continuously in one direction and the concentration becomes higher toward the side closer to the contact portion in the one direction. , Or (B) "A carbon layer having a carbon having a sp3 bond deposited on the surface of the carbon-containing region and laminated on the surface of the carbon-containing region on the contact side with the contacted member is provided. The carbon layer constitutes a contact portion with the contacted member "and (b)" At least one of the carbon-containing region and the carbon layer is the contact of the contact interface between the carbon-containing region and the carbon layer. In at least a part of the region including the portion closest to the portion, the concentration of carbon having the sp3 bond changes stepwise or continuously in one direction, and the side closer to the contact portion in the one direction is the concentration. A rubbing member for image formation that satisfies the requirement of "having a density change region in which is high". "Is described.

Further, Patent Document 2 states that "a cleaning member provided with a surface layer containing amorphous carbon having a hydrogen atom content of 10 atm% or less on a substrate is pressed against the transported member to be cleaned, and the surface of the member to be cleaned is pressed. In a cleaning method for removing the toner of the above, the cleaning member is pressed against the member to be cleaned at a sliding surface from which the surface layer is removed and the base material is exposed, and at the pressure contact position, the surface of the member to be cleaned is pressed against the sliding surface. A cleaning method in which the surface layer cross section on the upstream side in the transport direction of the rubbing surface, the base material surface, and the surface layer cross section on the downstream side in the transport direction are rubbed in this order is described.

Further, Patent Document 3 states that "a cleaning blade that comes into contact with a member to be cleaned to clean the surface of the member to be cleaned, and is inside a contact surface that comes into contact with the member to be cleaned in the thickness direction of the blade. It has a peak position where the Young's modulus becomes the maximum value, the value of the Young's modulus on the contact surface is Yc, the value of the Young's modulus at the peak position is Ym, and the contact surface is more than the peak position in the thickness direction. A cleaning blade in which the relationship of Ym> Yc> Yb is established when the value of Young's modulus at a predetermined position away from the above is Yb "is described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-090974 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-051867 JP-A-2018-036562

On the surface of the member to be cleaned, the coefficient of friction may vary depending on the location. If the friction coefficient varies depending on this location, the magnitude of vibration of the cleaning blade will differ between the location where the friction coefficient is high and the location where the friction coefficient is low, the behavior will become unstable, and the removed material will slip through the location where the vibration is large. May occur.
Further, when the friction coefficient varies depending on the location on the surface of the member to be cleaned, the higher the friction coefficient, the greater the load applied to the contact corner portion, which accelerates the wear and may cause uneven wear.

Therefore, the subject of the present invention is, firstly, the average content of carbon having sp2 bond A _sp2 and the average content of carbon having sp3 bond A _sp3 at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion. The ratio and the ratio of the average content of carbon having sp2 bond B _sp2 and the average content of carbon having sp3 bond B _sp3 at a position 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction are [(A _sp2 / It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning blade in which both suppression of slip-through of removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved as compared with the case where the relationship of A _sp3 ) = (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )] is satisfied.
Secondly, the subject of the present invention is the average indentation hardness Ha at a position of 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction and the average indentation hardness at a position of 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning blade in which both suppression of slip-through of removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved as compared with the case where Hb and Hb satisfy the relationship of [Hb = Ha].

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is,
<1>
Contact corners that come into contact with the driven member to be cleaned and clean the surface of the member to be cleaned,
A tip surface in which the contact angle portion constitutes one side and faces the upstream side in the driving direction, and
The contact angle portion constitutes one side, and the ventral surface facing the downstream side in the driving direction,
Have,
The direction parallel to the contact angle is defined as the blade width direction.
When the direction from the contact angle portion to the side where the ventral surface is formed is the blade height direction,
At least the ventral surface contains carbon having sp2 bond and carbon having sp3 bond, and the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion A _sp2 and the above. Average content of carbon with sp3 bond A The ratio of _sp3 and the average content of carbon with sp2 bond B _sp2 and carbon with sp3 bond at a position 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction. A cleaning blade comprising a carbon-containing layer satisfying the relationship of [(A _sp2 / A _sp3 )> (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )] with the ratio of the average content of B _sp3 .
<2>
The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond A _sp2 and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond A _sp3 at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction, and from the contact angle portion. The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond B _sp2 and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond B _sp3 at a position of 300 μm in the blade height direction is [1.22 (B _sp2 / B). The cleaning blade according to <1>, which satisfies the relationship of ( _sp3 ) ≤ (A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) _≤4 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )].
<3>
The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond A _sp2 to the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond A _sp3 at a position 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction (A _sp2 / A _sp3). ) Is 1.22 or more and 4 or less,
The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond B _sp2 to the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond B _sp3 at a position 300 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion (B _sp2 / B _sp3). The cleaning blade according to <1> or <2>, wherein) is 0.43 or more and 1 or less.
<4>
The average content of carbon having the sp3 bond at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction A _sp3 is 20 atom% or more and 55 atom% or less, and 300 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction. The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the average content B _{sp3 of} carbon having the sp3 bond at the position of is 50 atom% or more and 80 atom% or less.
<5>
The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond Aarea _sp2 and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond Aarea _sp3 in the region of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion, and the contact. The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond, Balea _sp2, and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond, Balea _sp3 , in the region of 250 μm or more and 350 μm or less in the blade height direction from the corner portion is [0. 43. The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <4>, which satisfies the relationship of (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 ) ≤ (Area _sp2 / Area _sp3 ) ≤ 4 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 )].
<6>
Contact corners that come into contact with the driven member to be cleaned and clean the surface of the member to be cleaned,
A tip surface in which the contact angle portion constitutes one side and faces the upstream side in the driving direction, and
The contact angle portion constitutes one side and has a ventral surface facing the downstream side in the driving direction.
The direction parallel to the contact angle is defined as the blade width direction.
When the direction from the contact angle portion to the side where the ventral surface is formed is the blade height direction,
At least the ventral surface contains carbon having sp2 bond and carbon having sp3 bond, and the average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction, and the blade from the contact angle portion. A cleaning blade provided with a carbon-containing layer that satisfies the relationship of [Hb> Ha] with an average indentation hardness Hb at a position of 300 μm in the height direction.
<7>
The average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion and the average indentation hardness Hb at a position 300 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion are [. The cleaning blade according to <6>, which satisfies the relationship of [10Ha ≦ Hb ≦ 30Ha].
<8>
The average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction is 10 or more and 20 or less, and the average indentation at a position 300 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction. The cleaning blade according to <6> or <7>, wherein the hardness Hb is 22 or more and 30 or less.
<9>
The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <8>, wherein the average film thickness of the carbon-containing layer on the ventral surface is 100 nm or more and 450 nm or less.
<10>
A cleaning device provided with the cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <9>.
<11>
A process cartridge provided with the cleaning device according to <10>, which is attached to and detached from the image forming device.
<12>
Image holder and
The charging means for charging the surface of the image holder and
An electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged image holder,
A developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holder with a developer containing toner to form a toner image, and a developing means.
A transfer means for transferring the toner image to the surface of a recording medium, and
The cleaning device according to <10>, which cleans the surface of the image holder.
An image forming apparatus comprising.

According to the invention according to <1> or <5>, the average content of carbon having sp2 bond at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion, the average content of carbon having _sp2 and sp3 bonds. The ratio of A _sp3 and the average content of carbon having an sp2 bond at a position 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction B _sp2 and the average content of carbon having a sp3 bond B _sp3 are [( A cleaning blade is provided in which both suppression of slip-through of the removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved as compared with the case where the relationship of A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) = (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )] is satisfied.
According to the invention according to <2>, the ratio of the average content of carbon having sp2 bond A _sp2 and the average content of carbon having sp3 bond A _sp3 at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion. , the ratio of the average content _{B sp3} carbon having an average content _{B sp2} and sp3 carbon bonds having sp2 bonds at 300μm position the blade height direction from the contact angle section, but [1.22 _{(B sp2} / B _sp3 )> (A _sp2 / A _sp3 )] is provided, as compared with the case where the cleaning blade is achieved in which both suppression of slip-through of the removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved.
According to the invention according to <3>, the ratio of the average content of carbon having sp2 bond A _sp2 and the average content of carbon having sp3 bond A _sp3 at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion. If _(a sp2 _{/ a sp3)} is less than 1.22, or an average carbon with sp3 bonds and the average content _{B sp2} carbon from contact angle portion having an sp2 bond at the position of 300μm in the blade height direction A cleaning blade is provided that achieves both suppression of slip-through of removed material and suppression of uneven wear as compared with the case where the ratio to the content rate B _sp3 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 ) exceeds 1.
According to the invention according to <4>, when the average content of carbon having sp3 bond at a position of 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction A _sp3 exceeds 55 atom%, or the blade height from the contact angle. Compared to the case where the average content B _{sp3 of} carbon having an sp3 bond at a position of 300 μm in the longitudinal direction is less than 50 atom%, a cleaning blade that achieves both suppression of slip-through of removed material and suppression of uneven wear is achieved. Provided.

According to the invention according to <6>, the average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction and the average indentation hardness Hb at a position 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction. Provided is a cleaning blade in which both suppression of slip-through of the removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved as compared with the case where the relationship of [Hb = Ha] is satisfied.
According to the invention according to <7>, the average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction and the average indentation hardness Hb at a position 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction. Provided is a cleaning blade in which both suppression of slip-through of the removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved as compared with the case where the relationship of [Ha> Hb] is satisfied.
According to the invention according to <8>, when the average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction exceeds 20, or at a position 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction. Provided is a cleaning blade in which both suppression of slip-through of removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved as compared with the case where the average indentation hardness Hb is less than 22.
According to the invention according to <9>, as compared with the case where the average film thickness of the carbon-containing layer on the ventral surface is less than 100 nm or more than 450 nm, cleaning that suppresses slip-through of the removed material and suppresses uneven wear is achieved at the same time. A blade is provided.

According to the invention according to <10>, <11>, or <12>, the average content of carbon having sp2 bond at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion A carbon having _sp2 and sp3 bond. mean and ratio of content _{a sp3} of the ratio of the average content _{B sp3} carbon having an average content _{B sp2} and sp3 carbon bonds having sp2 bonds at 300μm position the blade height direction from the contact angle portion When applying a cleaning blade that satisfies the relationship [(A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) = (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )], or at a position 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction, the average indentation hardness Ha Compared with the case of applying a cleaning blade in which the average indentation hardness Hb at a position of 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction satisfies the relationship of [Hb = Ha], the slip-through of the removed material in the cleaning blade A cleaning device, a process cartridge, or an image forming device that achieves both suppression and suppression of uneven wear is provided.

It is the schematic which shows the state which the cleaning blade which concerns on this embodiment comes into contact with a stopped member to be cleaned. It is the schematic which shows the state which the cleaning blade which concerns on this embodiment comes into contact with the driven member to be cleaned. It is the schematic which shows an example of the cleaning blade which concerns on this Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows another example of the cleaning blade which concerns on this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the classification by the difference of the crystal structure of carbon. It is a schematic schematic diagram which shows an example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows an example of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the state which the cleaning blade which concerns on this embodiment comes into contact with a member to be cleaned.

Hereinafter, embodiments that are an example of the present invention will be described.

<Cleaning blade>
The cleaning blade according to the present embodiment is a cleaning blade that cleans the surface by contacting a driven member to be cleaned (for example, an image holder in an image forming apparatus).
This cleaning blade includes a contact angle portion that contacts the driven member to be cleaned to clean the surface of the member to be cleaned, and a tip surface having the contact angle portion forming one side and facing the upstream side in the driving direction. The contact angle portion constitutes one side and has a ventral surface facing the downstream side in the driving direction. Further, the direction parallel to the contact angle portion is defined as the blade width direction, and the direction on the side where the ventral surface is formed from the contact angle portion is defined as the blade height direction.
The cleaning blade comprises a carbon-containing layer containing carbon having sp2 bonds and carbon having sp3 bonds, at least on the ventral surface.

Then, in the present embodiment, the cleaning blade according to the first embodiment is a carbon having a sp2 bond at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “100 μm position”) in the carbon-containing layer. _Has an average content of A _sp2 and a ratio of the average content of carbon having an sp3 bond, A _sp3 , and an sp2 bond at a position 300 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “300 μm position”). The ratio of the average carbon content B _sp2 and the average carbon content B _sp3 having a sp3 bond and the relationship of [(A _sp2 / A _sp3 )> (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )] are satisfied.

Further, in the cleaning blade according to the second embodiment in the present embodiment, the average indentation hardness Ha at the 100 μm position and the average indentation hardness Hb at the 300 μm position are [Hb> Ha] in the carbon-containing layer. Meet the relationship.

According to the cleaning blade according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment in the present embodiment, both suppression of slip-through of the removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved.
The reason can be inferred as follows.

The cleaning blade comes into contact with the surface of the driven member to be cleaned (for example, the image holder in the image forming apparatus), and the surface of the member to be cleaned (for example, the surface of the image holder) is removed while causing friction between the two. Clean the toner that is present in. Since friction is generated between the two, the tip of the cleaning blade (that is, the contact angle portion) slightly bends in the driving direction of the member to be cleaned and then returns to the original position (so-called vibration). It is in contact with the member to be cleaned while repeating the stick and slip behavior).
Here, on the surface of the member to be cleaned, the coefficient of friction may vary depending on the location. For example, when the member to be cleaned is the image holder, there may be a difference in the amount of toner particles present on the surface and the amount of toner external additive (for example, lubricant) at the contact position with the cleaning blade. As a result, the coefficient of friction varies. If the surface of the member to be cleaned varies in friction coefficient depending on the location, the magnitude of vibration of the cleaning blade differs between the location where the friction coefficient is high and the location where the friction coefficient is low, and the behavior becomes unstable. As a result, the removed material may slip through at a place where the vibration is large.
Further, when the friction coefficient varies depending on the location on the surface of the member to be cleaned, the higher the friction coefficient, the greater the load applied to the tip of the cleaning blade (that is, the contact angle portion), and the amount of wear also increases. As a result, wear is promoted in places where the load is high, and uneven wear may occur. It should be noted that the removability of the removed material is lowered at the place where the cleaning blade is unevenly worn. Therefore, when the member to be cleaned is an image holder in an image forming apparatus, the removability of toner (that is, residual toner) is lowered, and image defects with uneven density may occur in the formed image.

On the other hand, the cleaning blade according to the first embodiment of the present embodiment has a carbon having an sp2 bond on the ventral surface (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “sp2 carbon”) and a carbon having an sp3 bond (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “sp3 carbon”). ) _{Is provided,} and the average content of sp2 carbon at a position 100 μm (that is, 100 μm position) from the contact angle in the blade height direction, the ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon and the average content of sp3 carbon, A _sp3 , and 300 μm. sp2 and the ratio of the average content _{B sp3} the average content _{B sp2} and sp3 carbon carbon at position, but satisfy the relationship of _{[(a sp2 / a sp3)} > (B sp2 / B sp3)]. That is, the ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon to sp3 carbon is higher at the 100 μm position closer to the contact angle portion than at the 300 μm position farther from the contact angle portion. Normally, the larger the ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon to sp3 carbon, the softer the carbon-containing layer on the ventral surface of the cleaning blade. Therefore, the region farther from the contact angle portion is closer to the contact angle portion than the region closer to the contact angle portion. Is also hard.
Since the carbon-containing layer in the region farther from the contact angle is harder, this carbon-containing layer functions as a support plate that supports the vibration (that is, stick-and-slip behavior) of the cleaning blade. As a result, even if the friction coefficient varies depending on the location on the surface of the member to be cleaned, it is suppressed that the vibration of the cleaning blade becomes large depending on the location, that is, the behavior becomes unstable, and the slip-through of the removed material is reduced. Will be done.
Further, since the carbon-containing layer in the region closer to the contact angle portion is softer, the flexibility is maintained at the contact angle portion of the cleaning blade, and the tip of the cleaning blade (that is, the contact angle portion) due to friction with the member to be cleaned A stable bending posture can be obtained. As a result, the coefficient of friction varies depending on the location on the surface of the member to be cleaned, and even if a location where a high load is applied occurs, the load is dispersed by stabilizing the bending posture and a locally high load is suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of uneven wear due to the promotion of local wear is suppressed, and the decrease in removability of the removed material due to uneven wear is suppressed. Therefore, when the member to be cleaned is an image holder in the image forming apparatus, the decrease in removability of residual toner due to uneven wear is suppressed, and the occurrence of image defects of density unevenness in the formed image is suppressed. ..

Further, the cleaning blade according to the second embodiment of the present embodiment is provided with a carbon-containing layer containing sp2 carbon and sp3 carbon on the ventral surface, and has an average indentation hardness Ha at the 100 μm position and an average indentation hardness at the 300 μm position. Hb and H satisfy the relationship of [Hb> Ha]. That is, the 100 μm position closer to the contact angle portion is softer than the 300 μm position farther from the contact angle portion.
Since the carbon-containing layer in the region farther from the contact angle is harder, this carbon-containing layer functions as a support plate that supports the vibration (that is, stick-and-slip behavior) of the cleaning blade. As a result, even if the friction coefficient varies depending on the location on the surface of the member to be cleaned, it is suppressed that the vibration of the cleaning blade becomes large depending on the location, that is, the behavior becomes unstable, and the slip-through of the removed material is reduced. Will be done.
Further, since the carbon-containing layer in the region closer to the contact angle portion is softer, the flexibility is maintained at the contact angle portion of the cleaning blade, and the tip of the cleaning blade (that is, the contact angle portion) due to friction with the member to be cleaned A stable bending posture can be obtained. As a result, the coefficient of friction varies depending on the location on the surface of the member to be cleaned, and even if a location where a high load is applied occurs, the load is dispersed by stabilizing the bending posture and a locally high load is suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of uneven wear due to the promotion of local wear is suppressed, and the decrease in removability of the removed material due to uneven wear is suppressed. Therefore, when the member to be cleaned is an image holder in the image forming apparatus, the decrease in removability of residual toner due to uneven wear is suppressed, and the occurrence of image defects of density unevenness in the formed image is suppressed. ..

As described above, according to the cleaning blade according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment in the present embodiment, both suppression of slip-through of the removed material and suppression of uneven wear are achieved.

Next, each part constituting the cleaning blade according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment in the present embodiment will be described in detail.

In the following, when referring to both the cleaning blade according to the first embodiment and the cleaning blade according to the second embodiment, it is simply referred to as the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment.

The cleaning blade according to the present embodiment comes into contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned for the purpose of cleaning the object to be cleaned (that is, the removed object) such as toner and developer existing on the surface of the member to be cleaned (for example, an image holder). It is arranged and used.
Here, each part of the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The reference numeral may be omitted.

1 and 2 are views showing a cleaning blade 342 arranged so as to come into contact with the surface of the member 31 to be cleaned, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the member 31 to be cleaned is stopped, and FIG. 2 is a state to be cleaned. The state in which the member 31 is driven is shown. However, in FIG. 1, for convenience, the direction in which the member to be cleaned 31 is driven is drawn as an arrow A.

First, each part of the cleaning blade 342 will be described. The cleaning blade 342 is arranged so that the contact angle portion 3A comes into contact with the member to be cleaned (for example, the image holder) 31. The surface in which the contact angle portion 3A constitutes one side and faces the upstream side in the direction in which the member to be cleaned 31 is driven (direction of arrow A) is referred to as a tip surface 3B. Further, a surface in which the contact angle portion 3A constitutes one side and faces the downstream side in the driving direction (arrow A direction) is referred to as a ventral surface 3C, which shares one side with the tip surface 3B and faces the ventral surface 3C. The surface to be formed is referred to as a back surface 3D, and a pair of surfaces sharing one side with the front end surface 3B, the ventral surface 3C, and the back surface 3D are referred to as side surfaces 3E.
Further, the direction parallel to the contact angle portion 3A, in other words, the direction along the direction in which the contact angle portion 3A contacts the member to be cleaned 31 (depth direction in FIG. 1) is the blade width direction, and the contact angle portion 3A to the tip surface 3B. The direction on the side where the surface 3C is formed is referred to as the blade thickness direction, and the direction on the side where the ventral surface 3C is formed from the contact angle portion 3A is referred to as the blade height direction.

-Carbon-containing layer-
The cleaning blade according to the present embodiment includes, at least on the ventral surface, a carbon-containing layer containing carbon having a sp2 bond and carbon having a sp3 bond. Although not particularly limited, it is preferable that the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment is provided with a carbon-containing layer over the entire area in the blade width direction on the ventral surface.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of the cleaning blade 10 according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 3, 3A is the contact angle portion, 3B is the tip surface, 3C is the ventral surface, and 3E is the side surface. The direction indicated by the arrow a is the blade width direction, the direction indicated by the arrow b is the blade thickness direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow c is the blade height direction. In FIG. 3, the area shown by the dotted line is the contact surface 12 that comes into contact with the member to be cleaned when the cleaning blade 10 is driven by the member to be cleaned and the surface is cleaned.

The cleaning blade 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a carbon-containing layer 14 containing sp2 carbon and sp3 carbon in the entire area in the blade width direction of the region on the contact angle portion 3A side of the ventral surface 3C. The carbon-containing layer 14 has a high sp2 carbon region 14A in which the ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon to the average content of sp3 carbon is high in the region near the contact angle portion 3A, while it is far from the contact angle portion 3A. The side region is a low sp2 carbon region 14B in which the ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon to the average content of sp3 carbon is low.

-Average content of carbon having sp2 bond and average content of carbon having sp3 bond In the cleaning blade 10 according to the first embodiment, the carbon-containing layer 14 is located at a position of 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A. The ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon A _sp2 and the average content of sp3 carbon A _sp3 at (the position indicated by the dotted line P100 in FIG. 3) [A _sp2 / A _sp3 ] and the contact angle 3A in the blade height direction. The ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon B _sp2 and the average content of sp3 carbon B _sp3 at the position of 300 μm (the position indicated by the dotted line P300 in FIG. 3) [B _sp2 / B _sp3 ] has the relationship of the following formula 1. Fulfill.
Equation 1: (A _sp2 / A _sp3 )> (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )

Further, from the viewpoint of facilitating the suppression of slip-through of the removed material and the facilitation of suppressing uneven wear, the carbon-containing layer 14 is sp2 at the 100 μm position (that is, the position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A). Average carbon content A _sp2 and sp3 Carbon average content A _sp3 ratio [A _sp2 / A _sp3 ] and sp2 carbon average content B _sp2 and sp3 carbon average content B _sp3 at 300 μm position P300 It is preferable that the ratio [B _sp2 / B _sp3 ] satisfies the relationship of the following formula 1-1, more preferably the relationship of the following formula 1-2, and further satisfying the relationship of the following formula 1-3. preferable.
Equation 1-1: 1.22 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 ) ≤ (A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) _≤4 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )
Equation 1-2: 1.22 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 ) ≤ (A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) ≤ 3.55 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )
Equation 1-3: 1.22 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 ) ≤ (A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) _≤3 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )

The carbon-containing layer 14 has a region of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A (that is, the 100 μm position P100 in FIG. 3) from the viewpoint of easily suppressing slip-through of the removed material and easily suppressing uneven wear. Average content of sp2 carbon in the area of 50 μm each in the front and rear in the blade height direction centered on the dotted line) Area _sp2 and sp3 carbon average content Area _sp3 ratio [Area _sp2 / Aarea _sp3 ] and the contact angle Average sp2 carbon content in the region from 3A to 250 μm or more and 350 μm or less in the blade height direction (that is, the region of 50 μm each in the front-rear direction in the blade height direction around the dotted line at the 300 μm position P300 in FIG. 3) Balea _sp2 and sp3 It is preferable that the ratio of the average carbon content of Balea _sp3 [Barea _sp2 / Balea _sp3 ] and the relationship of the following formula 2 are satisfied.
Equation 2: (Area _sp2 / Area _sp3 )> (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 )

Further, from the viewpoint of facilitating the suppression of slip-through of the removed material and the easy suppression of uneven wear, the average content of sp2 carbon in the region of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A Area _sp2 and sp3. the ratio _[Aarea sp2 / Aarea _sp3] of the average content _{Aarea sp3} carbon, the average content of the average content _{Barea sp2} and sp3 carbon of sp2 carbon in the following areas 250μm or 350μm from the contact angle portion 3A in the blade height direction It is preferable that the ratio of the rate Barea _sp3 [Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 ] satisfies the relationship of the following formula 2-1 and more preferably the relationship of the following formula 2-2, and the relationship of the following formula 2-3. It is even more preferable to meet.
Equation 2-1:
0.43 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 ) ≤
(Area _sp2 / Area _sp3 ) ≦ 4 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 )
Equation 2-2:
0.47 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 ) ≤
(Area _sp2 / Area _sp3 ) ≦ 3.55 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 )
Equation 2-3:
0.54 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 ) ≤
(Area _sp2 / Area _sp3 ) ≦ 3 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 )

The ratio between the average content of _{A sp3} sp2-average content _{A sp2} and sp3 carbon carbon at 100μm position P100 of the carbon-containing layer 14 _(A sp2 _/ A _sp3) is preferably 1.22 to 4 ..
When the ratio (A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) at the 100 μm position P100 is 1.22 or more, flexibility in the vicinity of the contact angle portion 3A can be easily ensured, and the occurrence of uneven wear can be easily suppressed. On the other hand, when the ratio (A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) is 4 or less, the function of the support plate that supports the cleaning blade 10 is easily exerted even in the vicinity of the contact angle portion 3A, and the slip-through of the removed material is easily suppressed.

The ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon B _sp2 to the average content of sp3 carbon B _sp3 at the 300 μm position P300 of the carbon-containing layer 14 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 ) is preferably 0.43 or more and 1 or less. , 0.47 or more and 1 or less, and more preferably 0.54 or more and 1 or less.
When the ratio (B _sp2 / B _sp3 ) at the 300 μm position P300 is 1 or less, the function of the support plate supporting the cleaning blade 10 is easily exhibited in the carbon-containing layer 14 on the side far from the contact angle portion 3A, and the cleaning blade 10 is easily removed. It becomes easier to suppress the slip-through of objects. On the other hand, when the ratio (B _sp2 / B _sp3 ) is 0.43 or more, the flexibility required for the entire cleaning blade 10 can be easily secured, and the cleanability can be easily improved.

The average content of sp3 carbon at the 100 μm position P100 of the carbon-containing layer 14 A _sp3 is preferably 20 atom% or more and 55 atom% or less, more preferably 30 atom% or more and 55 atom% or less, and 32 atom% or more and 52 atom%. It is more preferably 35 atom% or more and 50 atom% or less.
When the average content rate A _sp3 at the 100 μm position P100 is 55 atom% or less, flexibility in the vicinity of the contact angle portion 3A can be easily ensured, and the occurrence of uneven wear can be easily suppressed. On the other hand, when the average content A _sp3 is 20 atom% or more, the function of the support plate supporting the cleaning blade 10 is easily exerted even in the vicinity of the contact angle portion 3A, and the slip-through of the removed material is easily suppressed.

The average content of sp3 carbon at the 300 μm position P300 of the carbon-containing layer 14 B _sp3 is preferably 50 atom% or more and 80 atom% or less, more preferably 55 atom% or more and 80 atom% or less, and 57 atom% or more and 78 atom%. It is more preferably 60 atom% or more and 75 atom% or less.
When the average content B _sp3 at the 300 μm position P300 is 50 atom% or more, the function of the support plate that supports the cleaning blade 10 is easily exhibited in the carbon-containing layer 14 on the side far from the contact angle portion 3A, and the removed product is removed. It becomes easier to suppress slip-through. On the other hand, when the average content B _sp3 is 80 atom% or less, the flexibility required for the entire cleaning blade 10 can be easily secured, and the cleanability can be easily improved.

The average content of sp3 carbon and the average content of sp2 carbon are measured by the following methods.
In measuring the content of sp3 carbon and sp2 carbon, first, peak separation is performed on the peak detected between 285 eV and 286 eV by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) measurement, and two high-intensity peaks are extracted. To do. Of these two peaks, the low energy side is assigned to the peak caused by sp2 carbon and the high energy side is assigned to the peak caused by sp3 carbon, and the contents of sp3 carbon and sp2 carbon are calculated from the integrated values.

The average content of sp2 carbon at position P100 at a position 100 μm from the contact angle 3A in the blade height direction A _sp2 and the average content of sp3 carbon A _sp3 , and the position 300 μm from the contact angle 3A in the blade height direction. The average content of sp2 carbon in P300 B _sp2 and the average content of sp3 carbon B _sp3 are measured as follows.
In the blade width direction of each of the 100 μm position P100 and the 300 μm position P300, the region of 90% in the center excluding the region of 10% at the end (that is, 5% at each end) is the measurement target. The content rate is measured at 10 points at equal intervals over the entire 90% central region, and the arithmetic mean thereof is taken as the average content rate.

Further, the average content of sp2 carbon in the region of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A Area _sp2 and the average content of sp3 carbon Area _sp3 are measured as follows.
The center excluding the region of 10% of the end (that is, 5% of one end) in each of the blade width directions of the 50 μm position, the 100 μm position, and the 150 μm position in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A. The 90% region is the measurement target, and the content rate is measured at 10 points at equal intervals over the entire 90% central region, that is, at a total of 30 points, and the arithmetic mean thereof is taken as the average content rate.
Furthermore, the average content _{Barea sp3} the average content _{Barea sp2} and sp3 carbon of sp2 carbon in the following areas 250μm or 350μm from the contact angle portion 3A in the blade height direction is measured as follows.
The center excluding the region of 10% of the end (that is, 5% of one end) in the blade width direction at the position of 250 μm, the position of 300 μm, and the position of 350 μm from the contact angle portion 3A in the blade height direction. The 90% region is the measurement target, and the content rate is measured at 10 points at equal intervals over the entire 90% central region, that is, at a total of 30 points, and the arithmetic mean thereof is taken as the average content rate.

-Average Indentation Hardness In the cleaning blade according to the second embodiment, the carbon-containing layer 14 has an average indentation hardness at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A (the position indicated by the dotted line P100 in FIG. 3). Ha and the average indentation hardness Hb at a position 300 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A (the position indicated by the dotted line P300 in FIG. 3) satisfy the relationship of the following formula 3.
Equation 3: Hb> Ha

Further, from the viewpoint of easily suppressing slip-through of the removed material and easily suppressing uneven wear, the carbon-containing layer 14 is averaged at the 100 μm position (that is, the position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion 3A) at P100. It is preferable that the indentation hardness Ha and the average indentation hardness Hb at the 300 μm position P300 satisfy the relationship of the following formula 3-1 and more preferably the relationship of the following formula 3-2, and the following formula 3- It is more preferable to satisfy the relationship of 3.
Equation 3-1: 10 Ha ≤ Hb ≤ 30 Ha
Equation 3-2: 10.8Ha ≤ Hb ≤ 29.2 Ha
Equation 3-3: 12Ha ≤ Hb ≤ 28 Ha

The average indentation hardness Ha of the carbon-containing layer 14 at the 100 μm position P100 is preferably 10 or more and 20 or less, more preferably 10.8 or more and 19.2 or less, and preferably 12 or more and 18 or less. More preferred.
When the average indentation hardness Ha at the 100 μm position P100 is 20 or less, flexibility in the vicinity of the contact angle portion 3A can be easily ensured, and the occurrence of uneven wear can be easily suppressed. On the other hand, when the average indentation hardness Ha is 10 or more, the function of the support plate that supports the cleaning blade 10 is easily exerted even in the vicinity of the contact angle portion 3A, and the slip-through of the removed material is easily suppressed.

The average indentation hardness Hb of the carbon-containing layer 14 at the 300 μm position P300 is preferably 22 or more and 30 or less, more preferably 22 or more and 29.2 or less, and further preferably 22 or more and 28 or less. ..
When the average indentation hardness Hb at the 300 μm position P300 is 22 or more, the function of the support plate that supports the cleaning blade 10 is easily exerted in the carbon-containing layer 14 on the side far from the contact angle portion 3A, and the removed material slips through. Is more likely to be suppressed. On the other hand, when the average indentation hardness Hb is 30 or less, the flexibility required for the entire cleaning blade 10 can be easily secured, and the cleanability can be easily improved.

The average indentation hardness is measured by the following method.
Using a picodenter (HM500 manufactured by Fisher Instruments), the indentation hardness is measured by a Belkovic indenter at an indentation speed of 1 μm / s and a maximum indentation depth of 0.5 μm.

The average indentation hardness Ha at the position P100 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle 3A and the average indent hardness Hb at the position P300 300 μm from the contact angle 3A in the blade height direction are as follows. Measure in this way.
In the blade width direction of each of the 100 μm position P100 and the 300 μm position P300, the region of 90% in the center excluding the region of 10% at the end (that is, 5% at each end) is the measurement target. The indentation hardness is measured at three points at equal intervals over the entire 90% central region, and the arithmetic mean thereof is taken as the average indentation hardness.
The unit of indentation hardness is "N / mm", but the description is omitted according to the convention.

-Position of formation of carbon-containing layer The carbon-containing layer 14 is not particularly limited, but is preferably formed in the entire area in the blade width direction on the ventral surface 3C of the cleaning blade 10.

On the other hand, the length of the carbon-containing layer 14 formed on the ventral surface 3C in the blade height direction (arrow c direction) is not particularly limited, but is formed, for example, from the contact angle portion 3A to a range of 500 μm or more and 2 cm or less. It is more preferable that the contact angle portion is formed in a range of 500 μm or more and 1 cm or less from the contact angle portion 3A.

Further, the cleaning blade 10 may have a carbon-containing layer 14 on a surface other than the ventral surface 3C.
It is considered that by having the carbon-containing layer 14 on the surface other than the ventral surface 3C of the cleaning blade 10, the elastic modulus of the cleaning blade 10 is increased, and the occurrence of blade turning is easily suppressed.
As surfaces other than the ventral surface 3C on which the carbon-containing layer 14 is formed, for example, as in the cleaning blade 10B shown in FIG. 4, the carbon-containing layer 142 formed on the side surface 3E and the carbon-containing surface formed on the tip surface 3B. Layer 144 and the like can be mentioned.

-Materials and properties of the carbon-containing layer The carbon-containing layer is a layer containing carbon having an sp3 bond (that is, carbon having an sp3 hybrid orbital) and carbon having an sp2 bond (that is, carbon having an sp2 hybrid orbital).
Here, a layer containing carbon having an sp3 bond and carbon having an sp2 bond will be described. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between different carbon bonds in an easy-to-understand manner.
The number of atoms that can be bonded to carbon differs depending on the hybrid orbital, and as shown in FIG. 5, carbon has a high hardness consisting of graphite having sp2-bonded carbon atoms and sp3-bonded carbon atoms due to its crystal structure. It can be classified as diamond. The carbon-containing layer in the present embodiment is an amorphous film (that is, a region surrounded by a triangle in FIG. 5) containing a carbon atom having a sp3 bond.

Among these, as the carbon-containing layer in the present embodiment, tetrahedral amorphous carbon (“Ta-C” shown in FIG. 5, for example, carbon having a sp3 bond is 40 atom% or more and the content of hydrogen atom is 10 atom% or less. ) Is preferable.
In addition, "Ga-C" in FIG. 5 represents graphite-based (close to graphite) amorphous carbon (that is, amorphous carbon having sp3 bond and carbon content of less than 40%), and "aCH" represents atomrous Hydrogenated Carbon.

The average film thickness of the carbon-containing layer is preferably 100 nm or more and 450 nm or less, more preferably 110 nm or more and 420 nm or less, and further preferably 120 nm or more and 400 nm or less.
When the average film thickness is 100 nm or more, it becomes easy to suppress slip-through of the removed material and it becomes easy to suppress uneven wear. On the other hand, when the average film thickness is 450 nm or less, it becomes easy to suppress the slip-through of the removed material.

The average film thickness of the carbon-containing layer is measured by observing the cross section. The measurement point is the center excluding the region of 10% of the end (that is, 5% of one end) in each blade width direction at the position of 100 μm in the blade height direction and the position of 300 μm from the contact angle portion 3A. The 90% region is the measurement target, and the film thickness is measured at 10 points at equal intervals over the entire 90% central region, that is, at a total of 20 points, and the arithmetic mean thereof is taken as the average film thickness.

-Method of forming a carbon-containing layer The method of forming a carbon-containing layer is not particularly limited, but various vapor deposition which is a general method is performed on the surface of a base material, that is, a cleaning blade on which a carbon-containing layer is not formed. Examples thereof include a method of forming by a method (for example, physical vapor deposition method (PVD method), chemical vapor deposition method (CVD method), filter cathode vacuum arc method (FCVA method)).
Examples of the vapor deposition method include microwave plasma CVD method, DC plasma CVD method, high frequency plasma CVD method, magnetic field plasma CVD method, ion beam sputtering method, ion beam vapor deposition method, reactive plasma sputtering method, and unbalanced magnetron sputtering. A method, a filter-cathode-vacuum-arc method (FCVA method), or the like is used.
The raw material gas used in these vapor deposition methods is a carbon-containing gas, for example, a hydrocarbon gas such as methane, ethane, propane, ethylene, benzene and acetylene; a halogen such as methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and trichloroethane. Carbon chemicals; alcohols such as methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol, ketones such as acetone and diphenyl ketone; gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; these gases include N ₂ , H ₂ , O ₂ , H ₂ O and Ar. Etc. may be mixed.

Here, in the cleaning blade 10 shown in FIG. 3, the high sp2 carbon region 14A, which is a region near the contact angle portion 3A, and the low sp2 carbon region 14B, which is a region far from the contact angle portion 3A, are sp3. A method of making the ratio of the average content of sp2 carbon to the average content of carbon different will be described.
For example, the laser ablation method can be mentioned. In the laser ablation method, the ratio of sp3 carbon to sp2 carbon can be changed depending on the difference in the wavelength and irradiation energy of the laser light to be irradiated when the carbon-containing layer is formed. Therefore, the wavelength of the laser light irradiated in the high sp2 carbon region 14A and the low sp2 carbon region 14B is changed, the low wavelength laser light is irradiated in the low sp2 carbon region 14B, while the high wavelength laser is irradiated in the high sp2 carbon region 14A. A method of irradiating light can be mentioned. As an example, a method of irradiating the high sp2 carbon region 14A with a KrF excimer laser (wavelength 248 nm) and the low sp2 carbon region 14B with an ArF laser (wavelength 193 nm) at 3.0 J / cm ² can be mentioned.

Further, as another example, a method of forming the high sp2 carbon region 14A and the low sp2 carbon region 14B by changing the applied voltage can be mentioned. That is, the ratio of sp3 carbon to sp2 carbon can be changed by changing the applied voltage when the carbon-containing layer is formed. Therefore, a method of forming the high sp2 carbon region 14A and the low sp2 carbon region 14B separately by changing the applied voltage can be mentioned. When they are formed separately, it is preferable to cover one region with a mask.

-Cleaning blade body-
The material other than the carbon-containing layer of the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment, that is, the material constituting the cleaning blade main body to be formed with the carbon-containing layer is not particularly limited, and a known cleaning blade material is used.
The cleaning blade body preferably contains a rubber elastic body, and preferably contains a rubber elastic body. Examples of the rubber elastic body include urethane rubber, polyimide rubber, silicone rubber, fluororubber, propylene rubber, butadiene rubber and the like. However, it is preferable to contain urethane rubber from the viewpoint of excellent wear resistance, mechanical strength, oil resistance, and ozone resistance. As the urethane rubber, for example, the polyurethane rubber described in paragraphs 0037 to 0052 of JP-A-2017-053909 can be mentioned.

Further, the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment may have an adhesive layer between the carbon-containing layer and the cleaning blade main body. Here, the adhesive layer is a layer having a function of enhancing the adhesiveness between the carbon-containing layer and the cleaning blade main body, and examples thereof include a metal oxide layer.

The cleaning blade according to the present embodiment may be used by adhering to a support material. Examples of the support material include a plate-shaped support material having rigidity, and for example, a metal plate is preferable.

-Manufacturing method of cleaning blade-
In the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment, for example, a carbon-containing layer is formed on the entire area of the ventral surface in the blade width direction with respect to the known cleaning blade main body (cleaning blade main body manufactured by a known method) by the above-mentioned method. Manufactured by
For example, a cleaning blade body containing polyurethane is manufactured by a general method such as a prepolymer method or a one-shot method, and then a carbon-containing layer is formed on the entire area of the ventral surface in the blade width direction, and then the plate-shaped support material is used. There is a method of bonding.

<Use>
The member to be cleaned to be cleaned by the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it is a member that requires surface cleaning. For example, when used in an image forming apparatus, an image holder (for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member), an intermediate transfer body, a charging roll, a transfer roll, a material transfer belt to be transferred, a paper transfer roll, and the like can be mentioned. Further, a detoning roll that further removes toner from a cleaning brush that removes toner from an image holder and the like can be mentioned. In the present embodiment, the image holder is particularly preferable.

<Cleaning equipment, process cartridge and image forming equipment>
Next, a cleaning device, a process cartridge, and an image forming device using the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment will be described.
The cleaning device of the present embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it is provided with the cleaning blade of the present embodiment as a cleaning blade that comes into contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned and cleans the surface of the member to be cleaned. For example, as a configuration example of a cleaning device, a cleaning blade is fixed in a cleaning case having an opening on the member to be cleaned so that the edge tip (that is, the contact surface) is on the opening side, and the cleaning blade is used for cleaning. Examples thereof include a configuration provided with a transport member that guides a removed substance such as waste toner collected from the surface of the member to a removed substance collecting container. Further, the cleaning device of the present embodiment may use two or more cleaning blades of the present embodiment.

On the other hand, the process cartridge of the present embodiment includes the cleaning device of the present embodiment as a cleaning device that comes into contact with the surface of one or more members to be cleaned such as an image holder and an image holder to clean the surface of the member to be cleaned. There is no particular limitation as long as it is. For example, an image holder and a cleaning device of the present embodiment for cleaning the surface of the image holder are included, and a mode in which the image holder is detachable from the image forming device can be mentioned. For example, if it is a so-called tandem machine having an image holder corresponding to toner of each color, the cleaning device of the present embodiment may be provided for each image holder. In addition, a cleaning brush or the like may be used in combination with the cleaning device of the present embodiment.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image holder, a charging means for charging the surface of the image holder, and an electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged image holder. A developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holder with a developer containing toner to form a toner image, and a transfer means for transferring the toner image to the surface of a recording medium. The cleaning device according to the present embodiment, which cleans the surface of the image holder, is provided.

When the cleaning blade of the present embodiment is used for cleaning the image holder, the cleaning of the toner to be cleaned is satisfactorily performed, and the lubricant (external additive) is also satisfactorily passed through to suppress the wear of the cleaning blade. The force NF (Normal Force) against which the cleaning blade is pressed against the image holder is preferably in the range of 1.3 gf / mm or more and 2.3 gf / mm or less, and 1.6 gf / mm or more and 2.0 gf / mm. It is more preferably in the range of mm or less.

Here, the pressing force NF of the cleaning blade is calculated by the following equation.
・ Formula: N = dEt ³ / 4L ³
In the formula, d is the bite amount d of the cleaning blade 342 shown in FIG. 8, E is the Young's modulus of the cleaning blade 342, t is the thickness t of the cleaning blade 342 shown in FIG. 8, and L is shown in FIG. Represents the free length of the cleaning blade 342 (ie, the length of the region not fixed by the support 346).

The amount d of the cleaning blade 342 biting into the image holder 31 is preferably in the range of 0.8 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less, and more preferably in the range of 0.9 mm or more and 1.1 mm or less.
Further, the angle α (W / A, Working Angle) at the contact portion between the cleaning blade 342 and the image holder 31 shown in FIG. 8 is preferably in the range of 8 ° or more and 14 ° or less, and is preferably 10 ° or more and 12 °. It is more preferably in the following range.

Next, a specific example of the image forming apparatus and the cleaning apparatus using the cleaning blade of the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a schematic schematic view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and shows a so-called tandem type image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 6, 21 is the main body housing, 22, 22a to 22d are image processing units, 23 is a belt module, 24 is a recording medium supply cassette, 25 is a recording medium transport path, 30 is each photoconductor unit, and 31 is a member to be cleaned. Photoreceptor drum (an example of an image holder), 33 is each developing unit (an example of developing means), 34 is a cleaning device, 35, 35a to 35d are toner cartridges, and 40 is an exposure unit (electrostatic latent image forming means). Example), 41 is a unit case, 42 is a polygon mirror, 51 is a primary transfer device, 52 is a secondary transfer device, 53 is a belt cleaning device, 61 is a delivery roll, 62 is a transfer roll, and 63 is an alignment roll. 66 is a fixing device, 67 is a discharge roll, 68 is a paper discharge unit, 71 is a manual feed supply device, 72 is a delivery roll, 73 is a double-sided recording unit, 74 is a guide roll, 76 is a transport path, and 77 is a transport roll. 230 is an intermediate transfer belt, 231 and 232 are support rolls, 521 is a secondary transfer roll, and 513 is a cleaning blade.

In the tandem image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6, image forming units 22 (specifically, 22a to 22d) of four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in this embodiment) are arranged in the main body housing 21. A belt module 23 including an intermediate transfer belt 230 that is circulated and conveyed along the arrangement direction of each image forming unit 22 is arranged above the belt module 23, while a recording medium such as paper (shown) is below the main body housing 21. The recording medium supply cassette 24 in which the recording medium supply cassette 24 is housed is arranged, and the recording medium transport path 25 serving as the transfer path for the recording medium from the recording medium supply cassette 24 is arranged in the vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the image processing units 22 (22a to 22d) are used in order from the upstream side in the circulation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 230, for example, for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (the arrangement is not necessarily in this order). It forms a toner image (not), and includes each photoconductor unit 30, each development unit 33, and one common exposure unit 40.
Here, the photoconductor unit 30 includes, for example, a photoconductor drum 31, a charging roll 32 (an example of charging means) that precharges the photoconductor drum 31, and a cleaning device 34 that removes residual toner on the photoconductor drum 31. Is integrated into a sub-cartridge.

Further, the developing unit 33 develops an electrostatic latent image exposed and formed on the charged photoconductor drum 31 by the exposure unit 40 with a corresponding color toner (for example, negative electrode in this embodiment). For example, it is integrated with a sub-cartridge made of a photoconductor unit 30 to form a process cartridge (so-called Customer Replaceable Unit).
Needless to say, the photoconductor unit 30 may be separated from the developing unit 33 and used as a single process cartridge. Further, in FIG. 6, reference numerals 35 (35a to 35d) are toner cartridges for replenishing each color component toner to each development unit 33 (toner replenishment route is not shown).

On the other hand, the exposure unit 40 has, for example, four semiconductor lasers (not shown), one polygon mirror 42, an imaging lens (not shown), and mirrors (not shown) corresponding to each photoconductor unit 30 in the unit case 41. (Not shown) is stored, the light from the semiconductor laser for each color component is deflected and scanned by the polygon mirror 42, and the light image is guided to the exposure point on the corresponding photoconductor drum 31 via the imaging lens and the mirror. It was done.

Further, in the present embodiment, the belt module 23 is, for example, an intermediate transfer belt 230 hung between a pair of support rolls (one is a drive roll) 231,232, and the photoconductor drum 31 of each photoconductor unit 30. A primary transfer device (primary transfer roll in this example) 51 is arranged on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 230 corresponding to the above, and by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner to the primary transfer device 51, the light is exposed. The toner image on the body drum 31 is electrostatically transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 230 side. Further, a secondary transfer device 52 is arranged at a portion corresponding to the support roll 232 on the downstream side of the most downstream image forming unit 22d of the intermediate transfer belt 230, and the primary transfer image on the intermediate transfer belt 230 is recorded as a recording medium. Secondary transfer (batch transfer) to.

In the present embodiment, the secondary transfer device 52 has a secondary transfer roll 521 arranged by pressure contacting the toner image holding surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 230 and a secondary transfer roll 521 arranged on the back surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 230. It is provided with a back roll (also used as a support roll 232 in this example) forming the counter electrode of the above. Then, for example, the secondary transfer roll 521 is grounded, and the back roll (support roll 232) is subjected to a bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner.
Furthermore, a belt cleaning device 53 is provided on the upstream side of the most upstream image forming unit 22a of the intermediate transfer belt 230 to remove residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 230.

Further, the recording medium supply cassette 24 is provided with a delivery roll 61 for sending out the recording medium, and immediately after the sending roll 61, a transport roll 62 for sending out the recording medium is arranged and a secondary transfer site is provided. A positioning roll 63 for supplying the recording medium to the secondary transfer site at a predetermined timing is arranged in the recording medium transport path 25 located immediately before. On the other hand, a fixing device 66 is provided in the recording medium transport path 25 located on the downstream side of the secondary transfer site, and a discharge roll 67 for discharging the recording medium is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 66. The discharge recording medium is housed in the paper discharge portion 68 formed on the upper portion of the housing 21.

Further, in the present embodiment, a manual feed supply device (MSI) 71 is provided on the side of the main body housing 21, and the recording medium on the manual feed supply device 71 is recorded by the delivery roll 72 and the transfer roll 62. It is sent toward the transport path 25.
Furthermore, a double-sided recording unit 73 is attached to the main body housing 21, and the double-sided recording unit 73 discharges the single-sided recording recording medium when the double-sided mode for recording images on both sides of the recording medium is selected. 67 is reversed, and the guide roll 74 in front of the entrance takes in the recording medium, and the transport roll 77 conveys the recording medium along the internal recording medium return transport path 76 and supplies the recording medium to the alignment roll 63 side again. Is what you do.

Next, the cleaning device 34 arranged in the tandem type image forming device shown in FIG. 6 will be described in detail.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the cleaning device of the present embodiment, and also shows a photoconductor drum 31, a charging roll 32, and a developing unit 33 that are sub-cartridged together with the cleaning device 34 shown in FIG. It is a figure.
In FIG. 7, 32 is a charging roll (charging device), 331 is a unit case, 332 is a developing roll, 333 is a toner transport member, 334 is a transport paddle, 335 is a trimming member, 341 is a cleaning case, and 342 is a cleaning blade, 344. Represents a film seal, 345 represents a transport member.

The cleaning device 34 has a cleaning case 341 in which residual toner is contained and opens facing the photoconductor drum 31, and a cleaning blade 342 arranged in contact with the photoconductor drum 31 at the lower edge of the opening of the cleaning case 341. Is attached via a bracket (not shown), while a film seal 344 is attached to the upper edge of the opening of the cleaning case 341 so that the space between the cleaning case 341 and the photoconductor drum 31 is kept airtight. Reference numeral 345 is a transport member that guides the waste toner contained in the cleaning case 341 to the side waste toner container.

In the present embodiment, in all the cleaning devices 34 of each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d), the cleaning blade of the present embodiment is used as the cleaning blade 342, and the cleaning used in the belt cleaning device 53. The cleaning blade of the present embodiment may also be used for the blade 531.

Further, the developing unit (developing apparatus) 33 used in the present embodiment has a unit case 331 in which the developing agent is contained and which opens toward the photoconductor drum 31, as shown in FIG. 7, for example. Here, the developing roll 332 is disposed at a position facing the opening of the unit case 331, and the toner transporting member 333 for stirring and transporting the developer is disposed in the unit case 331. Further, a transfer paddle 334 may be arranged between the developing roll 332 and the toner transfer member 333.
During development, after the developer is supplied to the developing roll 332, the developer is transferred to the developing region facing the photoconductor drum 31 in a state where the layer thickness is regulated by, for example, the trimming member 335.

In the present embodiment, as the developing unit 33, for example, a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier may be used, or a one-component developer composed of only toner may be used.

-Toner As the toner used in the present embodiment, a toner in which at least a lubricant is externally added as an external additive to the toner particles is preferably used.
Further, the toner used in this embodiment may be a dry toner such as a pulverized toner, but is preferably a wet toner. The wet toner is not particularly limited, and any toner obtained by a known melt-suspension method, emulsion-aggregation-union method, melt-suspension method or the like may be used.
Wet toners often have a smaller particle size than dry toners, and the particles often have a high degree of sphericity. According to the cleaning blade according to the present embodiment, by achieving both suppression of slip-through of the removed material and suppression of uneven wear, image defects are suppressed even when such a wet toner is used. Easy to do.

The volume average particle size (D50v) of the toner particles is preferably 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and more preferably 4 μm or more and 8 μm or less.

The various average particle sizes of the toner particles are measured using Coulter Multi-Sizar II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter) and the electrolytic solution using ISOTON-II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter).
At the time of measurement, 0.5 mg or more and 50 mg or less of the measurement sample is added to 2 ml of a 5% aqueous solution of a surfactant (preferably sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate) as a dispersant. This is added to 100 ml or more and 150 ml or less of the electrolytic solution.
The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is dispersed for 1 minute with an ultrasonic disperser, and the particle size distribution of particles having a particle size in the range of 2 μm or more and 60 μm or less is obtained by using an aperture with an aperture diameter of 100 μm by Coulter Multisizer II. Measure. The number of particles to be sampled is 50,000.
The cumulative distribution of the volume is drawn from the small diameter side with respect to the particle size range (channel) divided based on the measured particle size distribution, and the particle size having a cumulative total of 50% is defined as the volume average particle size D50v.

Examples of the lubricant externally added to the toner particles include silica particles, higher fatty acid metal salt particles (for example, zinc stearate particles), fluororesin particles (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles), and boron nitride particles. Can be mentioned.

The surface of each particle externally added to the toner particles may be hydrophobized.

The average diameter of the lubricant externally added to the toner particles is preferably 50 nm or more and 1000 nm or less, more preferably 100 nm or more and 500 nm or less, and further preferably 100 nm or more and 350 nm or less.

The average diameter of the lubricant is determined by observing 100 primary particles after dispersing the lubricant in resin particles (polyester, weight average molecular weight Mw = 50,000) having a particle size of 100 μm with a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) device. It means the mean diameter equivalent to a circle, which is 50% diameter (D50v) in the cumulative frequency of the equivalent diameter circle obtained by the image analysis of.

The amount of the external additive added is preferably, for example, 0.01% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less with respect to the toner particles.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. First, when each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d) forms a monochromatic toner image corresponding to each color, the monochromatic toner image of each color is sequentially superposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 230 so as to match the original document information. Transcribed. Subsequently, the color toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 230 is transferred to the surface of the recording medium by the secondary transfer device 52, and the recording medium to which the color toner image is transferred undergoes fixing treatment by the fixing device 66. , Is discharged to the paper ejection unit 68.
On the other hand, in each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d), the residual toner on the photoconductor drum 31 is cleaned by the cleaning device 34, and the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 230 is cleaned by the belt cleaning device 53. Toner.
In such an image forming process, each residual toner is cleaned by the cleaning device 34 (or the belt cleaning device 53).

The cleaning blade 342 may be fixed via a spring material instead of being directly fixed to the frame member in the cleaning device 34 as shown in FIG. 7.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Examples, but the present embodiment is not limited to these Examples. In the following, unless otherwise specified, "part" and "%" are based on mass.

<Example 1>
-Formation of cleaning blade body-
Polycaprolactone polyol (manufactured by Daicel Corporation, Praxel 205, average molecular weight 529, hydroxyl value 212 KOHmg / g) and polycaprolactone polyol (manufactured by Daicel Co., Ltd., Praxel 240, average molecular weight 4155, hydroxyl value 27 KOHmg / g) It was used as a soft segment material for the ingredients. Further, an acrylic resin containing two or more hydroxy groups (Actflow UMB-2005B, manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as a hard segment material. The soft segment material and the hard segment material were mixed at a ratio of 8: 2 (mass ratio).

Next, 4 and 4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd., Millionate MT, hereinafter referred to as "MD1") was added as an isocyanate compound to 100 parts of the mixture of the soft segment material and the hard segment material. .26 parts were added, and the mixture was reacted at 70 ° C. for 3 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. The amount of the isocyanate compound used in this reaction was selected so that the ratio of the isocyanate group to the hydroxyl group contained in the reaction system (isocyanate group / hydroxyl group) was 0.5.
Subsequently, 34.3 parts of the above isocyanate compound was further added and reacted at 70 ° C. for 3 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere to obtain a prepolymer. The total amount of the isocyanate compound used when using the prepolymer was 40.56 parts.
Next, the temperature of this prepolymer was raised to 100 ° C., and defoaming was performed under reduced pressure for 1 hour. Then, 7.14 parts of a mixture of 1,4-butanediol and trimethylolpropane (mass ratio = 60/40) was added to 100 parts of the prepolymer, and the mixture was sufficiently mixed for 3 minutes so as to prevent bubbles from entering. .. This mixture was poured into a cleaning blade mold to obtain a cleaning blade body.

-Formation of carbon-containing layer by laser ablation method-
A metal oxide layer (specifically, a titanium oxide layer) was first formed as an adhesive layer on the ventral surface (abdominal surface 3C in FIG. 3) of the obtained cleaning blade body by sputtering.

A filter, cathode, vacuum, which uses an FCVA device manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation to generate carbon plasma on the ventral surface of the obtained cleaning blade body by vacuum arc discharge of graphite, and extracts and deposits ionized carbon from the carbon plasma. A tetrahedral amorphous coating was applied by the arc (FCVA) method. The forming conditions were a film forming temperature of 40 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower, and a film forming rate of 1.5 nm / s.

Further, during the tetrahedral amorphous coating, the region from the contact angle to 200 μm in the blade height direction (corresponding to the high sp2 carbon region 14A in FIG. 3) is irradiated with a KrF excimer laser (wavelength 248 nm), while An ArF laser (wavelength 193 nm) was irradiated to a region exceeding 200 μm (corresponding to the low sp2 carbon region 14B in FIG. 3) from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction. The irradiation energy was 3.0 J / cm ² in each case.
The tetrahedral amorphous coating was formed from the contact angle portion to a region of 500 μm in the blade height direction.
In this way, a carbon-containing layer was formed.

Then, the cleaning blade having the carbon-containing layer was adhered to the support material (SUS).

The average content of sp2 carbon (A _sp2 ) and the average content of sp3 carbon (A _sp3 ) at a position 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction, and the average content of sp2 carbon (B) at a position of 300 μm. The average content of _sp2 ) and sp3 carbon (B _sp3 ) was calculated by the method described above.
Further, the average indentation hardness Ha at a position of 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion and the average indentation hardness Hb at a position of 300 μm were calculated by the above-mentioned method.
The results are shown in Table 2.

<Examples 2 to 6>
A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film thickness (average film thickness) of the carbon-containing layer was changed as shown in Table 2.

<Comparative example 1>
A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the carbon-containing layer was not formed in Example 1.

<Comparative example 2>
In Example 1, when the carbon-containing layer is formed by the laser ablation method, the conditions of the laser to be irradiated are set to a region from the contact angle to 200 μm in the blade height direction (corresponding to the high sp2 carbon region 14A in FIG. 3). In both the region of more than 200 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle (corresponding to the low sp2 carbon region 14B in FIG. 3) and the condition of irradiating the ArF laser (wavelength 193 nm) at 3.0 J / cm ^2. A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that it was changed.

<Comparative example 3>
In Example 2, when the carbon-containing layer is formed by the laser ablation method, the conditions of the laser to be irradiated are set to a region from the contact angle to 200 μm in the blade height direction (corresponding to the high sp2 carbon region 14A in FIG. 3). In both the region of more than 200 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle (corresponding to the low sp2 carbon region 14B in FIG. 3) and the condition of irradiating the ArF laser (wavelength 193 nm) at 3.0 J / cm ^2. A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2 except that it was changed.

<Comparative example 4>
In Example 1, when the carbon-containing layer is formed by the laser ablation method, the condition of the laser to be irradiated is set to a region from the contact angle to 200 μm in the blade height direction (corresponding to the high sp2 carbon region 14A in FIG. 3). Irradiates an ArF laser (wavelength 193 nm) at 3.0 J / cm ² , while a KrF excimer laser is used in a region exceeding 200 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle (corresponding to the low sp2 carbon region 14B in FIG. 3). A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the condition of irradiating (wavelength 248 nm) was changed to 3.0 J / cm ² .

<Comparative example 5>
In Example 2, when the carbon-containing layer is formed by the laser ablation method, the condition of the laser to be irradiated is set to a region from the contact angle portion to 200 μm in the blade height direction (corresponding to the high sp2 carbon region 14A in FIG. 3). Irradiates an ArF laser (wavelength 193 nm) at 3.0 J / cm ² , while a KrF excimer laser is used in a region exceeding 200 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle (corresponding to the low sp2 carbon region 14B in FIG. 3). A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the condition for irradiating (wavelength 248 nm) was changed to 3.0 J / cm ² .

[Evaluation]
The cleaning blades of each example and comparative example are attached to Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd .: Versant 2100 Press, and the pressing force NF (Normal Force) is set to 2.0 gf / mm and the angle W / A (Working Angle) is set to 10 °. did. A test image (K color, image density 5% halftone image) in an Az environment (that is, an environment with a temperature of 28 ° C and a humidity of 85% RH) using A4 paper (210 x 297 mm, manufactured by Fuji Xerox, P paper). ) Was printed on 500,000 sheets.

-[Image quality] Evaluation of density unevenness-
As an index of the presence or absence of uneven wear on the cleaning blade, the state of occurrence of density unevenness was visually evaluated for the 500,000th image according to the following criteria.
-Evaluation criteria A (◎): Density unevenness is not confirmed in the 500,000th image B (○): Density unevenness is slightly confirmed in the 500,000th image, but the allowable range C (△): 500,000 Density unevenness is confirmed in the first image, but the allowable range D (x): Density unevenness is noticeably confirmed in the 500,000th image, which is unacceptable.

-[Contamination of parts] Evaluation of toner slip-through-
As an index of toner slip-through, the presence or absence of toner remaining on the photoconductor after forming 500,000 images was confirmed, and the determination was made according to the following evaluation criteria.
-Evaluation criteria A (◎): Toner is not confirmed on the photoconductor B (○): Toner is slightly confirmed on the photoconductor but within the allowable range C (△): Toner is confirmed on the photoconductor Tolerance range D (x): Toner is noticeably confirmed on the photoconductor and cannot be tolerated.

3A contact angle, 3B tip surface, 3C ventral surface, 3D back surface, 3E side surface, 10, 10B cleaning blade, 12 contact surface, 14, 142, 144 carbon-containing layer, 14A high sp2 carbon region, 14B low sp2 carbon region, 21 Body housing, 22, 22a to 22d image processing unit, 23 belt module, 24 recording medium supply cassette, 25 recording medium transport path, 30 photoconductor unit, 31 member to be cleaned (image holder / photoconductor drum), 32 charging roll , 33 developing unit, 34 cleaning device, 35, 35a to 35d toner cartridge, 40 exposure unit, 41 unit case, 42 polygon mirror, 51 primary transfer device, 52 secondary transfer device, 53 belt cleaning device, 61 sending roll, 62 Transport roll, 63 Alignment roll, 66 Fixing device, 67 Discharge roll, 68 Paper discharge section, 71 Manual feed supply device, 72 Sending roll, 73 Double-sided recording unit, 74 Guide roll, 76 Transport path, 77 Transport roll, 230 Intermediate transfer belt, 231 232 Support roll, 331 Unit case, 332 Development roll, 333 Toner transfer member, 334 Transfer paddle, 335 Trimming member, 341 Cleaning case, 342 Cleaning blade, 344 Film seal, 345 Transfer member, 521 2 Next transfer roll, 531 cleaning blade

Claims (12)

Contact corners that come into contact with the driven member to be cleaned and clean the surface of the member to be cleaned,
A tip surface in which the contact angle portion constitutes one side and faces the upstream side in the driving direction, and
The contact angle portion constitutes one side, and the ventral surface facing the downstream side in the driving direction,
Have,
The direction parallel to the contact angle is defined as the blade width direction.
When the direction from the contact angle portion to the side where the ventral surface is formed is the blade height direction,
At least the ventral surface contains carbon having sp2 bond and carbon having sp3 bond, and the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion A _sp2 and the above. Average content of carbon with sp3 bond A The ratio of _sp3 and the average content of carbon with sp2 bond B _sp2 and carbon with sp3 bond at a position 300 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction. A cleaning blade comprising a carbon-containing layer satisfying the relationship of [(A _sp2 / A _sp3 )> (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )] with the ratio of the average content of B _sp3 . The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond A _sp2 and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond A _sp3 at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction, and from the contact angle portion. The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond B _sp2 and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond B _sp3 at a position of 300 μm in the blade height direction is [1.22 (B _sp2 / B). The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein the relationship of ( _sp3 ) ≤ (A _sp2 / A _sp3 ) _≤4 (B _sp2 / B _sp3 )] is satisfied. The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond A _sp2 to the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond A _sp3 at a position 100 μm from the contact angle in the blade height direction (A _sp2 / A _sp3). ) Is 1.22 or more and 4 or less,
The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond B _sp2 to the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond B _sp3 at a position 300 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion (B _sp2 / B _sp3). The cleaning blade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein) is 0.43 or more and 1 or less. The average content of carbon having the sp3 bond at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction A _sp3 is 20 atom% or more and 55 atom% or less, and 300 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction. The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the average content B _{sp3 of} carbon having the sp3 bond at the position of is 50 atom% or more and 80 atom% or less. The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond Aarea _sp2 and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond Aarea _sp3 in the region of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion, and the contact. The ratio of the average content of carbon having the sp2 bond, Balea _sp2, and the average content of carbon having the sp3 bond, Balea _sp3 , in the region of 250 μm or more and 350 μm or less in the blade height direction from the corner portion is [0. 43 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 ) ≤ (Area _sp2 / Area _sp3 ) ≤ 4 (Barea _sp2 / Barea _sp3 )] The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Contact corners that come into contact with the driven member to be cleaned and clean the surface of the member to be cleaned,
A tip surface in which the contact angle portion constitutes one side and faces the upstream side in the driving direction, and
The contact angle portion constitutes one side and has a ventral surface facing the downstream side in the driving direction.
The direction parallel to the contact angle is defined as the blade width direction.
When the direction from the contact angle portion to the side where the ventral surface is formed is the blade height direction,
At least the ventral surface contains carbon having sp2 bond and carbon having sp3 bond, and the average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction, and the blade from the contact angle portion. A cleaning blade provided with a carbon-containing layer that satisfies the relationship of [Hb> Ha] with an average indentation hardness Hb at a position of 300 μm in the height direction. The average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion and the average indentation hardness Hb at a position 300 μm in the blade height direction from the contact angle portion are [. The cleaning blade according to claim 6, which satisfies the relationship of [10Ha ≦ Hb ≦ 30Ha]. The average indentation hardness Ha at a position 100 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction is 10 or more and 20 or less, and the average indentation at a position 300 μm from the contact angle portion in the blade height direction. The cleaning blade according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the hardness Hb is 22 or more and 30 or less. The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the average film thickness of the carbon-containing layer on the ventral surface is 100 nm or more and 450 nm or less. A cleaning device provided with the cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 9. A process cartridge including the cleaning device according to claim 10, which is attached to and detached from the image forming device. Image holder and
The charging means for charging the surface of the image holder and
An electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged image holder,
A developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holder with a developer containing toner to form a toner image, and a developing means.
A transfer means for transferring the toner image to the surface of a recording medium, and
The cleaning device according to claim 10, which cleans the surface of the image holder.
An image forming apparatus comprising.