JP2021012322A - Toner contact member and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To make the occurrence of a trouble less likely to occur, in which toner is strongly adhered to a contact surface of a toner contact member.SOLUTION: An intermediate transfer belt 17 and a cleaning device 15 (internal surface 15c) are a toner contact member that is provided in an image forming apparatus body 1 and in contact with toner. Over the entire area of a contact surface 17a (15c1) in contact with the toner, hexagonal groove parts 17a1 are formed in a honeycomb shape without gaps.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention includes toner contact members such as an intermediate transfer belt, a photoconductor drum, a cleaning device, a developing device, a toner transfer device, a toner container, a charging roller, a fixing device, and a sheet transfer device that come into contact with dry toner, and the like. It relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a combination machine thereof.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer, an electrophotographic type that forms an image using a dry toner is widely known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In such an image forming apparatus, a plurality of types of toner contact members that come into contact with toner are installed as constituent members. As the toner contact member, for example, an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt, a photoconductor such as a photoconductor drum, or the like, the toner is positively supported on the surface thereof. Further, as the toner contact member, for example, there are a cleaning device, a developing device, a toner container, a waste toner collecting container, a toner transporting device, and the like, in which toner is stored or transported inside. Further, as the toner contact member, for example, a charging roller, a cleaning blade, a fixing device (fixing roller, etc.), a sheet transporting device for transporting a sheet after image formation, etc. are not aggressive, but toner is applied to the surface thereof. Some things will stick.

On the other hand, Patent Document 2 is an image forming apparatus using a wet developer (developing solution), and supplies a developing solution to a developing rotating body for the purpose of making the amount of the developing solution uniform in the longitudinal direction. A technique for forming a honeycomb-shaped recess in the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the feed rotating body in the longitudinal direction is disclosed.

In the conventional image forming apparatus, there is a tendency that the toner adheres to the contact surface of the toner contact member such as the intermediate transfer belt, the cleaning apparatus, and the charging roller with a strong force. Then, such a toner contact member causes various problems such as transfer failure, cleaning failure, abnormal image, toner sticking, and sheet transfer failure.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a toner contact member and an image forming apparatus that are less likely to cause a problem that toner adheres to the contact surface of the toner contact member with a strong force. To provide.

The toner contact member in the present invention is a toner contact member that is installed in the main body of an image forming apparatus and comes into contact with toner, and regular hexagonal grooves are formed in a honeycomb shape without gaps over the entire contact surface that comes into contact with toner. It is a thing.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner contact member and an image forming apparatus that are less likely to cause a problem that toner adheres to the contact surface of the toner contact member with a strong force.

It is an overall block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image-forming part. It is a figure which shows the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. It is an enlarged view which shows a part of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. (A) A top view showing the groove portion, and (B) a cross-sectional view showing the XX cross section thereof. It is a chart which shows the experimental condition and the experimental result of Examples 1-10 and Comparative Examples 1-6. It is a chart which shows the experimental condition and the experimental result of Examples 11-20 and Comparative Examples 7-12. It is a figure which shows the shape of the groove part of Comparative Examples 2 to 5 (Comparative Examples 8 to 11).

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First, FIG. 1 describes the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a color copier as an image forming apparatus, 3 is a document conveying unit that conveys a document to a document reading unit 4, 4 is a document reading unit that reads image information of a document, and 6 is based on input image information. A writing unit (exposure unit) that emits laser light is shown.
Further, 7 is a paper feed device for storing sheet P such as paper, 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are process cartridges as an image forming unit corresponding to each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black), and 17 is a plurality of colors. An intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) on which the toner images of the above are superimposed and transferred, and 18 is a secondary transfer roller that transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17 to the sheet P.
Further, 20 is a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on the sheet P, 28 is a toner container for supplying toner of each color to the developing devices of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK, and 30 is collecting waste toner. Indicates a waste toner recovery container.

Here, each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK (image-creating unit) is a combination of a photoconductor drum 11 as a photoconductor, a charging device 12, a developing device 13, and a cleaning device 15, respectively. (See FIG. 2). Then, each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life.
Toner images of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are formed on the photoconductor drum 11 (image carrier) of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.

Hereinafter, the operation during normal color image formation (printing) in the image forming apparatus will be described.
First, the original is conveyed from the platen by the transfer roller of the original transfer unit 3 and placed on the contact glass of the original reading unit 4. Then, the document reading unit 4 optically reads the image information of the document placed on the contact glass.
Then, the image information of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is transmitted to the writing unit 6. Then, the laser beam LB (exposure light) based on the image information of each color is irradiated from the writing unit 6 toward the photoconductor drum 11 of the corresponding process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK, respectively.

On the other hand, the four photoconductor drums 11 are rotated clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Then, referring to FIG. 2, first, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging device 12 (charging roller) (the charging step). In this way, a charging potential is formed on the photoconductor drum 11. After that, the surface of the charged photoconductor drum 11 reaches the irradiation position of each laser beam LB.
In the writing unit 6, laser light LB corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the light source corresponding to each color. The laser beam LB is incident on the polygon mirror, reflected, and then transmitted through the plurality of lenses. The laser beam LB after passing through the plurality of lenses passes through different optical paths for each of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color components (exposure step).

The laser beam corresponding to the yellow component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the first process cartridge 10Y from the left side of the paper surface. In this way, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow component is formed on the photoconductor drum 11 after being charged by the charging roller 12a.
Similarly, the laser beam of the cyan component is irradiated on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10C second from the left on the paper surface to form an electrostatic latent image of the cyan component. The laser beam corresponding to the magenta component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10M, which is the third from the left on the paper surface, to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the magenta component. The laser beam of the black component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10BK, which is the fourth from the left on the paper surface, to form an electrostatic latent image of the black component.

After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 on which the electrostatic latent image of each color is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 13 (see FIG. 2). Then, toner of each color is supplied from each developing device 13 onto the photoconductor drum 11, and the latent image on the photoconductor drum 11 is developed (this is a developing step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after the developing step reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 17 (intermediate transfer body) as a toner contact member, respectively. Here, the primary transfer roller 14 is installed at each opposite position so as to abut on the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, at the position of the primary transfer roller 14, the toner images (images) of each color formed on the photoconductor drum 11 are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 (the primary transfer step). ).

Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after the primary transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning device 15 (see FIG. 2), respectively. Then, the cleaning device 15 recovers the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 11 (cleaning step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 passes through the position of the static elimination device, and a series of image forming processes on the photoconductor drum 11 is completed.

On the other hand, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 on which the images of each color on the photoconductor drum 11 are superimposed and transferred travels in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 and reaches the position of the secondary transfer roller 18. Then, at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18, the full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is secondarily transferred onto the sheet P (this is the secondary transfer step).
After that, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 (cleaning device). Then, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9, and a series of transfer processes on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is completed.

Here, the sheet P at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 is conveyed from the paper feed device 7 via a sheet transfer path (sheet transfer device) including a transfer guide, a resist roller 19, and the like.
Specifically, the sheet P fed by the paper feed roller 8 is guided to the resist roller 19 from the paper feed device 7 that stores the sheet P after passing through the transport guide. The sheet P that has reached the resist roller 19 is conveyed toward the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 in time with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17.

After that, the sheet P to which the full-color image is transferred is guided to the fixing device 20 via the sheet transfer path (sheet transfer device). In the fixing device 20, the color image is fixed on the sheet P by the nip of the fixing roller and the pressure roller.
Then, the sheet P after the fixing step is ejected as an output image to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 by the paper ejection roller 29, and then is stacked on the paper ejection unit 5 to complete a series of image forming processes (printing operation). ..

Next, FIG. 2 details the image forming portion of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a process cartridge 10BK for black. The other three process cartridges 10Y, 10M, and 10C have almost the same configuration as the black process cartridge 10BK, except that the color of the toner used in the image forming process is different. And are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 10BK includes a photoconductor drum 11, a charging device 12 for charging the photoconductor drum 11, and a developing device 13 for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 11. And the cleaning device 15 that collects the untransferred toner on the photoconductor drum 11 are integrally housed in the case.

Here, the photoconductor drum 11 is a negatively charged organic photoconductor, and a photosensitive layer or the like is provided on a drum-shaped conductive support. The charging device 12 is inside the outer periphery of the conductive core metal. It is a charging roller that covers an elastic layer of resistance. Then, a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging device 12 (charging roller) from the power supply unit, whereby the surface of the opposing photoconductor drum 11 is uniformly charged.

The developing apparatus 13 mainly includes a developing roller 13a facing the photoconductor drum 11, a first conveying screw 13b1 facing the developing roller 13a, and a second conveying screw 13b2 facing the first conveying screw 13b1 via a partition member. And a doctor blade 13c facing the developing roller 13a. The developing roller 13a is composed of a magnet that is fixed inside and forms a magnetic pole on the peripheral surface of the roller, and a sleeve that rotates around the magnet. A plurality of magnetic poles are formed on the developing roller 13a (sleeve) by the magnet, and the developing agent is supported on the developing roller 13a.
A two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner (dry toner) is housed in the developing apparatus 13.

The cleaning device 15 includes a cleaning blade 15a that comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 11, and a transport screw 15b that transports the untransferred toner collected in the cleaning device 15 as waste toner toward the waste toner collection container 30 (see FIG. 1). , Etc. are installed. The cleaning blade 15a is made of a rubber material such as urethane rubber, and is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 at a predetermined angle and at a predetermined pressure. As a result, deposits such as untransferred toner adhering to the photoconductor drum 11 are mechanically scraped off and collected in the cleaning device 15. Then, the untransferred toner collected in the cleaning device 15 is conveyed to the waste toner collection container 30 via the transfer pipe (the transfer screw 15b is internally provided), and is transferred as waste toner to the waste toner collection container. It is collected inside 30. The transport screw 15b is rotationally driven by a drive motor in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
Similarly, referring to FIG. 1, in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 as a cleaning device, the cleaning blade that abuts on the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the untransferred toner collected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 are waste toner. A transport screw, etc., which transports the toner toward the waste toner collection container 30 (see FIG. 3) is installed. Then, the untransferred toner collected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 is collected as waste toner inside the waste toner collection container 30 via the transfer pipe (the transfer screw is internally provided).
The deposits adhering to the photoconductor drum 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 include, in addition to the untransferred toner, paper dust generated from the sheet P (paper) and generated on the photoconductor drum 11 when discharged by the charging device 12. There are discharge products, additives added to the toner, etc., but in the present application, these are collectively referred to as "untransferred toner".

The image-forming process described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
The developing roller 13a is rotating in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. The developer in the developing apparatus 13 is subjected to a toner transfer path (toner transfer) (toner transfer) (not shown) from the toner container 28 by rotation of the first transfer screw 13b1 and the second transfer screw 13b2 arranged so as to interpose a partition member between them. It circulates in the longitudinal direction while being stirred and mixed together with the toner (dry toner) replenished via the device) (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2).

Then, the toner that is triboelectrically charged and adsorbed on the carrier is supported on the developing roller 13a together with the carrier. The developer carried on the developing roller 13a then reaches the position of the doctor blade 13c. Then, the developer on the developing roller 13a reaches a position facing the photoconductor drum 11 (a developing region) after being adjusted to an appropriate amount at the position of the doctor blade 13c.
Then, in the developing region, the toner in the developing agent adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. Specifically, the toner is latently imaged by the electric field formed by the potential difference (development potential) between the latent image potential (exposure potential) of the image portion irradiated with the laser beam LB and the development bias applied to the developing roller 13a. Adheres to (a toner image is formed).
After that, most of the toner adhering to the photoconductor drum 11 in the developing step is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 11 is collected in the cleaning device 15 by the cleaning blade 15a.

Hereinafter, the intermediate transfer belt 17 as the toner contact member, which is characteristic of the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, will be described in detail.
As described above with reference to FIG. 1 and the like, the intermediate transfer belt 17 is installed in the image forming apparatus main body 1. The intermediate transfer belt 17 has a toner image supported on the surface of the belt (contact surface 17a), and functions as one of the toner contact members that come into contact with the toner.
Here, in the intermediate transfer belt 17 as the toner contact member in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, regular hexagonal groove portions 17a1 are formed in a honeycomb shape over the entire contact surface 17a in contact with the toner. Has been done.
In other words, the belt surface (contact surface 17a) of the intermediate transfer belt 17 has a regular hexagonal portion H composed of regular hexagonal groove portions 17a1 over at least the entire effective image formation region (the maximum region where an image can be formed). A plurality of them are formed in a honeycomb shape so as to be adjacent to each other without a gap.

Here, the arrangement (orientation) of the regular hexagonal portions H on the contact surface 17a of the intermediate transfer belt 17 may be as shown in FIG. 4 (A) or as shown in FIG. 4 (B). You may. That is, if a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H are arranged without gaps so that the groove portion 17a1 of the regular hexagonal portion H is shared with the groove portion 17a1 of the adjacent regular hexagonal portion H, what is the orientation thereof? There may be.

In this way, by forming a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H in a honeycomb shape over the entire contact surface 17a (toner supporting surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 17 as a toner contact member, a groove may not be formed on the contact surface 17a. Compared with the case where the groove having another shape is formed on the contact surface 17a, the problem that the toner adheres to the contact surface 17a with a strong force is less likely to occur. Further, since the regular hexagonal portion H is formed without gaps over the entire contact surface 17a, the adhesive force of the toner image (toner) becomes too strong no matter where the toner image is supported on the contact surface 17a. Can be reduced.
Therefore, the toner (toner image) carried on the contact surface 17a of the intermediate transfer belt 17 is not satisfactorily transferred onto the sheet P at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 (transfer hollow), and the intermediate transfer belt 17 It is possible to reduce the occurrence of defects (transfer cleaning failure) in which the toner (untransferred toner) carried on the contact surface 17a of the above is not satisfactorily removed and recovered by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9.
Since the ineffective image forming regions at both ends of the intermediate transfer belt 17 in the width direction are regions in which toner is not likely to be supported, the above-mentioned is described even if such a regular hexagonal portion H is not formed. The effect will be achieved.

Further, the above-mentioned effects will be supplementarily described.
By forming the groove 17a1 on the contact surface 17a (toner supporting surface) of the toner contact member (intermediate transfer belt 17), the contact area of the toner with respect to the contact surface 17a can be reduced, so that the adhesion force of the toner to the contact surface 17a can be reduced. Will also be weakened.
Then, by forming the groove portion 17a1 into a regular hexagon, it can be arranged without gaps in a state where the order of rotational symmetry is high as compared with other polygons that can be arranged without gaps, so that the above-mentioned effect can be obtained over the entire contact surface 17a. It will be exhibited uniformly.

Here, with reference to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, when the depth of the groove portion 17a1 is D,
0.1 μm ≤ D ≤ 3 μm
It is configured so that the above relationship is established.
This is because it is necessary to make the depth D of the groove 17a1 smaller than the particle size of the toner (about 5 μm) in order to prevent the toner particles from being fitted into the groove 17a1. When the depth D of the groove 17a1 exceeds 3 μm, the movement of the toner becomes slightly slow at the edge of the groove 17a1, and when the depth D of the groove 17a1 is less than 0.1 μm, the effect as the groove described above is sufficient. This is because it is not exhibited in.

Further, referring to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, when the width of the groove portion 17a1 is W and the length of one side of the regular hexagon (regular hexagonal portion H) is L.
W / L ≤ 0.25
It is configured so that the above relationship is established.
In particular, in this embodiment,
1 μm ≤ W ≤ 50 μm
L ≤ 200 μm
The relationship is also established.
The particle size of the toner is about 5 μm, but the toner actually flows in several aggregates (lumps larger than the toner particle size). Therefore, by setting the size of the regular hexagonal portion H so that the aggregates come into contact with the groove portion 17a1 as much as possible on the contact surface 17a, the above-mentioned effect can be efficiently exhibited. It is the present invention that the above-mentioned effect is efficiently exhibited by establishing the relationship of W / L ≦ 0.25, preferably 1 μm ≦ W ≦ 50 μm, and further establishing the relationship of L ≦ 200 μm. The person learned through the experiment described later.

As a manufacturing method for forming a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H (honeycomb patterns) on the contact surface 17a of the intermediate transfer belt 17 (toner contact member), unevenness prepared in advance on a mold or the like is transferred to the member (imprint). ) Method, a method of directly processing a member by laser, cutting, or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the honeycomb pattern is formed by the manufacturing method by laser processing from the viewpoint of the size of the honeycomb pattern described above and the simplicity of the manufacturing method. As an apparatus for performing such laser processing, a UV laser processing machine, an excimer laser processing machine, or the like can be used.

Here, in the present embodiment, in addition to the intermediate transfer belt 17, the inner wall surface 15c (see FIG. 2) of the cleaning device 15 as the toner contact member is also covered with the entire contact surface 15c1 in contact with the toner. The square groove is formed in a honeycomb shape without any gaps.
The cleaning device 15 contains toner (untransferred toner) inside the cleaning device 15, and the toner is transported as waste toner toward the waste toner collection container 30 by a transport screw 15b. Therefore, if the toner adheres to the inner wall surface 15c (contact surface 15c1) with a strong force, the toner transportability is lowered, and the toner overflows from the device due to the retention of a large amount of toner in the cleaning device 15. There is a possibility that it will end up.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H (honeycomb patterns) are formed on the contact surface 15c1 of the inner wall surface 15c (toner contact member) of the cleaning device 15, such a problem occurs. Occurrence can be reduced.

Hereinafter, by forming a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H (honeycomb patterns) on the contact surface 17a of the intermediate transfer belt 17 using FIG. 6, the effect of preventing “transfer hollowing out” and “transfer cleaning failure” from occurring can be achieved. , The experiments performed for confirmation (Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6) will be described.
With reference to FIG. 6, “Example 1” is a modified machine of the image forming apparatus 1 (“Imagio MPC4002” manufactured by Ricoh Corporation) in the present embodiment, in which a honeycomb pattern is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17. A monochrome image was formed in a monochrome mode using only the image forming unit 10BK for black, and evaluated as “transfer hollow” and “transfer cleaning failure”, respectively.
A "UV laser marker LSU5EA" (manufactured by LDF) was used for processing to form a honeycomb pattern on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. Further, the depth D of the groove portion 17a1 of the regular hexagonal portion H was set to 5 μm, the width W of the groove portion 17a1 was set to 40 μm, and the length L of one side was set to 150 μm.
In addition, regarding "transfer hollowing out", a developing device containing deteriorated toner (which was previously idled for 10 hours in a unit testing machine, and the external additive was released from the toner or buried in the toner). In a temperature and humidity environment of 32 ° C. and 80%, the character hollows when passing through the toner paper as the sheet P were ranked-evaluated. The ranks are in the order of 5 to 1 from the best, and 3 or more is the allowable range.
Regarding "transfer cleaning failure", a secondary transfer current is applied in a temperature and humidity environment of 10 ° C. and 15% using the cleaning blade of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 after printing 150,000 sheets P. In the state where the application was not applied, 100 sheets of vertical band charts of monochrome images were continuously passed, and the number of sheets until a cleaning failure occurred was counted.

Further, regarding "Example 2" to "Example 10" in FIG. 6, the laser output conditions at the time of processing the honeycomb pattern on the intermediate transfer belt 17 are adjusted, and the respective dimensions D, W, and L are shown in FIG. The evaluation was performed in the same manner as in "Example 1" except that the changes were made as shown.
Further, "Comparative Example 1" in FIG. 6 was evaluated in the same manner as in "Example 1" except that the honeycomb pattern was not formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17.
Further, in "Comparative Example 2" to "Comparative Example 5" in FIG. 6, the groove portions 171a1 (pattern) shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D are formed on the belt surface 171a of the intermediate transfer belt instead of the honeycomb pattern. The evaluation was performed in the same manner as in "Example 1" except that it was formed. In addition, "L" described in FIGS. 8C and 8D indicates the diameter of the circular groove portion 171a1 (pattern).
Further, in "Comparative Example 6" in FIG. 6, a wet blast method is used instead of the honeycomb pattern on the belt surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and the depth is 1 to 2 μm and the maximum diameter of the recess is 1 to 20 μm at random. The evaluation was carried out in the same manner as in "Example 1" except that the recess was formed in.

From the experimental results of FIG. 6, by comparing Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, by forming a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H (honeycomb patterns) on the contact surface 17a of the intermediate transfer belt 17, "transfer" is performed. It can be seen that "hollow" and "improper transfer cleaning" are less likely to occur.
Further, by comparing Examples 1 and 4 with Examples 2 and 3, the relationship of 0.1 μm ≦ D ≦ 3 μm is established so that “transfer hollowing out” and “transfer cleaning failure” can be established. It can be seen that is less likely to occur.
Further, by comparing Examples 1 to 4 with Examples 5 and 6, the relationship of W / L ≦ 0.25 is established so that “transfer cleaning failure” is less likely to occur. I understand.
In particular, by comparing Examples 5, 6 and 10 with Examples 7 to 9, the relationships of 1 μm ≦ W ≦ 50 μm and L ≦ 200 μm are established, so that “transcription hollowing out” and “transcription hollowing out” and It can be seen that "transfer cleaning failure" is less likely to occur.

Hereinafter, in order to confirm the effect of forming a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H (honeycomb patterns) on the contact surface 15c1 of the inner wall surface 15c of the cleaning device 15 by using FIG. 7 to prevent "toner overflow" from occurring. The experiments performed in (Examples 11 to 20, Comparative Examples 7 to 12) will be described.
With reference to FIG. 7, “Example 11” is a modified machine of the image forming apparatus 1 (“Imagio MPC4002” manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) in the present embodiment, and forms a honeycomb pattern on the inner wall surface 15c of the cleaning apparatus 15. The vertical band chart is displayed in a temperature and humidity environment of 32 ° C. and 80% using a test toner with poor fluidity in which the total amount of the external additive of the toner used is halved. 1000 sheets were continuously passed, and the number of sheets until the toner overflowed in the cleaning device 15 portion corresponding to the vertical band portion was counted. The presence or absence of toner overflow was checked every 10 output images and evaluated by whether or not toner agglomerate-like stains were generated on the image of the corresponding portion.
Similar to Example 1, the depth D of the groove 17a1 of the regular hexagonal portion H was set to 5 μm, the width W of the groove 17a1 was set to 40 μm, and the length L of one side was set to 150 μm.

Further, regarding "Example 12" to "Example 20" in FIG. 7, the laser output conditions at the time of processing the honeycomb pattern on the intermediate transfer belt 17 are adjusted, and the dimensions D, W, and L are shown in FIG. 7, respectively. The evaluation was performed in the same manner as in "Example 11" except that the changes were made as shown.
Further, "Comparative Example 7" in FIG. 7 was evaluated in the same manner as in "Example 11" except that the honeycomb pattern was not formed on the inner wall surface 15c of the cleaning device 15.
Further, in "Comparative Example 8" to "Comparative Example 11" in FIG. 7, the groove portions 171a1 (pattern) shown in FIGS. 8 (A) to 8 (D) are formed on the inner wall surface 171a of the cleaning device instead of the honeycomb pattern. Except for what was done, the evaluation was performed in the same manner as in "Example 11".
Further, in "Comparative Example 12" in FIG. 7, instead of the honeycomb pattern, the inner wall surface of the cleaning device is randomly subjected to a depth of 1 to 2 μm and a maximum diameter of the recess of 1 to 20 μm by using a wet blast method. The evaluation was performed in the same manner as in "Example 11" except that the recess was formed.

From the experimental results of FIG. 7, by comparing Example 11 and Comparative Examples 7 to 12, a plurality of regular hexagonal portions H (honeycomb patterns) are formed on the contact surface 15c1 of the inner wall surface 15c of the cleaning device 15. , It can be seen that "toner overflow" is less likely to occur.
Further, by comparing Examples 11 and 14 with Examples 12 and 13, it is possible that "toner overflow" is less likely to occur by configuring so that the relationship of 0.1 μm ≦ D ≦ 3 μm is established. Recognize.
Further, by comparing Examples 11 to 14 with Examples 15 and 16, the configuration is such that the relationship of W / L ≦ 0.25 is established, so that “toner overflow” is less likely to occur. Recognize.
In particular, by comparing Examples 15, 16 and 20 with Examples 17 to 19, the relationship of 1 μm ≦ W ≦ 50 μm and L ≦ 200 μm is established, so that “toner overflow” further occurs. It turns out that it becomes difficult.

As described above, the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the cleaning device 15 (inner wall surface 15c) as the toner contact members in the present embodiment are toner contact members that are installed in the image forming apparatus main body 1 and come into contact with the toner. .. Then, regular hexagonal groove portions 17a1 are formed in a honeycomb shape without gaps over the entire contact surface 17a (15c1) in contact with the toner.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the problem that the toner adheres to the contact surface of the toner contact member with a strong force.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the cleaning device 15 (inner wall surface 15c) as the toner contact member, but the toner contact member to which the present invention is applied is limited to this. For example, the photoconductor drum 11, the developing device 13, the toner container 28, the waste toner collecting container 30, the toner transport device, the charging device 12 (charging roller), the cleaning blade 15a, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9, and the fixing device 20 ( The present invention can be applied to all toner contact members that come into contact with toner, such as a fixing roller) and a sheet transfer device that conveys a sheet after image formation.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the problem that the toner adheres to the contact surface of the toner contact member with a strong force.
Specifically, when a honeycomb pattern is formed on the toner contact surface of the photoconductor drum 11, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of transfer defects and cleaning defects. Further, when a honeycomb pattern is formed in the developing device 13, the toner container 28, the waste toner collecting container 30, the toner transport device, and the like, it is possible to reduce the problem that the toner fluidity in each device is lowered. Further, when the honeycomb pattern is formed on the charging device 12 (charging roller), it is possible to reduce the problem that the toner adheres to the charging device 12 and becomes dirty. Further, when the honeycomb pattern is formed on the cleaning blade 15a, it is possible to reduce the problem that the toner adheres to the cleaning blade 15a and the cleaning property is deteriorated. Further, when the honeycomb pattern is formed on the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of toner overflow and cleaning failure. Further, when a honeycomb pattern is formed on the fixing device 20 or the sheet transporting device on which the sheet after image formation is transported, it is possible to reduce the problem that toner adheres to the device and the sheet becomes dirty or the sheet is poorly transported. be able to.

It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, the present embodiment may be appropriately modified in addition to the suggestions in the present embodiment. is there. Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be a suitable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

In the specification of the present application and the like, the term "regular hexagon" means that the lengths of all six sides and the size of the internal angles are equal to each other, and even if they are not completely equal, they are generally regular hexagons within an error range. It shall include those that can be recognized as squares.

1 Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body),
15 Cleaning equipment,
15c inner wall surface (toner contact member),
15c1 contact surface,
17 Intermediate transfer belt (toner contact member),
17a contact surface,
17a1 groove,
H Regular hexagonal part.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-292574 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-60013

Claims (7)

A toner contact member that is installed in the main body of an image forming apparatus and comes into contact with toner.
A toner contact member characterized in that regular hexagonal grooves are formed in a honeycomb shape without gaps over the entire contact surface that comes into contact with toner. When the depth of the groove is D,
0.1 μm ≤ D ≤ 3 μm
The toner contact member according to claim 1, wherein the relationship is established. When the width of the groove is W and the length of one side of the regular hexagon is L,
W / L ≤ 0.25
The toner contact member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the relationship is established. 1 μm ≤ W ≤ 50 μm
L ≤ 200 μm
The toner contact member according to claim 3, wherein the relationship is established. The toner contact member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the toner contact member is an intermediate transfer belt. The toner contact member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the toner contact member is an inner wall surface of a cleaning device. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the toner contact member is installed in the image forming apparatus main body.

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