JP2022124440A - Cleaning blade, blade for leveling lubricant, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cleaning blade that, even immediately after the start of usage of an image forming apparatus, can prevent an increase in torque and obtain satisfactory cleaning performance.SOLUTION: A cleaning blade cleans a rotating body and has an edge layer and a coating layer. The coating layer provided at a leading end of the edge layer in contact with the rotating body includes first fluororesin and second fluororesin non-compatible with the first fluororesin. The Martens hardness at a distance of 20 μm from a leading end ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 N/mm2 or more and 3 N/mm2 or less.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

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

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming process, a cleaning blade comprising an elastic member made of polyurethane rubber or the like and a support member is widely used as a cleaning means for removing residual toner adhering to the surface of an image carrier. Further, after the cleaning process performed by the cleaning blade, a lubricating agent supplying means for supplying the lubricating agent to the surface of the image bearing member includes an elastic member made of polyurethane rubber or the like and a supporting member for leveling the lubricant. is widely used. It is known that a lubricant such as metal soap is applied to the tip ridges of the elastic members of the cleaning blade and the lubricant leveling blade.

The cleaning blade and the lubricant leveling blade are required to have lubricity from the viewpoints of preventing an increase in torque, which is a force required to rotate the image carrier, and reducing the frictional force with the image carrier. be done. In addition, the lubricant applied to the cleaning blade and the lubricant leveling blade is required to have adhesion to the base material from the viewpoint of preventing detachment.

For example, in recent years, in the case of the cleaning blade, a cleaning blade coated with a lubricant containing a fluorine-based compound has been used for the purpose of reducing the frictional force with the image carrier. A cleaning blade whose compound is vinylidene fluoride has been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 to 5). In addition, for the purpose of imparting appropriate flexibility and hardness to the elastic member of the cleaning blade and preventing the tip ridge of the cleaning blade from being turned up or scooped out, the distance from the tip ridge of the elastic member is 20 [μm]. A cleaning blade having a surface Martens hardness of 1.0 [N/mm ² ] to 15.0 [N/mm ² ] has been proposed (see Patent Document 6). Furthermore, for the purpose of improving the slidability of the cleaning blade, a cleaning blade coated with a dispersion of PMMA (polymethacrylic acid) particles dispersed in a fluorine-based solvent has been proposed (see Patent Document 7).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning blade capable of suppressing an increase in torque even immediately after the start of use of an image forming apparatus and providing excellent cleaning performance.

The cleaning blade of the present invention as a means for solving the above problems is
A cleaning blade for cleaning a rotating body,
having an edge layer and a covering layer,
The coating layer provided on the edge portion of the edge layer contacting the rotating body contains a first fluororesin and a second fluororesin incompatible with the first fluororesin. ,
The cleaning blade has a Martens hardness of 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning blade capable of suppressing an increase in torque even immediately after the start of use of an image forming apparatus and providing excellent cleaning performance.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example showing a state in which a cleaning blade is in contact with the surface of a rotating body. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the cleaning blade of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the cleaning blade of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example showing a state in which the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention is arranged in contact with the surface of a rotating body. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the angle of the tip ridge of the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the invention. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an image forming unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 7. FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the coating layer is formed in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Cleaning blade]
A cleaning blade of the present invention is a cleaning blade for cleaning a rotating body, and has an edge layer and a coating layer. , containing a first fluorine-based resin and a second fluorine-based resin incompatible with the first fluorine-based resin, at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer of the cleaning blade Martens hardness is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less, and further includes other members as necessary.
The cleaning blade of the present invention is a cleaning blade that removes residues adhering to the rotating body by coming into contact with the surface of the rotating body.

The residue is not particularly limited as long as it adheres to the surface of the rotating body and can be removed by the cleaning blade. Examples include toner, lubricant, inorganic fine particles, organic fine particles, dirt, dust or a mixture thereof.

In a conventional cleaning means using a cleaning blade, torque, which is a force required to rotate the rotating body, is generated due to friction generated by contact between the cleaning blade and the rotating body (image carrier, etc.). There was a problem that the rotor would rise and the rotation of the rotating body would stop. Further, due to the friction, the contact portion of the cleaning blade with the rotating body is worn, causing the cleaning blade to turn over and the toner to pass through, resulting in a cleaning failure.

Lubricating metal soap such as zinc stearate, PMMA (polymethacrylic acid) particles, etc. at the tip of the cleaning blade for the purpose of improving the slidability of the cleaning blade and preventing the cleaning blade from turning over and increasing the torque. The process of applying as an agent (touch-up) is widely used. Normally, as the image forming apparatus is operated, toner gradually stays between the cleaning blade and the image carrier, and the toner functions as a lubricant. Therefore, the lubricant should exhibit lubricating properties in a short period from when the image forming apparatus is operated until the behavior of the cleaning blade is stabilized. However, the fine particles contained in conventional lubricants have a weak adhesive force to the substrate, and there is a problem that the fine particles are detached from the cleaning blade before the behavior of the cleaning blade stabilizes.

It is known that "prevention of torque increase" and "improvement of cleanability" have a trade-off relationship with each other.
If the contact portion of the cleaning blade with the rotating body is smoothed by applying a lubricant or the like for the purpose of preventing an increase in torque, toner slips through the contact portion, resulting in poor cleaning performance.
For the purpose of improving the cleaning performance, when the contact portion of the cleaning blade with the rotating body is formed as unevenness to improve the frictional force, the torque increases.
Therefore, it has been difficult to improve cleanability while preventing an increase in torque.

As a result of extensive studies, the present inventors have found that, instead of dispersing particles only in a solvent, a dispersion liquid in which particles are dispersed in a mixture of a solvent and a binder component is applied to a cleaning blade to form a coating layer. It was found that detachment of particles can be prevented by forming Furthermore, the inventors have found that by using a slidable fluorine-based material for the particles and binding component, it is possible to prevent the cleaning blade from turning over and the torque increase of the image bearing member.
Further, by setting the Martens hardness at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer to 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ], the cleaning function is not hindered. It was found that a sliding effect can be obtained.

Therefore, in the present invention, the cleaning blade for cleaning a rotating body has an edge layer and a coating layer, and the coating layer provided at the tip portion of the edge layer contacting the rotating body is , containing a first fluorine-based resin and a second fluorine-based resin incompatible with the first fluorine-based resin, at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer of the cleaning blade When the Martens hardness is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less, torque increase can be suppressed even immediately after the image forming apparatus is started to be used, and good cleanability can be obtained. can be obtained.

<Coating layer>
The coating layer contains a first fluororesin, a second fluororesin incompatible with the first fluororesin, and, if necessary, other components.
The coating layer refers to a layer provided at one end of the peripheral side surface of the blade substrate, which will be described later, and which is used as the tip of the cleaning blade.
The coating layer may be formed on at least a portion of the blade base including a contact side where the cleaning blade and the rotating body contact each other, or may be formed on the entire contact side. , may be formed on the entire surface of the blade base. Among these, the coating layer is preferably formed over the entire contact side.
Incidentally, the surface region of the blade base body where the coating layer is not provided is sometimes referred to as a non-coated region.

The term “incompatible” in the present invention means that an interface exists between a plurality of mixed substances, indicating a property that they do not completely mix, and “compatible” means that a plurality of mixed substances There is no interface between them and they show the property of mixing.
The "incompatible state" in the present invention is a state in which an interface exists between the first fluororesin and the second fluororesin, and a part of the fluororesin is in a compatible state. There may be.
As one aspect of the incompatible state, the coating layer preferably has a sea-island structure.
In the sea-island structure, when the continuous phase of one component contained in the coating layer formed on the cleaning blade is expressed as "sea (hereinafter sometimes referred to as matrix)", the other component is "sea". It means a structure in the shape of an island (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a domain).
The sea-island structure in the present invention is a state in which the first fluororesin, which is the domain, and the second fluororesin, which is the matrix, are incompatible, and indicate a state in which there is no compatible portion. .
When the coating layer has a sea-island structure, the domains in the sea-island structure are preferably particles.

The average thickness of the coating layer of the cleaning blade is preferably 2 [μm] or more and 10 [μm] or less.
When the average thickness of the coating layer is 2 [μm] or more, a sufficient sliding effect can be obtained, and when the average thickness of the coating layer is 10 [μm] or less, the coating layer falls off. can be prevented.
As the average thickness of the coating layer, an average value of thickness [μm] measured at three or more points of the coating layer can be adopted.
The measurement location of the average thickness of the coating layer is not particularly limited.

As a method for measuring the average thickness of the coating layer, a part of the coating layer is scraped off with a spatula, a cotton swab, etc., and a contact surface roughness meter (Surftest SJ-500: manufactured by Mitutoyo) or a laser microscope (LEXT OLS4100 (manufactured by Olympus Corporation), etc.).

Here, one embodiment and another embodiment of the cleaning blade of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the application of the cleaning blade of the present invention is by no means limited to these embodiments.
In addition, in each drawing, the same code|symbol may be attached|subjected to the same component part, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate|omitted. Further, the number, positions, shapes, etc. of the following constituent members are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and the number, positions, shapes, etc., can be set to be preferable in carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the cleaning blade of the present invention, showing a state in which the cleaning blade is in contact with the surface of a rotating body. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning blade shown in FIG. 1 and an enlarged view of the vicinity of the contact portion. The cleaning blade 62 has a flat cleaning blade support member 621 made of a rigid material such as metal or hard plastic, one end connected to the cleaning blade support member 621, and the other end having a free end of a predetermined length. It is composed of a flat cleaning blade base 622 . The cleaning blade base 622 is fixed to one end of the cleaning blade support member 621 with an adhesive or the like, and the other end of the cleaning blade support member 621 is cantilevered by the case of the cleaning device. The cleaning blade base 622 has a cleaning blade tip surface 62a, a cleaning blade lower surface 62b, a cleaning blade contact portion 62c which is one end of the cleaning blade base 622 on the free end side, and a cleaning blade side surface 62d. A coating layer 623 is provided on at least a portion of the cleaning blade contact portion 62c including the contact side.
The cleaning blade 62 is arranged so that the cleaning blade contact portion 62c contacts the surface of the photoreceptor 3 along the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the cleaning blade of the present invention. The cleaning blade 62 is composed of a cleaning blade supporting member 621 and a cleaning blade base 622 . The cleaning blade base 622 has an elastic edge layer 622a and base layer 622b, a contact portion 62c, and a coating layer 623 on at least a portion of the contact portion 62c including the contact side. Note that the cleaning blade tip surface 62a, the cleaning blade lower surface 62b, and the cleaning blade side surface 62d are omitted.

(First fluororesin)
The fluororesin in the present invention indicates a resin containing fluorine in its molecule. The fluororesin is preferably an olefin polymer containing fluorine, and more preferably one in which hydrogen atoms in the olefin polymer are substituted with fluorine atoms.
As one aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first fluororesin is a domain in a sea-island structure of the coating layer.
It is preferable to select the kind and addition amount of the first fluororesin from the second fluororesin such that the first fluororesin forms a domain.

The shape of the domain is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and may be fixed or irregular. Among these, the fixed form is preferable.
When the domain has a regular shape, it is preferably spherical.
When the domains are spherical in shape, they are preferably particles.
Such a shape is preferable because it can prevent the fluororesin detached from the coating layer from damaging the rotor or the blade substrate of the cleaning blade.

The volume average particle diameter (50% volume diameter, median diameter) of the first fluorine-based resin is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is 0.1 [μm] or more and 1 [μm] or less. is preferable, 0.5 [μm] or less is more preferable, and 0.3 [μm] or less is even more preferable. When the volume average particle size of the first fluororesin is 1 [μm] or less, it is likely to settle in the solvent, making it difficult to stably disperse. Further, when the volume average particle size of the first fluororesin is 0.5 [μm] or less, it can be dispersed more stably in the non-aqueous solvent.

The method for measuring the volume average particle diameter (50% volume diameter, median diameter) is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples include laser diffraction/scattering method, dynamic light scattering method, It can be measured by an image imaging method or the like.
Specific examples of the method for measuring the volume average particle size include a method in which particles collected from the coating layer of the cleaning blade are placed on Microtrack (manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) and measured by a laser diffraction/scattering method, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). ) to directly observe and measure the fine particles on the cleaning blade.
The volume average particle diameter of the particles when added to the dispersion applied to the cleaning blade is almost the same as when the particles are present in the coating layer.

The content of the first fluorine-based resin in the coating layer is not particularly limited and can be selected according to the purpose. % or more and 8 mass % or less is preferable, and 4.5 mass % or more and 5.5 mass % or less is more preferable. The sliding effect obtained by including the first fluorine-based resin is maximized when the content of the first fluorine-based resin is 8% by mass with respect to the total mass of the coating layer. When the content of the first fluororesin in the coating layer is 4% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the coating layer, a sufficient sliding effect can be obtained.

The first fluorine-based resin is not particularly limited and can be selected according to the purpose. Examples include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluoroethylene-propylene copolymer (FEP), perfluoroalkoxy polymer ( PFA), chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (CTFE), tetrafluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (TFE/CTFE), ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene ( PCTFE) and the like. Among these, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is preferable in terms of further improving the slidability of the cleaning blade.

The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may be appropriately synthesized or may be a commercially available product.
Examples of commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) products include Dynion TF Micropowder TF-9201Z, Dynion TF Micropowder TF-9207Z (both manufactured by 3M), Nano FLON119N, and FLUORO E (both manufactured by Shamrock Co.). ), TLP10F-1 (manufactured by DuPont Fluorochemicals, Mitsui), KTL-500F (manufactured by Kitamura Co., Ltd.), Algoflon L203F (manufactured by SOLVAY), and the like.

(Second fluororesin)
In the present invention, since the coating layer contains the second fluorine-based resin, the adhesion of the first fluorine-based resin to the cleaning blade substrate is improved, and detachment of the coating layer can be prevented. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning blade from turning over and torque from increasing.
As one aspect of the present invention, the second fluororesin is preferably a matrix in the sea-island structure of the coating layer.
It is preferable to select the type and amount of addition of the second fluorine-based resin between the first fluorine-based resin and the second fluorine-based resin so as to form a matrix.

The second fluorine-based resin is not particularly limited as long as the first fluorine-based resin can be uniformly and stably dispersed, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, vinylidene fluoride (VdF) , hexafluoropropylene (HFP), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), and the like. Among these, from the viewpoint of lubricity and adhesion to the blade substrate, a copolymer obtained by combining them is preferable, and a terpolymer of VdF-HFP-TFE is more preferable.

The composition of VdF/HFP/TFE in the terpolymer is 30 mol% to 80 mol%/10 mol% for each monomer unit from the viewpoint of imparting flexibility to the blade and solubility in a solvent. ~35 mol%/5 mol% to 35 mol% are preferred.

A fluorine-based oil may be added to the second fluorine-based resin.
By adding the fluorine-based oil, not only the function as a binder but also the sliding function can be further improved.
Examples of the fluorine-based oil include those having a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) oligomer or perfluoroether as a main skeleton.

When a mixture of the second fluororesin and the fluorinated oil is used, the content of the second fluororesin is to prevent contamination of the photoreceptor or the like due to bleeding out of the fluorinated oil. It is preferably 90% by mass or more and 99% by mass or less, more preferably 95% by mass or more and 98% by mass or less, relative to the total mass of the mixture.

The fluorine-based oil having perfluoroether in its main skeleton is not particularly limited as long as it has slidability and does not hinder the dispersion of the fluorine-based resin, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. It is preferred that the average molecular weight is from 2,000 to 3,500.

The same material or different materials may be used for the first fluorine-based resin and the second fluorine-based resin in the present invention. When the same material is used, the coating layer can be produced by devising the manufacturing method so that the first fluorine-based resin and the second fluorine-based resin are in an incompatible state. For example, by adding the second fluororesin to the pre-cured first fluororesin and curing, the first fluororesin and the second fluororesin are cured. An interface is formed between them, and the partially incompatible coating layer can be produced. The coating layer can also be produced by mixing the first fluororesin with a hydrophilic substituent and the second fluororesin with a hydrophobic substituent.

(other ingredients)
The other components are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include particles other than the fluororesin.
Particles other than the fluorine-based resin are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include fine particles of inorganic compounds, acrylic resins, styrene-based resins, and vinyl-based resins.
Examples of the inorganic compound fine particles include silica, alumina, and zirconia.
These may be used singly or in combination of two or more.

The shape of the particles other than the fluorine-based resin is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably spherical. With such a shape, it is possible to prevent the problem that particles other than the fluororesin detached from the coating layer damage the blade substrate of the rotating body or the cleaning blade.

The volume average particle diameter (50% volume diameter, median diameter) of the particles other than the fluorine-based resin is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is 0.1 [μm] or more and 1 [μm] or less. is preferable, 0.5 [μm] or less is more preferable, and 0.3 [μm] or less is even more preferable. When the volume average particle size of the first fluororesin is 1 [μm] or less, it is likely to settle in the solvent, making it difficult to stably disperse. Further, when the volume average particle size of the first fluororesin is 0.5 [μm] or less, it can be dispersed more stably in the non-aqueous solvent.

The method for measuring the volume average particle diameter (50% volume diameter, median diameter) is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples include laser diffraction/scattering method, dynamic light scattering method, and image imaging method. etc. can be measured.
Specific examples of the method for measuring the volume average particle size include a method in which particles collected from the coating layer of the cleaning blade are placed on Microtrack (manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) and measured by a laser diffraction/scattering method, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). ) to directly observe and measure the fine particles on the cleaning blade.

The method for producing the coating layer is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. It is obtained by adding a fluororesin and applying a particle dispersion obtained by mixing to the blade substrate of the cleaning blade.

The solvent is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include fluorine-containing organic solvents.
Examples of the fluorine-containing organic solvent include hydrofluoroether (HFE), perfluorocarbon (PFC), and perfluoroether (PFE).
These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

In the present invention, the average particle size of the particles in the second fluororesin dispersion by dynamic light scattering method (average particle size by cumulant method analysis in scattering intensity distribution) is obtained from the point that a uniform dispersion is obtained, 1 [μm] or less is preferable, 0.5 [μm] or less is more preferable, and 0.3 [μm] or less is even more preferable.
Usually, even when fine particles having a volume average particle diameter of 1 [μm] or less are used, the particles aggregate to form secondary particles, and the volume average particle diameter is 1 [μm] or more. It has become. By dispersing fine particles that aggregate to form secondary particles so as to have a particle size of 1 [μm] or less, even when the second fluororesin dispersion is stored for a long period of time at low viscosity, A stable dispersion can be obtained.
The dispersing method is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.

The method for forming the coating layer is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, dipping, which is processed by Coating methods such as spray coating and dispenser may be used in addition to the dipping.

<Blade base>
In the present invention, the blade base of the cleaning blade may be referred to as "blade base" or "base".
The blade base may have any shape as long as it has a structure capable of removing the residue on the rotating body, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. It is preferable that the contact side is linear. Examples of the shape of the blade base include a plate shape.

The structure of the blade base is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Among these, a single-layer structure and a laminated structure in which a plurality of members are laminated are preferred from the viewpoint that processing into the cleaning blade is easy.
When the blade base has a laminated structure, the layer in contact with the rotating body may be called an edge layer, and the layer other than the edge layer may be called a base layer. When the blade base is a single layer, the blade base has only an edge layer.
More preferably, the Martens hardnesses of the plurality of members in the laminated structure are different from each other.

The material of the blade base is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. It preferably has elasticity and hardness. Examples of the material of the blade include an elastic material.
The elastic material is not particularly limited as long as it has high elasticity, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. mentioned. Among these, polyurethane rubber is preferable from the viewpoint of durability and non-staining property.
The size of the blade base is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the size of the rotating body.

^{The Martens} hardness of the polyurethane rubber in the cleaning blade of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Preferably. When the Martens hardness of the polyurethane rubber in the cleaning blade is within the desired range, it is difficult to obtain a linear pressure of the blade, and the area of the contact portion with the image bearing member is likely to increase. Problems such as chipping caused by excessive hardening of the blade base can be eliminated.

The method for producing the blade base is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a polyurethane prepolymer is prepared using a polyol compound and a polyisocyanate compound, and After adding a curing agent and, if necessary, a curing catalyst, it is centrifugally molded using a predetermined mold, left to stand at room temperature for aging (curing), and then cut into a flat plate shape with a predetermined size. can be obtained by
The polyol compound is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include high molecular weight polyols and low molecular weight polyols.

Examples of the high-molecular-weight polyol include polyester polyol which is a condensate of alkylene glycol and an aliphatic dibasic acid; ethylene adipate ester polyol, butylene adipate ester polyol, hexylene adipate ester polyol, ethylene propylene adipate ester polyol, ethylene butylene Polyester polyols such as adipate ester polyols, polyester polyols of alkylene glycol and adipic acid such as ethylene neopentylene adipate ester polyols; polycaprolactone polyols such as polycaprolactone ester polyols obtained by ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone; poly( Polyether-based polyols such as oxytetramethylene)glycol and poly(oxypropylene)glycol are included.
These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

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

The polyisocyanate compound is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. - diisocyanate (NDI), tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (TMXDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate (H6XDI), dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H12MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), dimer acid diisocyanate (DDI), norbornene diisocyanate (NBDI), trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate (TMDI) and the like.
These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

The curing agent is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples thereof include amines and alcohols.
These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.
The curing agent is used, for example, to adjust the hardness of the blade base.

The curing catalyst is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include 2-methylimidazole and 1,2-dimethylimidazole.
The content of the curing catalyst is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. is preferable, and 0.05% by mass or more and 0.3% by mass or less is more preferable.

The modulus of impact resilience of the blade base conforming to the JIS K6255 standard is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is preferably 10% to 80% at 23°C.
When the coefficient of rebound resilience is within the desired range, the overall flexibility of the blade base is lost, and cleaning failures caused by being unable to follow vibrations and roughness of the image bearing member, and blades due to excessive repulsion. It is possible to solve the problem of squealing (abnormal noise).
The modulus of rebound resilience of the blade base is, for example, based on JIS K6255 standard, at 23° C., No. 1 manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. 221 resilience tester.

<Martens hardness>
In the cleaning blade of the present invention, the Martens hardness at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less. A sliding effect can be obtained.
In the cleaning blade of the present invention, the Martens hardness at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 2 [N/ mm ² ] or less.
When the Martens hardness of the cleaning blade at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more, the first fluororesin particles and the second This is preferable because it solves the problem that the fluororesin particles are not sufficiently attached to the edge layer and the desired sliding effect cannot be obtained. When the Martens hardness of the cleaning blade at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 3 [N/mm ² ] or less, the first fluorine-based resin particles and the second fluorine-based This is preferable because it solves the problem that the resin particles are excessively attached to the edge layer and hinder the cleaning function.
Note that the Martens hardness measurement in the present invention is carried out on a material processed into a cleaning blade.

As a method for measuring the Martens hardness (HM), for example, based on ISO 14577, using a nanoindenter (ENT-3100, manufactured by Elionix), a Berkovich indenter is pressed with a load of 1,000 [μN] for 10 seconds, The load was held for 5 seconds and then removed for 10 seconds at the same loading speed for measurement.
The Martens hardness of the edge layer was measured at a distance of 20 [μm] from the edge line of the edge layer.
Although there is no particular limitation on the measurement location of the Martens hardness in the base layer, the distance of 20 [μm] from the edge of the base layer was selected for ease of measurement.
The Martens hardness is the median value of the numerical values obtained by measuring 4 to 6 points at each measurement location.

<Rotating body>
The rotator is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include an image carrier and a photoreceptor.
The structure and size of the rotating body are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
The material of the rotating body is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include metals, plastics, and ceramics.
The shape of the rotating body is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.

<Other parts>
The other member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include support members.

(support member)
The shape of the support member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and examples thereof include a plate shape.
The structure of the support member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
The size of the support member is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the size of the rotating body.
The material of the support member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include metal, plastic, and ceramic. Among these, metals are preferable from the viewpoint of strength, and steel such as stainless steel, aluminum, and phosphor bronze are more preferable.

[Lubricant leveling blade]
The cleaning blade of the present invention can be used as a lubricant leveling blade for leveling the lubricant applied to the surface of the rotating body after the cleaning process performed by the cleaning blade.
The lubricant leveling blade is a lubricant leveling blade for the lubricant applied to the rotating body, and has an edge layer and a coating layer, and the edge layer is applied to the rotating body. The coating layer provided on the contact tip portion contains a first fluororesin and a second fluororesin incompatible with the first fluororesin, and in the lubricant leveling blade The Martens hardness at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less, and if necessary, other members are added. have.
When the cleaning blade is used as a lubricant leveling blade, the Martens hardness at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ]. By doing so, good lubricant applicability can be obtained.

Here, one embodiment and another embodiment of the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the lubricant leveling blade is in contact with a rotating body. The lubricant leveling blade 104 has a flat lubricant leveling blade support member 1041 made of a rigid material such as metal or hard plastic, and one end is connected to the lubricant leveling blade support member 1041, and the other end is connected to the lubricant leveling blade support member 1041. It is composed of a plate-like blade substrate 1042 for leveling lubricant having a free end portion of a predetermined length at the end. The lubricant leveling blade base body 1042 is fixed to one end side of the lubricant leveling blade support member 1041 with an adhesive or the like, and the other end side of the lubricant leveling blade support member 1041 is It is cantilevered on the case of the cleaning device. The lubricant leveling blade base 1042 includes a lubricant leveling blade tip surface 104a, a lubricant leveling blade lower surface 104b, and one end on the free end side of the lubricant leveling blade base 1042. At least part of the lubricant leveling blade contacting portion 104c, including the contact side, has a layer configuration similar to that of the cleaning blade shown in FIG. shown).

[Image forming apparatus and image forming method]
The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an image carrier, charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, exposure means for exposing the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic Developing means for developing a latent image with toner to form a visible image, transferring means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium, and cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the image carrier. Lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier may also be provided. It comprises other appropriately selected means.
The charging means and the exposing means may be collectively referred to as electrostatic latent image forming means.
The cleaning means and the lubricant application means respectively have the cleaning blade and the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention.
The image forming method used in the present invention includes at least a charging step, an exposure step, a developing step, a transfer step, a fixing step, and a cleaning step, and may include a lubricant application step. Other steps appropriately selected according to the The charging process and the exposing process may be collectively referred to as an electrostatic latent image forming process.
The image forming method used in the present invention can be suitably carried out by the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the charging step can be performed by the charging means, and the exposure step can be performed by the exposing means. , the developing process can be performed by the developing means, the transfer process can be performed by the transfer means, the fixing process can be performed by the fixing means, and the cleaning process can be performed by the cleaning means. and the cleaning means comprises the cleaning blade of the present invention. Further, the lubricant application step can be performed by the lubricant application means, and the lubricant application means has the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention. The other steps can be performed by the other means.

<Image carrier>
The image carrier is not particularly limited in structure, size, etc., and can be appropriately selected from known ones.
The shape of the image bearing member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples thereof include a drum shape and a belt shape.
The material of the image carrier is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. be done.

<Charging step and charging means>
The charging step is a step of charging the surface of the image carrier, and is performed by the charging means.
The charging means is not particularly limited as long as it can charge the surface of the image carrier, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples include conductive or semiconductive rollers, Examples include a contact charger equipped with a brush, a film, a rubber blade, etc., known per se, and a non-contact charger using corona discharge such as a corotron, a scorotron, and the like.
The charging means may take any form such as a roller, a magnetic brush, a fur brush, etc., and can be selected according to the specifications and form of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
When a magnetic brush is used, the magnetic brush uses various ferrite particles such as Zn--Cu ferrite as charging means, a non-magnetic conductive sleeve for supporting the charging means, and a magnet included in the conductive sleeve. Consists of roles.
When using a brush, for example, carbon, copper sulfide, metal, or metal oxide-treated fur may be used as the material of the fur brush, and wound or attached to a metal or other conductive core bar. can be used as a charger.

The charger is not limited to the contact type charger as described above, but it is preferable in that an image forming apparatus in which ozone generated from the charger can be reduced can be obtained.
It is preferable that the charger is arranged in contact or non-contact with the image carrier and charges the surface of the image carrier by superimposed application of DC and AC voltages.
Further, the charging device is a charging roller having a gap tape on the image carrier and is arranged close to the image carrier in a non-contact manner, and charges the surface of the image carrier by superimposing a DC voltage and an AC voltage on the charging roller. Things are also preferred.

<Exposure step and exposure means>
The exposing step is a step of exposing the charged surface of the image carrier, and is performed by the exposing means. The exposure can be performed, for example, by imagewise exposing the surface of the image carrier using the exposure means.
Optical systems in the exposure are roughly classified into analog optical systems and digital optical systems.
The analog optical system is an optical system that directly projects an original onto the surface of the image carrier.
The digital optical system is an optical system that receives image information as an electric signal, converts the electric signal into an optical signal, and exposes an image carrier to form an image.
The exposing means is not particularly limited as long as it can form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the charged image bearing member, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Various exposing devices such as a rod lens array system, a laser optical system, a liquid crystal shutter optical system, and an LED optical system can be used.
In addition, in the present invention, a light rear surface method in which imagewise exposure is performed from the rear surface side of the image carrier may be adopted.

<Developing process and developing means>
The developing step is a step of developing the electrostatic latent image into the toner image, and is performed by the developing means.
The developing means is not particularly limited as long as it can develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. have at least a developing device capable of applying the toner in a contact or non-contact manner.
The developing device may be of a dry developing system or a wet developing system, or may be a monochromatic developing device or a multicolor developing device. and a rotatable magnet roller.
In the developing device, for example, the toner and, if necessary, carrier are mixed and agitated, and the toner is charged by friction at that time, held in a bristling state on the surface of the rotating magnet roller, and magnetized. A brush is formed.
Since the magnet roller is arranged in the vicinity of the image carrier, part of the toner constituting the magnetic brush formed on the surface of the magnet roller is electrically attracted to the electrostatic latent image. It moves to the surface of the image carrier by force. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner to form the toner image on the surface of the image carrier.
The toner contained in the developing device may be a developer containing the toner, and the developer may be a one-component developer or a two-component developer.
The toner can be used as a one-component magnetic toner that does not use a carrier, or as a non-magnetic toner.

<Transfer process and transfer means>
The transfer step is a step of transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, and is performed by the transfer means.
The transfer step includes, for example, a primary transfer step of using an intermediate transfer member and transferring the toner image onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member to form a composite transfer image, and transferring the composite transfer image onto a recording medium. A preferred embodiment includes a secondary transfer step.
The transfer means is not particularly limited as long as the toner image can be transferred onto a recording medium, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. It is preferable to have a primary transfer means for forming a transfer image and a secondary transfer means for transferring the composite transfer image to a recording medium.
As the primary transfer means and the secondary transfer means, for example, it is preferable to have at least a transfer device that separates and charges the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier onto a recording medium.
The transfer device is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the intended purpose. The transfer device may be one, or two or more.

The recording medium is not particularly limited as long as it can transfer the unfixed toner image after development, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a PET base for OHP can also be used.

<Fixing Step and Fixing Means>
The fixing step is a step of fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium, and is performed by the fixing means. When two or more colors of toner are used, the toner of each color may be fixed each time it is transferred to the recording medium, or the toner of all colors may be transferred to the recording medium and fixed in a layered state. good too.
The fixing means is not particularly limited as long as it can fix the toner image transferred to the recording medium, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. can be adopted.
The heating and pressurizing means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a combination of a heating roller and a pressure roller, or a combination of a heating roller, a pressure roller and an endless belt etc.
The heating temperature is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is preferably 80°C to 200°C. For example, a known optical fixing device may be used together with the fixing means, if necessary.

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

The linear pressure applied to the surface of the image carrier by the blade substrate in the cleaning blade of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. N/m] or less is preferable, and 10 [N/m] or more and 50 [N/m] or less is more preferable. When the linear pressure is 10 [N/m] or more and 100 [N/m] or less, the cleaning failure in which the toner slips between the contact portion and the rotating body is less likely to occur, and the elastic body It is possible to make it easier to suppress the peeling.
The linear pressure can be measured using, for example, a measuring device incorporating a compact compression load cell manufactured by Kyowa Dengyo Co., Ltd.

The angle (hereinafter referred to as "cleaning angle") formed by the tangent line of the image carrier at the position where the contact portion of the blade base in the cleaning blade of the present invention abuts and the tip surface of the free end of the blade base is: , There is no particular limitation, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but the angle is preferably 65° or more and 85° or less.
When the cleaning angle is 65° or more and 85° or less, it becomes easier to suppress the occurrence of curling of the blade base, and it becomes easier to reduce the occurrence of defective cleaning.

<Lubricant Application Step and Lubricant Application Means>
The lubricant applying step is a step of applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier, and is performed by a lubricant applying means.
The lubricant is applied by molding the lubricant into a solid shape, pressing it against the fur brush using a pressure spring, rotating the fur brush to apply the lubricant to the surface of the image carrier, and then applying the lubricant to the surface of the image carrier. can be applied evenly.
As the lubricant applying means, the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention can be used.

The linear pressure applied to the surface of the image carrier by the blade base in the lubricant leveling blade is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but is 5 [N/m] or more. 15 [N/m] or less is preferable, and 5 [N/m] or more and 10 [N/m] or less is more preferable. When the linear pressure is 5 [N/m] or more and 15 [N/m] or less, the lubricating agent application performance to the image bearing member is stabilized, and the leading end ridge portion is suppressed from being drawn.
The linear pressure can be measured using, for example, a measuring device incorporating a compact compression load cell manufactured by Kyowa Dengyo Co., Ltd.

The angle θ of the tip ridge of the lubricant leveling blade is preferably 90° or more and 140° or less. By setting the angle θ of the tip ridgeline to an obtuse angle within the above range, it is possible to suppress the blade tip surface 104a of the lubricant leveling blade from being drawn in, thereby enabling stable lubricant application. In addition, by setting the angle θ of the tip ridge of the lubricant leveling blade to 140° or less, the effect of the edge becomes clear and the lubricant application function is improved.
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the angle .theta. It is the angle of the blade corner formed by two surfaces facing the surface of the image carrier.

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

(Static Elimination Step and Eliminating Means)
The static elimination step is a step of applying a static elimination bias voltage to the image bearing member to eliminate static electricity, and is performed by the static elimination means.
The static elimination unit is not particularly limited as long as it can apply a static elimination bias voltage to the image carrier, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a static elimination lamp.

(Recycling process and recycling means)
The recycling step is a step of recycling the toner removed by the cleaning step to the developing means, and is performed by the recycling means.
The recycling means is not particularly limited, can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and includes known conveying means and the like.

(Control process and control means)
The control step is a step of controlling each of the steps, and is performed by a control means.
The control means is not particularly limited as long as it can control the movement of each means, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include devices such as sequencers and computers.

An example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. However, the application of the cleaning blade of the present invention is by no means limited to these embodiments.
In addition, in each drawing, the same code|symbol may be attached|subjected to the same component part, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate|omitted. Further, the number, positions, shapes, etc. of the following constituent members are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and the number, positions, shapes, etc., can be set to be preferable in carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus 500 of the present invention. This image forming apparatus 500 includes four image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (hereinafter sometimes referred to as Y, M, C, and K). . They use Y, M, C, and K toners of different colors as image forming substances for forming images, but otherwise have the same configuration.

A transfer unit 60 having an intermediate transfer belt 14 as an intermediate transfer member is arranged above the four image forming units 1 . The toner images of each color formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K provided in the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are superimposed and transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14. is.
An optical writing unit 40 is arranged below the four image forming units 1 . The optical writing unit 40, which is a latent image forming means, irradiates the photoreceptors 3Y, 3M, 3C and 3K of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K with laser light L emitted based on image information. As a result, electrostatic latent images for Y, M, C and K are formed on the photoreceptors 3Y, 3M, 3C and 3K. The optical writing unit 40 polarizes the laser light L emitted from the light source by a polygon mirror 41 rotated by a motor, and writes the light onto the photoreceptors 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K through a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors. It irradiates to Instead of the configuration described above, it is also possible to adopt a device that performs optical scanning using an LED array.

Below the optical writing unit 40, a first paper cassette 151 and a second paper cassette 152 are arranged so as to overlap vertically. In each of these paper feed cassettes, a plurality of sheets of the recording medium P are accommodated in a stack of sheets, and the uppermost recording medium P includes a first paper feed roller 151a and a second paper feed roller 151a. The rollers 152a are in contact with each other. When the first paper feed roller 151a is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 7 by a driving means (not shown), the topmost recording medium P in the first paper feed cassette 151 moves vertically on the right side of the cassette in FIG. The paper is discharged toward a paper feed path 153 arranged so as to extend. Further, when the second paper feed roller 152a is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. be done.

A plurality of transport roller pairs 154 are arranged in the paper feed path 153 . The recording medium P fed into the paper feed path 153 is conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in FIG.

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

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of one of the four imaging units 1. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the image forming unit 1 includes a drum-shaped photosensitive member 3 as an image carrier. Although the photoreceptor 3 has a drum-like shape, it may have a sheet-like shape or an endless belt-like shape.
Around the photoreceptor 3, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 6, a primary transfer roller 7, a lubricant coating device 10, a static elimination lamp (not shown), and the like are arranged. The charging roller 4 is a charging member included in a charging device as charging means, and the developing device 5 is a developing means for converting the latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 3 into a toner image. The cleaning device 6 is cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the photoreceptor 3 after the toner image has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 14 . The primary transfer roller 7 is a primary transfer member provided in a primary transfer device as primary transfer means for transferring the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 14 . The lubricant applicator 10 is a lubricant applicator that applies a lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor 3 after being cleaned by the cleaning device 6 . A neutralizing lamp (not shown) is a neutralizing means for neutralizing the surface potential of the photoreceptor 3 after cleaning.

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

The cleaning device 6 has a fur brush 101, a cleaning blade 62, and the like. The cleaning blade 62 is in contact with the photoreceptor 3 in a direction counter to the surface moving direction of the photoreceptor 3 . The details of the cleaning blade 62 are as described above.
The lubricant application device 10 includes a solid lubricant 103, a lubricant pressure spring 103a, and a lubricant leveling blade 104. A fur brush 101 is used as an application brush for applying the solid lubricant 103 onto the photoreceptor 3. there is A solid lubricant 103 is held by a bracket 103b and is pressed toward the fur brush 101 by a lubricant pressurizing spring 103a. Then, the solid lubricant 103 is scraped by the fur brush 101 that rotates in the rotation direction with respect to the rotating direction of the photoreceptor 3, the lubricant is applied onto the photoreceptor 3, and the lubricant is leveled by the lubricant leveling blade. . The coefficient of friction of the surface of the photoreceptor 3 is maintained at 0.2 or less during non-image formation by applying the lubricant to the photoreceptor. The details of the lubricant leveling blade are as described above.

The charging device is of a non-contact, close arrangement type in which the charging roller 4 is placed close to the photoreceptor 3, and known charging devices such as a corotron, a scorotron, and a solid state charger can be used as the charging device. configuration can be used. Among these charging methods, the contact charging method or the non-contact close-positioning method is particularly preferable, and has advantages such as high charging efficiency, low ozone generation amount, and possibility of miniaturization of the apparatus.

The light source of the laser light L of the optical writing unit 40 and the light source such as the static elimination lamp include fluorescent lamps, tungsten lamps, halogen lamps, mercury lamps, sodium lamps, light emitting diodes (LED), semiconductor lasers (LD), electroluminescence (EL), ) can be used.
Moreover, various filters such as a sharp cut filter, a bandpass filter, a near-infrared cut filter, a dichroic filter, an interference filter, and a color temperature conversion filter can be used in order to irradiate only light in a desired wavelength range.
Among these light sources, light emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers have high irradiation energy and long wavelength light of 600 [nm] or more and 800 [nm] or less, and thus are preferably used.

A transfer unit 60 as transfer means shown in FIG. 7 includes an intermediate transfer belt 14, a belt cleaning unit 162, a first bracket 63, a second bracket 64, and the like. It also has four primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K, a secondary transfer backup roller 66, a drive roller 67, an auxiliary roller 68, a tension roller 69, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 14 is endlessly moved counterclockwise in FIG. The four primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K sandwich the endlessly moved intermediate transfer belt 14 with the photoreceptors 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K to form primary transfer nips, respectively. . Then, a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner (for example, positive) is applied to the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 (the inner circumferential surface of the loop). As the intermediate transfer belt 14 moves endlessly, it sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips for Y, M, C, and K. In the process, the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 is covered with the photosensitive elements 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K. Y, M, C, and K toner images are superimposed and primarily transferred. As a result, a four-color superimposed toner image (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a four-color toner image) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 14 .

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

Transfer residual toner that has not been transferred onto the recording medium P adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 14 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. It is cleaned by belt cleaning unit 162 . In the belt cleaning unit 162, a belt cleaning blade 162a is brought into contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14, thereby scraping and removing transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 14. FIG.

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

A fixing unit 80 is arranged above the secondary transfer nip in FIG. The fixing unit 80 includes a pressure heating roller 81 containing a heat source such as a halogen lamp, and a fixing belt unit 82 . The fixing belt unit 82 includes a fixing belt 84 as a fixing member, a heating roller 83 including a heat source such as a halogen lamp, a tension roller 85, a driving roller 86, a temperature sensor (not shown), and the like. Then, the endless fixing belt 84 is stretched by the heating roller 83, the tension roller 85 and the drive roller 86, and is endlessly moved in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. In the course of this endless movement, the fixing belt 84 is heated from the back side by the heating roller 83 . A pressing and heating roller 81 rotated clockwise in FIG. As a result, a fixing nip is formed in which the pressure heating roller 81 and the fixing belt 84 are brought into contact with each other.

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

After passing through the secondary transfer nip, the recording medium P is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14 and sent into the fixing unit 80 . 7 while being sandwiched between the fixing nips in the fixing unit 80, the full-color toner image is fixed on the recording medium P by being heated and pressed by the fixing belt 84. be done.

The recording medium P that has undergone the fixing process in this manner passes between the rollers of the paper discharge roller pair 87, and is then discharged outside the image forming apparatus. A stack section 88 is formed on the upper surface of the housing of the image forming apparatus 500 main body, and the recording media P ejected outside the image forming apparatus by the sheet ejection roller pair 87 are sequentially stacked on this stack section 88 .

Above the transfer unit 60, four toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C and 100K containing Y, M, C and K toners are arranged. Y, M, C, and K toners in toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K are appropriately supplied to developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K (not shown) of image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. . These toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C and 100K can be detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus independently of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K.

Next, an image forming operation in image forming apparatus 500 will be described.
First, when a print execution signal is received from an operation unit (not shown) or the like, predetermined voltages or currents are sequentially applied to the charging roller 4 and the developing roller 51 at predetermined timings. Similarly, predetermined voltages or currents are sequentially applied at predetermined timings to the optical writing unit 40 and the light source such as the charge removal lamp. In synchronism with this, the photoreceptor 3 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7 by a photoreceptor driving motor (not shown) as driving means.

When the photoreceptor 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7, the surface of the photoreceptor 3 is first uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging roller 4 . A laser beam L corresponding to image information is emitted from the optical writing unit 40 onto the photoreceptor 3, and the portion of the surface of the photoreceptor 3 irradiated with the laser beam L is discharged to form an electrostatic latent image. .
The surface of the photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is rubbed by a magnetic brush of developer formed on the developing roller 51 at the portion facing the developing device 5 . At this time, the negatively charged toner on the developing roller 51 is moved to the electrostatic latent image side by a predetermined developing bias applied to the developing roller 51 and is formed into a toner image (developed). A similar image forming process is executed in each image forming unit 1, and a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of each photoreceptor 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K of each image forming unit 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K. .
Thus, in the image forming apparatus 500 , the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 3 is reversely developed by the developing device 5 with negatively charged toner. In the present embodiment, an example using an N/P (negative/positive: toner adheres to low potential) non-contact charging roller system has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 8, the image forming unit 1 of the image forming apparatus 500 includes a photoreceptor 3, a charging roller 4 as processing means, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 6, a lubricant applying device 10, and the like, which are housed in a frame 2. ing. The image forming unit 1 is integrally detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 500 as a process cartridge. In the image forming apparatus 500, the image forming unit 1 replaces the photoreceptor 3 as a process cartridge and the process means integrally. , the lubricant application device 10 may be replaced with a new one in units.

[Process cartridge]
The process cartridge of the present invention comprises an image carrier, at least one of charging means, exposing means, developing means, transfer means, and discharging means, and the image carrier in contact with the surface of the image carrier. and lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier by contacting the surface of the image carrier. .
The cleaning blade of the present invention is used as the cleaning means.
As the lubricant application means, the lubricant leveling blade of the present invention is used.
The process cartridge includes an image carrier, at least one of charging means, exposure means, developing means, transfer means, and discharging means, and cleaning means. It is a device (component) that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus that may be provided with means.

Examples and reference examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples and reference examples. However, "part" represents "mass part" unless otherwise specified.

<Example 1>
(Fabrication of blade base for cleaning blade)
For the edge layer and the base layer, a polyurethane elastomer sheet obtained by centrifugal molding, curing and post-crosslinking was used. The average thickness and Martens hardness (HM) of the edge layer and the base layer are as follows.
Average thickness: 2.0 [mm]
Martens hardness (HM) of edge layer: 0.5 [N/mm ² ]
Martens hardness (HM) of base layer: 2.0 [N/mm ² ]
A blade substrate was produced by adhering the edge layer and the base layer. Also, the blade base was adhered to a metal plate.

(Preparation of coating layer)
-Preparation of particle dispersion A-
6 parts of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowder (TF9201Z, manufactured by 3M, volume average particle size 200 nm) as the first fluorine resin, vinylidene fluoride (VdF) and hexafluoro as the second fluorine resin Two parts of a VdF-HFP-TFE terpolymer consisting of propylene (HFP) and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2, as a fluorine-based dispersion solvent. Particle dispersion A was prepared by putting 92 parts of 2,2-trifluoroethyl ether (HFE-347; manufactured by Tokyo Kasei Kogyo) into a screw tube and stirring with a stirrer or the like.

-Preparation of particle dispersion B-
6 parts of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowder (TF9201Z, manufactured by 3M, volume average particle size 200 nm) as the first fluorine resin, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) as the second fluorine resin 2 parts, And 92 parts of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether (HFE-347; manufactured by Tokyo Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.) as a fluorine-based dispersion solvent, put in a screw tube and stirred with a stirrer or the like. Particle Dispersion B was prepared by stirring.

-Preparation of particle dispersion C-
6 parts of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowder (TF9201Z, manufactured by 3M, volume average particle size 200 nm) as the first fluorine resin, vinylidene fluoride (VdF) and hexafluoro as the second fluorine resin Two parts of a VdF-HFP binary copolymer made of propylene (HFP) and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether (HFE- 347; manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was placed in a screw tube and stirred with a stirrer or the like to prepare a particle dispersion C.

-Preparation of particle dispersion D-
95 parts of polymethyl methacrylic acid (PMMA) water dispersion (MX100W, manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., volume average particle size 150 nm), and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin (S-lec KW-M, Sekisui A particle dispersion D was prepared by putting 5 parts of 24±3 mol % acetalization degree manufactured by Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. into a screw tube and stirring with a stirrer or the like.

―Dipping―
One end face used as the tip of the cleaning blade on the peripheral side (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the cleaning blade tip face) is applied to the particle dispersion A by a depth of 2 [mm] from the cleaning blade tip face. , was immersed perpendicularly to the horizontal surface and pulled up at a pulling speed of 1 [mm/s]. For the purpose of collecting the PTFE particles necessary for the cleaning function in the portion including the contact side of the tip surface of the cleaning blade, tilt about 45° as shown in FIG. 9 and dry at room temperature (25° C.) for 30 minutes. A cleaning blade of Example 1 was produced by the method.

<Examples 2 to 9>
Example 2 to Example 2 in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the Martens hardness of the edge layer, the Martens hardness of the base layer, and the average thickness of the coating layer in the cleaning blade were changed as shown in Tables 1 to 3. No. 9 cleaning blade was produced.

<Examples 10 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7>
The first fluorine-based resin, the second fluorine-based resin, the dispersion solvent, the Martens hardness of the edge layer, the Martens hardness of the base layer, and the average thickness of the coating layer in the cleaning blade are changed as shown in Tables 1 to 3. Cleaning blades of Examples 10 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7 were produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except for the above.
Particle Dispersion B was used in Example 10, Particle Dispersion C was used in Example 11, and Particle Dispersion D was used in Comparative Example 2, respectively.
Incidentally, Comparative Example 1 is a cleaning blade having a blade base without a coating layer.

<Assembly of Image Forming Apparatus>
The cleaning blades obtained from Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7 were subjected to the process of a color multifunction machine (imagio MP C4500, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) (the printer section has a configuration similar to that of the image forming apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 7). It was attached to the cartridge, and the image forming apparatus was assembled.
The cleaning blade was attached to the image forming apparatus so that the linear pressure was 20 g/cm and the cleaning angle was 79°.

<Measurement of Martens hardness>
The Martens hardness of the edge layer and the Martens hardness of the base layer of the cleaning blades obtained from Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7 were measured.
As a method for measuring the Martens hardness (HM), a nanoindenter (ENT-3100, manufactured by Elionix) is used based on ISO 14577, and a Berkovich indenter is pressed with a load of 1,000 [μN] for 10 seconds, The load was held for 5 seconds and then removed for 10 seconds at the same loading speed for measurement. The results are shown in Tables 1-3.
The Martens hardness of the edge layer was measured at a distance of 20 [μm] from the edge line of the edge layer, and the Martens hardness of the base layer was measured at a distance of 20 μm from the end of the base layer. The distance was [μm].
The Martens hardness is the median value of the values measured at 4 to 6 points at each measurement location.

<Measurement of average thickness of coating layer>
The average thickness of the coating layer on the cleaning blades obtained from Examples 1-12 and Comparative Examples 1-7 was measured. The results are shown in Tables 1-3.
As a method for measuring the average thickness, a part of the coating layer is scraped off with a spatula, a cotton swab, etc., and the shape is measured using a contact surface roughness meter (Surftest SJ-500: manufactured by Mitutoyo). did.

<Evaluation of torque increase rate>
Using the image forming apparatus, output was performed under the following conditions, and the rate of change in the driving torque increase of the photoreceptor was measured. After the output, the tip of the cleaning blade was observed with a laser microscope (LEXT OLS4500, manufactured by Olympus Corporation), and the torque increase rate was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The evaluation results are shown in Tables 1-3. Note that the “initial stage” in the evaluation criteria refers to the period during which the 1st to 500th sheets are output.
Environment: 23°C/45% RH
Paper passing conditions: Blank chart Number of output: 5,000 sheets (A4 size horizontal)
-Evaluation criteria-
⊚: The rate of change in torque increase was within 50% of the initial value, and the photoreceptor did not stop due to the increase in driving torque. Furthermore, when the tip of the cleaning blade was observed after printing, there was no trace of curling.
Good: The rate of change in torque increase was within 50% of the initial value, and the photoreceptor did not stop due to the increase in driving torque. However, when observing the tip of the cleaning blade after the output, there was a trace of curling, but it was not a level that caused the toner to come off, so there was no problem in actual use.
x: The photoreceptor stopped due to the torque increase, and when the tip of the cleaning blade after output was observed, there was a trace of curling to the extent that the toner was removed, which was problematic in actual use.

<Image quality evaluation (cleanability)>
Output was performed using the image forming apparatus under the following conditions. After that, the tip of the cleaning blade and the surface of the photoreceptor were observed with a laser microscope (LEXT OLS4500, manufactured by Olympus) and evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The evaluation results are shown in Tables 1-3.
Environment: 27°C/80% RH
Paper passing conditions: 3 prints/job of 5% image area ratio chart Number of outputs: 50,000 sheets (A4 size horizontal)
-Evaluation criteria-
⊚: Toner that has passed through due to poor cleaning cannot be visually observed on the printed paper or on the photoreceptor.
◯: Toner that has passed through due to poor cleaning cannot be visually observed on the printed paper or on the photoreceptor, but when the photoreceptor is observed in the longitudinal direction with a microscope, toner streaks that have passed through can be confirmed.
x: Toner slipped through due to poor cleaning can be visually confirmed on both the printed paper and the photoreceptor.

<Reference example 1>
(Production of blade for leveling lubricant)
A lubricant leveling blade of Reference Example 1 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the average thickness was 1.4 [mm].
In the same manner as in Reference Example 1, except that the Martens hardness of the edge layer, the Martens hardness of the base layer, and the average thickness of the coating layer in the lubricant leveling blade were changed as shown in Tables 4 to 6. Lubricant leveling blades of Reference Examples 2 to 10 were produced.

<Reference Examples 11 to 12, and Reference Comparative Examples 1 to 6>
The average thickness of the first fluororesin, the second fluororesin, the dispersion solvent, the Martens hardness of the edge layer, the Martens hardness of the base layer, and the coating layer in the lubricant leveling blade are shown in Tables 4 to 6. Lubricant leveling blades of Reference Examples 11 to 12 and Reference Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were produced in the same manner as in Reference Example 1, except for the changes shown.
Particle Dispersion B was used in Reference Example 11, Particle Dispersion C was used in Reference Example 12, and Particle Dispersion D was used in Reference Comparative Example 2, respectively.
Reference Comparative Example 1 is a lubricant leveling blade having a blade base body without a coating layer.

<Assembly of Image Forming Apparatus>
The assembly of the image forming apparatus with the lubricant leveling blades of Reference Examples 1 to 12 and Reference Comparative Examples 1 to 6 was performed in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7, and the linear pressure was 10 g/cm. , and attached to the image forming apparatus so that the angle .theta.

<Measurement of Martens hardness>
The Martens hardness of the edge layer and the Martens hardness of the base layer of the lubricant leveling blades obtained from Reference Examples 1 to 12 and Reference Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were the same as those of Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to Measured in the same manner as in 7. The results are shown in Tables 4-6.

<Measurement of average thickness of coating layer>
The average thickness of the coating layer in the lubricant leveling blades obtained from Reference Examples 1 to 12 and Reference Comparative Examples 1 to 6 was measured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7. The results are shown in Tables 4-6.

<Image quality evaluation (lubricant applicability)>
Using the image forming apparatus having the lubricant leveling blades obtained from Reference Examples 1 to 12 and Reference Comparative Examples 1 to 6, output was performed under the following conditions. After that, a halftone image was output, and the degree of unevenness in the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor was evaluated. Incidentally, it is known that the more uniformly the lubricant is applied in the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor, the less unevenness there is in the image.
Environment: 23°C/50% RH
Paper passing conditions: Continuous 0% image area ratio chart (blank paper) Number of output: 200,000 sheets (A4 size horizontal)
-Evaluation criteria-
⊚: No or almost no unevenness on the halftone image.
◯: There is some unevenness on the halftone image, but there is no problem in actual use.
x: There is unevenness on the whole halftone image, and there is a problem in actual use.

Embodiments of the present invention are, for example, as follows.
<1> A cleaning blade for cleaning a rotating body,
having an edge layer and a covering layer,
The coating layer provided on the edge portion of the edge layer contacting the rotating body contains a first fluororesin and a second fluororesin incompatible with the first fluororesin. ,
A cleaning blade having a Martens hardness of 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less at a distance of 20 [μm] from a tip ridge of the edge layer of the cleaning blade. is.
<2> The above <1>, wherein the cleaning blade has a Martens hardness of 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 2 [N/mm ² ] or less at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer. The cleaning blade described in .
<3> From <1>, the average thickness of the coating layer at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 2.0 [μm] or more and 10.0 [μm] or less. The cleaning blade according to any one of <2>.
<4> the first fluororesin contains polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the first fluororesin is spherical fine particles having a volume average particle diameter of 1 [μm] or less.
<5> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the second fluorine-based resin is a mixture of a fluorine-based oil and a second fluorine-based resin.
<6> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein the fluorine-based oil has an average molecular weight of 2,000 to 3,500.
<7> The second fluorine-based resin is a polymer of vinylidene fluoride (VdF), hexafluoropropylene (HFP), or tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), or a binary or ternary The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <6> above, which is an original copolymer.
<8> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the substrate of the cleaning blade has a single layer structure of polyurethane rubber or a multilayer structure in which a plurality of polyurethane rubbers having different Martens hardness are laminated. is.
<9> The cleaning blade according to <8>, wherein the polyurethane rubber has a Martens hardness of 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 2 [N/mm ² ] or less.
<10> Lubricant leveling blade for lubricant applied to a rotating body,
having an edge layer and a covering layer,
The coating layer provided on the edge portion of the edge layer contacting the rotating body contains a first fluororesin and a second fluororesin incompatible with the first fluororesin. ,
The Martens hardness of the lubricant leveling blade at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less. It is a blade for leveling lubricant.
<11> The lubricant leveling blade according to <10>, wherein the angle θ of the tip ridge line is 90° or more and 140° or less.
<12> An image carrier, charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, exposure means for exposing the surface of the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and toner for the electrostatic latent image. At least one of developing means for developing an image and transferring means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier to remove residues on the surface of the image carrier. a cleaning means;
A process cartridge, wherein the cleaning means has the cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <9>.
<13> The process cartridge according to <12>, further comprising lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier,
A process cartridge, wherein the lubricant applying means has the lubricant leveling blade according to any one of <10> to <11>.
<14> An image carrier, charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, exposure means for exposing the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and toner for transferring the electrostatic latent image. developing means for developing an image; transferring means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium; fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium; cleaning means for removing residue on the surface of the image carrier;
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the cleaning means has the cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <9>.
<15> The image forming apparatus according to <14>, further comprising lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the lubricant applying means has the lubricant leveling blade according to any one of <10> to <11>.

The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <9>, the lubricant leveling blade according to any one of <10> to <11>, and the <12> to <13> According to any one of the process cartridges and the image forming apparatus according to any one of <14> to <15>, various problems in the related art can be solved and the object of the present invention can be achieved.

1 Imaging unit 1Y Imaging unit (for yellow)
1C Imaging unit (for cyan)
1M imaging unit (for magenta)
1K imaging unit (for black)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Lubricant application device 101 Fur brush 103 Solid lubricant 103a Lubricant pressure spring 103b Bracket 104 Lubricant leveling blade 104a Lubricant leveling blade tip surface 104b Lubricant leveling blade lower surface 104c Lubricant leveling use Blade contact portion 1041 Lubricant leveling blade support member 1042 Lubricant leveling blade base 14 Intermediate transfer belt 151 First paper feed cassette 152 Second paper feed cassette 151a First paper feed roller 152a Second paper feed roller 153 Paper feed path 154 Conveying roller pair 162 Belt cleaning unit 162a Belt cleaning blade 2 Frame 3 Photoreceptor 3Y Photoreceptor (for yellow)
3C photoreceptor (for cyan)
3M photoreceptor (for magenta)
3K photoreceptor (for black)
4 Charging roller 40 Optical writing unit 41 Polygon mirror 5 Developing device 51 Developing roller 52 Supply screw 53 Stirring screw 54 Doctor 55 Registration roller pair 6 Cleaning device 60 Transfer unit 62 Cleaning blade 62a Cleaning blade tip surface 62b Cleaning blade lower surface 62c Cleaning blade Abutting portion 62d Cleaning blade side surface 621 Cleaning blade supporting member 622 Cleaning blade substrate 622a Edge layer 622b Base layer 623 Coating layer 63 First bracket 64 Second bracket 66 Secondary transfer backup roller 67 Drive roller 68 Auxiliary roller 69 Tension roller 7 Primary Transfer roller 7Y Primary transfer roller (for yellow)
7C Primary transfer roller (for cyan)
7M primary transfer roller (for magenta)
7K primary transfer roller (for black)
70 Secondary transfer roller 8 Charging roller cleaner 80 Fixing unit 81 Pressure heating roller 82 Fixing belt unit 83 Heating roller 84 Fixing belt 85 Tension roller 86 Drive roller 87 Discharge roller pair 88 Stack section 100Y toner cartridge (for yellow)
100C toner cartridge (for cyan)
100M toner cartridge (for magenta)
100K toner cartridge (for black)
500 image forming apparatus L laser beam P recording medium θ angle of blade corner

JP-A-2000-147972 JP 2004-101551 A Japanese Patent No. 3278733 JP-A-10-214009 JP-A-6-348193 JP 2017-16083 A Japanese Patent No. 2853598

Claims (15)

A cleaning blade for cleaning a rotating body,
having an edge layer and a covering layer,
The coating layer provided on the edge portion of the edge layer contacting the rotating body contains a first fluororesin and a second fluororesin incompatible with the first fluororesin. ,
A cleaning blade having a Martens hardness of 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less at a distance of 20 [μm] from a tip ridge of the edge layer of the cleaning blade. . 2. The cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade has a Martens hardness of 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 2 [N/mm ² ] or less at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer. blade. 3. Any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the average thickness of the coating layer at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 2.0 [μm] or more and 10.0 [μm] or less. Cleaning blade as described. The first fluororesin contains polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
4. The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first fluororesin is spherical fine particles having a volume average particle size of 1 [[mu]m] or less. 5. The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein said second fluorine resin is a mixture of fluorine oil and second fluorine resin. The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fluorine-based oil has an average molecular weight of 2,000 to 3,500. The second fluorine-based resin is a polymer of vinylidene fluoride (VdF), hexafluoropropylene (HFP), or tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), or a binary or ternary copolymer combining any of them. 7. A cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is coalesced. 8. The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the substrate of the cleaning blade has a single layer structure of polyurethane rubber or a laminated structure in which a plurality of layers of polyurethane rubber having different Martens hardnesses are laminated. The cleaning blade according to claim 8, wherein the polyurethane rubber has a Martens hardness of 0.5 [N/ ^mm2 ] or more and 2 [N/ ^mm2 ] or less. A lubricant leveling blade for lubricant applied to a rotating body,
having an edge layer and a covering layer,
The coating layer provided on the edge portion of the edge layer contacting the rotating body contains a first fluororesin and a second fluororesin incompatible with the first fluororesin. ,
The Martens hardness of the lubricant leveling blade at a distance of 20 [μm] from the tip ridge of the edge layer is 0.5 [N/mm ² ] or more and 3 [N/mm ² ] or less. Lubricant leveling blade. 11. The blade for leveling lubricant according to claim 10, wherein the angle [theta] of the edge line portion is 90[deg.] or more and 140[deg.] or less. An image carrier, charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, exposure means for exposing the charged surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. and at least one of transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, and cleaning means for contacting the surface of the image carrier to remove residues on the surface of the image carrier. , has
A process cartridge, wherein said cleaning means has the cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 13. The process cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to the surface of said image carrier,
12. A process cartridge, wherein said lubricant applying means has the lubricant leveling blade according to claim 10. An image carrier, charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, exposure means for exposing the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. a developing means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium; a fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium; cleaning means for removing residue on the surface of the
An image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning means has the cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, comprising lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier,
12. An image forming apparatus, wherein said lubricant applying means has the lubricant leveling blade according to claim 10.

Images