JP3320406B2 - Equipment unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
The present invention relates to an apparatus unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive member that can be widely used in an electrophotographic application field using direct charging such as a laser beam printer and plain paper FAX.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Inorganic photoconductive materials such as selenium, cadmium sulfide and zinc oxide have been conventionally used as photoconductive materials for electrophotographic photosensitive members. On the other hand, organic photoconductive materials such as polyvinyl carbazole, oxadiazole, and phthalocyanine have advantages such as non-pollution and high productivity as compared with inorganic photoconductive materials, but have low sensitivity and are difficult to be put to practical use. Therefore, although several sensitization methods have been proposed, it is known that an effective method uses a function-separated type photoconductor in which a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer are laminated.

On the other hand, as a matter of course, an electrophotographic photoreceptor is required to have predetermined sensitivity, electrical characteristics, and optical characteristics according to an applied electrophotographic process. Particularly, in the case of a photoreceptor that can be used repeatedly, the surface layer of the photoreceptor is subjected to direct electrical and mechanical external forces such as corona charging, toner development, transfer to paper, and cleaning treatment, so that the durability against them is increased. Is required.
Specifically, there is a demand for durability against deterioration in sensitivity, reduction in potential, increase in residual potential, and generation of surface wear and scratches due to rubbing due to deterioration due to ozone generated during corona charging. Since the surface of the photoreceptor is coated with a resin, the performance of the resin is particularly important, and a resin having excellent durability has been demanded.

Recently, as a resin satisfying these requirements, a polycarbonate resin having bisphenol A as a skeleton (hereinafter referred to as polycarbonate A) has been used as a binder for a surface layer.

However, when direct charging is introduced instead of corona charging due to the problem of ozone, a further load is applied to the photoreceptor, and further improvement of the binder is required.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which cracks are less likely to occur during direct charging while utilizing the excellent characteristics of a conventional electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is intended to be.

When a photoreceptor is prepared, a film is formed by dissolving the binder resin and the charge transporting material in a solvent, coating and drying. Resin deposited under such conditions has residual strain stress in its internal structure,
The polycarbonate resin has a particularly strong tendency, and is considered to form a film in an unstable state.

Recently, as a charging method for an electrophotographic apparatus, an apparatus using direct charging instead of general corona charging has been put to practical use. This method contributes to simplification of the apparatus and reduction of ozone generated by corona discharge, but on the other hand, cracks are likely to occur due to an increase in the number of members directly in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member. ing.

That is, various materials constituting the direct charging member migrate to the surface of the photoreceptor to cause cracks.
For these reasons, there has been a demand for a design of a surface layer that is less likely to crack the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[0010]

That is, the present invention integrates at least one means selected from the group consisting of an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging means, a developing means and a cleaning means, and is detachably attached to an electrophotographic apparatus main body. In one device unit, the charging member has an elastic layer and is arranged in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a conductive support and a photosensitive layer, and the photosensitive layer is a surface layer. And an apparatus unit comprising the following polycarbonate (1) or (2) . Polycarbonate (1) : The following formulas (b-1) to (b-1)
Copolymerized polycarbonate synthesized using two or more asymmetric diol compounds selected from 7) Polycarbonate (2) : Formulas (a- 1 ) to (a-)
3 ) Polycarbonate synthesized using a symmetric diol having a substituent having 3 or more carbon atoms in the side chain selected from 3 )

[0011]

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[0012]

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[0013]

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The symmetric diols are shown below.

[0015]

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The asymmetric diol is shown below.

[0017]

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[0018]

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The copolycarbonate synthesized from two or more asymmetric diols used in the present invention can be obtained by a general polycarbonate synthesis method such as a phosgene method using two or more asymmetric diol compounds. .

Moreover, the copolycarbonate synthesized from symmetrical diols having a substituent having 3 or more carbon atoms in the side chain, the side chain of the phosgene method using a diol compound having a substituent having 3 or more carbon atoms Common polycarbonate
It can be obtained by a synthetic method.

The molecular weight of the above-mentioned copolymerized polycarbonate and the polycarbonate is preferably 1000 in consideration of durability, ie, abrasion resistance, scratch resistance, and viscosity during production, ie, productivity. To 150,000, and particularly preferably 50 to 150,000.
It is preferably in the range of 00 to 100,000.

Since the polycarbonate of the present invention has such a structure, it is considered that the crystallinity is lower than that of ordinary polycarbonate and the internal stress at the time of film formation is small, so that cracks are hardly generated by direct charging. Can be

The proportion of the total polycarbonate in the charge transport layer is 20 to 80% by weight, preferably 30 to 60% by weight.
% By weight.

Further, as the polymer forming the photosensitive layer,
Other resins may be blended as long as the properties of the copolymerized polycarbonate and the polycarbonate in the present invention are not impaired.

The photosensitive layer is provided on a conductive support. As the conductive support, a support having conductivity itself, for example, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, stainless steel, or the like can be used. In addition, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, an indium oxide-tin oxide alloy, or the like is coated by vacuum evaporation. The conductive support or plastic having the formed layer, a support in which conductive particles (for example, carbon black, tin oxide particles, etc.) are impregnated with plastic or paper together with an appropriate binder, a plastic having a conductive binder, or the like is used. be able to.

An undercoat layer having a barrier function and an adhesive function can be provided between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer. The undercoat layer is casein, polyvinyl alcohol, nitrocellulose, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, polyamide,
It can be formed of a modified polyamide, polyurethane, gelatin, aluminum oxide, or the like. The thickness of the undercoat layer is 5 μm
Hereinafter, preferably, 0.5 to 3 μm is appropriate. The undercoat layer desirably has a resistivity of 10 ⁷ Ω · cm or more in order to exhibit its function.

The photosensitive layer is formed, for example, by coating a photoconductor such as an organic photoconductor, amorphous silicon, or selenium with a binder, if necessary, by coating or vacuum deposition. When an organic photoconductor is used, a photosensitive layer composed of a combination of a charge generation layer that generates charge carriers upon exposure and a charge transport layer capable of transporting the generated charge carriers can also be used effectively.

The charge generation layer is formed by depositing one or more kinds of charge generation materials such as azo pigments, quinone pigments, quinocyanine pigments, perylene pigments, indigo pigments, bisbayzoimidazole pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, and quinacridone pigments. Alternatively, it can be dispersed together with a suitable binder (or even without a binder) and molded by coating.

The binder can be selected from a wide range of insulating resins or organic photoconductive polymers. For example, as the insulating resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyarylate (condensed polymer of bisphenol A and phthalic acid, etc.), polycarbonate, polyester, phenoxy resin, acrylic resin,
Examples include polyacrylamide resin, polyamide, cellulosic resin, urethane resin, epoxy resin, casein, and polyvinyl alcohol. Examples of the organic photoconductive polymer include polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl anthracene, and polyvinyl pyrene.

The charge generation layer has a thickness of 0.01 to 15 μm,
The thickness is preferably 0.05 to 5 μm, and the weight ratio of the charge generation layer to the binder is 10: 1 to 1:20.

The solvent used for the charge generation layer coating is selected from the solubility and dispersion stability of the resin and charge transporting material used. Examples of the organic solvent include alcohols, phosphooxides, ethers, esters, and fatty acids. An aromatic halogenated hydrocarbon or an aromatic compound can be used.

The coating can be performed by using a coating method such as a dip coating method, a spray coating method, a Meyer bar coating method, a blade coating method and the like.

The charge transport layer is formed by dissolving a charge transport material in the polycarbonate resin of the present invention. Examples of the organic charge transporting material used in the present invention include hydrazone-based compounds, stilbene-based compounds, pyrazoline-based compounds, oxazole-based compounds, thiazole-based compounds, and triarylamine-based compounds. These charge transport materials can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The charge transport layer has a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably 8 to 20 μm, and the weight ratio of the charge transport material to the binder is 5: 1 to 1: 5, preferably 3: 1 to 1: 3.
It is about.

The coating can be performed by the coating method as described above.

The direct charging member is made of a conductive elastic material, and may have any shape such as a roller, a blade, a belt, a brush, and a flat plate.

For example, in the case of a roller, there is a single layer or a multilayer structure of two or more layers, and the configuration of the charging member in the case of three layers will be described.

As the conductive substrate, metals such as iron, copper, and stainless steel, and conductive resins such as carbon-dispersed resins and metal-particle-dispersed resins can be used. it can.

The elastic layer is a layer rich in elasticity and low in hardness, and is JIS based on the measuring method of JIS K-6301 from the viewpoint of adhesion to the photosensitive member due to flexibility and vibration absorption.
-Rubber hardness of 35 degrees or less, further measured by a type A measuring instrument (Teklock GS-706: manufactured by Techlock)
0 degrees or less, especially the range of 12 degrees to 25 degrees is preferable. Further, the thickness of the elastic layer is preferably 1.5 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more, and particularly preferably in the range of 3 mm to 13 mm from the above point. The elastic layer is made of chloroprene rubber as a material for forming,
Rubber or sponge such as isoprene rubber, EPDM rubber, polyurethane rubber, epoxy rubber, butyl rubber, styrene-butadiene thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer, polyester thermoplastic elastomer,
Thermoplastic elastomers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate-based thermoplastic elastomers are exemplified. If necessary, conductive particles may be added to the elastic layer in order to adjust its hardness.

The conductive layer is a layer having a high electric conductivity and has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁷ Ω · cm or less, more preferably 10 ⁶ Ω · cm or less, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 ⁻² Ω · cm to 10 ⁶ Ω · cm. This is a layer having conductivity. The thickness of the conductive layer is desirably a thin layer in order to transmit the flexibility of the lower elastic layer to the upper resistive layer, and is preferably 3 mm or less, more preferably 2 mm or less, and particularly preferably in the range of 20 μm to 1 mm.

As the material for forming the conductive layer, a metal deposited film,
A conductive particle-dispersed resin, a conductive resin, or the like can be used. Specifically, as the metal deposition film, aluminum,
Metals such as indium, nickel, copper, and iron are deposited. Examples of the conductive particle-dispersed resin include those in which conductive particles such as carbon, aluminum, nickel, and titanium oxide are dispersed in a resin such as urethane, polyester, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, and polymethyl methacrylate. . Examples of the conductive resin include quaternary ammonium salt-containing polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinylaniline, polyvinylpyrrole, polydiacetylene, and polyethyleneimine. Among these, a conductive particle-dispersed resin is preferred from the viewpoint of controlling the conductivity.

The resistance layer is formed so as to have a higher resistance than the conductive layer, and has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹² Ω ·
cm, preferably 10 ⁷ to 10 ¹¹ Ω · cm,
A semiconductive resin, a conductive particle-dispersed insulating resin, or the like can be used. Examples of the semiconductive resin include resins such as ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, methoxymethylated nylon, ethoxymethylated nylon, copolymerized nylon, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and casein, and mixtures of these resins. As the conductive particle dispersion insulating resin, a small amount of conductive particles such as carbon, aluminum, indium oxide, and titanium oxide are dispersed in an insulating resin such as urethane, polyester, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, and polymethacrylic acid. And the resistance is adjusted. The thickness of the resistive layer is 1 μm from the point of chargeability.
To 500 μm, particularly preferably 50 μm to 200 μm.

Further, the internal resistance layer and the surface resistance layer may be configured by dividing the resistance layer into two layers, and a four-layer configuration may be employed. Hereinafter, the internal resistance layer and the surface resistance layer will be described.

The inner resistance layer is formed such that the resistance than the lower conductive layer increases, 10 to 10 ⁶ times greater than the volume resistivity of the conductive layer, in particular the resistance in the range of 10 ² to 10 ⁵ times Is preferably high. The volume resistivity of the internal resistance layer is preferably in the range of 10 ⁶ Ω · cm to 10 ¹² Ω · cm, particularly preferably in the range of 10 ⁷ Ω · cm to 10 ¹¹ Ω · cm.
Further, the thickness of the internal resistance layer is preferably in the range of 1 μm to 450 μm, particularly preferably 50 μm to 200 μm.

Examples of the material for forming the internal resistance layer include resins such as ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, methoxymethylated nylon, ethoxymethylated nylon, copolymerized nylon, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and casein, a mixture of these resins, or a small amount of these resins. Conductive particles such as semiconductive resin, such as those in which conductive particles are dispersed, carbon, aluminum, indium oxide, titanium oxide, and the like, such as urethane, polyester, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, polymethacrylate, etc. In the insulating resin,
Conductive particles dispersed in a small amount and adjusted in resistance, such as insulating resin, rubber such as epichlorohydrin rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide rubber, polyurethane rubber, epoxy rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, or a mixture of these rubbers Alternatively, semiconductive rubbers such as those in which conductive particles are dispersed and contained in these rubbers may be used. Among these, semiconductive rubbers such as epichlorohydrin rubber and epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide rubber are preferred.

Examples of the plasticizer include phthalic acid compounds such as dibutyl phthalate, phosphoric acid compounds such as tricresyl phosphate, and epoxy compounds such as alkyl epoxy stearate.

When the internal resistance layer is formed of a resin,
The resin has a tensile modulus of elasticity of 200 kgf / m in terms of flexibility.
m ² or less, especially 50 kgf / mm ^{2 to} 150 kgf /
A range of mm ² is preferred. When formed of rubber, the rubber hardness described above is 35 degrees or less, particularly 10 degrees or more.
A range of 30 degrees is preferred.

The surface resistance layer is formed so as to have a higher resistance than the conductive layer as in the case of the internal resistance layer, and has a volume resistivity of 10 to 10 ⁶ times, particularly 10 ² , than the volume resistivity of the conductive layer.
It is preferable that the high resistance at 10 ⁵ fold range. The resistance of the surface resistance layer may be lower, higher, or the same as that of the internal resistance layer. From the viewpoint of charging uniformity, the resistance of the internal resistance layer is 1 to less than that of the surface resistance layer.
It is preferably 50 times, especially 2 to 10 times higher. The volume resistivity of the surface resistance layer is in the range of 10 ⁶ Ω · cm to 10 ¹² Ω · cm, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 ⁷ Ω · cm to 10 ¹¹ Ω · cm. Further, the thickness of the surface resistance layer is desirably smaller than the thickness of the internal resistance layer so as not to impair the flexibility of the underlying internal resistance layer, and is preferably 0.1 μm to 50 μm, particularly 1 μm to 30 μm. preferable.

Examples of the material for forming the surface resistance layer include resins such as the aforementioned semiconductive resin and conductive fine particle dispersed insulating resin.

In the charging member, in addition to these layers,
Another layer such as an adhesive layer for improving the adhesiveness of each layer may be provided.

The charging member is manufactured, for example, as follows.

First, a metal rod is prepared as a conductive base of the charging member. The material of the elastic layer is formed on the metal bar by melt molding, injection molding, dip coating or spray coating to provide an elastic layer.

Next, the material of the conductive layer is formed on the elastic layer by melt molding, injection molding, dip coating or spray coating to provide a conductive layer.

Finally, the material of the resistance layer is applied on the conductive layer by dip coating, spray coating, gravure coating, or the like to provide a resistance layer.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention can be applied to, for example, an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. In this apparatus, a primary direct charging member 18, an image exposure unit 17, a developing unit 8, a transfer charging unit 9, and a cleaning unit 10 are arranged on a peripheral surface of a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member 12.

An external voltage (for example, 2
DC voltage between 00 V and 2000 V and peak-to-peak voltage 4
A pulsating voltage on which an AC voltage of 000 V or less is superimposed to charge the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 12,
The image on the document is exposed to an image on a photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image. Next, an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is developed (visualized) by attaching the developer in the developing unit 8 to the photoconductor, and the developer on the photoconductor is transferred to paper by the transfer charging unit 9. Then, the developer remaining on the photosensitive member without being transferred to the paper at the time of transfer by the cleaning unit 10 is collected.

When a member for direct charging is used for transfer charging,
For example, the present invention can be applied to an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. In this apparatus, a primary charging corona charger 14, an image exposure unit 17, a developing unit 8, a transfer charging direct charging member 15, a cleaning unit 10, and a pre-exposure unit 11 are arranged on the peripheral surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member 12. ing.

A voltage (for example, a DC voltage of 400 to 1000 V) is applied to the transfer charging direct charging member 15 which is arranged in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 12, and the developer on the electrophotographic photosensitive member is transferred to a transfer member such as paper. Can be transferred to

When the member for direct charging is used for charge removal,
For example, the present invention can be applied to an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. In this apparatus, a primary charging corona charger 14, an image exposure unit 17, a developing unit 8, a transfer charging corona charger 9, and a cleaning unit 10 are arranged on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 12.

A voltage (for example, an AC peak-to-peak voltage of 500 to 2000 V) is applied to the charge neutralizing direct charging member 16 arranged in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 12 to eliminate the charge on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. .

The direct charging member to be brought into contact with the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention is not limited to a specific method. The charging member may be fixed or moved in the same direction as the photoreceptor or rotated in the opposite direction. Can also be used. Further, it is also possible for the charging member to function as a developer cleaning device on the photosensitive member.

The voltage applied to the charging member and the method of application in direct charging depend on the specifications of each electrophotographic apparatus, but may be used for the purpose of instantaneously applying a desired voltage or for protecting a photosensitive member. A method in which the applied voltage is increased in a stepwise manner, or a method in which the voltage is applied in the order of DC → AC or AC → DC can be adopted in the case of applying in a form in which AC is superimposed on DC.

When the member for direct charging is used for primary charging of an electrophotographic apparatus, it is preferable to superimpose a DC voltage and an AC voltage on the electrophotographic photosensitive member in an image output area. Also,
Primary charging may be applied with only a DC voltage.

When used for transfer charging, a DC voltage alone or a DC voltage and an AC voltage may be superimposed.

When used for static elimination charging, it is necessary to apply only an AC voltage.

In the present invention, processes such as image exposure, development, and cleaning can be performed by any method known in the field of electrostatography, and are limited to specific ones such as the type of developer. Not something. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention can be used not only for copying machines, but also for
It can also be used in electrophotographic applications such as RT printers and electrophotographic plate making systems.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration of a general transfer type electrophotographic apparatus using the drum type photoreceptor of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a drum type photosensitive member of the present invention as an image carrier, which is driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed in the direction of an arrow around a shaft 101a. The photoreceptor 101 is uniformly charged with a predetermined positive or negative potential on its peripheral surface by a primary charging means 102 during the rotation process.
At 03, light image exposure L (slit exposure, laser beam scanning exposure, etc.) is received by an image exposure means (not shown). As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the exposure image is sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor.

The electrostatic latent image is then developed with toner by the developing means 104, and the toner development is performed by the transfer means 105 between the photosensitive member 101 and the transfer means 105 from a paper feed unit (not shown) in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive body 101. It is sequentially transferred onto the surface of the transfer material P taken and fed.

The transfer material P having undergone the image transfer is separated from the photoreceptor surface, introduced into the image fixing means 108, subjected to the image fixation, and printed out of the apparatus as a copy.

The surface of the photoreceptor 101 after the image transfer is cleaned by a cleaning unit 106 to remove the untransferred toner, and is repeatedly used for image formation.

As the uniform charging means 102 for the photosensitive member 101, a direct charging member is used. The transfer device 105
Also, a direct charging member is used. As an electrophotographic apparatus, a plurality of components such as the above-described photoreceptor, developing means, and cleaning means are integrally combined as an apparatus unit, and this unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus body. . For example, the photoconductor 101 and the cleaning unit 106 may be integrated into one apparatus unit, and may be configured to be detachable using a guide unit such as a rail of the apparatus body. At this time, the above-described device unit may be provided with a charging unit and / or a developing unit.

In the case where the electrophotographic apparatus is used as a copying machine or a printer, the light image exposure L is performed by reflecting or transmitting light from the original or by reading the original and converting it into a signal. The driving is performed by driving a light emitting diode array or a liquid crystal shutter array.

When used as a facsimile printer, the light image exposure L is an exposure for printing received data. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of this case.

The controller 111 controls the image reading unit 110 and the printer 119. The entire controller 111 is controlled by the CPU 117. The read data from the image reading unit is transmitted to the partner station through the transmission circuit 113. Data received from the partner station is sent to the printer 119 through the receiving circuit 112. Predetermined image data is stored in the image memory. Printer controller 11
Reference numeral 8 controls the printer 119. 114 is a telephone.

The image received from the line 115 (image information from the remote terminal connected via the line) is demodulated by the receiving circuit 112, and then the CPU 117 performs a decoding process of the image information and sequentially stores the image in the image memory 116. Is stored.
When the image of at least one page is stored in the memory 116, the image of the page is recorded. CPU1
Reference numeral 17 reads out one page of image information from the memory 116 and sends the decoded one page of image information to the printer controller 118. Printer controller 118
The printer 1 receives the image information of one page from the CPU 117 and records the image information of the page.
19 is controlled.

The CPU 117 receives the next page during recording by the printer 119.

As described above, image reception and recording are performed.

The following is an example of manufacturing the charging member used in the present invention. (Production Example 1) A charging member was produced as follows. However, parts indicate parts by weight.

First, with a steel core of φ3 mm and a length of 240 mm as an axis, a rubber hardness of 15 ° was measured with a JIS-A type measuring instrument based on JIS K-6301 using chloroprene rubber.
(Teclock Rubber Hardness Tester [Teklock GS-7
06]), and melt-molded to have a diameter of 10 mm and a length of 220 mm to form an elastic layer having a thickness of 3.5 mm.

Next, a conductive carbon particle-dispersed polyurethane paint (Shintron: manufactured by Shinto Paint) was applied onto the elastic layer by dip coating, and after drying, a conductive layer having a thickness of 1 mm was provided.

Next, epichlorohydrin rubber (hydrin,
Nippon Zeon 10 parts, tricresyl phosphate (T
CP) 1 part, zinc oxide 0.3 part, powdered sulfur 0.2 part,
0.1 part of vulcanization accelerator (trimercaptotriazine), T
90 parts of HF were mixed, dip-coated on the conductive layer, and dried to form an internal resistance layer having a thickness of 90 μm.

Next, 1 part of conductive carbon (Ketzen black, manufactured by Lion), methoxymethylated nylon 19
Parts, a surfactant (sorbitol, manufactured by Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.) (0.01 part) was mixed with 80 parts of methanol and dispersed in a ball mill to prepare a surface resistance layer coating solution. This coating solution was spray-coated on the internal resistance layer, and after drying, a surface resistance layer was provided so as to have a film thickness of 10 μm. 1 (roller-shaped) was produced.

The conductive layer, the internal resistance layer and the surface resistance layer were each separately applied by dip coating on an Al sheet, and the volume resistivity was measured.

The measurement of the volume resistivity was performed using Hewlett Pa
chard 16008AResistencyCe
11, applied voltage 10 V, temperature 22 ° C., humidity 60%
It was measured as follows.

The measurement results show that the conductive layer is 4 × 10 ⁴ Ω · c
m, internal resistance layer is 7 × 10 ⁹ Ω · cm, surface resistance layer is 2
× 10 ⁹ Ω · cm. (Production Example 2) 5 parts by weight of conductive carbon (Ketzen Black, manufactured by Lion) and 0.05 parts by weight of a surfactant (sorbitol, manufactured by Ajinomoto) are melt-kneaded in 100 parts by weight of chloroprene rubber, and φ5 × 250 mm at the center. Φ through stainless steel shaft
It was molded to a size of 18 × 210 mm, and a conductive elastic layer of a roller-shaped charging member was provided.

The volume resistance of the transfer charging member is set at a temperature of 22.
It was 4 × 10 ⁶ Ω · cm when measured in an environment at a temperature of 60 ° C. and a humidity of 60%.

As described above, the direct charging member No. 2 (roller-shaped). (Production Example 3) Next, conductive carbon 5 was added to 100 parts by weight of chloroprene rubber.
The weight part is melt-kneaded, and a free length of 10 mm x 220 m is placed on a 2 mm x 240 mm stainless plate at the center as shown in Fig. 3
m, and a conductive elastic layer of a blade-shaped charging member was provided. The volume resistance of the charge removing member was 4 × 10 ⁴ Ω · cm.

Next, a nylon quaternary copolymer (CM800)
9 parts, conductive carbon (Conductex C-900, manufactured by Columbian Carbon Co., Ltd.), 1 part, silicone oil (SH28PA, manufactured by Toray Silicone) 0.00
One part was added to 90 parts of ethanol and dispersed by a ball mill.

Dip coating was performed on the conductive elastic layer of the charging member, and after drying, a resistive layer having a thickness of 100 μm was provided to produce a blade-shaped charging member as shown in FIG. When a resistance layer was similarly provided on the aluminum sheet and the volume resistance was measured, it was 9 × 10 ⁹ Ω · cm.

As described above, the direct charging member No. No. 3 (blade shape) was produced.

[0092]

[Example 1]

An Al cylinder of 30φ, 254 mm was used as a support.
A coating composed of the following materials was applied to the support by a dipping method, and was thermally cured at 140 ° C. for 30 minutes to form an 18 μm conductive layer.

Conductive pigment: Tin oxide-coated titanium oxide 10 parts (parts by weight, hereinafter the same) Resistance adjusting pigment: titanium oxide 10 parts Binder resin: phenol resin 10 parts Leveling agent: silicon Oil: 0.001 part Solvent: methanol / methyl cellosolve = 1/1 ... 2
0 parts Next, a solution obtained by dissolving 3 parts of N-methoxymethylated nylon and 3 parts of copolymerized nylon in 65 parts of methanol and 30 parts of n-butanol was applied thereon by a dipping method, and 0.5 μm
m undercoat layer was formed. Next, 3 parts of a disazo pigment having the following structural formula,

[0094]

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Polyvinyl benzal (benzalization ratio 8
0%, weight average molecular weight 11,000) and 2 parts of cyclohexanone were dispersed in a sand mill using φ1 mm glass beads for 24 hours.
By adding 15 parts, a dispersion for a charge generation layer was obtained. This was applied on the undercoat layer by an immersion method to form a 0.2 μm charge generation layer. Next, 10 parts of a compound having the following structural formula:

[0096]

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10 parts of the following copolymer was

[0098]

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It was dissolved in 50 parts of monochlorobenzene and 10 parts of dichloromethane. This coating material was applied on the above-mentioned charge generation layer by a dipping method to form a 20 μm charge transport layer.

Comparative Example 1 Polycarbonate Z (weight average molecular weight 4.6 × 10 ⁴ )
A photoreceptor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the charge transport layer was formed by using.

The effect of the charging member on the obtained photoreceptor was examined. In the method, the charging member No. was directly applied to the photosensitive member with a load of 1 kg. 2, and after one month, the presence or absence of cracks was observed under a microscope. Further, the measurement of the sensitivity and the image were performed by mounting the laser beam printer. Laser beam printer is Canon LB
P-LX is replaced by a direct charging member No. in place of the transfer charger. 2
The transfer charge was changed to a direct charge method.
Table 1 shows the results. For transfer charging, a DC voltage of +500 V was applied.

[0102]

[Table 1]

Example 2 An aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 30 mm and 254 mm was used as a support.
This was cut with a diamond tool to obtain a cut surface having a ten-point average surface roughness of 0.4 μm and a pitch of 150 μm.

Next, a solution prepared by dissolving 3 parts of N-methoxymethylated nylon and 3 parts of copolymerized nylon in 65 parts of methanol and 30 parts of n-butanol was applied thereon by a dipping method to form a 0.5 μm An undercoat layer was formed. Next, 3 parts of χ-type metal-free phthalocyanine, 2 parts of polyvinyl benzal (benzalization ratio 80%, weight average molecular weight 11,000) and 80 parts of cyclohexanone were dispersed for 24 hours by a sand mill using φ1 mm glass beads, and then methyl ethyl ketone 115 was dispersed. The resulting mixture was added to obtain a dispersion for charge generation layer. This was applied on the undercoat layer by a dipping method,
Was formed. Next, a compound 1 of the following structural formula
0 copies,

[0105]

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10 parts of the following copolymer was

[0107]

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It was dissolved in 50 parts of monochlorobenzene and 10 parts of dichloromethane. This coating material was applied on the above-mentioned charge generation layer by a dipping method to form a 20 μm charge transport layer.

Comparative Example 2 Polycarbonate Z (weight average molecular weight 4.6 × 10 ⁴ )
A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2, except that the charge transport layer was formed using

The influence of the charging member on the obtained photoreceptor was examined. In the method, the charging member No. was directly applied to the photosensitive member with a load of 1 kg. 3, and after one month, the presence or absence of cracks was observed under a microscope. Further, the measurement of the sensitivity and the image were performed by mounting the laser beam printer. Laser beam printer is Canon LB
P-LX is directly charged between cleaning member and the primary charger. A charge-removal type that was installed and modified to a direct charge type by 3 was used. Table 2 shows the results. For static elimination, an AC peak-to-peak voltage of 1400 V was applied.

[0111]

[Table 2]

[0112]

The apparatus unit having the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of cracks without impairing the high-sensitivity electrophotographic characteristics, is easy to handle, and has a small area around the photoreceptor. The design, especially the design latitude of the directly charged members, has become wider and easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a single-layer roller-shaped direct charging member, in which (a) is a longitudinal sectional view with respect to an axis, and (b) is a transverse sectional view in an axial direction.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a two-layer roller-shaped direct charging member.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a three-layer roller-shaped direct charging member.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a four-layer roller-shaped direct charging member.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a blade-shaped direct charging member.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a belt-shaped direct charging member.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a brush-shaped direct charging member.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a flat charging member having a flat shape.

FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention and a direct charging member for primary charging.

FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention and a direct charging member for transfer charging.

FIG. 11 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention and a direct charging member for static elimination charging.

FIG. 12 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a transfer type electrophotographic apparatus using the drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention and a direct charging member for primary charging.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration when the apparatus of FIG. 12 is used for a facsimile.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a brush-shaped direct charging member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 conductive base 2 conductive elastic layer 3 resistive layer 3 a internal resistive layer 3 b surface resistive layer 4 conductive layer 5 elastic layer 6 belt rotation shaft 7 charging brush 8 developing means 9 transfer charging means 10 cleaning means 11 pre-exposure means 12 Electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention 13 Transferred member 14 Corona charger for primary charging 15 Direct charging member for transfer charging 16 Direct charging member for static elimination charging 17 Image exposure means 18 Direct charging member for primary charging

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Yoshihara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hideki Anayama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hideyuki Ainoya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hidetoshi Hirano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Junichi Kishi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Hanami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References Special JP-A-1-205180 (JP, A) JP-A-1-207768 (JP, A) JP-A-1-211779 (JP, A) JP-A-1-269943 (JP, A) JP-A-2-254460 (JP JP, A) JP-A-2-254461 (JP, A) JP-A-3-10267 (JP, A) JP-A-3-221962 (JP, A) JP-A -25868 (JP, A) JP-A-4-149558 (JP, A) JP-A-4-174857 (JP, A) JP-A-4-268955 (JP, A) JP-A-4-268956 (JP, A) JP-A-4-320269 (JP, A) JP-A-5-6010 (JP, A) JP-A-5-6015 (JP, A) JP-A-5-34944 (JP, A) 34964 (JP, A) JP-A-5-88398 (JP, A) JP-A-6-317917 (JP, A) JP-A-61-62040 (JP, A) JP-A-61-137157 (JP, A) JP-A-62-212661 (JP, A) JP-A-62-242951 (JP, A) JP-A-62-250458 (JP, A) JP-A-64-44964 (JP, A) (58) (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 5/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one unit selected from the group consisting of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit, wherein the charging member is an elastic layer. have, are disposed in contact with the electrophotographic photoreceptor, the electrophotographic photoreceptor has a conductive support and the photosensitive layer, the photosensitive layer is a surface layer, and the following (1) or
Or a device unit containing the polycarbonate of (2) . Polycarbonate (1) : The following formulas (b-1) to (b-1)
Copolymerized polycarbonate synthesized using two or more asymmetric diol compounds selected from 7) Polycarbonate (2) : Formulas (a- 1 ) to (a-)
Polycarbonate embedded image that is synthesized using the symmetrical diols having a substituent having 3 or more carbon atoms in a side chain selected from 3) Embedded image Embedded image 2. The device unit according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive layer contains polycarbonate (1). 3. The apparatus unit according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive layer contains polycarbonate (2). 4. The apparatus unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 the elastic layer is not more than 35 degrees of rubber hardness.