JP3353185B2 - Refiner for organic electrophotographic photoreceptor and refining method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a refiner and to a refining method for organic <br/> electrophotographic photosensitive member is repeatedly used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a copying or printing process using an electrophotographic photoreceptor is repeated, the developer is not completely cleaned, so that a resin film is gradually formed on the photoreceptor surface, and a predetermined photosensitive characteristic is obtained. And the image quality is degraded. In addition, in the copying and printing processes, corona discharge to give charge to the photoreceptor surface, deterioration of the surface due to light irradiation for static elimination, adhesion of hygroscopic substances or alkaline substances, adhesion of paper powder, etc. occur. And the image quality is degraded. By polishing and removing the deposits or the deteriorated surface layer, etc., which cause such deterioration of the image quality using an abrasive, the photoconductor can be regenerated so that a high quality image can be obtained. Have been done.

Conventionally, a refiner for an electrophotographic photosensitive member has been used in which a volatile solvent is used as a dispersion medium and an abrasive such as cerium oxide, alumina or titanium oxide is added thereto.

As a refiner for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a refiner containing a nonionic surfactant disclosed in JP-A-58-83881 and an abrasive containing alcohol and kerosene disclosed in JP-A-57-182376 are dispersed. And a mixture of two types of abrasives as disclosed in JP-A-56-84782.

[0005] However, the conventional refiner uses a flammable and toxic solvent, and has a problem in handling and storing by an operator.

Further, when these solvents are used in an organic photoreceptor, the solvent remains in the photosensitive layer after refining,
There is a problem that the organic photoreceptor film is cracked.

[0007] However, when the abrasive particles are simply dispersed in water, there have been problems such as unwiped residue and short-term storage life of the refiner, which causes precipitation.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-53381, there is an example in which an abrasive is dispersed in a water-soluble polymer. However, after wiping, the water-soluble polymer remains and the electrophotographic performance is rather deteriorated. Have a problem.

[0009]

The object of the present invention is to solve the above is safe and harmless and good refining properties, has a wiping property, does not cause cracks in the surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor Yes
And a refining method using the refiner.

[0010]

According to the present invention, abrasive particles are dispersed in an aqueous emulsion.

The abrasive particles used in the present invention include:
Examples include aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, cerium oxide, titanium oxide, chromium oxide, and zirconium oxide.

Essential materials are aluminum oxide (alumina) and silicon oxide (silica ) .

Alumina includes α, β, γ, δ, ζ, η,
Crystal forms such as θ, κ, χ, and ρ can be arbitrarily used. Six types of crystalline silica and amorphous silica can be used as the silica, and diatomaceous earth can be of any type, such as marine or lake marine. The particle size of these abrasives is
It is preferably from 0.01 to 70 μm, and more preferably from 0.05 to 60 μm. The content of the abrasive is 1 to 50%, preferably 5 to 40% by weight based on the total refiner weight. Abrasive 50
% Or more, the dispersion stability is apt to be deteriorated, and if it is less than 10%, the refining property is inferior.

As the compound forming the refiner emulsion of the present invention, water, an organic solvent and a surfactant are used. Examples of the organic solvent include linear hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, and decane and isomers thereof, cyclic hydrocarbons, mineral oils such as kerosene spindle oil, silicone oils, acetates, and ethers such as tetrahydrofuran. , Ketones such as acetone, 2-butanone, etc., alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol and its isomers, aromatic hydrocarbons, etc., and those widely used as organic solvents can be used. However, preferably, a mixture of a linear hydrocarbon and its isomer and a cyclic hydrocarbon or a mineral oil, more preferably a mixture of a mineral oil and an alcohol, and in the case of a mixture, the ratio of the mineral oil to the alcohol is mineral oil / alcohol = It is preferable to use in the range of 10/100 to 300/100. The content of these organic solvents is particularly preferably 3 to 30%, preferably 5 to 20% by weight based on the entire refiner.

The refiner of the present invention needs to form an emulsion, for which an emulsifier is used. Examples of the type of the emulsifier used in the present invention include a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, and an amphoteric surfactant. A particularly preferred emulsifier is a nonionic surfactant, and as its structure, a polyether-based nonionic surfactant or a compound such as polyvinyl alcohol as shown below is also a nonionic surfactant of the present invention. Used.

1 polyoxyethylene alkyl ether 2 polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether 3 polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl ester The structural formula of each of the above compounds is shown below.

[0017]

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The amount of the emulsifier added is 0.1 to 10%, preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight based on the total refiner weight. If the amount of the emulsifier is less than this, a stable emulsion may not be formed. If the amount is more than this, the emulsifier may be deposited on the photosensitive surface after refining to cause deterioration of image quality.

It is preferable to add a linear or cyclic alkyl or halogen-substituted or unsubstituted organopolysiloxane to the refiner.

The amount of the organopolysiloxane is 0.01 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.05%, based on the total weight of the refiner.
~ 5%. Specific examples include dimethyl silicone oil (KF-96 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical) and methylphenyl silicone oil (KF-54 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical).

The refiner of the present invention may optionally contain additives used in conventional refiners, such as preservatives and fragrances.

[0022] As a photosensitive member using a refiner of the present invention, was difficult to apply the slave come refiner, it can be used to good suitable for an electrophotographic photosensitive member using an organic photoconductor.

As the refining method of the present invention, any conventionally known method can be used. For example, as an example, a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member surface is first wiped dry with a pad, and then a refiner is attached to the pad. Then, the surface of the drum is wiped, polished, and finally the refiner is wiped off with a dry wipe. The first wipe may be removed,
Instead of the last dry wiping, the refiner may be scraped off with a blade or the like. After refining, the drum surface may be wiped with another material.

The pad used in the present invention is made of paper, absorbent cotton, chemical fiber or non-woven fabric, and is preferably a non-woven fabric because it generates less dust and fiber waste.

[0025]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0026] Various polishing agent represented by Table 1, a solvent, water, then the surfactant and other needs essential Ji and additives plus the predetermined parts by weight, subjected to ultrasonic dispersion for 5 minutes, Rifai in the present invention < Examples No. 1 to No. 5 and Comparative Example Samples Other than the Present Invention
Nos. 1 to 6 were produced. The obtained sample was evaluated according to the following evaluation items. The refining method followed the method described above.

[0027]

[Table 1]

(Silicone Oil) KF-96 Dimethyl Silicone Oil (Shin-Etsu Chemical) KF-54 Methylphenyl Silicone Oil (Shin-Etsu Chemical) Surfactant A

[0029]

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(Nonionic surfactant) Surfactant B Polyethylene glycol monostearate (Nonionic surfactant) Surfactant C Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Nonionic surfactant) Surfactant D Sodium dodecyl sulfate (Anion Surfactant) Evaluation items A. Refining property test Paper drum is adhered to the surface of the photoreceptor (organic photoreceptor) for Konica 9028, and after refining the drum where character blur has occurred with the various refiners described above, it is actually photographed and the presence or absence of character blur is observed. did.

B. Crack test Various refiners were adhered to the surface of the photoreceptor for Konica 9028 in an amount of 1 ml, and allowed to stand in an environment of 40 ° C. and 90% RH for 10 days, to observe the occurrence of cracks in the photosensitive layer.

C. Halftone unevenness test (Fukimura test) After refining the surface of the photoreceptor for Konica 9028 using various refiners, it was mounted on a copier, and this was exposed to light for 20% of the time when the semiconductor laser was continuously turned on. , An image was formed, and the presence or absence of unevenness was observed.

D. Storage stability test (dispersion stability test) Various refiners were left at 20 ° C and 60% RH for 1 month,
The dispersion was further left at 0 ° C. for 6 hours and returned to room temperature, and the dispersibility was visually observed.

Evaluation Results As shown in Table 2, the refiner of the present invention shows good performance in any of the refining test, crack test, bubble spot test and dispersion stability test.
Especially for refining test and fukimura test
In the present invention, only Examples 1 to 5 show particularly good results.
Indicated. Also, unlike the solvent-based refiner, there is little danger and it is safe.

◎ Excellent ○ Good (no problem in practical use) △ Below average (not practical) × Not acceptable (not practically suitable)

[0036]

[Table 2]

[0037]

According to the present invention, it is safe, harmless, has good refining properties and wiping properties, and has a half tone.
It is possible to provide a refiner for an organic electrophotographic photosensitive member that does not cause image unevenness in an image and does not cause a crack on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a refining method using the refiner.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-47-5384 (JP, A) JP-A-61-63877 (JP, A) JP-A-54-54035 (JP, A) JP-A 63-538 37370 (JP, A) JP-A-53-87987 (JP, A) JP-A-52-141493 (JP, A) JP-A-63-307811 (JP, A) JP-A-3-40242 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 G03G 21/10 C11D 7/06

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] (1) at least aluminum oxide or ketone oxide;
An aqueous emulsion of iodine and organopolysiloxane
A refiner for an organic electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the refiner is dispersed therein. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous emulsion comprises an organic solvent and a binder.
The organic electrophotographic photoreceptor refiner according to claim 1, wherein you characterized by containing a surface active agent. 3. The surfactant according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant.
The organic electrophotographic photoreceptor refiner according to claim 2, wherein the der Rukoto. 4. At least aluminum oxide or oxide oxide
An aqueous emulsion of iodine and organopolysiloxane
Organic electrophotography by a refiner dispersed in
Refining, characterized by polishing and wiping the body surface
Method. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous emulsion comprises an organic solvent and a binder.
5. The composition according to claim 4, further comprising a surfactant.
Refining method. 6. A refiner is attached to a pad, and the refiner is attached to the pad.
6. The refining method according to claim 4 , wherein the surface of the organic electrophotographic photosensitive member is polished and wiped off with a pad.