JP3528572B2 - Developer layer regulating member, one-component image forming apparatus, and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer layer regulating member, a one-component image forming apparatus provided with the same, and a one-component image forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A one-component toner developing system is classified into a magnetic one-component developing system using a magnetic toner and a non-magnetic one-component developing system using a non-magnetic toner. In the magnetic one-component development method, a developer carrying member having a magnetic field generating means such as a magnet provided therein is used to carry a magnetic toner containing a magnetic material such as magnetite, and the layer is regulated by a layer regulating member to develop a thin layer. In recent years, many have been put to practical use in small printers and the like. On the other hand, the non-magnetic one-component developing method is
Since the toner does not have magnetic force, a toner supply roll or the like is pressed against the developer carrier to supply the toner onto the developer carrier, and the toner is held by electrostatic force, and the toner is thinned by the layer regulation member to develop. In addition, since it does not contain a colored magnetic material, it has the advantage of being compatible with colorization.Because a magnet is not used for the developer bearing member, it is possible to make it lighter in weight and lower in cost. Is being started.

By the way, in the one-component developing system, since there is no stable charging and conveying means like a carrier, charging and conveying defects are likely to occur due to long-term use and high speed, and there are still many problems to be solved. Is. That is, in the one-component developing method, after the toner is conveyed onto the developer carrying member, the toner is thinned by the layer regulating member to develop, but the toner is charged on the developer carrying member and the layer regulating member. Since the opportunity to contact and rub against a member to charge is very short, the amount of low-charged or reverse-polarized toner tends to increase compared to the two-component development method that uses a carrier. Therefore, the toner has a faster charging speed and an appropriate charging rate. It is required that a sufficient charge amount be imparted. Further, in the one-component developing method, external stress due to repeated use causes deterioration of the toner or contamination of the charging member with the toner and external additives, which greatly affects the charging and developability of the toner. Therefore, in order to maintain more stable charging and layer formation, it is necessary to design a stress resistant combination of the toner and the charging member.

Conventionally, a metal sleeve such as aluminum or SUS or an elastic sleeve in which a conductive agent such as carbon is dispersed in silicone rubber, NBR, EPDM or the like has been used as a developer carrying member, and as a layer regulating member. An elastic blade made of urethane rubber, silicone rubber or the like, a metal blade made of SUS, phosphor bronze or the like is used. However, since the charging members such as the developer carrying member and the layer regulating member have a low charge imparting ability by themselves, not only is it difficult to adjust the charge of the initial toner, but also toner deterioration due to long-term use and contamination of the charging member may occur. However, low-charged toner and reverse polarity toner increased, and problems such as fogging and low image density were likely to occur.

In order to improve these problems, various methods have been proposed in which a material having a charging polarity opposite to that of the toner is used on the surface of these charging members to impart a strong charge to the toner. However, according to these methods, although the initial charging property of the toner is certainly improved and a good image quality is obtained, the toner and the additives of the toner are electrostatically charged on the surface of the charging member, especially the layer regulating member by continuous use. There is a problem that not only the toner adheres to the toner, but the charging of the toner is hindered, a uniform layer cannot be formed, and image defects such as streaks tend to occur in the image. Especially, in the case of the non-magnetic one-component developing method using the toner containing no magnetic material, this problem has been a serious obstacle.

[0006]

In recent years, the demand for printers has expanded, and the downsizing, speeding up and cost reduction of devices have advanced,
Higher reliability and longer life have begun to be demanded for the apparatus, and the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems in the conventional art.

That is, the object of the present invention is to stabilize toner charging and conveyance for a long period of time, to prevent fogging and density unevenness, and to provide stable images in which image defects such as streaks do not occur in images due to toner adhesion and fixation on the charging member. (EN) It is an object to provide a one-component image forming apparatus and a one-component image forming method capable of obtaining a density, and a developer layer regulating member for use therein.

[0008]

As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that a surface layer having a low surface energy is formed on a portion of the developer layer regulating member which is in contact with the developer carrying member. It was found that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by providing a resin layer having a laminated constitution consisting of a resin coating layer having a higher hardness than that and using it in image formation of a one-component developing system, and completed the present invention. Came to do.

That is, the developer layer regulating member of the present invention is
At least two resins for a one-component image forming apparatus, an uppermost layer made of a resin having a surface energy of 30 dyn / cm or less and a resin coating layer having a hardness higher than the hardness of the uppermost layer on a substrate. It is characterized in that a layer is provided. In the present invention, the base material can be made of an elastic body having rubber elasticity or spring elasticity, and for example, a resin such as urethane rubber can be used. By using the above-mentioned developer layer regulating member of the present invention in the one-component image forming method, good charge is imparted to the toner, and the toner and the additives of the toner adhere to and adhere to the surface of the developer layer regulating member. This makes it possible to stabilize the formation of the toner layer on the developer carrying member for a long period of time.

The one-component image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises at least a latent image holding member for holding an electrostatic latent image, a developer carrying member, and a developer supplied to the developer carrying member to form a thin layer of the developer. And a developer layer regulating member for giving an electric charge, and sends a thin layer of the developer formed on the developer carrying member to a latent image holding member holding an electrostatic latent image, A developer is adhered to the latent image to form a visible image, and a surface energy of 3 is formed on the substrate as a developer layer regulating member.
It is characterized in that at least two resin layers, that is, an uppermost layer made of a resin of 0 dyn / cm or less and a resin coating layer having a hardness higher than that of the uppermost layer, are provided.

Further, in the one-component image forming method of the present invention, the developer is supplied to the developer carrier, and a thin layer of the developer is formed on the developer carrier by the developer layer regulating member, An electric charge is applied to a carrier that holds an electrostatic latent image, and a developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image. In addition, at least two resin layers, that is, an uppermost layer made of a resin having a surface energy of 30 dyn / cm or less and a resin coating layer having a hardness higher than that of the uppermost layer are provided, are used. In the one-component image forming method of the present invention, it is more preferable to use a non-magnetic toner as the developer.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The one-component image forming method of the present invention comprises a latent image forming step of forming a latent image on a latent image holding member and a latent image holding member using a developer formed in a thin layer on a developer holding member. The image forming apparatus includes a developing step of developing an image, a transfer step of transferring a toner image on a latent image carrier to a transfer body, and a fixing step of thermally fixing the toner image on the transfer body. It is carried out using a one-component image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a one-component image forming apparatus of the present invention, and is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-magnetic one-component image forming apparatus. In the figure, the latent image carrier 1 is charged by a roll charger 2 and exposed by a laser beam (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image. The developer carrying member 3 is arranged so as to face the latent image holding member, and a layer regulating blade 5 as a developer layer regulating member is provided so as to come into contact with it at a constant pressure contact pressure. For example, a DC voltage and an AC voltage are applied to the developer carrier 3 and the developer supply roll 4 (or the developer supply brush). In addition, 6 is a transfer roll, 7 is a cleaner, and 8 is a fixing device.

In the latent image forming step, a conventionally known method can be applied, and an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method is used.
An electrostatic latent image is formed on a latent image holding member having an electrostatic latent image holding layer such as a photosensitive layer or a dielectric layer. In the present invention,
As the photosensitive layer of the latent image carrier, known materials such as organic materials and amorphous silicon can be used. When the latent image carrier is cylindrical, it can be obtained by a known manufacturing method such as extruding aluminum or aluminum alloy and then surface-treating. It is also possible to use a belt-shaped latent image holder.

In the developing step, a rotating cylinder is used as a developer carrying member (developing roll), and toner is formed in a thin layer on the rotating cylindrical member by a developer layer regulating member, and is conveyed to the developing nip. The developing roll is placed in contact with the latent image holding member that holds the electrostatic latent image or at a certain gap in the developing unit, and a bias voltage is applied between the developing roll and the latent image holding member. Development is performed while applying the toner, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the toner. In the case of magnetic one-component development, a rotating cylinder having a magnet inside is used as a developer carrying member, and toner containing the magnetic member is conveyed and held by magnetic force. In the case of non-magnetic one-component development,
A method is used in which a urethane sponge, a conductive polypropylene or acrylic brush, a toner supply roll, or the like is brought into pressure contact with the developer carrier to supply the toner onto the developer carrier.

In the present invention, as the developer carrying member, an elastic sleeve in which a conductive agent such as carbon is dispersed in silicone rubber, NBR, EPDM, aluminum, SUS, etc.
Sleeves obtained by drawing metal or ceramics, etc., and the surface of these sleeves were subjected to surface treatment such as oxidation treatment, metal plating, polishing, blast treatment, etc. in order to control the transportability and chargeability of toner. Acrylic resin, phenol resin, or other resin or a resin mixture of these resins in which a charge control agent, a conductive agent, a lubricant, etc. is dispersed is coated on the surface of these sleeves, and a plastic sleeve in which these are integrally molded is used. To be done.

The toner layer regulation is performed by bringing the developer layer regulation member into contact with the surface of the developer carrying member.
As the developer layer restricting member, a member having a resin layer having the following constitution provided on the surface of a base material such as an elastic blade made of silicone rubber or urethane rubber or a metal blade made of SUS or phosphor bronze is used. That is, the resin layer provided on the substrate is composed of two or more resin layers in the thickness direction,
The uppermost layer is made of a resin having a surface energy of 30 dyn / cm or less, and the resin layer thereunder is a resin coating layer having a hardness higher than that of the uppermost layer. Further, in the developer layer restriction member of the present invention, it is possible to provide an elastic resin layer such as polyurethane rubber in a portion which comes into contact with the developer carrying member, and to provide the above two resin layers on the surface thereof. By using the developer layer regulating member having the above-mentioned constitution in the present invention, not only the toner is provided with good chargeability, but also the toner or the additive of the toner adheres to the surface of the developer layer regulating member even after long-term use. Alternatively, since it becomes difficult to adhere, it becomes possible to continuously obtain good layer formation and chargeability. The reason is presumed as follows.

The charge is imparted to the toner by mechanical rubbing between the toner and the developer carrying member and the developer layer restricting member at a so-called nip portion which is in contact with the developer layer restricting member and the developer carrying member. Done by Therefore, a certain pressure is applied to the developer layer regulating member in the direction of the developer carrier. The charge imparting property of the developer layer regulating member becomes better when the surface thereof is covered with the resin layer. That is, the resin layer coating on the surface of the developer layer regulating member is
Since it is more hydrophobic than metal, stability of charge application,
Especially, environmental stability is improved. On the other hand, on the other hand, the resin layer coating of the developer layer regulating member is worn out due to the rubbing with the toner. This tendency of abrasion is due to silica on the toner surface,
It becomes larger when fine powders of inorganic oxides such as alumina and titania are added. Toner adheres to and adheres to the surface of the developer layer control member due to the toner being trapped in the nip area, and the heat generated by the sliding friction in the very narrow area of the nip area contributes to the melting of the toner. It is considered that the adhered substance grows larger by wearing.
However, as a result of studies by the present inventors, it has been found that toner adhesion and fixation occur not only in the nip region, but rather in the pre-nip region on the upstream side with respect to toner transport rather than the nip region. By repeated use, this pre-nip area
Located upstream of the nip area where the toner receives the most pressure,
Here, from the excess toner attached on the developer carrying member,
An excessive amount of toner is scraped off, and an appropriate amount of toner advances to the nip area. A part of the scraped off toner is charged by being brought into contact with the developer layer regulating member and adheres to the developer layer regulating member due to the adhesive force including the electrostatic adhesive force,
It becomes fixed.

The toner that has been scraped off and stayed adheres to the surface of the developer layer regulating member due to frictional heat generated in the nip, and the toner adhered material grows from this as a starting point. This grown toner adherence disturbs the toner flow in the pre-nip region, which disturbs the smooth toner transport flow in the nip, and also disturbs the toner charging opportunity, so that it is formed by the toner that has slipped through the nip. The toner layer on the developer carrier is disturbed. For example, a portion where the toner is not carried may occur in the circumferential direction of the developer carrying member, toner spillage due to the toner that does not adhere to the developer carrying member may occur, or the amount of reversely charged toner may increase. Each of these phenomena results in image defects such as white streaks, dirt, and fog, which are caused by the fact that toner is not carried in the process direction on the copied image.

By the way, in the present invention, the resin layer coating of the developer layer regulating member is composed of two or more resin layers in the thickness direction, and the uppermost resin has a surface energy (γc) of 30 dyn / Since the resin layer has a thickness of cm or less and the surface energy of the resin layer is low, it is difficult for toner to adhere to the surface of the developer layer regulating member in the pre-nip region. Further, the resin layer having a low surface energy has a weak intermolecular cohesive force and is easily worn, but since a high pressure is not applied in the pre-nip region, it is possible to avoid wearing the uppermost resin layer, and even if it is worn, It is minor. On the other hand, since the high pressure is applied in the nip region, it is considered that the uppermost layer is worn. However, since the second resin layer below the uppermost layer has a hardness higher than that of the uppermost layer and is made of a resin that is less likely to wear, the abrasion does not proceed any further. Further, since the resin layer having the higher chargeability than the uppermost layer is used for the second resin layer, the developer layer regulation corresponding to the nip region is more than that in the state in which the uppermost layer is present, that is, the so-called initial state. The state in which the uppermost layer of the member is worn by repeated use and the second resin layer is exposed exhibits better charge imparting properties. Therefore, the developer layer regulating member of the present invention,
The environmental stability of charge imparting is good, the charge imparting property does not easily disappear even after repeated use, and a low-adhesive resin layer is present on the surface of the developer layer regulating member in the pre-nip region. Is suppressed, and at the same time, the maintainability of toner layer formation and the maintainability of charge are improved.

The developer layer-regulating member in the present invention is provided with two or more resin layers having the above-mentioned laminated structure at least in the portion in contact with the developer carrying member. The resin used has a surface energy (critical surface tension: γc) of 30 dyn / cm or less, and specifically, polyvinyl fluoride (γc = 2)
8 dyn / cm), polyvinylidene fluoride (γc = 25
dyn / cm), polytrifluoroethylene (γc = 2)
2 dyn / cm), polytetrafluoroethylene (γc
= 18 dyn / cm), polyhexafluoropropylene (γc = 16 dyn / cm), and the like, and further, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and an acrylic monomer, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and vinyl fluoride, Fluoroterpolymers such as terpolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride and non-fluorinated monomers, and resins having a surface energy of 30 dyn / cm or less such as silicone resins can be used. Surface energy 25 dyn / cm
It is preferable to contain the following fluorine-containing resin and silicone resin.

The resin layers of the second layer and below have a hardness higher than that of the uppermost layer, and specifically, those having a pencil hardness of 2H or more, particularly 4H or more are preferable. Resins used for these resin layers include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene; polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resins such as polystyrene, acrylic resin, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl carbazole. , Polyvinyl ether and polyvinyl ketone; vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers; styrene-acrylic acid copolymers; straight silicone resins composed of organosiloxane bonds or modified products thereof; polyesters; polyurethanes; polycarbonates; phenol resins; amino resins, for example Examples thereof include urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, urea resin, polyamide resin; epoxy resin and the like. More preferably, an acrylic resin and a thermosetting resin that form a coating having a relatively high hardness are mentioned.

Further, for the purpose of enhancing the adhesiveness to the base material and the strength of the coating film, if necessary, scaly or fibrous fine powder of mica, talc, asbestos, zinc dust and aluminum powder, etc. Metal powder of can be added. Further, for the purpose of assisting the charging of the toner or controlling the resistance, resin powder such as polymethylmethacrylate, melamine resin, nylon, or silicone resin, a metal azo dye complex,
Charge control agents such as quaternary ammonium salts, charge control resins such as styrene-acrylic type and polyester type, silica,
Inorganic fine powder such as titania, tin oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, ferrite, magnetite, etc., conductive powder such as carbon black and graphite, semiconductive agent such as molybdenum disulfide, etc. can be contained in the film.

The method of forming the resin layer in the developer layer regulating member of the present invention includes spray coating,
A known coating method such as dip coating can be used. For example, so-called multiple coating can be used, but it is not particularly limited thereto. In the present invention, in order to stabilize charging of the toner and layer formation for a long period of time, the film thickness of the resin layer to be coated must be 0.05 to 50 μm in total, and preferably 0.1 to 50 μm. Is in the range of up to 20 μm. Since it is desirable that the uppermost resin layer is rapidly worn and the resin layer below the second layer is exposed relatively quickly, the film thickness thereof is required to be 0.01 to 5 μm, which is preferable. Is in the range of 0.01 to 2 μm. The film thickness of the resin layer of the second layer and below needs to be set in the range of 0.04 to 45 μm, and preferably 0.09 to 18
It is in the range of μm.

The transfer step in the present invention uses a corotron, which is a contact type transfer system in which a transfer roll, a transfer belt or the like is brought into pressure contact with the latent image holding member to transfer the toner image formed on the latent image holding member onto the transfer member. Non-contact type transfer method in which the toner image formed on the latent image holding member is transferred to the transfer member, the toner image is primarily transferred to a belt-shaped or cylindrical intermediate transfer member, and then the transferred toner image is transferred. A known method using a known device, such as an intermediate transfer method in which secondary transfer is performed, is used.

In the cleaning step, the toner remaining on the latent image carrier without being transferred in the transfer step is removed by a cleaner. However, when the amount of untransferred toner is small, this step is omitted and cleanerless is performed. Is also possible. When the cleaning step is provided, known methods such as blade cleaning, brush cleaning and roller cleaning are adopted. Blade cleaning is performed using elastic rubber such as silicone rubber or urethane rubber.

In the fixing step, the toner image transferred to the transfer body is fixed by the fixing device. As a fixing device,
A heat fixing system using a heat roll is preferably used.

The toner used in the image forming method of the present invention comprises at least a binder resin and a magnetic material when used as a magnetic toner, and at least a binder resin and a colorant when used as a non-magnetic toner.

The binder resin used in the toner of the present invention includes polystyrene, styrene-alkyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-alkyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene. -A known material such as a maleic anhydride copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, epoxy resin, silicone resin, polyamide, modified rosin or paraffin wax can be used, but among them, styrene-acrylic copolymer and polyester are preferable. It is preferably used. Further, particularly in the present invention, the effect is great when a binder resin having a low softening point of 90 to 120 ° C. is used. Binder resins having a low softening point are often used from the viewpoint of smoothness and transparency of fixed images with the recent colorization, but on the other hand, they are easily heat-fused to a charging member, and the charging property of the toner, There is a problem that the layer formation is likely to be hindered. However, when such a binder resin is used in the image forming method of the present invention, these problems do not occur. The softening point here is
Melt viscosity 10 ⁴ Pa · s measured by a flow tester (Shimadzu Corporation, nozzle 1 × 1 mm, load 10 kg)
The temperature at (10 ⁵ poise).

The colorant used in the toner of the present invention includes:
Carbon black, aniline blue, calcoil blue, chrome yellow, ultramarine blue, DuPont oil red, quinoline yellow, methylene blue chloride, copper phthalocyanine, malachite green oxalate, lamp black, rose bengal, C.I. I. Pigment Red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122, C.I. I. Pigment Red 57: 1, C.I.
I. Pigment Yellow 97, C.I. I. Pigment
Yellow 12, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 17,
C. I. Pigment Yellow 180, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15: 1, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 1
Known materials such as 5: 3 can be used.

As the magnetic substance used in the case of the magnetic toner, any known substance which has been conventionally used can be used. For example, iron, cobalt,
Metals such as nickel and their alloys, Fe ₃ O ₄ , γ
-Fe ₂ O ₃ , metal oxides such as cobalt-added iron oxide, M
Examples thereof include ferrites such as nZn ferrite and NiZn ferrite. These magnetic materials are generally 30 to 7
It is used by adding in the range of 0% by weight.

Further, in the toner used in the present invention,
A releasing agent may be added for the purpose of improving the gloss and the offset property. As the release agent, paraffins having 8 or more carbon atoms, polyolefins and the like are preferable, and examples thereof include paraffin wax, paraffin latex, microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, polypropylene, polyethylene and the like. These may be used alone or in combination. Can be used.

A charge control agent may be added to the toner used in the present invention for the purpose of assisting the charging of the toner. Examples of the charge control agent when used as a negatively charged toner include azo complex salt dyes such as chromium and iron, complex compounds such as chromium of salicylic acid, zinc, aluminum and boron, and charge control resins. When used as a positively charged toner, Known examples include quaternary ammonium salts.

In the present invention, fluidizing agent fine particles may be added for the purpose of imparting appropriate fluidity and chargeability to the developer, and conductive powder may be added for the purpose of improving charge exchangeability. In addition, additives such as lubricants and abrasives are added for the purpose of improving cleaning performance and preventing black spots, white spots, white spots, comets, filming, etc. due to adhesion of toner or external additives and talc to the photoreceptor. You may use it. As the fluidizing agent fine particles and additives used for these purposes, hydrophobic silica, hydrophobized fine particles titanium oxide, inorganic fine powder such as alumina, organic fine powder such as fatty acid or its derivative and metal salt, fluorine resin Resin fine powder such as acrylic resin or styrene resin, and powder such as cerium oxide and magnetite can be used, and these can be used alone or in combination.

The volume average particle diameter of the toner used in the present invention is preferably 4 to 12 μm, more preferably 5 to 1 μm.
It is in the range of 0 μm. When the volume average particle diameter is 4 μm or less,
Since the fluidity is remarkably deteriorated, the layer cannot be formed well, and it is apt to cause fogging and dirt. Again 12μ
When it is m or more, not only the resolution is lowered and high image quality cannot be obtained, but also the charge amount per unit weight of the developer is lowered, so that the layer forming maintainability is poor and fogging and dirt are apt to occur.

The toner used in the present invention can be manufactured by any known method. For example, a method of kneading and pulverizing, that is, a method in which a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent, and the like are premixed, melt-kneaded in a kneader, cooled, pulverized, and classified, and external additive fine particles are added and mixed. Alternatively, a method for producing a polymerized toner by suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, or the like is used.

[0037]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. Example 1 (Preparation of Layer Control Blade (1)) 3 g of melamine resin (Koban 20SE60; manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) and 6 g of polymethyl methacrylate (BR80, manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) were put into 20 g of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and 20 After stirring for a period of time, a coating liquid for coating the layer-regulating blade was obtained. This coating liquid is spray-coated on the surface of a layer regulating blade made of a SUS substrate having a thickness of 0.15 mm prepared for the non-magnetic one-component image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and then dried at 50 ° C. for 3 hours, Further, it was cured at 150 ° C. for 2 hours. Then, the surface energy of 24 dyn /
cm of methyl methacrylate / perfluorooctylethyl acrylate copolymer (70/30) (weight average molecular weight: 48,000) was spray-coated and dried at 50 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a layer regulation blade (1). . The film thickness of the entire resin layer provided on the surface of this layer regulation blade (1) is about 7 μm.
It was m. The film thickness of the uppermost fluorine resin layer is about 1.5 μm, and the film thickness of the second resin coating layer is about 5.5 μm.
Met. The hardness of the uppermost layer is H and the hardness of the second layer is 3
It was H.

(Preparation of Nonmagnetic One-Component Toner (1)) Polyester Resin 92 Parts (Terephthalic Acid / Bisphenol A Ethylene Oxide Adduct, Weight Average Molecular Weight Mw: 12000, Tg: 65 ° C., Softening Point: 100 ° C.) Copper Phthalocyanine Blue pigment 5 parts Charge control agent: Bontron E84 (manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 3 parts After premixing the above materials with a Henschel mixer,
Kneading was performed by a twin-screw extrusion kneader at a set temperature of 140 ° C., a screw rotation speed of 300 rpm, and a feed rate of 150 kg / h. After cooling, coarse pulverization was performed, then fine pulverization was performed using a jet mill, and the obtained pulverized product was classified using an air classifier to obtain toner particles having a volume average particle diameter D50 of 7.3 μm. Further, 100 parts by weight of the toner particles were mixed with dimethyl silicone oil treated silica particles having an average particle diameter of 12 nm.
8 parts by weight and 1.0 part of rutile type titanium oxide hydrophobized with decyltrimethoxysilane having an average particle size of 15 nm were added and mixed with a Henschel mixer to prepare a non-magnetic one-component toner (1).

The layer regulating blade (1) was attached to the non-magnetic one-component image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the non-magnetic one-component toner (1) was used in a high temperature and high humidity environment (28 ° C., 85% RH).
And, under a low temperature and low humidity environment (10 ° C., 15% RH), a print test of 10,000 sheets was performed. In the non-magnetic one-component image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the surface of aluminum was sandblasted to obtain an average surface roughness Ra.
A developer carrier 3 and a latent image carrier 1 are used by using a developing device including a developer carrier 3 having a thickness of 0.5 μm and a developer supply roll 4 in which carbon black is dispersed in acrylic resin.
And were arranged with a gap of 150 μm. The peripheral speed of the latent image holding member 1 is 80 mm / s, and the peripheral speed of the developer carrying member 3 is 120 m.
m / s, a transfer roll was used for toner transfer, a blade cleaner was used for cleaning, and a heat roll fixing device was used for fixing.

As a result, a high-quality image having sufficient image density, no background fogging, and no streaks on the image was continuously obtained under any environment. After the test, the layer regulation blade (1) was examined. As a result, toner adhesion was not observed in the pre-nip region or the nip region, and the uppermost fluororesin layer was worn only in the nip region. .

Example 2 (Production of Layer Control Blade (2)) Methyl Methacrylate / Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate Copolymer (weight ratio: 90/10) (weight average molecular weight: 50,000) 10 parts by weight Isocyanate D140N (Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.) Co., Ltd. 3 parts by weight MEK 90 parts by weight The above materials were mixed and stirred to obtain a coating liquid for coating a layer-regulating blade. This coating solution was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 to have a thickness of 0.15 mm prepared for a non-magnetic one-component image forming apparatus.
Spray coating on the surface of the layer control blade made of SUS substrate, dried and cured at 80 ° C for 1 hour, and further 100
Heated at ° C for 2 hours. Next, a methyl methacrylate / perfluorooctylethyl acrylate copolymer (90/10) having a surface energy of 28 dyn / cm (90/10) (weight average molecular weight: 65,000) was spray-coated on the surface of the formed resin coating layer, It was dried at 50 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a layer regulation blade (2). The film thickness of the entire resin layer formed on the surface of the layer regulating blade (2) was about 6 μm. The film thickness of the uppermost fluororesin layer was about 1.0 μm, and the film thickness of the second resin coating layer was about 5.0 μm. The hardness of the uppermost layer was 2H and the hardness of the second layer was 5H.

The layer regulating blade (2) was attached to the same image forming apparatus as in Example 1, and the non-magnetic one-component toner (1) was used.
A print test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1. As a result, a high-quality image having sufficient image density, no background fogging, and no streaks on the image was continuously obtained under any environment. After the test, the layer regulation blade (2) was examined. As a result, toner adhesion was not observed in the pre-nip region or the nip region, and the uppermost fluororesin layer was worn only in the nip region. .

Example 3 (Production of Layer Control Blade (3)) Acrylic polyol resin 10 parts by weight (Orestar Q164, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) Urethane polymer (Olestar P49-75S, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) 2 parts by weight Methyl Isobutyl ketone (MIBK) 50 parts by weight The above materials were mixed and stirred to obtain a coating liquid for coating a layer-regulating blade. This coating liquid was applied to a SUS substrate prepared for a non-magnetic one-component image forming apparatus in a thickness of 1 in the same manner as in Example 1.
mm of urethane rubber was applied to the surface of the layer regulation blade by spray coating, then dried and cured at 80 ° C. for 1 hour, and further heated at 100 ° C. for 2 hours. Next, the surface energy of 22 dyn is applied to the surface of the formed resin coating layer.
/ Cm methyl methacrylate / perfluorooctylethyl acrylate copolymer (65/35) (weight average molecular weight: 55,000) is spray-coated and dried at 50 ° C. for 3 hours to form a layer regulating blade (3). Obtained. The film thickness of the entire resin layer formed on the surface of the layer regulating blade (3) was about 8 μm. The film thickness of the uppermost fluorine resin layer is about 0.5 μm, and the film thickness of the second resin coating layer is about 7.5 μm.
It was m. The hardness of the uppermost layer was H and the hardness of the second layer was 4H.

The layer regulating blade (3) was attached to the same image forming apparatus as in Example 1, and the non-magnetic one-component toner (1) was attached.
A print test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 using. As a result, a high-quality image having sufficient image density, no background fogging, and no streaks on the image was continuously obtained under any environment. After the test, the layer regulation blade (3) was examined. As a result, toner adhesion was not observed in the pre-nip region or the nip region, and the uppermost fluororesin layer was worn only in the nip region. .

Comparative Example 1 (Preparation of Layer Control Blade (4)) A resin made of melamine resin (Corban 20SE60) and polymethylmethacrylate (BR80) was used in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the fluorine resin layer was not formed. Only layers were formed to obtain a layer regulating blade (4). This layer regulation blade (4)
The film thickness of the resin coating layer on the surface was about 10 μm. Using this layer-regulating blade (4), a print test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1.
From around 0 sheets, and over 2000 sheets in a low temperature and low humidity environment, streaks were generated on the image, the image density was lowered, and the fogging of the background portion was gradually deteriorated. After the test, the layer regulating blade (4) was inspected, and it was confirmed that toner adhered to both the nip region and the pre-nip region.

Comparative Example 2 (Production of Layer Control Blade (5)) Nylon Resin (CM8
000; manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) was dissolved in a mixed solution of methanol and butanol to obtain a coating liquid for layer-regulating blade coating. In the same manner as in Example 1, the coating liquid was dip-coated on the layer-regulating blade so that the film thickness was 3 μm, and dried at 100 ° C. for 1 hour to obtain a layer-regulating blade (5). The film thickness of the coating layer on the surface of the layer-regulating blade (5) was about 7 μm, and the hardness thereof was B. This layer regulation blade (5)
A print test was performed in the same manner as in Example 1, using 2000 sheets in a high temperature and high humidity environment and 1 in a low temperature and low humidity environment.
From around 000 sheets, streaks were generated on the image, the image density was lowered, and the fogging of the background portion was gradually deteriorated. After the test was completed, when the layer regulating blade was examined, a large amount of toner adhered was observed in the contact nip region with the developing sleeve and the pre-nip region. When the adhered toner was removed with methanol, the nip portion was abraded and partly damaged and a small groove was formed.

Comparative Example 3 (Preparation of Layer Control Blade (6)) A layer control blade (6) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that only the fluororesin layer was formed. The film thickness of the coating layer on the surface of the layer-regulating blade (6) was about 5 μm. A print test was performed using this layer-regulating blade (6) in the same manner as in Example 1. As a result, fogging deteriorated from around 3000 sheets under high temperature and high humidity environment, and streaks from around 6000 sheets. Occurred. In addition, a streak appeared on the image from around 3000 sheets in a low temperature and low humidity environment, and the dirt became severe after 4000 sheets, and the test was stopped. After the test, when the layer regulation blade was examined, toner adhesion was not observed in the pre-nip region, but the fluororesin layer in the nip region was worn out, and the SUS substrate as the base material was exposed. It was observed that a large amount of toner had adhered to the top.

The results of the tests of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are summarized in Table 1. The image quality evaluation method and evaluation criteria are as follows. <Image Density> X-ri density measuring device, X-ri
It was measured by te404A. <Fog> The background part was observed with a magnifying glass of 50 times, and sensory evaluation was performed. The evaluation criteria are as follows. ○: None, △:
There are some, x: There is quite. <Streaks on Image> The number of streak generations was evaluated for the image obtained by developing the entire surface of A4 paper with toner. The evaluation criteria are as follows. ◯: 5 or less, Δ: 6 to 10 and ×: 11
More than a book. <Comprehensive Evaluation> ◯: All items are good, x: Practical problems occur.

[0049]

[Table 1]

[0050]

Since the developer layer regulating member of the present invention has the above constitution, a one-component image forming apparatus using the same is
Since toner is difficult to adhere to the developer layer regulating member, toner charging and layer formation are stable, and there is little environmental dependency of charging, so images with high image density can be produced over a long period of time.
Problems such as low developability, background fog, and streaks on the image do not occur. Therefore, according to the one-component image forming method of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image of excellent image quality for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a one-component image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Latent image holder, 2 ... Roll charger, 3 ... Developer carrying body, 4 ... Developer supply roll, 5 ... Layer regulation blade, 6 ...
Transfer roll, 7 ... cleaner, 8 ... fixing device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Kotaro Yoshihara, 1600 Takematsu, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa, Fuji-Zerox Co., Ltd. (72) Rieko Kataoka, 1600, Takematsu, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa (56) References JP 61-248070 (JP, A) JP 10-10863 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A latent image carrier that holds an electrostatic latent image, a developer carrier, and a developer are supplied to the developer carrier to form a thin layer of the developer and to give an electric charge. At least the developer layer regulating member, and a thin layer of the developer formed on the developer carrying member is sent to a latent image holding member that holds the electrostatic latent image to attach the developer to the electrostatic latent image. In the one-component image forming apparatus for forming a visible image by means of the above method, the developer layer regulating member has an uppermost layer made of a resin having a surface energy of 30 dyn / cm or less on the substrate, and a hardness higher than the hardness of the uppermost layer. A one-component image forming apparatus, wherein at least two resin layers of a resin coating layer having the above are provided. 2. The developer carrying member is made of metal, ceramics or plastics.
The one-component image forming apparatus according to item 1. 3. The developer layer regulating member is provided with an elastic resin layer at a portion in contact with the developer carrying member, and at least two resin layers in the thickness direction provided on the surface thereof. The one-component image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The surface energy of the substrate is 30 dyn.
/ Cm or less of the uppermost layer made of a resin and a resin coating layer having a hardness higher than the hardness of the uppermost layer, at least two resin layers are provided, a developer layer regulating member for a one-component image forming apparatus . 5. The developer layer regulating member according to claim 4, wherein the base material is an elastic body. 6. The developer layer restricting member according to claim 5, wherein the elastic body is made of resin. 7. A developer is supplied to a developer carrying member, a thin layer of the developer is formed on the developer carrying member by a developer layer regulating member, and an electric charge is applied to the developer carrying member to form an electrostatic latent image. In the one-component image forming method in which a developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image on the substrate, the developer layer regulating member has a surface energy of 30 on the substrate.
A one-component image forming method comprising using an uppermost layer made of a resin having a dyn / cm or less and at least two resin layers of a resin coating layer having a hardness higher than that of the uppermost layer. 8. The one-component image forming method according to claim 7, wherein a non-magnetic toner is used as the developer.