JP4462540B2 - Image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming method using an electrophotographic method, and more specifically, a charging process for charging the surface of a photoconductor with a charging member, an exposure process for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged photoconductor using an exposure apparatus, A developing step of forming a visible image (toner image) from the electrostatic latent image with toner, a transfer step of transferring the visible image to a recording material (transfer material) such as paper or a resin film, a fixing step of fixing the transferred image, The present invention relates to an image forming method including a cleaning process in which toner remaining on the surface of a photoreceptor is removed and collected by a cleaning blade pressed against the surface of the photoreceptor.

  In general, an electrophotographic method uses a photoconductive substance, forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor by various means, and then develops the latent image with toner to form a visible image. It refers to a method of obtaining a printed matter by transferring toner to an image onto a recording material such as paper or an OHP sheet that is selected as necessary, and then fixing the transferred toner by heat or pressure.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses have advanced functions and colors, and a method of forming an electrostatic latent image with a laser has been adopted, and a technique for increasing the speed simultaneously with high resolution has been developed. Further, with the widespread use of image forming apparatuses worldwide, image formation has been performed under a wide range of environmental conditions from high temperature and high humidity to low temperature and low humidity, and an image forming method suitable for this has been demanded. For this reason, improvements are being made on both the toner and the image forming apparatus.

  For toner, it is required to reduce the particle size and sharpen the particle size distribution so as to cope with higher resolution. Conventionally, a toner is melt-mixed and uniformly dispersed with a thermoplastic resin containing a colorant, a charge control agent, etc., and then finely pulverized with a fine pulverizer, and the resulting finely pulverized product is classified with a classifier. Manufactured pulverized toner has been mainly used.

  However, it is difficult to reduce the particle size of the pulverized toner, the particle size distribution must be sharply classified, and the manufacturing process is complicated. Further, since fine powder produced as a by-product due to pulverization adheres to the surface of the pulverized toner, a change in charge amount is likely to occur, and image quality such as a decrease in image density is likely to occur.

  In order to solve such a problem, toner production methods using various polymerization methods including a suspension polymerization method have been proposed. For example, in the suspension polymerization method, a monomer composition obtained by uniformly dissolving or dispersing a polymerizable monomer, a colorant, a radical polymerization initiator, and, if necessary, a crosslinking agent, a charge control agent, and other additives. Thereafter, a polymerization reaction is performed to obtain toner particles (polymerized toner) having a desired particle size. Polymerized toner has a relatively narrow particle size distribution, so it has excellent transferability and dot reproducibility, and it can be fixed at low temperatures because it contains a release agent, colorant, and charge control agent inside the particle. In addition, the storage stability can be improved.

In addition, the polymerized toner is a so-called core-shell type polymerized toner in which a polymer layer having a glass transition temperature higher than that of the polymer constituting the core layer is formed as a shell layer. Thus, it becomes easy to obtain a toner having a stable charge amount even under high temperature and high humidity.

While the polymerized toner has many advantages as described above, it has been found that, on the other hand, it becomes difficult to clean the toner remaining on the photoconductor after the fixing step, resulting in a problem that the image quality is deteriorated. That is, since the shape of the polymer toner is almost spherical, a so-called slip-through phenomenon that passes through the cleaning blade pressed against the photosensitive member is likely to occur, and cleaning becomes difficult. In particular, in image formation using color toners, there is a problem that color mixing occurs when there is toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, and the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor is removed more than the image forming method using monochrome toner. The cleaning process is important. Furthermore, in the case of a color toner, since the organic pigment itself used as a colorant has a higher chargeability than carbon black used as a colorant for a black toner, it adheres more strongly to the photoreceptor. Make cleaning difficult. In order to facilitate cleaning, there is a method of lowering the charge amount of the toner on the photoconductor than usual, but in this case, the chargeability is further lowered during long-term use, causing problems such as fogging and a decrease in image density.

  Means for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor by using a cleaning blade in the cleaning step of the image forming method using the polymerized toner is well known. Various studies have been made on the improvement of the cleaning performance in such a cleaning process in terms of an image forming apparatus or an image forming method, toner used in the image forming apparatus, and a cleaning blade. In particular, in an image forming method corresponding to colorization, a method of cleaning and removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor for each color is preferable. Therefore, the cleaning method using a cleaning blade has been reviewed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In Patent Document 1, a cleaning blade is used in which fine particles are adhered at an amount of 1 to 10 mg / cm ² per unit area on the surface of at least a portion of the cleaning blade that comes into contact with the photosensitive member, thereby remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member. An image forming method that effectively removes toner is disclosed.

Patent Document 2 proposes an image forming method using a toner having a boron or phosphorus content of 0.1 to 100 ppm in an image forming method having a cleaning step of removing residual toner with a cleaning blade.

However, since the cleaning blades described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have both ends in the length direction being free ends, the linear pressure at the ends when pressed against the photosensitive member is low, and the cleaning performance is sufficient. It has a problem that it is not exhibited.

As a technique to increase the linear pressure in the pressure contact with the photosensitive member at both ends of the cleaning blade, the width of both ends of the metal fitting for mounting the cleaning blade is widened, and the free end of the end of the cleaning blade that is an elastic body A method of increasing the linear pressure by narrowing the width and a method of changing the shape of the blade itself are disclosed (Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-280474 A JP 2002-31634 A JP-A-8-292689

  However, even with the technique of Patent Document 3, if the cleaning blade described in Patent Document 1 is used and the toner described in Patent Document 2 is used for cleaning, toner adhesion to the cleaning blade or filming on the photosensitive member or the like may occur. In some cases, a sufficient cleaning effect could not be obtained. In particular, the method of changing the shape of the metal fitting disclosed in Patent Document 3 increases the cost of the metal fitting, necessitates changing the metal fitting for each model, and makes it difficult to change the shape of the cleaning blade itself. High cost.

  The object of the present invention is to improve the characteristics of both the toner and the cleaning blade by using a spherical toner having a small particle diameter which is difficult to clean. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method capable of forming an image even in a region with a low charge amount without causing toner adhesion to a blade or filming on a photoconductor.

As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the present inventors have determined that the linear pressure in the pressure contact between the cleaning blade and the photoreceptor is within a certain range, and the polyester polyol that forms the blade It has been conceived that the above-mentioned problems can be achieved by setting the physical properties of the polyurethane elastic body having a specific range as a constituent material, using a specific toner, and setting the charge amount of the toner on the photoconductor within the specific range. .

That is, according to the present invention, a developing process for forming a visible image on a photoconductor with toner, a transfer process for transferring the visible image to a recording material, a fixing process for fixing the transfer image, and a photoconductor after transfer. In the image forming method including a cleaning step of collecting the remaining toner with a cleaning blade pressed against the photoconductor,
The linear pressure at the pressure contact of the cleaning blade to the photosensitive member is 10 to 80 g / cm, and the ratio of the linear pressure Pe at both ends of the cleaning blade to the linear pressure Pc at the center in the length direction is 1.05 <e / Pc <. 1. The cleaning blade has a peak temperature of tan δ in the viscoelastic spectrum of −10 ° C. to + 10 ° C., a peak height of 0.90 or less, a tear strength Tr (N / mm), and a hardness Hs. (Shore A) It is formed of a polyurethane elastic body using a polyester polyol having a ratio Tr / Hs of 5.4 to 6.4 as a constituent material, and the toner is colored with at least a binder resin. The volume average particle diameter of the colored resin particles is 4 to 10 μm and the average circularity is 0.95 to 0.995. The amount of the absolute value │Q│ is 10~80μC / g, and an image forming method, wherein the residual styrene content in the toner is 200ppm or less is provided.

  The volume average particle diameter (Dv) of the toner in the image forming method of the present invention is more preferably 5 to 8 μm. The volume average particle diameter (Dv) / number average particle diameter (Dp) of the toner used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1.0 to 1.3, and more preferably 1.0 to 1.2. It is. If the Dv / Dp ratio is within this range, generation of fog is suppressed. The absolute value | Q | of the charge amount of the toner is more preferably 15 to 55 μC / g. The average circularity is more preferably 0.96 to 0.995. The amount of residual styrene is more preferably 100 ppm or less.

When the volume average particle diameter is less than 4 μm, the amount of fine powder toner having a particle diameter of 1 to 2 μm increases, and such particles adhere to the photoreceptor, making cleaning difficult and causing deterioration in image characteristics. In a toner having a volume average particle diameter exceeding 10 μm, the number of particles of 16 μm or more increases, and image reproducibility decreases. When the average circularity is less than 0.95, dot reproducibility and transferability in image formation are degraded. When the absolute value | Q | of the toner charge amount per unit weight is less than 10 μC / g, the change amount of the charge amount becomes large due to the influence of the high temperature and high humidity environment, and the image quality may be deteriorated. If it exceeds / g, the adhesion of the toner to the photoreceptor becomes high, particularly in a low temperature and low humidity environment, and cleaning becomes difficult. The charge amount of the toner per unit weight is measured when the adhesion amount to the photoreceptor is 0.3 to 0.8 mg / cm ² . When the adhesion amount to the photoconductor exceeds 0.8 mg / cm ² , the charge amount is saturated, scattering occurs and the image quality is deteriorated. On the other hand, when the concentration is less than 0.3 mg / cm ² , the formed image density is low and not in a practical range. When the amount of residual styrene in the toner is large, adhesion to the cleaning blade and filming are likely to occur.

  When the tan δ peak temperature of the polyurethane elastic body forming the cleaning blade is less than −10 ° C. or more than + 10 ° C., the temperature dependence of the blade characteristics is large, and the temperature change in the operating temperature range is sufficient. Cleaning performance is not demonstrated. The tan δ peak of the polyurethane elastic body is preferably 0.9 or less and preferably 0.7 or more, and the tan δ peak preferably has a half width of 25 ° C. or more. When the ratio Tr / Hs between the tear strength Tr (N / mm) and the hardness Hs Shore A hardness of the elastic body is less than 5.4, the settling property of the blade is lowered, and the durability is lowered. When using, cleaning defects are likely to occur, and if it exceeds 6.4, the rebound resilience is reduced and the elasticity in the room temperature environment is lowered, which also tends to cause cleaning defects. The elastic body preferably has a Shore A hardness of 65-80.

  Further, when the linear pressure in the pressure contact of the cleaning blade to the photosensitive member is less than 10 g / cm, cleaning failure may occur, and when it exceeds 80 g / cm, the blade may bend. The linear pressure is more preferably 10 to 60 g / cm. When Pe / Pc is less than 1.05, cleaning failure may occur from both ends, and when it exceeds 1.30, blade curling may occur from both ends.

  In the above-described image forming method, it is preferable that the cleaning blade is formed of a sheet-like polyurethane elastic body, and pressure contact assisting members are disposed at both ends in the length direction.

  The pressure contact assisting member is arranged such that the linear pressure in the pressure contact of the cleaning blade to the photosensitive member is 10 to 80 g / cm, the linear pressure Pc at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade, and the linear pressure Pe at both ends. This ratio is suitable for an image forming method including a cleaning blade that satisfies a ratio of 1.05 <Pe / Pc <1.30.

  In the image forming method, the polyester polyol which is a constituent material of the polyurethane elastic body forming the cleaning blade preferably contains a side chain-containing glycol as a constituent component in the molecular chain.

  The cleaning blade formed of such a polyurethane elastic body has a Shore A hardness of 65 to 80, a peak temperature of tan δ in the viscoelastic spectrum of −10 ° C. to + 10 ° C., a peak height of 0.90 or less, and a peak half width. When the cleaning blade is at 25 ° C. or higher, an image forming method having good image quality can be obtained particularly in a low temperature and low humidity environment and a high temperature and high humidity environment.

  In the above-described image forming method, the polyester polyol is preferably a lactone polyester polyol containing a side chain-containing glycol as a polymerization initiator component of the polyester in its molecular chain.

  According to the image forming method of the present invention, in order to form a high-definition and high-definition image, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after the fixing process is efficiently used even when a spherical and small-diameter toner is used. It can be removed well, and the influence on the use environment is small, the density change of the image is small, and a high-definition and high-quality image can be formed.

  An example of a preferred embodiment of the image forming method of the present invention is a charging step in which the surface of the photoreceptor is charged with a charging member, an exposure step in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the charged photoreceptor using an exposure device, A development process for developing a latent image with toner to form a visible image, a transfer process for transferring the visible image to a recording material, a fixing process for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording material to a recording material, A cleaning step of removing toner remaining on the surface with a cleaning blade in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor;

<Image forming apparatus>
The image forming method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the image forming method of the present invention can be applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum 1 and is mounted so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A. The photosensitive drum 1 has a photoconductive layer provided on a conductive support drum, and the photoconductive layer is composed of, for example, an organic photoconductor, a selenium photoconductor, a zinc oxide photoconductor, an amorphous silicon photoconductor, or the like. The Examples of the resin that binds the photoconductive layer to the conductive support drum include polyester resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, phenol resin, and epoxy resin, and polycarbonate resin is preferable.

  A charging roll 3 as a charging member, a laser beam irradiation device 4 as an exposure device, a developing device 11, a transfer roll 5 and a cleaning blade 13 are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1 along the circumferential direction. The charging step is a step of uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 positively or negatively by the charging member. In addition to the charging roll 3 shown in FIG. 1, there are a contact charging method in which charging is performed by a fur brush, a magnetic brush, a blade, and the like, and a non-contact charging method by corona discharge. It is also possible.

  In the exposure process, the surface of the photosensitive drum is irradiated with light corresponding to the image signal by a laser beam irradiation device 4 as an exposure device as shown in FIG. 1, and the electrostatic latent image is uniformly charged on the surface of the drum. Is a step of forming. Such a laser beam irradiation device 4 is constituted by, for example, a laser irradiation device and an optical system lens. In addition, as an exposure apparatus, there is an LED irradiation apparatus that can be used.

  The development process is a process in which a toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the exposure process to form a visible image, and in the reverse development, only the light irradiation unit is formed. In normal development, a bias voltage is applied between the developing roll 7 and the photosensitive drum 1 so that the toner is adhered only to the light non-irradiated portion.

  A developing device 11 shown in FIG. 1 is a developing device used in a one-component contact developing system, and has a developing roll 7 and a supply roll 9 in a casing 12 in which toner 10 is accommodated. The developing roll 7 is disposed so as to partially contact the photosensitive drum 1 and rotates in the direction B opposite to the photosensitive drum 1. The supply roll 9 comes into contact with the developing roll 7 and rotates in the same direction C as the developing roll 7, and supplies the toner 10 to the outer periphery of the developing roll 9. As other development methods, there are a one-component non-contact development method, a two-component contact development method, and a two-component non-contact development method, and these methods may be adopted.

  Around the developing roll 7, a developing roll blade 8 as a toner layer thickness regulating member is disposed at a position between the contact point with the supply roll 9 and the contact point with the photosensitive drum 1. The blade 8 is made of, for example, a rubber elastic body or metal.

  The transfer process is a process in which the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 formed by the developing device 11 is transferred to a recording material 6 such as paper, and is usually transferred by a transfer roll 5 as shown in FIG. In addition, a belt transfer system and a corona transfer system are also known and can be used. The transferred image is fixed by a fixing roll (fixing step), and the cleaning step is a step of cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and in the present invention, a cleaning blade 13 as shown in FIG. 1 is used. .

  In the fixing step, the toner image is transferred onto the transfer material by the transfer roller 5 and pressed between the upper heating roll and the lower roll 2 heated to a temperature of 150 ° C. to 200 ° C., and the toner image is placed on the transfer material. To settle.

  In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 1, which is an example of a photoreceptor, is charged uniformly negatively by the charging roll 3 and then electrostatically latentized by the laser light irradiation device 4. An image is formed, and the developing device 11 develops the toner image (visible image). Subsequently, the visible image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to a recording material such as paper by the transfer roll 5, and the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum is cleaned by the cleaning blade 13, and then the next image formation is performed. Enter the cycle.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning blade used in the image forming method of the present invention is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum from the direction opposite to the rotation direction (that is, in the counter direction) as shown in FIG. At d, the contact is made at a predetermined set angle θ. Here, the penetration amount d is the penetration amount in the direction perpendicular to the blade axis when the tip of the cleaning blade is assumed to have entered the photosensitive drum without being deformed, and the set angle θ is the angle of the cleaning blade. This is the angle formed by the tangent line at the point where the front end surface and the photosensitive drum intersect with the axis of the cleaning blade. The penetration amount d is 0.7 to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.9 to 1.5 mm. If it is larger than this, the cleaning blade may be rolled. On the other hand, if it is small, cleaning failure may occur. The setting angle θ is usually 10 to 30 °. If this value is large, the cleaning blade may be rolled. On the other hand, if it is small, cleaning failure may occur. The thickness of the tip of the cleaning blade is 1 to 2.5 mm, preferably 1.2 to 2.3 mm, and more preferably 1.4 to 2.1 mm. If this thickness is large, the photoconductor may be worn, and conversely if it is small, it may be drowned.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is for monochrome use, but the image forming method of the present invention can also be applied to a color image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that forms a color image. As a color image forming apparatus, a multi-development system in which a multicolor toner image is developed on a photosensitive member such as a photosensitive drum and transferred to a recording material at a time. Only a single color toner image is developed on the photosensitive member. Thereafter, there is a multiple transfer method in which the operation of transferring to the recording material is repeated for the number of colors of the color toner. In addition, in the multiple transfer method, a recording material is wound around a transfer drum and transferred for each color, and primary transfer is performed for each color on the intermediate transfer member, and a multicolor image is formed on the intermediate transfer member. An intermediate transfer method that performs secondary transfer in a batch after forming, a tandem method that arranges the photosensitive material around in tandem, sucks and conveys the recording material with a transfer conveyance belt, and sequentially transfers each color to the recording material Among them, the tandem method is preferable because it can be applied to a high speed machine.

<Toner>
The image forming method of the present invention is characterized in that a specific toner is used and the absolute value | Q | of the toner charge amount on the surface of the photoreceptor is 10 to 80 μC / g.

  The toner used in the image forming method of the present invention comprises colored resin particles and an external additive. The volume average particle diameter Dv of the colored resin particles constituting the toner is 4 to 10 μm, preferably 4 to 9 μm, more preferably 5 to 8 μm. The volume average particle diameter is a value measured by the method described in Examples. When the volume average particle diameter of the colored resin particles is within the above range, a high-resolution and high-definition image can be formed.

  The colored resin particles preferably have a particle size distribution represented by a ratio Dv / Dp between the volume average particle size Dv and the number average particle size Dp of 1.0 to 1.3, more preferably 1.0 to 1. .2. When the particle size distribution Dv / Dp of the colored resin particles is in the above range, no toner is generated, transferability is good, and a toner with high print density and resolution can be obtained. The volume average particle diameter and the number average particle diameter of the colored resin particles can be measured using, for example, Multisizer (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.).

  The average circularity of the colored resin particles is 0.950 to 0.995, preferably 0.960 to 0.995, more preferably 0.970 to 0.990. When the average circularity of the colored resin particles is within the above range, fine line reproducibility can be improved.

  The circularity of the colored resin particles is defined as the ratio between the circumference of a circle having the same projected area as the particle image and the circumference of the projected image of the particles. The average circularity is one method for quantitatively expressing the shape of the particles, and is an index indicating the degree of unevenness of the colored resin particles. The average circularity is 1 when the colored resin particles are completely spherical, and becomes smaller as the surface shape of the colored resin particles becomes uneven. The average circularity (Ca) is a value obtained by the following equation (1).

上記式（数１）において、ｎは、円形度Ｃｉを求めた粒子の個数である。円形度Ｃｉは、０．６〜４００μｍの、円相当径の粒子群の各粒子について測定した円周長を元に、次式（数２）により算出された各粒子の円形度である。

In the above formula (Equation 1), n is the number of particles for which the circularity Ci was obtained. The circularity Ci is the circularity of each particle calculated by the following equation (Equation 2) based on the circumferential length measured for each particle of a particle group having an equivalent circle diameter of 0.6 to 400 μm.

[Equation 2]
Ci = peripheral length of circle equal to projected area of particle / perimeter length of projected particle image In the above formula (1), fi is the frequency of particles having a circularity Ci. The circularity and the average circularity can be measured using, for example, a flow type particle image analyzer “FPIA-2100” or “FPIA-2000” manufactured by Sysmex Corporation.

  In the present invention, image formation is performed by controlling the absolute value | Q | of the charge amount of the toner on the surface of the photoreceptor to be in the range of 10 to 80 μC / g, preferably 15 to 55 μC / g. The absolute value of the charge amount is a solid print in a normal temperature and normal humidity (N / N) environment at a temperature of 23 ° C. and a humidity of 50%, and the toner developed on the photoreceptor is charged with a suction-type charge amount measuring device (Trek The charge amount Q (μC / g) per unit weight of the toner is calculated based on the suction amount (g) of the toner and the measured value (μC). Measured by the method. Since the toner includes a positively chargeable toner and a negatively chargeable toner, the charge amount per unit weight of the toner is represented by an absolute value | Q | of a plus or minus charge amount. Details of the method of measuring the absolute value of the charge amount are as described in the examples.

  Since the absolute value of the charge amount of the toner on the photosensitive member is within the above range, the cleaning property and the image quality can be highly balanced. If the absolute value of the charge amount of the toner on the surface of the photoconductor is too large, the cleaning property in a high temperature and high humidity environment is deteriorated and fogging is likely to occur. If the absolute value of the charge amount of the toner on the surface of the photoreceptor is too small, the cleaning property is relatively good, but the print density in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment is lowered and fogging is likely to occur.

  The absolute value of the charge amount of the toner on the surface of the photoconductor is the type and amount of the charge control agent contained in the colored resin particles described below, the type and amount of the external additive, the configuration of the photoconductor, the configuration of the developing roll, By adjusting the bias voltage or the like between the body and the developing roll, it can be within the above range.

The developing amount M / A of the toner on the surface of the photoconductor (the amount of toner on the photoconductor after development) is preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.8 mg / cm ² . This development amount is a value measured by the measurement method described in Examples. That is, the toner developed on the photoreceptor is sucked by the suction-type charge amount measuring device. A filter whose weight was accurately measured in advance was attached to the Faraday gauge of this measuring apparatus, and A (cm ² ) of the photosensitive member sucked after suction was measured, and this measured value A and the weight increase of the Faraday gauge [that is, The development amount M / A (mg / cm ² ) is calculated from the suction amount M (mg)]. If the toner amount (development amount) on the photoconductor after development is too small, the print density tends to decrease. When the development amount is in the above range, the print density can be set to an appropriate range.

  The colored resin particles constituting the toner used in the present invention are colored resin particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant. In addition to the colorant, a release agent and a charge control agent are preferably contained. Specific examples of the binder resin include binder resins conventionally used widely in the technical field of toners such as polystyrene and styrene-alkyl (meth) acrylate copolymers.

  As the colorant, any colorant and dye other than carbon black, titanium black, magnetic powder, oil black, and titanium white can be used. As the black carbon black, those having a primary particle diameter of 20 to 40 nm are suitably used. When the particle size is within this range, carbon black can be uniformly dispersed in the toner and fogging is reduced, which is preferable. When obtaining a full color toner, a yellow colorant, a magenta colorant, and a cyan colorant are usually used.

  Examples of the yellow colorant include compounds such as an azo colorant and a condensed polycyclic colorant. Specific examples of the yellow colorant include C.I. I. Pigment yellow 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 62, 65, 73, 74, 83, 90, 93, 97, 120, 138, 155, 180, 181, 185, 186 and the like.

  Examples of the magenta colorant include compounds such as an azo colorant and a condensed polycyclic colorant. Specific examples of the magenta colorant include C.I. I. Pigment Red 31, 48, 57, 58, 60, 63, 64, 68, 81, 83, 87, 88, 89, 90, 112, 114, 122, 123, 144, 146, 149, 150, 163, 170, 184, 185, 187, 202, 206, 207, 209, 251; I. Pigment violet 19 and the like.

  Examples of cyan colorants include copper phthalocyanine compounds and derivatives thereof, anthraquinone compounds, and the like. Specific examples of the cyan colorant include C.I. I. Pigment blue 2, 3, 6, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 16, 17, 60, and the like. The use ratio of the colorant is preferably 1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  Examples of the release agent include polyolefin waxes such as low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, and low molecular weight polybutylene; plant-based natural waxes such as candelilla, carnauba, rice, wood wax, jojoba; paraffin, microcrystalline, petrolatum, etc. Petroleum waxes and modified waxes thereof; synthetic waxes such as Fischer-Tropsch wax; polyfunctional ester compounds such as pentaerythritol tetrastearate, pentaerythritol tetrapalmitate, dipentaerythritol hexamyristate; and the like.

  The release agents can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Of the release agents, synthetic waxes and polyfunctional ester compounds are preferred. Further, among the release agents, in the DSC curve measured by a differential scanning calorimeter, the endothermic peak temperature at the time of temperature rise is preferably 30 to 150 ° C, more preferably 40 to 100 ° C, and further preferably 50 to 80 ° C. A polyfunctional ester compound in the range is preferred because a toner having an excellent fixing-peeling balance at the time of fixing can be obtained. A mold release agent having a molecular weight of 1000 or more, dissolving at least 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of styrene at 25 ° C., and having an acid value of 10 mgKOH / g or less is particularly preferable because it exhibits a remarkable effect on lowering the fixing temperature. . As such a polyfunctional ester compound, dipentaerythritol hexamyristate and pentaerythritol tetrastearate are preferable. Endothermic peak temperature means a value measured by ASTM D3418-82. The compounding ratio of the release agent is usually 3 to 20 parts by weight, preferably 5 to 15 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  The colored resin particles constituting the toner used in the image forming method of the present invention preferably contain a charge control agent. The charge control agent is not particularly limited as long as it is conventionally used in the technical field of toner. Among charge control agents, a charge control resin is preferably contained. The reason is that the charge control resin has high compatibility with the binder resin, is colorless, and a toner having stable chargeability can be obtained even in color continuous printing at high speed.

  The colored resin particles constituting the toner used in the image forming method of the present invention preferably contain a charge control agent. The charge control agent is not particularly limited as long as it is conventionally used in the technical field of toner. Among charge control agents, a charge control resin is preferably contained. The reason is that the charge control resin has high compatibility with the binder resin, is colorless, and a toner having stable chargeability can be obtained even in color continuous printing at high speed. The charge control resin is a quaternary ammonium (salt) produced in accordance with the descriptions in JP-A-63-60458, JP-A-3-175456, JP-A-3-243594, JP-A-11-15192, and the like. Positive charge control resin such as a group-containing copolymer, and negative charge control such as a sulfonic acid (salt) group-containing copolymer produced according to the description of JP-A-1-217464, JP-A-3-15858, etc. Resin.

  The ratio of the monomer unit having a functional group such as a quaternary ammonium (salt) group or a sulfonic acid (salt) group contained in these copolymers is preferably 0.5% based on the weight of the charge control resin. -12% by weight, more preferably 1-8% by weight. When the ratio of the monomer unit containing a functional group is in the above range, the charge amount of the toner can be easily controlled and the occurrence of fogging can be reduced.

  The weight average molecular weight of the charge control resin is preferably 2000 to 50000, more preferably 4000 to 40000, and particularly preferably 6000 to 35000. When the weight average molecular weight of the charge control resin is within the above range, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of offset and the deterioration of fixability.

  The glass transition temperature of the charge control resin is preferably 40 to 80 ° C, more preferably 45 to 75 ° C, and particularly preferably 45 to 70 ° C. When the glass transition temperature of the charge control resin is within the above range, the storage stability and fixing ability of the toner can be improved in a well-balanced manner. The blending ratio of the charge control agent or charge control resin is usually 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 6 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  The colored resin particles are preferably core-shell type (also referred to as “capsule type”) colored resin particles obtained by combining two different polymers inside (core layer) and outside (shell layer) of the particles. . In the core-shell type colored resin particles, the low softening point material in the core (core layer) is coated with a material having a higher softening point to balance the lowering of the fixing temperature and the prevention of aggregation during storage. This is preferable. The core layer of the core-shell type colored resin particles is composed of the binder resin and the colorant, and if necessary, various additives such as a charge control agent and a release agent are contained. Consists only of resin.

  The weight ratio between the core layer and the shell layer of the core-shell type colored resin particles is not particularly limited, but is usually selected from the range of 80/20 to 99.9 / 0.1. By setting the ratio of the shell layer to the above ratio, both the storage stability of the toner and the fixing property at a low temperature can be achieved.

  The average thickness of the shell layer of the core-shell type colored resin particles is usually 0.001 to 0.1 μm, preferably 0.003 to 0.08 μm, and more preferably 0.005 to 0.05 μm. If the thickness of the shell layer is too large, the fixing property is lowered, and if it is too small, the storage property is lowered. The core particles forming the core-shell type colored resin particles do not need to be entirely covered with the shell layer, and only a part of the surface of the core particles may be covered with the shell layer.

  If the core particle diameter and the thickness of the shell layer of the core-shell type colored resin particles can be observed with an electron microscope, they can be obtained by directly measuring the size and shell thickness of particles randomly selected from the observation photograph. . When it is difficult to observe the core and shell clearly by observation with an electron microscope, the thickness of the shell layer is determined based on the particle size of the core particle and the amount of monomer that forms the shell used in the toner production. Can be calculated.

  The colored resin particles used in the present invention are not particularly limited as long as the colored resin particles can be obtained with predetermined characteristics, but are preferably produced by a polymerization method. Therefore, a method for producing colored resin particles constituting the toner by a polymerization method will be described below.

  In order to produce colored resin particles by a polymerization method, first, a polymerizable monomer as a raw material of a binder resin is dissolved or dispersed in a polymerizable monomer, a coloring agent, a charge control agent, and other additives. A body composition is prepared. The polymerizable monomer composition is dispersed as fine droplets in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a dispersion stabilizer, and a polymerization reaction is performed using a radical polymerization initiator. After the polymerization, the colored resin particles are recovered by filtration, washing, dehydration, and drying.

  Examples of the polymerizable monomer include a monovinyl monomer, a crosslinkable monomer, and a macromonomer. This polymerizable monomer is polymerized to become a binder resin component.

  Monovinyl monomers include aromatic vinyl monomers such as styrene, vinyltoluene and α-methylstyrene; (meth) acrylic acid; methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid (Meth) acrylic monomers such as propyl, butyl (meth) acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth) acrylate, and isobornyl (meth) acrylate; monomers such as ethylene, propylene and butylene Olefin monomer; and the like. Monovinyl monomers may be used alone or in combination of a plurality of monomers. Among these monovinyl monomers, an aromatic vinyl monomer alone or a combination of an aromatic vinyl monomer and a (meth) acrylic monomer is preferably used.

  When a crosslinkable monomer is used together with a monovinyl monomer, hot offset is effectively improved. A crosslinkable monomer is a monomer having two or more vinyl groups. Specific examples include divinylbenzene, divinylnaphthalene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triallyl ether, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and the like. These crosslinkable monomers can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The use ratio of the crosslinkable monomer is usually 10 parts by weight or less, preferably 0.1 to 2 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the monovinyl monomer.

  It is preferable to use a macromonomer together with a monovinyl monomer because the balance between the storage stability of the toner and the fixing property at low temperature is improved. The macromonomer has a polymerizable carbon-carbon unsaturated double bond at the end of the molecular chain, and is an oligomer or polymer having a number average molecular weight of usually 1000 to 30000.

  The macromonomer is preferably one that gives a polymer having a glass transition temperature higher than that of a polymer obtained by polymerizing a monovinyl monomer. The proportion of the macromonomer used is usually 0.01 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.03 to 5 parts by weight, and more preferably 0.05 to 1 part by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the monovinyl monomer.

  Examples of the polymerization radical polymerization initiator include persulfates such as potassium persulfate and ammonium persulfate; 4,4′-azobis (4-cyanovaleric acid), 2,2′-azobis (2-methyl-N— (2-hydroxyethyl) propionamide, 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobisisobutyro Azo compounds such as nitriles; di-t-butyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, t-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate, t-hexylperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate, t-butylperoxypi Valate, di-isopropyl peroxydicarbonate, di-t-butyl peroxyisophthalate, t-butyl peroxyiso Examples thereof include peroxides such as butyrate, etc. A redox polymerization initiator obtained by combining the polymerization radical polymerization initiator and a reducing agent may be used.

  A toner having a residual styrene content of 200 ppm or less is produced by, for example, selecting and using a specific polymerization radical polymerization initiator and performing suspension polymerization while adjusting the polymerization temperature within a specific range. Can do. As the polymerization radical polymerization initiator capable of reducing the amount of residual styrene, an azo polymerization initiator is preferable, and dimethyl 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionate) is particularly preferable.

  The use ratio of the radical polymerization initiator is preferably 0.1 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.3 to 15 parts by weight, particularly preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable monomer. Parts by weight. The radical polymerization initiator may be added in advance to the polymerizable monomer composition, but in order to suppress undesirable early polymerization, during or after the formation of droplets of the polymerizable monomer composition. The aqueous dispersion medium may be added.

  The aqueous dispersion medium contains a dispersion stabilizer. Examples of the dispersion stabilizer include inorganic salts such as barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and calcium phosphate; inorganic oxides such as aluminum oxide and titanium oxide; aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and second hydroxide And inorganic compounds such as inorganic hydroxides such as iron. As the dispersion stabilizer, water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose, and gelatin; anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants can also be used. The dispersion stabilizers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Among dispersion stabilizers, dispersion stabilizers containing colloids of inorganic compounds, particularly poorly water-soluble inorganic hydroxides, can narrow the particle size distribution of the colored resin particles, and the dispersion stabilizer can be washed. This is preferable because a toner that can be reproduced in a clear manner can be obtained with a small remaining amount.

  The amount of the dispersion stabilizer used is preferably 0.1 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable monomer. When the amount of the dispersion stabilizer used is in the above range, it is preferable because sufficient polymerization stability can be obtained and formation of polymerization aggregates is suppressed.

  In the polymerization, a molecular weight modifier is preferably used. Examples of the molecular weight modifier include mercaptans such as t-dodecyl mercaptan, n-dodecyl mercaptan, n-octyl mercaptan, 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane-4-thiol, and the like. The molecular weight modifier can be added to the polymerizable monomer composition before or during the polymerization. The usage-amount of a molecular weight modifier is 0.01-10 weight part normally with respect to 100 weight part of polymerizable monomers, Preferably it is 0.1-5 weight part.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a method of manufacturing a core-shell type colored resin particle, It can manufacture by a conventionally well-known method. For example, spray drying method, interfacial reaction method, in situ polymerization method, phase separation method and the like can be mentioned. More specifically, colored resin particles obtained by a pulverization method, a polymerization method, an association method, or a phase inversion emulsification method are used as core particles, and the core particles are coated with a shell layer, whereby core-shell type colored resin particles are obtained. Can be obtained. Among these production methods, an in situ polymerization method and a phase separation method are preferable from the viewpoint of production efficiency.

  Hereinafter, a method for producing colored resin particles having a core / shell structure by an in situ polymerization method will be described. By adding a polymerizable monomer (polymerizable monomer for shell) and a radical polymerization initiator to form a shell into an aqueous dispersion medium in which core particles (colored resin particles) are dispersed, and polymerizing Colored resin particles having a core / shell structure can be obtained.

  As a specific method for forming the shell, a method of continuously polymerizing by adding a polymerizable monomer for shell to a reaction system of a polymerization reaction performed to obtain core particles; obtained by another reaction system Examples thereof include a method in which core particles are charged and a shell polymerizable monomer is added thereto for polymerization. The polymerizable monomer for shell may be added all at once in the reaction system, or may be added continuously or intermittently using a pump such as a plunger pump.

  As the polymerizable monomer for the shell, monomers that form a polymer having a glass transition temperature exceeding 80 ° C., such as styrene, acrylonitrile, and methyl methacrylate, may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Can do.

  When adding the shell polymerizable monomer, it is preferable to add a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator because colored resin particles having a core-shell structure can be easily obtained. When a water-soluble polymerization radical polymerization initiator is added during the addition of the shell polymerizable monomer, the water-soluble radical polymerization initiator moves in the vicinity of the outer surface of the core particle to which the shell polymerizable monomer has migrated, It is considered that a polymer layer (shell) is easily formed on the surface of the core particle.

  Examples of water-soluble radical polymerization initiators include persulfates such as potassium persulfate and ammonium persulfate; 2,2′-azobis [2-methyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) propionamide], 2,2′-azobis. And azo polymerization initiators such as-[2-methyl-N- [1,1-bis (hydroxymethyl) 2-hydroxyethyl] propionamide]. The usage-amount of a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator is 0.1-30 weight part normally with respect to 100 weight part of polymerizable monomers for shells, Preferably it is 1-20 weight part.

  The polymerization temperature is preferably 50 ° C. or higher, more preferably 60 to 95 ° C. The reaction time is preferably 1 to 20 hours, more preferably 2 to 10 hours. After the polymerization is completed, filtration, washing, dehydration, and drying are performed according to a conventional method, and this operation is preferably repeated several times.

  In the case of using an inorganic compound such as an inorganic hydroxide as a dispersion stabilizer, an aqueous dispersion containing colored resin particles (colored polymer particles) obtained by polymerization is stabilized by adding an acid or an alkali. The agent is preferably dissolved in water and removed by filtration and washing. When a colloid of a poorly water-soluble inorganic hydroxide is used as the dispersion stabilizer, it is preferable to adjust the pH of the aqueous dispersion to 6.5 or less by adding an acid. As the acid to be added, inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, and organic acids such as formic acid and acetic acid can be used, but sulfuric acid is particularly preferable because of its high removal efficiency and low burden on production equipment. It is.

  The method for filtering and dewatering the colored resin particles from the aqueous dispersion medium is not particularly limited. Examples thereof include a centrifugal filtration method, a vacuum filtration method, and a pressure filtration method. Among these, the centrifugal filtration method is preferable.

  The toner used in the present invention is a developer containing colored resin particles and an external additive. If necessary, other fine particles may be added. Colored resin particles (including core / shell type colored resin particles) prepared by a polymerization method can be used as a main component of various developers, but are preferably used as a one-component developer. More preferably, it is used as a component developer. Examples of the external additive include inorganic fine particles and organic resin fine particles that act as a fluidizing agent and an abrasive.

  Examples of the inorganic fine particles include silicon dioxide (silica), aluminum oxide (alumina), titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, barium titanate, and strontium titanate. As organic resin fine particles, methacrylic acid ester polymer particles, acrylic acid ester polymer particles, styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer particles, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer particles, a core is a styrene polymer, and a shell is methacrylic acid. Examples thereof include core / shell type particles formed of an ester copolymer.

  Among these, inorganic oxide fine particles are preferable, and silica fine particles are particularly preferable. The surface of the inorganic fine particles can be hydrophobized, and silica particles that have been hydrophobized are particularly suitable. Two or more types of external additives may be used in combination. When external additives are used in combination, a method in which inorganic fine particles having different average particle diameters or inorganic fine particles and organic resin fine particles are combined is suitable. .

  Inorganic fine particles such as silica are preferably subjected to a hydrophobic treatment. Hydrophobized inorganic fine particles are generally commercially available, but can also be obtained by hydrophobizing with a silane coupling agent or silicone oil. As a method of hydrophobizing treatment, a method of dripping or spraying silicone oil as a treatment agent while stirring the fine particles at a high speed, and adding and mixing fine particles in an organic solvent which is dissolved by stirring the treatment agent Thereafter, a heat treatment method and the like can be mentioned. In the former case, the treatment agent may be diluted with an organic solvent or the like.

  The degree of hydrophobicity is preferably 20 to 90%, more preferably 40 to 80%, as measured by the methanol method. When the degree of hydrophobicity is within this range, it is difficult to absorb moisture under high temperature and high humidity, and sufficient polishing properties can be obtained.

  The use ratio of the external additive (single or total use ratio) is not particularly limited, but is usually 0.1 to 6 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles. In order to attach the external additive to the colored resin particles, the colored resin particles and the external additive are usually stirred in a mixer such as a Henschel mixer.

  As the external additive, a combination of silica fine particles (A) having a number average particle diameter of 5 to 20 nm, preferably 7 to 15 nm of primary particles and spherical silica fine particles (B) having a volume average particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.5 μm. It is more preferable to combine silica fine particles (C) in which the number average particle size of primary particles is 25 to 80 nm, preferably 30 to 60 nm. By using these fine particles together, it is possible to suppress toner filming on the surface of the photoreceptor and image blurring.

  The spherical silica fine particles (B) have a sphericity measured by the method described later of 1 to 1.5, preferably 1 to 1.3, and more preferably 1 to 1.2. Environmental stability can be made favorable by setting it as the said range of sphericity.

  In the case of spherical silica fine particles (B), in the particle size distribution, when the particle size corresponding to 10% of the volume particle size calculated from the small particle size side is Dv10 and the particle size corresponding to 50% is Dv50, The ratio of Dv50 to Dv10 (Dv50 / Dv10) is preferably 1.8 or more, and more preferably 2.0 or more. When spherical silica fine particles having a Dv50 / Dv10 greater than 1.8 are used, toner blocking and toner filming on the photoreceptor can be effectively suppressed.

  The bulk density of the spherical silica fine particles (B) is preferably 50 to 250 g / l, and more preferably 80 to 200 g / l. By setting the bulk density within this range, it is possible to suppress toner filming and fogging on the photosensitive member, and deterioration in cleaning properties.

  The compounding ratio of the silica fine particles (A) is 0.1 to 2 parts by weight, more preferably 0.3 to 2 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles. By making the blending ratio of the silica fine particles (A) in the above range, it is possible to effectively suppress the deterioration of the cleaning property, the occurrence of printing stains and poor fixing under low temperature and low humidity.

  The blending ratio of the spherical silica fine particles (B) is 0.5 to 2.5 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 2 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles. By making the blending ratio of the spherical silica fine particles (B) in the above range, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the cleaning property and the occurrence of scumming.

  The mixing ratio of the silica fine particles (C) is 0.2 to 2 parts by weight, more preferably 0.3 to 2 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles. By making the blending ratio of the silica fine particles (C) in the above range, it is possible to effectively suppress the deterioration of the cleaning property, the occurrence of printing stains and poor fixing under low temperature and low humidity.

  In the above toner production method, from the viewpoint of obtaining a toner that gives an image quality with good dot reproducibility, a toner whose average circularity and volume average particle diameter satisfy the range of the present invention can be easily produced. That is, the absolute value | Q | of the charge amount of the toner per unit weight can be adjusted by the type and amount of the charge control agent or charge control resin blended in the colored resin particles. The absolute value of the charge amount of the toner used in the present invention in an N / N (temperature 23 ° C., humidity 50%) environment is 10 to 80 μC / g, but it is measured when the same toner is charged under different conditions. Depending on the environment, it is 30 to 80 μC / g under L / L (temperature 10 ° C., humidity 20%), and 10 to 30 μC / g under H / H (temperature 30 ° C., humidity 80%). Under L / L conditions, charging increases and cleaning becomes difficult. On the other hand, cleaning is easy under H / H conditions, but the toner layer becomes thick and fogging easily occurs.

<Cleaning blade>
The cleaning blade of the present invention is formed of a polyurethane elastic body, and the elastic body uses a polyester polyol, a diisocyanate compound, a chain extender, and a crosslinking agent as constituent materials.

  Examples of the polyester polyol include one or more dicarboxylic acids such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, maleic acid, ethylene glycol (EG), 1,3-propylene glycol, and 1,4-butane. Diol (BD), 1,6-hexanediol, neopentyl glycol (NPG), 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, 2,4-diethyl-1,5-pentanediol, 1,8-octanediol, Condensed polyester polyols obtained by condensation polymerization of one or more glycols such as 1,10-decanediol and diethylene glycol, and lactones such as ε-caprolactone and valerolactone are opened using the above-mentioned glycol as a polymerization initiator for the polyester. Ring-opening polymer obtained by cycloaddition polymerization Tel polyols can be used.

  Among the above polyester polyols, polyester polyols containing side chain-containing glycols such as neopentyl glycol (NPG), 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, 2,4-diethyl-1,5-pentanediol as constituent components. It is preferable to use a polyester polyol having neopentyl glycol as a constituent component. As the polyester polyol, it is preferable to use a bifunctional polyol having an average molecular weight of 800 to 3000 as determined by a terminal group determination method. A polyol having a different average molecular weight may be used in combination, and two or more polyester polyols having different compositions may be used. May be.

  Among polyester polyol compounds, using neopentyl glycol as a polymerization initiator and using a lactone-based polyester polyol obtained by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone or valerolactone provides a cleaning blade having excellent wear resistance. This is a particularly preferable embodiment.

  The polyester polyol polyurethane elastic body having a tan δ peak temperature in the viscoelastic spectrum of −10 ° C. to + 10 ° C. and a peak height of 0.90 or less, preferably a peak half-value width of 25 ° C. or more constitutes a side chain-containing glycol. It can be easily and reliably produced by using a polyester polyol as a component. The content of the side chain-containing glycol in the total amount of the polyester polyol is preferably 1 to 10% by weight, and more preferably 2 to 8% by weight. In addition, when the toner used in the present invention is used, since it has excellent cleaning performance in a wide range from a low temperature and low humidity environment to a high temperature and high humidity environment, the lactone polyester polyol containing neopentyl glycol as a constituent component is used. It is preferable to use it.

  Examples of the diisocyanate compound that is a constituent material of the polyurethane elastic body forming the cleaning blade of the present invention include 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (2,4-TDI), 2,6- Aromatic diisocyanate compounds such as toluene diisocyanate, naphthalene diisocyanate, 4,4′-phenylene diisocyanate, aliphatic diisocyanate compounds such as ethylene diisocyanate, 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) Hydrogenated 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (HMDI), 1,4-cyclohexane diisocyanate (CHDI), methylcyclohexylene diisocyanate, Ron diisocyanate (IPDI), hydrogenated m- xylylene diisocyanate (HXDI), alicyclic diisocyanate compounds such as norbornane diisocyanate can be exemplified. Two or more diisocyanate compounds can also be used in combination.

  Among the above diisocyanate compounds, it is preferable to use 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate.

The following methods can be used as a general method for synthesizing the polyurethane elastic body of the present invention.
a) One-shot method: Method of mixing raw material polyester polyol, polyfunctional isocyanate, cross-linking agent, chain extender and reacting to make polyurethane elastic body b) Prepolymer method: Reacting raw material polyester polyol and polyfunctional isocyanate A prepolymer of a terminal isocyanate, and reacting the prepolymer with a curing agent component containing a chain extender and a crosslinking agent to form a polyurethane elastic body c) pseudo-prepolymer method: part of the blended amount of the raw material polyester polyol Is reacted with a polyfunctional isocyanate to give a pseudo prepolymer, and the remaining prepolymer polyol, chain extender and crosslinking agent are reacted with the pseudo prepolymer to form a polyurethane elastic body. However, the polyurethane elastic bodies that make up the cleaning blade As a synthesis method, a pseudo prepolymer method or a prepolymer method is preferable.

  Glycol is used as a chain extender. Specific examples include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol and the like. As the chain extender, it is preferable to use at least one of ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol.

  As the crosslinking agent, trifunctional or higher polyhydric alcohols are used. Specifically, trimethylolpropane, triethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, triethanolamine and the like are exemplified. Two or more crosslinking agents can be used in combination. As a crosslinking agent, it is preferable to use trimethylolpropane.

  In the production of the cleaning blade, a polyurethane polymerization catalyst may be used. Examples of the polymerization catalyst include organic tin catalysts such as dibutyltin dilaurate and tin octylate, triethylenediamine, N-methylmorpholine, N, N, N ′. , N′-tetramethylethylenediamine, N, N, N ′, N′-tetramethylhexamethylenediamine, diazabicycloundecene (DBU), bis (N, N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl) ether, bis ( Examples include tertiary amine catalysts such as 2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether, carboxylic acid metal salt catalysts such as potassium acetate and potassium octylate, and imidazole catalysts. Among these, the use of a tertiary amine catalyst is preferable.

  The cleaning blade can be manufactured by a known method. The production process of the cleaning blade is, for example, a prepolymer production process in which an isocyanate prepolymer or an isocyanate pseudoprepolymer is produced by reacting a polyol compound and a diisocyanate compound, and an isocyanate prepolymer or pseudo prepolymer and a curing agent component are mixed. It has the mixing process which makes a reactive composition, and the shaping | molding process which shape | molds a reactive composition. The molding step may be a step of using a mold having a molding cavity of a predetermined cleaning blade, injecting a reactive composition into the molding cavity and reaction-curing to form a cleaning blade of a predetermined shape, It may be a step including a sheet forming step of forming a sheet-like formed body using a flat plate or cylindrical mold and a cutting step of cutting the sheet-like formed body into a cleaning blade having a predetermined shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning blade is generally mounted on an image forming apparatus as a cleaning blade unit in which the blade and the bracket are integrated by being fixed to the bracket with an adhesive or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning blade is one in which fine particles are attached at least in the vicinity of the photosensitive member contact portion. As a specific method for attaching the fine particles to the blade, for example, fine particles are dispersed in various organic solvents, surfactants, acrylic emulsions, acrylic dispersions, etc. to prepare a dispersion, and the dispersion is used as a photoreceptor. For example, a method of applying to a predetermined portion and drying, or a method of adhering the toner of the present invention in a powder state can be employed. Among these, a nonionic surfactant is applied to at least the surface of the cleaning blade for removing the untransferred toner on the surface of the photoreceptor, and the amount of adhesion per unit area on the coated surface. A method of drying after attaching the fine particles within the range of 1 to 10 mg / cm ² is preferable.

  The average particle diameter of the fine particles is preferably 0.1 μm or more. The average particle diameter of the fine particles is more preferably 0.1 to 20 μm, still more preferably 0.3 to 15 μm, and particularly preferably 0.5 to 10 μm. The fine particles to be used may be non-spherical such as indefinite shape, cube, rectangular parallelepiped or polyhedron, or may be spherical.

  A preferable method for manufacturing a cleaning blade surface-treated with fine particles is to apply a nonionic surfactant to the surface of at least the portion of the cleaning blade that comes into contact with the photoconductor, and contact with the fine particles in a wet state. And then drying at a temperature of usually 30 to 90 ° C, preferably 35 to 60 ° C.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to production examples, synthesis examples, examples, and comparative examples. In the following production examples, examples and comparative examples, “parts” and “%” are based on weight unless otherwise specified. The evaluation method of characteristics and physical properties in the present invention is as follows.

(1) Volume particle size and particle size distribution of colored resin particles:
The particle size distribution represented by the volume average particle diameter Dv of the colored resin particles and the ratio Dv / Dp of the volume average particle diameter Dv and the number average particle diameter Dp was measured by Multisizer (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.). The measurement with this multisizer was performed under the conditions of an aperture diameter of 100 μm, a medium isotone, a sample concentration of 10%, and a measurement particle number of 100,000.

(2) Average circularity:
In a container, 10 ml of ion-exchanged water is put in advance, 0.02 g of a surfactant (alkylbenzene sulfonic acid) as a dispersant is added therein, 0.02 g of colored resin particles are further added, and 60 W with an ultrasonic disperser. The dispersion treatment was performed for 3 minutes. The concentration of the colored resin particles at the time of measurement is adjusted to 3000 to 10,000 particles / μL, and 1,000 to 10,000 colored resin particles having an equivalent circle diameter of 1 μm or more are produced by a flow type particle image analyzer “Sysmex Corporation”. It measured using "FPIA-2100". The average circularity was determined from the measured value.

(3) Volume average particle size and particle size distribution (Dv50 / Dv10) of spherical silica fine particles:
Place 0.5 g of silica fine particles in a 100 ml beaker, drop several drops of surfactant, add 50 ml of ion-exchanged water, disperse for 5 minutes using an ultrasonic homogenizer US-150T, and then microtrack UPA150 (Nikkiso Volume average particle size and particle size distribution.

(4) Number average particle diameter of silica fine particles:
The number average particle diameter of the silica fine particles is obtained by taking an electron micrograph of each particle, and using the image processing analysis device Luzex IID (manufactured by Nireco Corporation), the area ratio of the particles to the frame area: maximum 2%, total Number of treated particles: The equivalent circle diameter corresponding to the projected area of silica was calculated under the condition of 100 particles, and the average value was obtained.

(5) Sphericality:
The sphericity Sc / Sr, which is the value obtained by dividing the area Sc of the spherical silica fine particle with the absolute maximum length as the major axis divided by the actual projected area Sr of the particle, is obtained by taking an electron micrograph of each particle and analyzing the photograph by image processing analysis. Using an apparatus Luzex IID (manufactured by Nireco Co., Ltd.), the particle area ratio with respect to the frame area was 2% at maximum and the total number of processed particles was 100. The average value of the calculated 100 particles was defined as the sphericity. .

(6) Hydrophobization degree:
The degree of hydrophobicity of the spherical silica fine particles was determined by the methanol method. 0.2 g of silica fine particles were put into a 500 ml beaker, 50 ml of pure water was added, and subsurface hemethanol was added while stirring with a magnetic stirrer. The point at which fine particles were not observed on the liquid surface was taken as the end point, and the degree of hydrophobicity was calculated by the following formula.
Hydrophobicity (%) = [X / (50 + X)] × 100
In the above formula, X is the amount of methanol used (ml).

(7) Viscoelastic properties of the cleaning blade:
The viscoelastic properties (tan δ peak) of the polyurethane elastomer clean blade were measured under the following conditions.
Viscoelasticity measuring machine: DVE-V4 manufactured by Rheology
Measurement sample size: 20mmL x 5mmW
Initial strain: 0.3 mm
Amplitude: 40 μm
Frequency: 10Hz
Rate of temperature increase: The sample used at 2.5 ° C./min is a strip sample having a length of 20 mm and a width of 5 mm cut out from the sheet-like polyurethane elastic body shown in the production example.

(8) Cleaning blade hardness:
The hardness of the cleaning blade was measured in accordance with a spring-type durometer hardness (type A) test specified in JIS K 6253. As a sample for measuring hardness, a sheet having a total thickness of 9.6 mm was obtained by stacking six molded sheets having a thickness of 1.6 mm.

(9) Tear strength of the cleaning blade:
Measured according to JIS K 6252. As a measurement sample, a 1.6 mm thick angle type without cut was used. Measurement was performed at a tensile speed of 500 mm / min and n = 5, and the median value was taken as the measured value.

(10) Charge amount of toner on photoconductor | Q | (μC / g):
The charge amount of the toner on the photoreceptor is a value measured by the following method. A modified printer in which a cleaning member comprising a cleaning blade of a commercially available non-magnetic one-component color printer (Oki Data Corporation, model name “Microline 5300” 12 sheets / min) and a metal fitting for holding it was used was used. The cartridge filled with the toner prepared in the production example was mounted at the position of the black toner cartridge of the modified printer. After standing overnight in a room temperature and normal humidity (N / N) environment at a temperature of 23 ° C. and a humidity of 50%, solid printing is performed, and then the second solid printing is stopped halfway and then developed on the photoconductor. The toner was sucked using a suction-type charge amount measuring apparatus (manufactured by Trek Japan, model name “210HS-2A”), and the charge amount was measured. Based on the toner suction amount (g) and the measured value (μC), the charge amount Q (μC / g) per unit weight of the toner was calculated. The charge amount Q 1 is represented by an absolute value | Q |. At this time, the penetration amount of the cleaning blade was 1.2 mm, and the set angle θ was 25 °.

(11) Amount of toner on toner (development amount) M / A (mg / cm ² ):
In the same manner as in (10), solid printing is performed, and then the second solid printing is stopped halfway, and then the toner developed on the photoconductor is charged with the suction-type charging used in (10). Aspiration was performed using a quantity measuring device. A filter whose weight was accurately measured in advance was attached to the Faraday gauge of this measuring apparatus, and A (cm ² ) of the photosensitive member sucked after suction was measured, and this measured value A and the weight increase of the Faraday gauge [that is, The amount of development M / A (mg / cm ² ) was calculated from the amount of suction M (mg)].

(12) Measurement of residual styrene content:

The amount of residual styrene in the polymerized toner was measured by gas chromatography based on the following method. Weigh accurately 3 g of toner to the nearest 1 mg. After adding 27 g of N, N-dimethylformamide to 3 g of polymer particles and stirring for 15 minutes, 13 g of methanol is added and further stirred for 10 minutes. The solution thus obtained is allowed to stand to precipitate insolubles. The supernatant of this solution was taken as a measurement sample, 2 μl was injected into a gas chromatograph, and the amount of styrene was quantified under the following conditions.
Column: TC-WAX (0.25 mm x 30 m)
Column temperature: 80 ° C
Injection temperature: 200 ° C. FID detection side temperature: 200 ° C.

<Examples of raw material production>
[Production Example 1] Synthesis of negative charge control resin (CCR1) 100 parts of a polymerizable monomer composed of 85% styrene, 13% n-butyl acrylate, and 2% 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid was added to toluene 900. The mixture was put into a part and reacted at 80 ° C. for 8 hours in the presence of 4 parts of azobisdimethylvaleronitrile. After completion of the reaction, toluene was distilled off under reduced pressure to obtain a sulfonic acid group-containing copolymer. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the sulfonic acid group-containing copolymer was 22,000. The sulfonic acid group-containing copolymer is referred to as a negative charge control resin (CCR1). The “weight% of the structural unit having a functional group” of the negative charge control resin (CCR1) is 2%.

[Production Example 2] Synthesis of negative charge control resin (CCR2) 100 parts of a polymerizable monomer comprising 82% styrene, 11% n-butyl acrylate, and 7% 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid was added to toluene 900. The reaction was carried out at 80 ° C. for 8 hours in the presence of 4 parts of 2,2′-azobis (2,2-dimethylvaleronitrile). After completion of the reaction, toluene was distilled off under reduced pressure to obtain a sulfonic acid group-containing copolymer. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the sulfonic acid group-containing copolymer was 10,000. The sulfonic acid group-containing copolymer is referred to as a negative charge control resin (CCR2). The “weight% of the structural unit having a functional group” of the negative charge control resin (CCR2) is 7%.

[Production Example 3] Production Example of Spherical Silica Fine Particle A Silica powder (average particle size 2 μm, maximum particle size 60 μm) SiO ₂ min 1.0 mol and metal silicon powder (average particle size 10 μm, maximum particle size 100 μm) 0 100 parts of mixed powder composed of 0.8 mol and 50 parts of pure water were mixed, placed in a thin container, and batch fed to a 2000 ° C. electric furnace. Hydrogen gas is introduced from the same direction as the feed of the mixed raw material, the hydrogen gas and the generated gas are sucked with an exhaust blower provided at the upper part in the opposite direction, further brought into contact with 400 Nm ³ / hr of air, and cooled with a bag filter. Silica fine particles were collected. The silica fine particles were classified with an air classifier. The obtained silica fine particles had Dv50 / Dv10 = 2.54, the volume average particle diameter of primary particles was 0.2 μm, and the sphericity was 1.12.

  An amino-modified silicone oil diluted with alcohol ("BY16-872" manufactured by Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.) was added dropwise to the silica fine particles so as to be 8% by weight with respect to the silica fine particles, and the mixture was stirred at 70 ° C, 30 ° C. Then, the solvent was removed at 140 ° C., followed by further heat treatment at 210 ° C. for 4 hours with vigorous stirring to obtain hydrophobized spherical silica fine particles A. The obtained spherical silica fine particles A had a hydrophobicity of 80% and a bulk density of 110 g / l.

<Example of toner production>
(Toner Production Example 1)
1) Preparation of polymerizable composition for core 80.5 parts by weight of styrene, 19.5 parts by weight of n-butyl acrylate, 0.5 parts by weight of polymethacrylate ester macromonomer AA6 (manufactured by Toa Gosei Chemical Co., Ltd.), 0. 6 parts by weight, 1.2 parts by weight of t-dodecyl mercaptan, and magenta pigment C.I. I. 6 parts by weight of Pigment Red 122 (manufactured by Client Corp.) was wet-pulverized with a media-type wet pulverizer (Picomill; manufactured by Asada Tekko Co., Ltd.), 2 parts by weight of negative charge control resin 1 (CCR1), and diester which is an ester compound 10 parts by weight of pentaerythritol hexamyristate (manufactured by NOF Corporation) was added, mixed and dissolved to obtain a polymerizable composition for the core.

2) Preparation of magnesium hydroxide colloid dispersion Separately, 6.6 parts by weight of sodium hydroxide was dissolved in 50 parts by weight of ion-exchanged water in an aqueous magnesium chloride solution in which 11.8 parts by weight of magnesium chloride was dissolved in 250 parts by weight of ion-exchanged water. A sodium hydroxide aqueous solution was gradually added while stirring to prepare a magnesium hydroxide colloidal dispersion.

3) Preparation of polymerizable monomer aqueous dispersion for shell formation 1.0 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate and 65 parts by weight of ion-exchanged water were mixed to prepare an aqueous dispersion of polymerizable monomer for shell formation.

4) Preparation of colored polymer particles The above-mentioned polymerizable composition for core was put into the above magnesium hydroxide colloidal dispersion, and stirred until the droplets were stabilized. After the droplets were stabilized, 3 parts by weight of a radical polymerization initiator dimethyl 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionate) (V601; manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was added, and 15 parts were obtained using an Ebara milder. The mixture was stirred with high shear at a rotation speed of 1,000 rpm for 30 minutes to form smaller droplets of the polymerizable composition for the core. The magnesium hydroxide colloidal dispersion in which droplets of the polymerizable composition for core were dispersed was placed in a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring blade, and the temperature was raised and controlled to be constant at 85 ° C. After the polymerization conversion rate reaches almost 100%, the water-soluble radical polymerization initiator 2,2′-azobis [2-methyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -propion is added to the shell polymerizable monomer aqueous dispersion. Amide] (trade name VA-086; manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 0.3 parts by weight was dissolved and placed in a reaction vessel. After the polymerization was continued for 4 hours, nitrogen was further introduced into the dispersion solution to remove residual styrene, and then the reaction was stopped to obtain an aqueous dispersion of core-shell type colored polymer particles.

  While stirring the obtained aqueous dispersion of colored polymer particles at room temperature, it was washed with 10% sulfuric acid at 25 ° C. for 10 minutes to adjust the pH of the system to 4.5 or less. The obtained colored polymer particles were dried under reduced pressure to obtain colored resin particles.

5) Preparation of toner particles To 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles obtained in 4) above, 2.0 parts of spherical silica fine particles A are added as an external additive, and the number of rotations is 5 minutes using a Henschel mixer. Further, 1.0 part of silica having an average primary particle diameter of 12 nm (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., trade name “R-104”, hydrophobization degree = 45%) while stirring the jacket of the stirrer with water while stirring at 1400 rpm, 0.5 parts of silica particles having an average primary particle diameter of 50 nm (trade name “HDK-H05TX”, hydrophobicity = 80%, manufactured by Wacker) were added and stirred for 10 minutes at a rotational speed of 1400 rpm to obtain an electrostatic charge image. A developing toner (magenta toner) was prepared. The obtained toner had a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 6.4 μm, an average circularity of 0.970, and a residual styrene content of 58 ppm.

(Toner Production Example 2)
Toner preparation example 1 5) In the toner particle adjustment step, the amount of silica (A) added is 1.5 parts by weight, and the toner is the same as toner production example 1 except that silica (C) is not added. Adjusted. The obtained toner had a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 6.7 μm, an average circularity of 0.973, and a residual styrene content of 60 ppm.

(Toner Production Example 3)
Toner Production Example 1 1) Toner was prepared in the same manner as in Toner Production Example 1 except that negative charge control resin 2 (CCR2) was used instead of charge adjustment resin 1 (CCR1) in the preparation of the polymerizable composition for the core. . The obtained toner had a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 6.8 μm, an average circularity of 0.970, and a residual styrene content of 80 ppm.

(Toner Production Example 4)
1) Preparation of polymerizable composition for core 80.5 parts by weight of styrene, 19.5 parts by weight of n-butyl acrylate, 0.8 parts by weight of polymethacrylate ester macromonomer AA6 (manufactured by Toagosei Chemical Co., Ltd.), 0. 3 parts by weight, magenta pigment C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 (manufactured by Client), 10 parts by weight of dipentaerythritol hexamyristate, 1 part by weight of a charge control agent salicylic acid zinc salt derivative E-84 (manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries), and t-butylperoxy-2 -Using a homomixer capable of mixing 4 parts by weight of ethylhexanoate with a high shearing force (TK type, manufactured by Tokki Kako Co., Ltd.), stirring and mixing at a rotational speed of 12000 rpm, uniformly dispersing, and polymerizing for core It was set as the composition.

2) Preparation of magnesium hydroxide colloid dispersion Separately, 6.9 parts by weight of sodium hydroxide was dissolved in 50 parts by weight of ion-exchanged water in a magnesium chloride aqueous solution in which 9.8 parts by weight of magnesium chloride was dissolved in 250 parts by weight of ion-exchanged water. A sodium hydroxide aqueous solution was gradually added while stirring to prepare a magnesium hydroxide colloidal dispersion.

3) Preparation of colored resin particles Add 1 part of the polymerizable composition for core and sodium tetraborate decahydrate to the magnesium hydroxide colloidal dispersion, and stir and mix using a propeller stirrer. Then, a polymerizable composition dispersion is obtained, and then the polymerizable composition is prepared by using a pump in a granulator CLEARMIX CLM-0.8S (manufactured by M Technique Co., Ltd.) operating at a rotor rotational speed of 21,000 rpm. The product dispersion was supplied, and droplets of the polymerizable composition for the core were granulated. This granulated composition aqueous dispersion was transferred to a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring blade. The polymerizable composition aqueous dispersion was heated to initiate polymerization. At this time, the temperature of the polymerization reactor jacket and the temperature in the polymerization reaction solution were measured so that the temperature of the aqueous dispersion was constant at 95 ° C., and the jacket temperature was controlled by using a cascade control method or the like.

  After confirming that the polymerization conversion reached almost 100%, 2 parts of methyl methacrylate was added, and 2,2′-azobis [2-methyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -propionamide] A radical polymerization initiator solution in which 0.2 part was dissolved in 100 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the reaction vessel and polymerized to obtain an aqueous dispersion of colored polymer particles. The colored polymer particles were dehydrated, washed and dried to obtain core / shell type colored resin particles.

4) Preparation of toner To 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles obtained above, 1 part by weight of silica fine particles RX200 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) having a primary average particle diameter of 12 nm and a hydrophobization degree of 65% (equivalent to silica (A)), Silica fine particles RX50 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) (corresponding to silica (C)) 0.5 parts by weight with a primary average particle size of 40 nm and a hydrophobicity of 64%, polystyrene fine particles with a primary average particle size of 0.38 μm and a sphericity of 1.13 0.5 part by weight was added simultaneously and mixed using a Henschel mixer to produce a toner. The obtained toner had a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 7.3 μm, an average circularity of 0.970, and a residual styrene content of 480 ppm.

<Cleaning blade>
(Cleaning blade manufacturing example 1)
Placel 230CP (number average molecular weight 3000; manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries) as a bifunctional polyester polyol compound obtained by ring-opening addition of ε-caprolactone using neopentyl glycol (NPG) as a radical polymerization initiator and using a catalyst 40.19 g of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) was added to 59.81 g and reacted at 80 ° C. for 3 hours in a nitrogen stream to obtain an NCO group-terminated pseudo-prepolymer.

  A bifunctional polyester polyol compound obtained by ring-opening addition of ε-caprolactone using ethylene glycol as a ring-opening polymerization initiator to the NCO group-terminated pseudoprepolymer heated to 80 ° C .; Plaxel 220 (number average molecular weight 2000; manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries) 16.70 g, a mixture of 5.70 g of trimethylolpropane (TMP) as a crosslinking agent and 5.20 g of 1,4-butanediol (BD) as a chain extender After adding a certain curing agent component and stirring to obtain a reactive composition, vacuum degassing is performed, and the reactive composition is cast into a cylindrical mold having an inner surface of a diameter of 340 mm and a width of 600 mm. A sheet-like polyurethane elastic body having a thickness of 1.6 mm was molded by curing by heating at 1 ° C. for 1 hour. The sheet was removed from the mold, post-cured at 120 ° C. for 6 hours, and then allowed to stand at room temperature for 7 days for aging.

  The sheet-like polyurethane elastic body is cut to produce a cleaning blade 1 having a length of 12 mm and a width of 238 mm, and a free end length L (see FIG. 4) is 7.0 mm on a predetermined metal fitting using a hot melt adhesive. A leaf spring having a shape shown in FIG. 4B at both ends and made of phosphor bronze, having a thickness of 0.1 mm and a width of 30 mm is attached to the contact length (W in FIG. 4). ) Was attached to the metal fitting using an adhesive so as to be 1.8 mm, and the cleaning blade unit 1 was obtained.

(Cleaning blade production example 2)
Cleaning blade production example 1 except that the amount of Plaxel 230CP is 59.81 g, the amount of Plaxel 220 is 25.50 g, the amount of TMP is 3.04 g, and the amount of BD is 7.37 g. Similarly, the cleaning blade unit 2 was produced.

(Cleaning blade production example 3)
Cleaning blade production example 1 except that Plaxel 230CP was used at 59.81 g, Plaxel 220 was used at 27.24 g, TMP was used at 2.31 g, and BD was used at 7.91 g. Similarly, the cleaning blade unit 3 was produced.

(Cleaning blade production example 4)
Placel 210CP (number average molecular weight 1000; manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.) as a bifunctional polyester polyol compound obtained by ring-opening addition of ε-caprolactone using neopentyl glycol (NPG) as a polyester polymerization initiator and using a catalyst ) 48.86 g of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) was added to 51.14 g, and a pseudo prepolymer was produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1. A cleaning blade unit 4 was produced in the same manner as in the production example of the cleaning blade except that the amount of TMP used was 2.31 g and the amount of BD used was 7.91 g with respect to this pseudo prepolymer.

(Cleaning blade production example 5)
The same cleaning blade unit 5 as the cleaning blade manufacturing example 1 was produced except that a leaf spring was not used. The sheet-like polyurethane elastic body forming the blade is the same as in the cleaning blade production example 1.

(Cleaning blade production example 6)
Without using PLACCEL 230CP, the amount of PLACEL 220 used was 86.36 g, the amount of MDI used was 43.12 g, an NCO group-terminated prepolymer was prepared, the amount of TMP used was 3.12 g, and the amount of BD used was A cleaning blade unit 6 was produced in the same manner as in Cleaning Blade Production Example 1 except that 7.21 g was used.

(Cleaning blade production example 7)
Without using PLACCEL 230CP, the amount of PLACEL 220 used was 109.64 g, the amount of MDI used was 43.12 g, an NCO group-terminated prepolymer was prepared, the amount of TMP used was 2.18 g, and the amount of BD used. A cleaning blade 7 was produced in the same manner as in the cleaning blade production example 1 except that the amount was 7.12 g.

<Image evaluation>
(Examples 1-4, Comparative Examples 1-4)
The apparatus described in the following evaluation method was used, and image evaluation was performed with the combination of the toner and the cleaning blade described in the upper part of (Table 2). In each evaluation, the amount of toner supplied onto the developing roll was adjusted with a regulating blade so that (M / A) was 0.40 mg / cm ² .

(1) Printing density Set printing paper on the modified printer used to measure the charge amount of toner on the photoconductor, put the toner in the developing device of this printer, (N / N) at 23 ° C and 50% humidity After being left overnight in an environment, continuous printing was performed from the beginning at a printing density of 5%, solid printing was performed at the time of printing the 10th sheet, and the printing density was measured using a Macbeth reflection type image density measuring machine. Similarly, after the electrostatic charge image developing toner was allowed to stand for 2 weeks in a H / H environment at a temperature of 30 ° C. and a humidity of 80%, the toner was placed in a developing device, and the print density was measured in the same manner.

(2) Charging roller stains After using the same printer as the print density evaluation in (1) above, attaching a cleaning blade sample for evaluation, putting the toner shown in the manufacturing example into the developing device, and setting the printing paper Continuous printing at 5% printing density under N / N environment, presence / absence of toner fused to the charging roller surface after every 500 sheets, presence / absence of discoloration (whitening) of the roller surface due to residual external additives, etc. The number of the soiled parts was confirmed. Evaluation was performed up to 10,000 sheets.

(3) Filming After using the same printer as the print density evaluation in (1) above, attaching a cleaning blade sample for evaluation, putting the toner shown in the manufacturing example into the developing device, and setting the print paper, N In a / N environment, continuous printing was performed at a printing density of 5%, halftone printing was performed every 500 sheets, and the number of sheets with white blurred filming was counted. The final number of printed sheets is 10,000.

(4) Streaks or black spots Using the same printer as the print density evaluation in (1) above, continuous printing is performed at a 5% print density in an N / N environment. The number of copies was examined and evaluated every 500 sheets when the occurrence of a spot. Evaluation was performed up to 10,000 sheets.

(5) Measurement of linear pressure A4 size general copy paper is cut to a width of 1 cm in the vertical direction, sandwiched between the blade and the photosensitive member, and drawn out at a speed of 9 cm / sec in the rotational direction of the photosensitive member. Find the center value. This is repeated 5 times, the average value is obtained, and the linear pressure (paper pulling force) (gf / cm) is obtained. The linear pressure Pc at the center was measured at the center of the blade, and the linear pressure Pe at both ends was measured at a portion about 2 cm from the end.

  The characteristics evaluation results of the cleaning blade are summarized in (Table 1), and the evaluation results of image formation using the printer are summarized in (Table 2).

  From the evaluation results of (Table 2), when the toner and the cleaning blade are within the scope of the present invention, blade contamination, filming, streaks and black spots are unlikely to occur, and the image forming method has excellent cleaning characteristics. Comparative Example 1 in which the toner is outside the scope of the present invention, Comparative Example 2 in which the same cleaning blade as that in Example 1 was used but no pressure assisting member was used, and the tan δ peak of the cleaning blade was within the scope of the present invention. None of the other Comparative Examples 3 and 4 were satisfactory in the cleaning characteristics.

Schematic showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the image forming method of the present invention can be applied. Diagram showing the state where the cleaning blade is pressed against the photoconductor The figure which illustrated the blade unit which adhered the metal fitting and the cleaning blade, and also arranged the pressure contact adjustment member in both ends Diagram illustrating another shape of leaf spring

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum 3 Charging roll 4 Light irradiation apparatus 5 Transfer roll 10 Toner 11 Developing apparatus 13 Cleaning blade

Claims (6)

A developing process for forming a visible image on the photoreceptor with toner, a transfer process for transferring the visible image to a recording material, a fixing process for fixing the transferred image, and a toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transfer, In an image forming method having a cleaning step of collecting by a cleaning blade pressed against
The linear pressure at the pressure contact of the cleaning blade to the photosensitive member is 10 to 80 g / cm, and the ratio of the linear pressure Pe at both ends of the cleaning blade to the linear pressure Pc at the longitudinal center is 1.05 <Pe / Pc <. 1.30,
The cleaning blade is formed of a polyurethane elastic body comprising polyester polyol as a constituent raw material. The peak temperature of tan δ in the viscoelastic spectrum is −10 ° C. to + 10 ° C., the peak height is 0.90 or less, And the ratio Tr / Hs of the tear strength Tr (N / mm) and the hardness Hs (Shore A) hardness is 5.4 to 6.4,
The toner comprises at least a colored resin particle containing a binder resin and a colorant and an external additive. The colored resin particle has a volume average particle diameter of 4 to 10 μm and an average circularity of 0.95 to 0.995. An image forming method, wherein the absolute value | Q | of the toner charge amount on the surface of the photosensitive member is 10 to 80 μC / g and the residual styrene amount in the toner is 200 ppm or less.   The external additive contains at least primary fine particles of silica fine particles (A) having a number average particle size of 5 to 20 nm and spherical silica fine particles (B) having a volume average particle size of 0.1 to 0.5 μm, and the silica. The addition amount of fine particles (A) to 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles is 0.1 to 2 parts by weight, and the addition amount of the spherical silica fine particles (B) is 0.5 to 2.5 parts by weight. Item 8. The image forming method according to Item 1.   The external additive further contains silica fine particles (C) having a primary particle number average particle size of 25 to 80 nm, and the addition amount of the silica fine particles (C) to 100 parts by weight of the colored resin particles is 0.2 to The image forming method according to claim 2, wherein the amount is 2 parts by weight.   The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade is formed of a polyurethane elastic body, and pressure contact assisting members are disposed at both ends in the length direction.   The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the polyester polyol contains a side chain-containing glycol as a constituent component in a molecular chain thereof.   6. The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein the polyester polyol is a lactone-based polyester polyol containing a side chain-containing glycol as a polymerization initiator component of a polyester in a molecular chain thereof.

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