JP4519430B2 - Cleaning device, process cartridge, image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image carrier mounted on an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, or a cleaning device for a recording member support. The present invention also relates to a process cartridge including the cleaning device and an image forming apparatus.

In recent years, color image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic method have become widespread, and further high definition of printed images has been demanded due to the fact that digitized images can be easily obtained. ing. As higher resolution and gradation of images are being studied, as a toner-side improvement that visualizes latent images, further spheroidization and smaller particle size have been studied in order to form high-definition images. ing.
For example, a pulverized pulverized toner having a specific particle size distribution (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4) and a method for obtaining a sphere-shaped and small-sized toner by suspension polymerization (for example, patents). Reference 5), a method in which a binder resin and a colorant are mixed in a solvent immiscible with water and dispersed in an aqueous solvent in the presence of a dispersion stabilizer to obtain a spheroidized and small particle size toner. (For example, refer to Patent Document 6.) A binder resin containing a partially modified resin and a colorant are mixed in an organic solvent and dispersed in an aqueous solvent, and a polyaddition reaction of the modified resin is performed. And a method for obtaining a spherical and small particle size toner (see, for example, Patent Document 7) has been proposed. With such toner, image quality and fluidity are improved.

However, when a toner having a spherical shape and a reduced particle size is used, there are some problems in cleaning on the photoreceptor after image formation.
One of them is the cleaning of the toner that remains untransferred on the photoconductor. In the cleaning method using a cleaning blade, spherical toner rotates between the blade and the photoconductor and enters the gap, making it difficult to clean. It is. In this regard, for example, the polymer after suspension polymerization is heated above the glass transition point in a dispersion medium to obtain aggregated particles, which are then introduced into a heated jet stream to break up the aggregated particles. At the same time, a method of obtaining an irregularly shaped small particle size toner by drying is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 8). Also, the binder resin and the colorant are mixed in a solvent immiscible with water, dispersed in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersion stabilizer, and the solvent is removed from the resulting suspension by heating and / or decompression. Thus, a method for obtaining toner particles having irregularities on the surface (for example, see Patent Document 9) has been proposed.

  The other is that wax added to improve the releasability added internally or externally to the toner, inorganic fine particles for improving fluidity, etc. are detached from the toner and adhere to the photoreceptor. That's what it means. As the toner becomes smaller in particle size, the content ratio of these additives in the toner becomes higher than that in the conventional toner, so that the amount of adhered substances on the photosensitive member tends to increase.

  As means for removing adhered substances on the photoreceptor, Patent Document 10 proposes a cleaning device in which a cleaning blade and a cleaning roller having an abrasive attached to the surface thereof are arranged. However, the abrasive adhered to the surface of the cleaning roller is easily peeled off, and it is difficult to maintain the cleaning function for a long time. Further, Patent Document 11 has a configuration in which an adhering agent is removed by adhering an abrasive to the tip of a cleaning blade provided in a cleaning device. However, it is difficult to simultaneously perform the cleaning of the transfer residual toner and the removal of the adhering substances, and in the configuration in which the abrasive is adhered to the tip of the cleaning blade, the abrasive is easily peeled off.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-112253 JP-A-2-284158 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-181952 JP-A-4-162048 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-72808 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-15902 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-133668 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-188642 JP 9-15903 A JP-A-10-111629 JP 2001-296781 A

As described above, it has been difficult for the conventional cleaning blade or the cleaning apparatus provided with the cleaning brush to sufficiently remove the adhered substances on these photosensitive members. The adhered substance that is not removed causes thin filming if it is mainly composed of wax, and if it is composed mainly of inorganic fine particles, it becomes the core, and calcium carbonate contained in the recording paper. It grows with additives such as the like, and will adversely affect the image over time.
Such contamination is the same for the intermediate transfer member that transfers and holds the toner image from the photosensitive member, and the contamination of the paper conveyance belt that supports and conveys the recording paper to which the toner image is transferred. A cleaning device that performs good cleaning is desired.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that uses toner having a spherical shape and a reduced particle size. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that can be effectively removed and can maintain its cleaning function even for a long period of time. It is another object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that include the above-described cleaning device having a good cleaning function and that do not cause deterioration in image quality over a long period of time.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by the following.
1. The present invention is a cleaning device that cleans the surface of an image carrier or a recording member support. The cleaning device includes a first cleaning blade, a second cleaning blade, and a cleaning member in order from the upstream side in the moving direction of the image carrier or the recording member support. Two blades of a cleaning blade, the second cleaning blade is a polishing blade having an abrasive particle-containing layer in which abrasive particles are contained in an elastic material on the surface of the second cleaning blade , The polishing blade is cut from the abrasive particle-containing layer side of the sheet surface, whereby a part of the edge made of the abrasive particle-containing layer is cut, and the cutting surface comes into contact with the image carrier or the recording member support. The cleaning device is installed as described above.
2. In the cleaning device, a width of contact between the polishing blade and the image carrier or the recording member support is 0.01 mm or more and 5 mm or less.

3. In the cleaning device, the polishing blade has a single-layer structure of the abrasive particle-containing layer.
4). In the cleaning apparatus, the polishing blade has a two-layer structure of a blade base layer and the abrasive particle-containing layer.

5). In the cleaning apparatus, the elastic material used for the polishing blade is a rubber material having a rubber hardness of 65 degrees or more and 100 degrees or less.
6). In the cleaning apparatus, the elastic material used for the polishing blade is a rubber material having a rubber hardness of 85 degrees to 100 degrees.
7). In the cleaning device, the elastic material used for the polishing blade is a rubber material having a dynamic friction coefficient of 1.5 or less.

8). In the cleaning device, the abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade has an abrasive particle content of 0.5 wt% or more and 50 wt% or less.
9. In the cleaning device, the abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade has an inclination in the volume occupancy of the abrasive particles, and an abrasive particle rich layer having a volume occupancy of 50% or more is arranged in the thickness direction of the blade. The thickness is 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

10. In the cleaning apparatus, the abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade contains a mixture of a plurality of abrasive particles having different average particle diameters and / or types.
11. In the cleaning device, the abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade contains cerium oxide having a purity of 80% or more.
12 In the cleaning device, an average particle diameter of abrasive particles used for the polishing blade is 0.05 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

13. In the cleaning apparatus, the polishing blade, the curvature R of the edge consisting of the abrasive particle-containing layer characterized in that a 5μm or 150μm or less.
14 In the cleaning device, the polishing blade is manufactured by being cut at an angle with respect to the sheet surface from the vertical direction when the sheet is cut during manufacturing.
15. In the cleaning apparatus, the polishing blade is installed such that an edge formed of the abrasive particle-containing layer is in contact with the image carrier or the recording member support, and the contact is achieved by rotating the image carrier or the recording member support. The contact portion is cut.

16. In the cleaning device, the polishing blade is in contact with an image carrier or a recording member support by a trailing method.
17. In the cleaning device, the contact angle of the polishing blade is not less than 5 degrees and not more than 25 degrees.
18. In the cleaning device, the contact pressure of the polishing blade is 10 gf / cm or more and 80 gf / cm or less.
19. In the cleaning device, the amount of biting by the polishing blade is 0.2 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less.

20. In the cleaning device, the polishing blade has a contact / separation mechanism with respect to the image carrier.
21. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a polishing blade provided in a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an image carrier or recording member support, wherein a sheet is formed by centrifugally molding a mixture of an elastic material and abrasive particles. When the sheet is cut into a blade-like material, the sheet surface is cut from the abrasive particle-containing layer side, and by the cutting, a part of the edge made of the abrasive particle-containing layer is cut. A method for producing a polishing blade in which the abrasive particles are exposed.

22. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a polishing blade provided in a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an image carrier or recording member support, wherein a sheet is formed by centrifugally molding a mixture of an elastic material and abrasive particles. When the sheet is cut into a blade-like product, it is cut from the abrasive particle-containing layer side of the sheet surface and at an angle from the direction perpendicular to the sheet surface. This is a method for manufacturing a polishing blade in which a part of an edge made of the abrasive particle-containing layer is cut to expose the abrasive particles.
23. The present invention also provides a process cartridge that is integrally supported and includes an image carrier and a cleaning unit that cleans the surface of the image carrier, and is detachably formed on the image forming apparatus main body. A process cartridge including the cleaning device according to any one of 1 to 20 as a cleaning unit.

24. The present invention also provides an image carrier that carries a latent image, a charging unit that uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier, and the surface of the charged image carrier that is exposed based on image data and writes the latent image. Image formation comprising exposure means, developing means for supplying toner to the latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier to make it visible, and transfer means for transferring the visible image on the surface of the image carrier to a recording member In the apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes the cleaning device according to any one of 1 to 20 as means for cleaning the surface of the image carrier.

25. The present invention also provides a first image carrier that carries a latent image, a charging means that uniformly charges the surface of the first image carrier, and image data on the surface of the charged first image carrier. An exposure means for exposing and writing a latent image, a developing means for supplying a toner to the latent image formed on the surface of the first image carrier and making it visible, and a possibility for the surface of the first image carrier. In an image forming apparatus comprising a transfer unit that transfers a visual image to a second image carrier and then transfers a visible image held by the second image carrier to a recording member. 21. An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to any one of 1 to 20 as means for cleaning a surface.

26. Further, the present invention provides an image carrier that carries a latent image, a charging means that uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier, and the surface of the charged image carrier is exposed based on image data to write the latent image. An exposure unit, a developing unit that supplies toner to the latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier and visualizes the image, a transfer unit that transfers the visible image on the surface of the image carrier to a recording member, and the vicinity of the transfer position And an image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to any one of 1 to 20 as means for cleaning the surface of the recording member support. Device.

27. In the image forming apparatus, the toner used in the developing unit has a volume average particle diameter of 3 to 8 μm and a ratio (Dv / Dn) of volume average particle diameter (Dv) to number average particle diameter (Dn) of 1. It is in the range of .00 to 1.40.
28. In the image forming apparatus, the toner used in the developing unit is a toner material liquid in which at least a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent are dispersed in an organic solvent. , you being a toner obtained by crosslinking in an aqueous medium and / or elongation reaction.

29. In the image forming apparatus, the toner used in the developing means, the shape factor SF-1 is in the range of 100 to 180, a shape factor SF-2 of you being in the range of 100 to 180.

30. In the image forming apparatus, the toner used in the developing means, being a substantially spherical.

31. In the image forming apparatus , the shape of the toner is defined by a major axis r1, a minor axis r2, and a thickness r3 (where r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3), and the ratio of the major axis r1 to the minor axis r2. (R2 / r1) is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0, and the ratio (r3 / r2) of the thickness r3 to the minor axis r2 is in the range of 0.7 to 1.0. .

  According to the present invention, toner and adhering substances on the surface of a recording member support such as an image bearing member such as a photosensitive member or an intermediate transfer member, or a paper conveying belt can be efficiently removed by a polishing blade, and a spherical shape is used in the developing process. Even when a toner having a reduced particle size is used, a cleaning device that can maintain a good cleaning function for a long period of time can be provided. In addition, by providing the cleaning device, it is possible to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that do not cause deterioration in image quality over a long period of time.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning device of the present invention as a cleaning means for a photoreceptor surface. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration around the photosensitive member of the image forming apparatus equipped with the cleaning device of the present invention.
A charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer device 6, a fixing device 7 and a cleaning device 8 are arranged around the photoreceptor 1 which is a latent image carrier.

The photoreceptor 1 can be made of an amorphous metal having photoconductivity, an amorphous metal such as amorphous selenium, or an organic compound such as a bisazo pigment or a phthalocyanine pigment. In consideration of the environment and post-treatment after use, it is preferable to use a photoreceptor made of an organic compound.
The charging device 2 may be any one of a corona method, a roller method, a brush method, and a blade method. Here, the charging device 2 of a roller method is shown. The charging device 2 includes a charging roller 2a, a cleaning pad 2b in contact with the charging roller 2a for cleaning, and a power supply (not shown) connected to the charging roller 2a. A high voltage is applied to the charging roller 2a, a predetermined voltage is applied between the charging roller 2a having a curvature and the photoconductor 1, and a corona discharge is generated between the photoconductor 1 and the surface of the photoconductor 1 Are uniformly charged.

The exposure device 3 converts data read by a scanner in the reading device 20 and an image signal sent from the outside such as a PC (not shown), scans the laser beam 3a with a polygon motor, and reads the image signal read through the mirror. Based on this, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 1.
The developing device 4 includes a developer carrier 4a that carries a developer and supplies the developer 1 to the photoreceptor 1, a toner supply chamber, and the like. It has a cylindrical developer carrier 4a arranged at a minute distance from the photosensitive member 1, and a developer regulating member for regulating the amount of developer on the developer carrier 4a. The developer carrier 4a includes a hollow cylindrical developer carrier 4a that is rotatably supported, and a magnet roll fixed coaxially with the developer carrier 4a. The developer is magnetically attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the carrier 4a and conveyed. The developer carrier 4a is electrically conductive and is made of a nonmagnetic member, and is connected to a power source for applying a developing bias. A voltage is applied from the power source between the developer carrying member 4a and the photoreceptor 1, and an electric field is formed in the developing region.

The transfer device 6 includes a transfer belt 6a, a transfer bias roller 6b, and a tension roller 6c. The transfer bias roller 6b is configured by providing an elastic layer on the surface of a core metal such as iron, aluminum, and stainless steel. The transfer bias roller 6 b is applied with a necessary pressure on the photosensitive member 1 side in order to bring the recording paper into close contact with the photosensitive member 1. The transfer belt 6a can obtain an effect by selecting various heat-resistant materials as a base material, and can be composed of, for example, a seamless polyimide film. A configuration in which a fluororesin layer is provided on the outside can be employed. Further, if necessary, a silicone rubber layer may be provided on the polyimide film, and a fluororesin layer may be provided thereon. Inside the transfer belt 6a, a tension roller 6c is provided to drive and stretch the transfer belt 6a.
The fixing device 7 includes a fixing roller having a heater that is a heating unit such as a halogen lamp, and a pressure roller that is in pressure contact. In the fixing roller, an elastic layer such as silicone rubber is provided on the surface of the core metal to a thickness of 100 to 500 μm, preferably 400 μm, and for the purpose of preventing adhesion due to toner viscosity, a resin surface layer having good releasability such as fluororesin Is formed. The resin surface layer is composed of a PFA tube or the like, and its thickness is preferably about 10 to 50 μm in consideration of mechanical deterioration. A temperature detecting means is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller, and the heater is controlled so as to keep the surface temperature of the fixing roller substantially constant within a range of about 160 to 200 ° C. In the pressure roller, the core metal surface is coated with an anti-offset layer such as tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Similar to the fixing roller, an elastic layer such as silicone rubber may be provided on the surface of the core metal.

The cleaning device of the present invention will be described in detail. The cleaning device 8 has two blades, a first cleaning blade 8a and a second cleaning blade 8b, in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1 as cleaning means. Further, a toner collection blade 8d for collecting the cleaned toner and a collection coil 8c for conveying the toner are provided. Further, a toner collection box (not shown) is provided.
The first cleaning blade 8a is made of a material such as metal, resin, rubber, etc., and rubbers such as fluorine rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, urethane rubber are preferably used, and among these, urethane rubber is particularly preferable. . The first cleaning blade 8a mainly removes toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1 after the transfer process.
The second cleaning blade 8b is a polishing blade having an abrasive particle-containing layer formed by containing abrasive particles in an elastic material. In addition to the untransferred toner, inorganic fine particles detached from the toner, additives such as exuded wax, or additives such as calcium carbonate contained in paper dust of the recording paper adhere to the photoreceptor 1. These substances cause filming and eventually grow from nuclei to lumps. The second cleaning blade 8b is a polishing blade that scrapes and removes the adhering substances on the photosensitive member 1.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the polishing blade 8b is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 1. The polishing blade 8b is installed so that the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive member 1. At this time, it is important that the contact surface of the polishing blade 8b is filled with the abrasive particles. It is that you are. Therefore, the polishing blade 8b of the present invention is characterized in that the volume occupancy of the abrasive particles on the contact surface is 50% or more and 90% or less. If the volume occupancy of the abrasive particles on the contact surface is less than 50%, the amount of abrasive particles in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is small, and filming on the photoreceptor 1 cannot be efficiently removed. Further, if the volume occupancy exceeds 90%, it is not preferable because abrasive particles appearing on the surface are easily peeled off.

  The width of contact between the polishing blade 8b and the photoreceptor 1 is preferably 0.01 mm or more and 5 mm or less. When the contact width is less than 0.01 mm, the area where both contact is small, and therefore a sufficient polishing effect by the polishing blade 8b cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the contact width is larger than 5 mm, the contact area between the two is increased and the surface pressure is lowered, so that a sufficient polishing effect cannot be obtained.

The polishing blade 8b may have a single layer structure of an abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1, or may have a two-layer structure of an abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 and a blade base layer. May be. FIG. 3 shows a one-layer structure.
In the case of a one-layer structure, as shown above, the abrasive blade 8b is obtained by mixing abrasive particles with an elastic material, forming the sheet by centrifugal molding, and cutting it, so that the manufacturing process There is an advantage that can be simplified.
On the other hand, in the case of the two-layer structure, a thin sheet is formed by reducing the amount of the elastic material and abrasive particles as compared with the case of the above-mentioned one-layer structure, and the thin sheet is cut to form the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1. A thin blade, which is adhered to a blade base layer made of a material such as rubber, resin, metal or the like, or a resin that forms a blade base layer on a thin sheet formed by containing the abrasive particles, It can be obtained by pouring a material such as metal into a single sheet by centrifugal molding and then cutting. On the one hand, such a two-layer blade requires the dimensional accuracy of the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 and the blade base layer, but on the other hand, supports the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1. It is also possible to design by dividing the function into a blade base layer that determines physical properties such as elasticity of the blade and an abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 for removing the adhered substance on the photoreceptor 1.

Examples of the elastic material used for the polishing blade 8b include fluorine rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, and urethane rubber. Among these, urethane rubber is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of wear resistance.
The elastic material is preferably the rubber material having a rubber hardness of 65 degrees or more and 100 degrees or less. This is because if the hardness is less than 65 degrees, the wear of the blade progresses quickly, and if the hardness is more than 100 degrees, the blade edge tends to be chipped. More preferably, the rubber hardness is not less than 85 degrees and not more than 100 degrees. This is because by setting the rubber hardness to 85 degrees or more, the contact area between the polishing blade 8b and the surface to be polished can be reduced, thereby increasing the surface pressure and improving the polishing force. Moreover, the penetration of abrasive particles into the blade can be prevented, and high polishing power can be maintained.
It should be noted that the same effect can be obtained even if the polishing blade 8b is made of only the above-mentioned high rubber hardness material only at the tip where the polishing blade 8b contacts the photoreceptor 1. Even if the material does not have high rubber hardness, it is possible to supplement the rubber hardness and improve the polishing power by adhering a reinforcing member such as Mylar to the back side of the polishing blade 8b. In addition, the contact posture of the polishing blade 8b with respect to the surface to be polished can be maintained.

The elastic material is preferably a material having a low coefficient of dynamic friction. The dynamic friction coefficient of the elastic material can be measured as follows. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring the dynamic friction coefficient of an elastic material.
A sheet metal is attached to an elastic material having a blade shape of 20 (mm) × 20 (mm) × 2 (mm) with a double-sided tape, and the blade edge is brought into contact with a PET plate having a thickness of 100 μm at an angle of 24 °. While applying and pressing a load of 50 gf / cm, it was moved on the PET plate by pulling at a speed of 25 mm / min, and the sliding resistance at this time was detected to determine the dynamic friction coefficient.
The dynamic friction coefficient of the elastic material obtained by the above measurement is preferably 1.5 or less. As a result, the frictional force acting between the polishing blade 8b and the surface to be polished is reduced, and the influence of the fluctuation of the frictional force is reduced to change the attitude of the polishing blade 8b in contact with the surface to be polished. Can be prevented. That is, since the polishing conditions can always be constant, the polishing effect can be maintained. Further, when a high hardness material having a rubber hardness of 85 degrees or more is used, if the dynamic friction coefficient is large, the polishing blade 8b is pulled or contracted by the influence of the frictional force acting on the surface to be polished. However, by using a material having a low coefficient of dynamic friction, a blade having no such chip can be obtained even if the material has a high rubber hardness.
Examples of the elastic material having a dynamic friction coefficient of 1.5 or less include urethane rubber whose surface is treated with fluorine, urethane rubber containing fluorine element, and the like.

  As abrasive particles, nitrides such as silicon nitride, silicates such as aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, mica and calcium silicate, calcareous substances such as calcium carbonate and gypsum, silicon carbide, boron carbide, tantalum carbide, titanium carbide, carbonized Examples thereof include carbides such as aluminum and zirconium carbide, and oxides such as cerium oxide, chromium oxide, titanium oxide, and aluminum oxide. Among these, cerium oxide having excellent polishing power is preferable.

  The content of abrasive particles contained in the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 of the polishing blade 8b is preferably 0.5 wt% or more and 50 wt% or less. If the content of the abrasive particles is less than 0.5 wt%, the amount of abrasive particles that come into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 to exhibit the polishing effect is too small, and the adhered substances on the photoconductor 1 can be sufficiently removed. Can not. On the other hand, when the content of the abrasive particles exceeds 50 wt%, the concentration of the abrasive particles becomes too high, and molding becomes difficult. In addition, the cost increases.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 of the polishing blade 8b can be inclined to the volume occupancy ratio of the abrasive particles in the process of centrifugal molding. In particular, the abrasive particle rich layer r1 having a volume occupation ratio of 50% or more preferably has a thickness of 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less in the thickness direction of the blade. When the thickness of the abrasive particle rich layer r1 is less than 5 μm, the amount of abrasive particles that come into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 to exhibit the polishing effect is too small, and the adhered substances on the photoconductor 1 are sufficiently removed. I can't. On the other hand, when the thickness of the abrasive particle rich layer r1 exceeds 100 μm, the elasticity of the polishing blade 8b is affected, and the edge of the blade is likely to be chipped.
The thickness of the abrasive particle-rich layer r1 is the amount of abrasive particles contained in the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1, or the abrasive particles used to form the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1. It can be adjusted by adjusting the absolute amount of.

  The abrasive particles contained in the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 are preferably used by mixing a plurality of particles having different average particle sizes and types. By mixing different abrasive particles in this way, it is possible to take advantage of the difference in the respective polishing forces, and among the adhering substances on the photoreceptor 1, substances having different properties, for example, thin filming and minute adhesion It is possible to efficiently remove extraneous adhering substances such as lumps grown with the substance as a nucleus over time.

  Further, it is more preferable that the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 contains cerium oxide having a purity of 80% or more. Although cerium oxide has excellent polishing power, it is usually produced by crushing natural ore, so the purity is as low as about 50%, and other rare earths are also mixed in the form of salt that exhibits polishing power. . However, this causes a large variation in physical properties, and the polishing performance when used as a polishing blade cannot be made constant. Therefore, cerium oxide having a purity of 80% or more obtained by extracting only cerium oxide having high polishing power is suitable as an abrasive having no variation in physical properties. By using this, a stable and high polishing force of the polishing blade 8b can be obtained.

  The average particle size of the abrasive particles is preferably 0.05 μm or more and 100 μm or less. If the average particle size is less than 0.05 μm, the particles are too fine, making it difficult to uniformly disperse in the elastic material, and insufficient polishing power as a polishing blade cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the average particle diameter exceeds 100 μm, the polishing force is too large, and the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is damaged, which is not preferable.

Next, a preferable edge shape of the polishing blade 8b will be described. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the shape of the edge of the polishing blade 8b.
As shown in FIG. 3, the polishing blade 8b is installed so that the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 1, but the edge that is the contact portion is cut. It is preferable. The structure of the edge portion of the polishing blade 8b is, when viewed microscopically, the abrasive particles are not exposed and the surface is covered with a skin layer made of an elastic material such as rubber. Therefore, in the initial stage of use of the cleaning device 8, the polishing effect of the polishing blade 8b is not sufficient, and the polishing force of the abrasive particles exposed after the surface of the edge of the polishing blade 8b is shaved after being used to some extent. As a result, the polishing effect appears.
Therefore, by making the shape of the edge of the polishing blade 8b into a cut shape, the abrasive particles can be exposed and a sufficient polishing effect can be obtained immediately after the start of use of the cleaning device 8.

  The edge R of the polishing blade 8b shown in FIG. 5 preferably has a curvature R of 5 μm or more and 150 μm or less. When the curvature R is less than 5 μm, the curvature is too small, and the abrasive particles are not exposed on the surface of the edge, and the polishing effect in the initial stage of use cannot be obtained. Further, when the curvature R exceeds 150 μm, the curvature is too large, the contact area between the abrasive particle-containing layer 8b-1 of the polishing blade 8b and the surface to be polished increases, the surface pressure decreases, and the polishing power decreases. End up.

The shape of the edge of the polishing blade 8b as described above is such that a sheet obtained by mixing elastic material and abrasive particles and centrifugally forming is cut into a blade shape, and then the edge portion is cut. Can be formed. However, in order to manufacture the polishing blade 8b having such a shape more efficiently, it is preferable to form the curvature R of the edge simultaneously with the cutting of the sheet.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view when a sheet is cut in the manufacturing process of the polishing blade 8b. As shown in FIG. 6A, a razor-shaped or circular cutter 11 is applied from the abrasive particle rich layer r1 side of the sheet and cut into a blade shape. At this time, the frictional resistance between the cut surface and the cutter 11 is cut. As a result, the abrasive particle rich layer r1 close to the surface is torn off. Thereby, the curvature R of the edge of the polishing blade 8 can be formed. In addition, the magnitude | size of the curvature R can be adjusted with the shape of the blade of the cutter 11, a cutting speed, etc.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the blade of the cutter 11 may be cut at an angle with respect to the sheet surface with respect to the vertical. As a result, the curvature R of the edge of one of the cut blades is increased, and the abrasive particles can be easily exposed on the cut surface.

  On the other hand, the edge of the polishing blade 8b is not cut as described above, but the cleaning device 8 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100, and the polishing blade 8b and the photosensitive member 1 are brought into contact with each other to rotate freely. The surface of the edge of the polishing blade 8b may be shaved. By performing this operation immediately after the start of use of the cleaning device 8, the polishing effect of the polishing blade 8b can be obtained from the beginning.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the polishing blade 8b is preferably in contact with the photoreceptor 1 by a trailing method. When the polishing blade 8b is brought into contact with the trailing method, the adhering substance removing ability on the photosensitive member 1 is slightly lowered as compared with the counter method. However, since there is almost no toner input to the polishing blade 8b, the blade is likely to be turned over, and this is avoided by a trailing contact.
At this time, the contact angle of the polishing blade 8b is preferably 5 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less. When the contact angle of the polishing blade 8b is less than 5 degrees, the blade becomes bumpy and the polishing function is not exhibited over time due to the creep phenomenon. On the other hand, when the angle exceeds 25 degrees, the blade is turned over due to the reverse rotation of the photosensitive member 1 at the end of the job.

The contact pressure of the polishing blade 8b is preferably 10 gf / cm or more and 80 gf / cm or less. If the contact pressure of the polishing blade 8b is less than 10 gf / cm, the contact pressure is low, so that the adhering substance on the photoconductor 1 easily slips through the polishing blade 8b and cannot be removed sufficiently. On the other hand, if it exceeds 80 gf / cm, the film scraping amount of the photosensitive member 1 increases and the life of the photosensitive member 1 is shortened.
The amount of biting into the photoreceptor 1 of the polishing blade 8b obtained by the relationship between the hardness of the polishing blade 8b and the contact pressure is preferably 0.2 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less. By installing the polishing blade 8b so as to achieve the above biting amount, the role as the polishing blade 8b for removing the adhering substance can be sufficiently exerted without excessively increasing the film scraping amount of the photoreceptor 1. Can be made.

Further, the cleaning device 8 of the present invention may have a polishing blade 8 b having a contact / separation mechanism with respect to the photoreceptor 1. If the polishing blade 8b having the above-described configuration is always in contact with the photosensitive member 1, the surface layer material of the photosensitive member 1 may be excessively scraped to cause an abnormal image, or from the surface of the photosensitive member 1. The removed adhering substance accumulates on the surface of the polishing blade 8b and eventually contaminates the surface of the charging roller 2a on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1, leading to the occurrence of background contamination. Therefore, a contact / separation mechanism is provided on the polishing blade 8b so as to abut on the photoreceptor 1 at a certain timing to perform the adhered substance removing operation, and the others are separated from the photoreceptor 1.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a configuration in which a polishing blade 8b is provided with a contact / separation mechanism. The polishing blade 8b is fixed to a rotatable support body 8f having a fulcrum, and is configured to be able to contact and separate from the photosensitive member 1 by bringing a contact cam 8e into contact with the support body 8f.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation timing of the contact / separation mechanism. As shown in FIG. 8A, after the completion of the printing operation is detected, the rotation of the photosensitive member 1 is continued, the contact cam 8e is rotated, the polishing blade 8b is brought into contact with the photosensitive member 1, and the cleaning operation is performed for a predetermined time. Then, the contact / separation cam 8e is rotated again to move away from the photosensitive member 1, and then the rotation of the photosensitive member 1 is stopped to end. In this example, the contact / separation timing of the polishing blade 8b is simply after the end of the printing operation, but the operation timing is set, for example, after the end of the printing operation when the predetermined number of prints has been reached. It may be a thing. Thereby, the adhering substance on the photoreceptor 1 can be appropriately removed without affecting the initial printing speed. Further, since the polishing blade 8b is not always in contact with the photoconductor 1, it is possible to prevent excessive wear of the surface of the photoconductor 1, and the adhering substance removed from the surface of the photoconductor 1 is applied to the surface of the polishing blade 8b. Can be prevented.
Further, the operation timing of the contact / separation mechanism is not limited to this, and may be when the image forming apparatus main body is turned on as shown in FIG. Thereby, since the adhered substance on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 can be surely removed before the printing operation, a stable image can be provided.

  The cleaning device 8 of the present invention described above includes a photosensitive member and an arbitrary means selected from a charging means and a developing means, and is integrally supported, and is a process cartridge formed detachably on the image forming apparatus main body. can do. A process cartridge that maintains the cleaning function on the photosensitive member for a long period of time and does not cause deterioration in image quality even in an image forming process in which development using a small particle size toner is performed by the process cartridge. can do.

The cleaning device of the present invention is used not only as a cleaning unit for the surface of the photoreceptor 1, but also as an intermediate transfer member as a second image carrier, a paper conveying belt as a recording member support, and a cleaning unit for each surface. be able to.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another configuration of the image forming apparatus equipped with the cleaning device of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 100 is a copying apparatus main body, 200 is a paper feed table on which the copying apparatus is placed, 300 is a scanner mounted on the copying apparatus main body 100, and 400 is an automatic document feeder (ADF) mounted thereon.
The copying apparatus main body 100 has a tandem type in which four image forming units 18 each having various units for performing an electrophotographic process such as charging, developing, and cleaning are arranged in parallel around the photosensitive member 1 as a latent image carrier. An image forming apparatus is provided. Above the tandem type image forming apparatus, there is provided an exposure device 21 that exposes the photoreceptor 1 with laser light based on image information to form a latent image. Further, an intermediate transfer belt 10 made of an endless belt member is provided at a position facing each photoconductor 1 of the tandem type image forming apparatus. A primary transfer unit 62 that transfers the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductor 1 to the intermediate transfer belt 10 is disposed at a position facing the photoconductor 1 via the intermediate transfer belt 10.
A secondary transfer device 22 that collectively transfers the toner images superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 10 onto the recording paper conveyed from the paper feed table 200 is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 10. The secondary transfer device 22 is configured by spanning a secondary transfer belt 24 that is an endless belt between two rollers 23, and is pressed against the support roller 16 via the intermediate transfer belt 10. The toner image on 10 is transferred to a recording sheet. The secondary transfer belt 24 also serves as a paper transport belt. A fixing device 25 for fixing the image on the recording paper is provided beside the secondary transfer device 22. The fixing device 25 is configured by pressing a pressure roller 27 against a fixing belt 26 that is an endless belt.
Furthermore, a reversing device 28 for reversing the recording paper to record images on both sides of the recording paper is provided below the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25.

  The intermediate transfer belt 10 includes a cleaning device 17 that cleans the belt surface downstream of the transfer position to the recording paper in the belt moving direction. The configuration of the cleaning device 17 is the same as that of the photosensitive member cleaning device 8 described above, and is omitted. As a matter of course, it may be provided as a cleaning device for the photoreceptor 1, and the configuration of the cleaning device of the present invention can be applied to the cleaning device 19 for the secondary transfer belt 24. By mounting the cleaning device of the present invention, it is possible to effectively clean not only the photoconductor but also the toner and the adhering substances adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer member or the secondary transfer belt. Further, since the cleaning performance is maintained over a long period of time, it is possible to prevent image contamination and image deterioration.

In particular, in the image forming apparatus that can achieve the effect of mounting the cleaning device of the present invention, the toner used in the developing device 4 has a volume average particle diameter of 3 to 8 μm, and the volume average particle diameter (Dv) and number This is a case where the ratio (Dv / Dn) to the average particle size (Dn) is a small particle size in the range of 1.00 to 1.40 and the particle size distribution is narrow. By using a toner having a small particle diameter, the toner can be densely attached to the latent image. Further, by narrowing the particle size distribution, the toner charge amount distribution becomes uniform, a high-quality image with little background fogging can be obtained, and the transfer rate can be increased.
On the other hand, the toner as described above has a small proportion of wax in the toner that is added internally or externally to improve the releasability and inorganic fine particles that are improved in fluidity. The particle size is higher than that of conventional toner. These additives are the cause of the adhered substances generated on the photoreceptor 1. Accordingly, the cleaning device of the present invention removes the transfer residual toner and paper dust on the photoreceptor 1 with the first cleaning blade 8a, and the photoreceptor whose main component is wax or inorganic fine particles with the downstream polishing blade 8b. The adhered substance on 1 can be removed by scraping. Further, toner, paper powder, etc. leaked from the first cleaning blade 8a can be removed by the polishing blade 8b. The polishing blade 8b has a configuration in which the abrasive particle layer 8b-1 has a thickness and contains abrasive particles, so that the abrasive particles do not peel off and maintain a good cleaning function for a long period of time. can do.

  The toner suitably used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a toner material liquid in which at least a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent are dispersed in an organic solvent. A toner obtained by crosslinking and / or elongation reaction in an aqueous solvent. Hereinafter, the constituent material and the manufacturing method of the toner will be described.

(Modified polyester)
The toner according to the present invention contains a modified polyester (i) as a binder resin. The modified polyester (i) refers to a state in which a bonding group other than an ester bond is present in the polyester resin, or resin components having different configurations are bonded to the polyester resin by a covalent bond, an ionic bond, or the like. Specifically, the polyester terminal is modified by introducing a functional group such as a carboxylic acid group or an isocyanate group that reacts with a hydroxyl group into the polyester terminal and further reacting with an active hydrogen-containing compound.

  Examples of the modified polyester (i) include urea-modified polyester obtained by a reaction between a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group and amines (B). As the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group, a polyester having a polycondensate of a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) and having an active hydrogen group is further added to a polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC). And those reacted with. Examples of the active hydrogen group possessed by the polyester include a hydroxyl group (alcoholic hydroxyl group and phenolic hydroxyl group), an amino group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, and the like. Among these, an alcoholic hydroxyl group is preferable.

The urea-modified polyester is produced as follows.
Examples of the polyhydric alcohol compound (PO) include dihydric alcohol (DIO) and trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (TO). (DIO) alone or a mixture of (DIO) and a small amount of (TO) preferable. Examples of the dihydric alcohol (DIO) include alkylene glycol (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, etc.); alkylene ether glycol (diethylene glycol) , Triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene ether glycol, etc.); alicyclic diols (1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.); bisphenols (bisphenol A, bisphenol) F, bisphenol S, etc.); alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.) adduct of the above alicyclic diol; Alkylene oxide bisphenol (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.), etc. adducts. Among them, preferred are alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms and alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols, and particularly preferred are alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols and alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms. It is a combined use. As trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (TO), 3 to 8 or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohol (glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, etc.); trihydric or higher phenols (Trisphenol PA, phenol novolak, cresol novolak, etc.); and alkylene oxide adducts of the above trivalent or higher polyphenols.

  Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) include divalent carboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC). (DIC) alone and (DIC) with a small amount of (TC) Mixtures are preferred. Divalent carboxylic acids (DIC) include alkylene dicarboxylic acids (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.); alkenylene dicarboxylic acids (maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc.); aromatic dicarboxylic acids (phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid) And naphthalenedicarboxylic acid). Of these, preferred are alkenylene dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC) include aromatic polycarboxylic acids having 9 to 20 carbon atoms (such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid). In addition, as polyhydric carboxylic acid (PC), you may make it react with polyhydric alcohol (PO) using the above-mentioned acid anhydride or lower alkyl ester (Methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, etc.).

  The ratio of the polyhydric alcohol (PO) to the polycarboxylic acid (PC) is usually 2/1 to 1/1, preferably as the equivalent ratio [OH] / [COOH] of the hydroxyl group [OH] and the carboxyl group [COOH]. Is 1.5 / 1 to 1/1, more preferably 1.3 / 1 to 1.02 / 1.

  Examples of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, etc.); alicyclic polyisocyanates (isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.) Aromatic diisocyanates (tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); araliphatic diisocyanates (α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); isocyanates; Those blocked with caprolactam or the like; and combinations of two or more of these.

  The ratio of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) is usually 5/1 to 1/1, preferably as an equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group. 4/1 to 1.2 / 1, more preferably 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1. When [NCO] / [OH] exceeds 5, low-temperature fixability deteriorates. When the molar ratio of [NCO] is less than 1, when a urea-modified polyester is used, the urea content in the ester is lowered and hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

The content of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) component in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 0.5 to 40 wt%, preferably 1 to 30 wt%, more preferably 2 to 20 wt%. . If it is less than 0.5 wt%, the hot offset resistance deteriorates, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. On the other hand, if it exceeds 40 wt%, the low-temperature fixability deteriorates.
The number of isocyanate groups contained per molecule in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 1 or more, preferably 1.5 to 3 on average, more preferably 1.8 to 2 on average. Five. If it is less than 1 per molecule, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester will be low, and the hot offset resistance will deteriorate.

Next, as amines (B) to be reacted with the polyester prepolymer (A), a divalent amine compound (B1), a trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2), an amino alcohol (B3), an amino mercaptan (B4) ), Amino acid (B5), and amino acid block of B1 to B5 (B6).
Examples of the divalent amine compound (B1) include aromatic diamines (phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, etc.); alicyclic diamines (4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dimethyldicyclohexyl). Methane, diamine cyclohexane, isophorone diamine, etc.); and aliphatic diamines (ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, etc.) and the like. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. Examples of amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline. Examples of amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan and aminopropyl mercaptan. Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid. Examples of the compound (B6) obtained by blocking the amino group of B1 to B5 include ketimine compounds and oxazolidine compounds obtained from the amines of B1 to B5 and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.). Among these amines (B), preferred are B1 and a mixture of B1 and a small amount of B2.

The ratio of amines (B) is equivalent to the equivalent ratio [NCO] / [NHx] of isocyanate groups [NCO] in the polyester prepolymer (A) having isocyanate groups and amino groups [NHx] in amines (B). Is usually 1/2 to 2/1, preferably 1.5 / 1 to 1 / 1.5, more preferably 1.2 / 1 to 1 / 1.2. When [NCO] / [NHx] is more than 2 or less than 1/2, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester is lowered, and the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.
The urea-modified polyester may contain a urethane bond together with a urea bond. The molar ratio of the urea bond content to the urethane bond content is usually 100/0 to 10/90, preferably 80/20 to 20/80, and more preferably 60/40 to 30/70. When the molar ratio of the urea bond is less than 10%, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

The modified polyester (i) used in the present invention is produced by a one-shot method or a prepolymer method. The weight average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is usually 10,000 or more, preferably 20,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably 30,000 to 1,000,000. The peak molecular weight at this time is preferably 1000 to 10,000, and if it is less than 1,000, the elongation reaction hardly occurs and the elasticity of the toner is small, and as a result, the resistance to hot offset deteriorates. On the other hand, if it exceeds 10,000, the problem in production becomes high in the case of a decrease in fixability, particle formation or pulverization. The number average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is not particularly limited when the unmodified polyester (ii) described later is used, and may be a number average molecular weight that can be easily obtained to obtain the weight average molecular weight. (I) When used alone, the number average molecular weight is usually 20000 or less, preferably 1000 to 10000, and more preferably 2000 to 8000. When it exceeds 20000, the low-temperature fixability and the glossiness when used in a full-color device are deteriorated.
In the crosslinking and / or extension reaction between the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B) to obtain the modified polyester (i), a reaction terminator is used as necessary to adjust the molecular weight of the resulting urea-modified polyester. be able to. Examples of the reaction terminator include monoamines (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, etc.), and those obtained by blocking them (ketimine compounds).

(Unmodified polyester)
In the present invention, not only the modified polyester (i) is used alone, but also the unmodified polyester (ii) can be contained as a binder resin component together with the (i). By using (ii) in combination, the low-temperature fixability and the gloss when used in a full-color device are improved, which is preferable to single use. Examples of (ii) include polycondensates of polyhydric alcohol (PO) and polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) similar to the polyester component of (i), and preferred ones are also the same as (i). . (Ii) is not limited to unmodified polyester, but may be modified with a chemical bond other than a urea bond, and may be modified with a urethane bond, for example. It is preferable that (i) and (ii) are at least partially compatible in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. Accordingly, the polyester component (i) and (ii) preferably have similar compositions. When (ii) is contained, the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) is usually 5/95 to 80/20, preferably 5/95 to 30/70, more preferably 5/95 to 25/75, Particularly preferred is 7/93 to 20/80. When the weight ratio of (i) is less than 5%, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability.

  The peak molecular weight of (ii) is usually 1000 to 10,000, preferably 2000 to 8000, and more preferably 2000 to 5000. If it is less than 1000, heat-resistant storage stability will deteriorate, and if it exceeds 10,000, low-temperature fixability will deteriorate. The hydroxyl value of (ii) is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 to 120, and particularly preferably 20 to 80. If it is less than 5, it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. The acid value of (ii) is preferably 1 to 5, more preferably 2 to 4. Since a high acid value wax is used as the wax, the low acid value binder leads to electrification and high volume resistance, so that it is easy to match the toner used for the two-component developer.

  The glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin is usually 35 to 70 ° C, preferably 55 to 65 ° C. If the temperature is lower than 35 ° C., the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner deteriorates, and if it exceeds 70 ° C., the low-temperature fixability becomes insufficient. Since the urea-modified polyester is likely to be present on the surface of the obtained toner base particles, the toner of the present invention tends to have good heat storage stability even when the glass transition point is low, as compared with known polyester-based toners. Show.

(Coloring agent)
As the colorant, all known dyes and pigments can be used. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, ocher , Yellow lead, titanium yellow, polyazo yellow, oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), pigment yellow L, benzidine yellow (G, GR), permanent yellow (NCG), Vulcan fast yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, Isoindolinone Yellow, Bengala, Red Dan, Lead Zhu, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, Para Red, Phi Sayred, Parachlor Ortonito Aniline Red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carmine B, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Resol Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R , Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Tolujing Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake, Thio Indigo Red B, Thioindigo Maroon, Oil Red, Quinacridone Red, Pyrazolone Red Polyazo Red, Chrome Vermillion, Benzidine Orange, Perinone Orange, Oil Orange, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Peacock Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Metal Free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue (RS, BC), indigo, ultramarine blue, bitumen, anthraquinone blue, fast violet B, methyl violet lake, cobalt purple, manganese purple, dioxane violet, anthraquinone violet, chrome green, zinc green, chromium oxide, pyridian, emerald green, pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Acid Green Lake, Malachite Green Lake, Lid Russian nin green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, litbon and mixtures thereof can be used. The content of the colorant is usually 1 to 15% by weight, preferably 3 to 10% by weight, based on the toner.

  The colorant can also be used as a master batch combined with a resin. As a binder resin to be kneaded with the production of the master batch or the master batch, a polymer of styrene such as polystyrene, poly-p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyl toluene or the like, or a copolymer of these and a vinyl compound, Polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, fat Aromatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, paraffin waxes and the like can be mentioned, and these can be used alone or in combination.

(Charge control agent)
Known charge control agents can be used, such as nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, chromium-containing metal complex dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (fluorine-modified 4 Secondary ammonium salts or compounds, tungsten simple substances or compounds, fluorine activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives. Specifically, Bontron 03 of a nigrosine dye, Bontron P-51 of a quaternary ammonium salt, Bontron S-34 of a metal-containing azo dye, E-82 of an oxynaphthoic acid metal complex, E-84 of a salicylic acid metal complex , Phenol-condensate E-89 (above, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex TP-302, TP-415 (above, manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt copy Charge PSY VP2038, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge of quaternary ammonium salt NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex (Nippon Carlit) Manufactured), copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone, azo series Fee, a sulfonic acid group, a carboxyl group, and polymer compounds having a functional group such as quaternary ammonium salts. Of these, substances that control the negative polarity of the toner are particularly preferably used.
The amount of the charge control agent used is determined by the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of additives used as necessary, and the toner production method including the dispersion method, and is not uniquely limited. The amount is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. The range of 0.2 to 5 parts by weight is preferable. When the amount exceeds 10 parts by weight, the chargeability of the toner is too high, the effect of the charge control agent is reduced, the electrostatic attraction with the developing roller is increased, the flowability of the developer is lowered, and the image density is lowered. Invite.

(Release agent)
As a release agent, a low melting point wax having a melting point of 50 to 120 ° C. works more effectively as a release agent in the dispersion with the binder resin between the fixing roller and the toner interface. The effect on high temperature offset is exhibited without applying a release agent such as oil. Examples of such a wax component include the following. Examples of waxes and waxes include plant waxes such as carnauba wax, cotton wax, wood wax, rice wax, animal waxes such as beeswax and lanolin, mineral waxes such as ozokerite and cercin, and paraffin, microcrystalline, And petroleum waxes such as petrolatum. In addition to these natural waxes, synthetic hydrocarbon waxes such as Fischer-Tropsch wax and polyethylene wax, and synthetic waxes such as esters, ketones, and ethers can be used. Furthermore, fatty acid amides such as 12-hydroxystearic acid amide, stearic acid amide, phthalic anhydride imide, chlorinated hydrocarbon, and low molecular weight crystalline polymer resin, poly-n-stearyl methacrylate, poly-n- A crystalline polymer having a long alkyl group in the side chain such as a homopolymer or copolymer of polyacrylate such as lauryl methacrylate (for example, a copolymer of n-stearyl acrylate-ethyl methacrylate, etc.) can also be used. .
The charge control agent and the release agent can be melt-kneaded together with the master batch and the binder resin, and of course, they may be added when dissolved and dispersed in the organic solvent.

(External additive)
Inorganic fine particles are preferably used as an external additive for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the toner particles. The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 × ¹⁰ -3 ~2μm, it is particularly preferably 5 × ¹⁰ -3 ~0.5μm. Moreover, it is preferable that the specific surface area by BET method is 20-500 m < ² > / g. The use ratio of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 0.01 to 5 wt% of the toner, and particularly preferably 0.01 to 2.0 wt%.
Specific examples of the inorganic fine particles include, for example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, quartz sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth. Examples include soil, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, bengara, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. Among these, as the fluidity-imparting agent, it is preferable to use hydrophobic silica fine particles and hydrophobic titanium oxide fine particles in combination. In particular, when stirring and mixing are performed using particles having an average particle diameter of 5 × 10 ⁻² μm or less, the electrostatic force and van der Waals force with the toner are remarkably improved. Even when stirring and mixing inside the developing device is performed to obtain a good image quality that does not cause the release of the fluidity imparting agent from the toner and does not generate firefly, etc., and further reduces the residual toner. It is done.
Titanium oxide fine particles are excellent in environmental stability and image density stability, but have a tendency to deteriorate the charge rising characteristics. It can be considered large. However, when the added amount of the hydrophobic silica fine particles and the hydrophobic titanium oxide fine particles is in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 wt%, the charge rising characteristics are not greatly impaired, and the desired charge rising characteristics can be obtained, that is, repeated copying. Stable image quality can be obtained even if

Next, a toner manufacturing method will be described. Here, although a preferable manufacturing method is shown, it is not limited to this.
(Toner production method)
1) A toner material solution is prepared by dispersing a colorant, unmodified polyester, a polyester prepolymer having an isocyanate group, and a release agent in an organic solvent.
The organic solvent is preferably volatile with a boiling point of less than 100 ° C. from the viewpoint of easy removal after toner base particle formation. Specifically, toluene, xylene, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, chloroform, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethylidene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone and the like can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In particular, aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene and halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride are preferable. The usage-amount of an organic solvent is 0-300 weight part normally with respect to 100 weight part of polyester prepolymers, Preferably it is 0-100 weight part, More preferably, it is 25-70 weight part.

2) The toner material liquid is emulsified in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant and resin fine particles.
The aqueous medium may be water alone or an organic solvent such as alcohol (methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (methyl cellosolve, etc.), lower ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.). It may be included.
The amount of the aqueous medium used relative to 100 parts by weight of the toner material liquid is usually 50 to 2000 parts by weight, preferably 100 to 1000 parts by weight. If the amount is less than 50 parts by weight, the dispersion state of the toner material liquid is poor, and toner particles having a predetermined particle diameter cannot be obtained. If it exceeds 20000 parts by weight, it is not economical.

Further, in order to improve the dispersion in the aqueous medium, a dispersant such as a surfactant and resin fine particles is appropriately added.
As surfactants, anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters, alkylamine salts, amino alcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, amine salt types such as imidazoline, Quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salt, dialkyldimethylammonium salt, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salt, pyridinium salt, alkylisoquinolinium salt, benzethonium chloride, fatty acid amide derivative, polyhydric alcohol Nonionic surfactants such as derivatives, for example, amphoteric surfactants such as alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine and N-alkyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betaine And the like.

Further, by using a surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group, the effect can be obtained in a very small amount. Preferred anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include fluoroalkyl carboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and metal salts thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonyl glutamate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkyl (C6-C11 ) Oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-C4) sodium sulfonate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-C8) -N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonic acid sodium, fluoroalkyl (C11-C20) carvone Acids and metal salts, perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids (C7 to C13) and metal salts thereof, perfluoroalkyl (C4 to C12) sulfonic acids and metal salts thereof, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- ( 2-Hydroxyethyl) Perful Olooctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (C6-C16) ethyl phosphate, etc. Can be mentioned.
Product names include Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS-101. DS-102 (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), Megafac F-110, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink, Inc.), Xtop EF-102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (manufactured by Tochem Products), and Fgentent F-100, F150 (manufactured by Neos).

  Moreover, as the cationic surfactant, aliphatic quaternary ammonium such as aliphatic primary, secondary or secondary amic acid, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt which has a right fluoroalkyl group is used. Salt, benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, trade names include Surflon S-121 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-135 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Industries) Smoke), Megafac F-150, F-824 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-132 (Tochem Products), Footage F-300 (Neos), and the like.

The resin fine particles are added to stabilize the toner base particles formed in the aqueous medium. For this reason, it is preferable to add so that the coverage existing on the surface of the toner base particles is in the range of 10 to 90%. For example, polymethyl methacrylate fine particles 1 μm and 3 μm, polystyrene fine particles 0.5 μm and 2 μm, poly (styrene-acrylonitrile) fine particles 1 μm, trade names are PB-200H (manufactured by Kao), SGP (manufactured by Soken), Techno Examples include polymer SB (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.), SGP-3G (manufactured by Sokensha), and micropearl (manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.).
In addition, inorganic compound dispersants such as tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, colloidal silica, and hydroxyapatite can also be used.

  As a dispersant that can be used in combination with the above resin fine particles and inorganic compound dispersant, the dispersed droplets may be stabilized by a polymer protective colloid. For example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-cyanoacrylic acid, α-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid or maleic anhydride and other (meth) acrylic monomers containing hydroxyl groups Bodies such as acrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, acrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, acrylic acid-γ-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-γ-hydroxy Propyl, acrylic acid-3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate Luric acid esters, N-methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide, etc., vinyl alcohol or ethers with vinyl alcohol, such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, or compounds containing vinyl alcohol and a carboxyl group Esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or their methylol compounds, acid chlorides such as acrylic acid chloride, methacrylic acid chloride, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl Nitrogen compounds such as imidazole and ethyleneimine, or homopolymers or copolymers such as those having a heterocyclic ring thereof, polyoxyethylene, poly Xoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, polyoxy Polyoxyethylenes such as ethylene nonylphenyl ester, celluloses such as methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose can be used.

  The dispersion method is not particularly limited, and known equipment such as a low-speed shear method, a high-speed shear method, a friction method, a high-pressure jet method, and an ultrasonic wave can be applied. Among these, the high-speed shearing method is preferable in order to make the particle size of the dispersion 2 to 20 μm. When a high-speed shearing disperser is used, the rotational speed is not particularly limited, but is usually 1000 to 30000 rpm, preferably 5000 to 20000 rpm. The dispersion time is not particularly limited, but in the case of a batch method, it is usually 0.1 to 5 minutes. The temperature during dispersion is usually 0 to 150 ° C. (under pressure), preferably 40 to 98 ° C.

3) At the same time as the preparation of the emulsion, the amines (B) are added to cause a reaction with the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group.
This reaction involves molecular chain crosslinking and / or elongation. The reaction time is selected depending on the reactivity between the isocyanate group structure of the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B), but is usually 10 minutes to 40 hours, preferably 2 to 24 hours. The reaction temperature is generally 0 to 150 ° C, preferably 40 to 98 ° C. Moreover, a well-known catalyst can be used as needed. Specific examples include dibutyltin laurate and dioctyltin laurate.

4) After completion of the reaction, the organic solvent is removed from the emulsified dispersion (reactant), washed and dried to obtain toner base particles.
In order to remove the organic solvent, the temperature of the entire system is gradually raised in a laminar stirring state, and after giving strong stirring in a certain temperature range, the solvent base is removed to produce spindle-shaped toner base particles. . Further, when an acid such as calcium phosphate salt or an alkali-soluble material is used as the dispersion stabilizer, the calcium phosphate salt is dissolved from the toner base particles by a method such as dissolving the calcium phosphate salt with an acid such as hydrochloric acid and washing with water. Remove. It can also be removed by operations such as enzymatic degradation.

5) A charge control agent is injected into the toner base particles obtained above, and then inorganic fine particles such as silica fine particles and titanium oxide fine particles are externally added to obtain a toner.
The injection of the charge control agent and the external addition of the inorganic fine particles are performed by a known method using a mixer or the like.
Thereby, a toner having a small particle size and a sharp particle size distribution can be easily obtained. Furthermore, by giving strong agitation in the process of removing the organic solvent, the shape between the true spherical shape and the rugby ball shape can be controlled, and the surface morphology is also controlled between the smooth shape and the umeboshi shape. be able to.

The toner according to the present invention is a spherical toner that can be defined by the values of the following shape factors SF-1 and SF-2. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the toner for explaining the shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2.
The shape factor SF-1 indicates the ratio of the roundness of the toner shape and is represented by the following formula (1). This is a value obtained by dividing the square of the maximum length MXLNG of the shape formed by projecting toner on a two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100π / 4.
SF-1 = {(MXLNG) ² / AREA} × (100π / 4) (1)
When the value of SF-1 is 100, the shape of the toner becomes a true sphere, and becomes larger as the value of SF-1 increases.
The shape factor SF-2 indicates the ratio of the unevenness of the toner shape, and is represented by the following formula (2). The value obtained by dividing the square of the perimeter PERI of the figure formed by projecting the toner on the two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100 / 4π .
SF-2 = {(PERI) ² / AREA} × ( 100 / 4π ) (2)
When the value of SF-2 is 100, unevenness does not exist on the toner surface, and as the value of SF-2 increases, the unevenness of the toner surface becomes more prominent.
Specifically, the shape factor is measured by taking a photograph of the toner with a scanning electron microscope (S-800: manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.), introducing it into an image analyzer (LUSEX 3: manufactured by Nireco) and analyzing it. Calculated.
The toner according to the present invention is a toner having SF-1 in the range of 100 to 180 and SF-2 in the range of 100 to 180. When the shape of the toner is close to a sphere, the contact between the toner and the toner or the toner and the photoreceptor 1 is brought into contact, so that the adsorbing force between the toners is weakened and the fluidity is increased. The attraction force becomes weaker and the transfer rate becomes higher. On the other hand, since the spherical toner easily enters the gap between the first cleaning blade 8a and the photoreceptor 1, the toner shape factors SF-1 and SF-2 are preferably 100 or more. Further, when SF-1 and SF-2 are increased, toner is scattered on the image and the image quality is lowered. For this reason, it is preferable that SF-1 and SF-2 do not exceed 180.

Further, the toner according to the present invention has a substantially spherical shape and can be represented by the following shape rule.
FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the toner according to the present invention. In FIG. 11, when a substantially spherical toner is defined by a major axis r1, a minor axis r2, and a thickness r3 (where r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3), the toner of the present invention has a major axis and a minor axis. The ratio (r2 / r1) (see FIG. 11 (b)) is 0.5 to 1.0, and the ratio of thickness to minor axis (r3 / r2) (see FIG. 11 (c)) is 0.7 to 1.0. It is preferable to be in the range of 1.0. When the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis (r2 / r1) is less than 0.5, the dot reproducibility and transfer efficiency are inferior because of being away from the true spherical shape, and high-quality image quality cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the ratio of thickness to minor axis (r3 / r2) is less than 0.7, the shape is close to a flat shape, and a high transfer rate like a spherical toner cannot be obtained. In particular, when the ratio of the thickness to the minor axis (r3 / r2) is 1.0, the rotating body has a major axis as a rotation axis, and the fluidity of the toner can be improved.
Note that r1, r2, and r3 were measured with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) while changing the angle of field of view and taking pictures.

The toner produced as described above can also be used as a one-component magnetic toner that does not use a magnetic carrier or a non-magnetic toner.
When used in a two-component developer, it may be used by mixing with a magnetic carrier, and the magnetic carrier is a ferrite containing a divalent metal such as iron, magnetite, Mn, Zn, Cu, A volume average particle size of 20 to 100 μm is preferred. If the average particle size is less than 20 μm, carrier adhesion is likely to occur on the photoreceptor 1 during development, and if it exceeds 100 μm, the miscibility with the toner is low and the charge amount of the toner is insufficient, resulting in poor charging during continuous use. Cheap. In addition, Cu ferrite containing Zn is preferable because of its high saturation magnetization, but can be appropriately selected according to the process of the image forming apparatus 100. The resin for coating the magnetic carrier is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include silicone resin, styrene-acrylic resin, fluorine-containing resin, and olefin resin. In the manufacturing method, the coating resin may be dissolved in a solvent, sprayed into a fluidized bed and coated on the core, or the resin particles are electrostatically attached to the core particles and then thermally melted for coating. It may be a thing. The resin to be coated has a thickness of 0.05 to 10 μm, preferably 0.3 to 4 μm.

1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning device of the present invention as a cleaning means for a photoreceptor surface. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration around a photoconductor of an image forming apparatus equipped with the cleaning device of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state which made the grinding | polishing blade contact | abutted on the photoreceptor surface. It is a figure which shows the measuring method of the dynamic friction coefficient of an elastic material. It is a figure which expands and shows the shape of the edge of the braid | blade for grinding | polishing. It is a schematic diagram when cut | disconnecting the sheet | seat in the manufacturing process of the braid | blade for grinding | polishing. It is a figure which shows the structure which provided the contact / separation mechanism in the braid | blade for grinding | polishing. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement timing of an approach / separation mechanism. It is the schematic which shows another structure of the image forming apparatus equipped with the cleaning apparatus of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the shape of a toner in order to explain the shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the shape of a toner according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photoconductor (image carrier)
2 Charging device 3 Exposure device 4 Developing device 6 Transfer device 7 Fixing device 8 Cleaning device 8a First cleaning blade 8b Second cleaning blade (polishing blade)
8b-1 abrasive particle containing layer r1 abrasive particle rich layer 8e contact / separation cam 10 intermediate transfer belt 21 exposure device 25 fixing device

Claims (31)

A cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an image carrier or a recording member support,
The cleaning device includes two blades, a first cleaning blade and a second cleaning blade, in order from the upstream side in the moving direction of the image carrier or the recording member support.
The second cleaning blade is a polishing blade having an abrasive particle-containing layer in which abrasive particles are contained in an elastic material on the surface of the second cleaning blade ,
The polishing blade is cut from the abrasive particle-containing layer side of the sheet surface, whereby a part of the edge made of the abrasive particle-containing layer is cut, and the cutting surface contacts the image carrier or the recording member support. A cleaning device that is installed in contact with each other. The cleaning device according to claim 1,
The width of the contact between the polishing blade and the image carrier or the recording member support is 0.01 mm or more and 5 mm or less. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The polishing blade has a single-layer structure of the abrasive particle-containing layer. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The polishing blade has a two-layer structure of a blade base layer and the abrasive particle-containing layer. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The cleaning device, wherein the elastic material used for the polishing blade is a rubber material having a rubber hardness of 65 degrees or more and 100 degrees or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The elastic material used for the polishing blade is a rubber material having a rubber hardness of 85 degrees or more and 100 degrees or less. The cleaning device according to claim 5 or 6,
The elastic material used for the polishing blade is a rubber material having a dynamic friction coefficient of 1.5 or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade has an abrasive particle content of 0.5 wt% or more and 50 wt% or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade has an inclination in the volume occupancy of the abrasive particles, and the abrasive particle rich layer having a volume occupancy of 50% or more is 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less in the thickness direction of the blade. A cleaning device having a thickness. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade contains a mixture of a plurality of abrasive particles having different average particle diameters and / or types. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The abrasive particle-containing layer of the polishing blade contains cerium oxide having a purity of 80% or more. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
An average particle diameter of abrasive particles used for the polishing blade is 0.05 μm or more and 100 μm or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The cleaning blade is characterized in that the curvature R of the edge made of the abrasive particle-containing layer is 5 μm or more and 150 μm or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
The polishing blade is manufactured by cutting the sheet at the time of manufacturing at an angle with respect to the surface of the sheet from a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The polishing blade is installed such that an edge formed of the abrasive particle-containing layer contacts the image carrier or the recording member support, and the contact portion is cut by the idling of the image carrier or the recording member support. A cleaning device. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
The cleaning device, wherein the polishing blade is in contact with an image carrier or a recording member support by a trailing method. The cleaning device according to claim 16, wherein
The contact angle of the polishing blade is not less than 5 degrees and not more than 25 degrees. The cleaning device according to claim 16 or 17,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a contact pressure of the polishing blade is 10 gf / cm or more and 80 gf / cm or less. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 16 to 18,
The amount of biting of the polishing blade is not less than 0.2 mm and not more than 1.5 mm. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 19,
The cleaning device, wherein the polishing blade has a contact / separation mechanism with respect to the image carrier. A method for producing a polishing blade provided in a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an image carrier or a recording member support,
Centrifuge the mixture of elastic material and abrasive particles to obtain a sheet,
When cutting the sheet into a blade-like material, cut from the abrasive particle-containing layer side of the sheet surface,
A method for producing a polishing blade, characterized in that, by the cutting, a part of an edge made of the abrasive particle-containing layer is cut to expose the abrasive particles. A method for producing a polishing blade provided in a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an image carrier or a recording member support,
Centrifuge the mixture of elastic material and abrasive particles to obtain a sheet,
When cutting the sheet into a blade-like material, cut from the abrasive particle-containing layer side of the sheet surface and at an angle from the direction perpendicular to the sheet surface,
A method for producing a polishing blade, characterized in that, by the cutting, a part of an edge made of the abrasive particle-containing layer is cut to expose the abrasive particles. A process cartridge that is integrally supported and includes at least an image carrier and a cleaning unit that cleans the surface of the image carrier, and is detachably formed on the image forming apparatus main body.
21. A process cartridge comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1 as the cleaning means. An image carrier for carrying a latent image;
Charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier;
Exposure means for exposing the surface of the charged image carrier based on image data and writing a latent image;
Developing means for supplying a toner to the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearing member to visualize the latent image;
In an image forming apparatus comprising transfer means for transferring a visible image on the surface of an image carrier to a recording member,
21. An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1 as means for cleaning a surface of an image carrier. A first image carrier that carries a latent image;
Charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the first image carrier;
Exposure means for exposing the surface of the charged first image carrier based on image data and writing a latent image;
Developing means for supplying toner to the latent image formed on the surface of the first image carrier to make it visible;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that temporarily transfers a visible image on the surface of the first image carrier to the second image carrier, and then transfers the visible image held by the second image carrier to a recording member. In
21. The image forming apparatus, comprising: the cleaning device according to claim 1 as means for cleaning a surface of a second image carrier. An image carrier for carrying a latent image;
Charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier;
Exposure means for exposing the surface of the charged image carrier based on image data and writing a latent image;
Developing means for supplying a toner to the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearing member to visualize the latent image;
Transfer means for transferring a visible image on the surface of the image carrier to a recording member;
In an image forming apparatus comprising a recording member support that conveys while supporting a recording member in the vicinity of a transfer position,
The image forming apparatus includes the cleaning device according to claim 1 as means for cleaning the surface of the recording member support. 27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein:
The toner used in the developing unit has a volume average particle diameter of 3 to 8 μm and a ratio (Dv / Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) of 1.00 to 1.40. An image forming apparatus characterized by being in the range. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 27.
The toner used in the developing means crosslinks a toner material liquid in which at least a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is dispersed in an organic solvent in an aqueous medium. And / or a toner obtained by an extension reaction. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 28.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the toner used in the developing unit has a shape factor SF-1 in the range of 100 to 180 and a shape factor SF-2 in the range of 100 to 180. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 29.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the toner used in the developing unit has a substantially spherical shape. The image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein
The shape of the toner is defined by a major axis r1, a minor axis r2, and a thickness r3 (where r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3), and a ratio (r2 / r1) between the major axis r1 and the minor axis r2 is set. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0, and the ratio of the thickness r3 to the minor axis r2 (r3 / r2) is in the range of 0.7 to 1.0.

Images