JP4934347B2 - Developer amount regulating blade - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a blade that regulates the amount of a one-component nonmagnetic developer used to develop and visualize an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier.

  As a means for regulating the layer thickness of a one-component developer (hereinafter also referred to as toner) carried and conveyed by the developer carrying member to the developing unit to a thin layer, a developer amount regulating blade can be mentioned. Then, the developer amount regulating blade is brought into contact with the developer carrying member, and the toner layer thickness is regulated by passing the toner between the abutting portions between the developer amount regulating blade and the developer carrying member. Thus, a method is known in which a thin layer of toner is formed on the developer carrying member, and a frictional charge (tribo) for developing a latent image is imparted to the toner by friction at the contact portion.

  As such a developer amount regulating blade, there is a blade obtained by laminating a resin thin plate (blade member) on a base material (support member) such as a metal or rubber, in addition to a rubber plate or a metal thin plate. In the case of a metal, a blade member such as rubber or resin is adopted because the stress on the toner is large and the toner is likely to deteriorate.

  Further, there has been reported a developer amount regulating blade in which a blade member having a charge imparting property to a toner and a support member are laminated in the same shape, and when this form is used, the toner amount is uniform over the toner over a long period of time. Frictional charge is imparted by the pressure contact force (Patent Document 1).

  In recent years, a method for reducing the toner particle diameter has been proposed in order to achieve high image quality. While such a toner can faithfully develop a very small dot latent image, toner that is carried to the developing unit without being sufficiently in contact with the developer amount regulating blade and the developer carrying member is generated, and a high image due to insufficient charge amount. There arises a problem that the concentration cannot be obtained. In order to improve this problem, there is a method in which the contact pressure of the developer amount regulating blade to the developer carrier is increased and the toner is strongly pressed against the developer carrier. However, with this method, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient amount of toner coat on the developer carrier, and toner adheres to the nip portion at the contact point with the developer amount regulating blade, resulting in uneven stripes on the image. Easy to make.

  In view of this, there has been proposed a method of positively injecting charges into the toner by applying a voltage to the developer amount regulating blade to cause a potential difference between the developer carrying member and the developer amount regulating blade. (Patent Document 2). However, this method has a problem that vulcanized rubber is used for the blade member, and the vulcanized rubber cannot be recycled. In addition, when a developer amount regulating blade made of vulcanized rubber is used for a long time, the toner layer cannot be kept uniform because the rubber is bent or permanently deformed (sagging) due to pressure contact with the developer carrier. There was a problem. Further, when a voltage is applied using a metal thin plate as a blade member, there is a problem in that the above-described fusing due to toner deterioration occurs and vertical stripes occur in an image.

  In view of this, there has been proposed a technique in which a polyamide resin, which is considered to be medium resistance and difficult to be fused, is thinly laminated on a support member having elasticity, so that a toner layer can be uniformly formed over a long period of time (Patent Documents 3 and 4). .

Furthermore, a technique has been proposed in which charge mobility with a metal support member is improved by using a developer amount regulating blade in which a surfactant is mixed in a fluorinated copolymer resin (Patent Document 5).
JP 2004-117996 A JP-A-9-160380 JP-A-8-106212 JP 2003-207940 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-168664

  However, in the methods proposed in Patent Documents 3 and 4, there is insufficient description about a method for effectively reducing the resistance value of the developer amount regulating blade. Further, since the fluororesin used in the proposal of Patent Document 5 has a strong positive chargeability with respect to the toner, it is not suitable for use in a negatively chargeable toner, and the surfactant alone leaks residual charges. Although easy, it was insufficient to charge the toner by applying a voltage.

  The present invention is a developer capable of imparting a sufficient charge to a toner by applying a developing bias, obtaining a high image density, hardly generating a reversely charged toner over a long period of time, having little toner deterioration, and obtaining a better image. An object is to provide a quantity regulating blade.

The present invention is a developer amount regulating blade that is installed in contact with a developer carrier and regulates the amount of developer carried out of the developer container by the developer carrier.
At least the contact portion with the developer carrying member has a configuration in which a blade member having a thickness of 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less is laminated on a support member via an adhesive layer,
The blade member includes an electronic conductivity type electrically conductive agent, and a nonionic surfactant as a dispersant, is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a block copolymer comprising a polyether structure, the electronic conductive Type conductive agent is carbon black, the nonionic surfactant is glycerin fatty acid ester,
Ri 30% by mass less content of more than 5 wt% of the electronic conductivity type conductive agent to the block copolymer containing the polyether structure,
The arithmetic average roughness (Ra [μm]) of the surface of the blade member in contact with the adhesive layer and the average interval of unevenness (Sm [μm]) satisfy the conditions of the following formulas (a) and (b). The present invention relates to a developer amount regulating blade.
2 ≦ Ra · Sm ≦ 25 (a)
0.1 ≦ Ra ≦ 1.0 (b)

  The present invention also relates to the developer amount regulating blade described above, wherein the entire thickness is from 100 μm to 450 μm, and the thickness of the support member is from 80 μm to 150 μm.

  By using the developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention, it is possible to impart a sufficient charge to the toner by applying a developing bias, and a high image density is obtained. A better image can be obtained.

The present invention is a developer amount regulating blade that is installed in contact with a developer carrier and regulates the amount of developer carried out of the developer container by the developer carrier, and has the following characteristics. is there.
(1) At least the contact portion with the developer carrying member has a configuration in which a blade member having a thickness of 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less is laminated on a support member via an adhesive layer.
(2) The blade member is a thermoplastic containing an electronic conductive type conductive agent (carbon black) , a nonionic surfactant (glycerin fatty acid ester) as a dispersant, and a block copolymer containing a polyether structure. It is comprised from the elastomer composition.
(3) The content of the electronic conductivity type conductive agent with respect to the block copolymer containing the polyether structure is 5% by mass or more and 30% by mass.
(4) The arithmetic average roughness (Ra [μm]) of the surface of the blade member in contact with the adhesive layer and the average spacing of the irregularities (Sm [μm]) satisfy the conditions of the following formulas (a) and (b): .
2 ≦ Ra · Sm ≦ 25 (a)
0.1 ≦ Ra ≦ 1.0 (b)

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. In addition, although an Example demonstrates this invention, this invention is not limited only to these Examples.

  FIG. 1 shows a method using a T-die extrusion method as an example of a blade member manufacturing method in the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. First, the surface transfer sheet 64 is mounted on the roll 62, and the blade member composition 65 is poured onto the surface transfer sheet 64 from the nozzle 61 onto the rolls 62 and 63 adjusted at a predetermined interval. Through the gap, the surface transfer sheet 64 is uniformly coated. Thereafter, the blade member formed on the surface transfer sheet 64 is obtained by solidification. Since the surface transfer sheet is coated on the charge control surface side of the blade member, a very smooth surface of the surface transfer sheet is transferred. The surface of the surface transfer sheet is very smooth, but an appropriate value of the surface roughness is appropriately determined in relation to the developer particle diameter.

  As the surface transfer sheet, a sheet formed from a polyester resin, a polyamide resin, a polyolefin resin, a copolymer thereof, an alloy thereof, or the like can be used. Among these, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, copolymers thereof, or sheets formed from these alloys are preferable. In general, the thickness of the sheet for surface transfer is preferably 1 μm or more, more preferably 50 μm or more, and 200 μm or less.

  The blade member used in the present invention can be manufactured by processing the sheet into a predetermined shape using a known processing method.

  The thickness of the blade member sheet is preferably 5 μm or more, more preferably 10 μm or more, and in some cases 50 μm or more, or 100 μm or more in order to realize a sufficient function as a developer amount regulating blade. There is also. However, in order to achieve an appropriate contact pressure, uniformly charge the developer, and suppress wear, the thickness is preferably 100 μm or less, and more preferably 50 μm or less. A thickness exceeding 150 μm is not preferable because deterioration of the blade member sheet and setting with the developer carrier may deteriorate.

As the blade member composition 65, a polyether structure in which an electron conductive type conductive agent is dispersed with a nonionic surfactant so that the volume resistivity is in the middle resistance region of 10 ⁵ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm. A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a block copolymer comprising is used. By using a thermoplastic elastomer composition containing a block copolymer having a polyether structure as a skeleton, a developer amount regulating blade having good elasticity can be obtained.

  As the block copolymer containing a polyether structure used as an elastomer component, an elastomer containing a polyamide structure or a polyester structure is preferably used as a hard segment. These have good triboelectric charging ability for the toner. Examples of polyamides that have been commercialized with these elastomer components and are commercially available include the Daiamide series (trade name, manufactured by Daicel Degussa) and the Pebax series (trade name, manufactured by Atofina Japan). . Moreover, in the polyester type, for example, the perprene series (trade name, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.), the Hytrel series (produced by Toray DuPont), the Primalloy series (trade name, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) and the like can be mentioned.

  Carbon black is suitably used as the electron conductive type conductive agent. Specific examples of such carbon black include Ketjen Black EC, Ketjen Black-600JD (trade name manufactured by Lion Akzo), Asahi HS-500 (trade name manufactured by Asahi Carbon Co.), and acidic carbon black. MA7, MA8, MA11, MA100, # 1000, # 2200B (trade name, manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei Co., Ltd.), MOGUL L, REGAL 400R (trade name, manufactured by Cabot Corporation), and the like. Examples of other electronic conductivity type conductive agents include metal fillers and graphite. Further, an ion conductive type conductive agent such as polyaniline can be used in combination. However, when any conductive agent is used, an effect can be obtained by adding a small amount, and it is necessary to reduce the influence on the hardness of the blade member.

  From such a viewpoint, the content of the electronic conductivity type conductive agent with respect to the block copolymer including a polyether structure is set to 5 to 30% by mass. If it is less than 5% by mass, it is difficult to obtain necessary conductive performance, and if it exceeds 30% by mass, aggregation of the conductive agent tends to occur. As for content of the electronic conductive type electrically conductive agent with respect to the block copolymer containing a polyether structure, 5-30 mass% is preferable.

  These conductive agents can be dispersed in the elastomer component using a roll mill, a Banbury mixer, a pressure kneader, a twin screw extruder, or the like.

  When these conductive agents are aggregated in the thermoplastic elastomer composition, the surface of the blade member may be fuzzy. When a defect occurs, an image defect caused by the defect occurs, and a leak may occur due to the defect. Therefore, the present inventors have found that by using a nonionic surfactant as a dispersant, aggregation of the conductive agent can be suppressed and stabilization can be achieved in the thermoplastic elastomer composition. In addition, as the dispersant, there are cationic surfactants and the like, but even when added in a small amount, bleeding is likely to occur, and the resistance of the developer amount regulating blade may change, or toner fusion may occur. there were.

  Nonionic surfactants include glycerin fatty acid esters, pentaerythritol fatty acid esters, sorbit fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and the like. Among these, glycerin fatty acid ester is preferable.

  It is preferable that content of the nonionic surfactant with respect to the block copolymer containing a polyether structure is 0.1-5.0 mass%. Moreover, it is preferable that content of the nonionic surfactant with respect to an electronic conductivity type electrically conductive agent is 1-20 mass%. If the amount of the nonionic surfactant used is too small, the dispersion stabilizing effect of the electron conductive type conductive agent may be poor. If the amount of the dispersant used is too large, bleeding of the nonionic surfactant occurs. Or the mechanical properties of the developer amount regulating blade may decrease.

  The surface opposite to the charge control surface of the blade member (also referred to as an adhesive surface) transfers the surface shape of the roughened roll 63 so that the surface roughness profile of the adhesive surface is within a predetermined range. Is possible. Examples of the means for forming the surface profile of the roll 63 include a physical technique or a chemical technique. For example, examples of the physical method include a sand blast method, a shot blast method, and a surface grinding means using sand paper. On the other hand, examples of the chemical method include an etching method and a method of forming a film containing coarse particles. However, the means for forming the surface profile of the roll 63 is not limited to this, and means that achieves the object shown in the present invention is adopted.

  The adhesive surface of the blade member has an arithmetic average roughness (Ra [μm]) and an average interval of unevenness (Sm [μm]) by using the roll 63 on which the rough surface is formed. It is preferable to form so as to satisfy the condition (b).

2 ≦ Ra · Sm ≦ 25 (a)
0.1 ≦ Ra ≦ 1.0 (b)
When the arithmetic average roughness is less than 0.1 μm, the adhesiveness to the adhesive tends to decrease. When the arithmetic average roughness exceeds 1.0 μm, the adhesiveness is excellent, but the charge control surface of the blade member is affected by an elastic difference generated between the irregularities of the adhesive, and the toner is easily fused. The arithmetic average roughness is more preferably 0.1 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less.

When the average interval of the unevenness is smaller than 2 μm, the adhesiveness to the adhesive tends to be lowered. Further, if the average interval of the irregularities is larger than 250 μm, the adhesiveness is lowered if the arithmetic average roughness is small, and if the arithmetic average roughness is close to 1.0 μm, the influence of the irregularities is likely to appear on the charge control surface. It is easy to pass through in a lump state, and it is difficult to sufficiently charge each individual toner. Further, since the toner deteriorated due to long-term durability contains fine powders such as external additives, the toner catches on the irregularities on the surface, and stays and accumulates, so that toner fusion is likely to occur. Therefore, it is preferable that the product (Ra · Sm [μm ² ]) of the arithmetic average roughness (Ra [μm]) and the average interval of unevenness (Sm [μm]) satisfy the above formula (a). The value of Ra · Sm is more preferably 2 or more and 25 or less.

  In addition, arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) and the average space | interval (Sm) of an unevenness | corrugation can be measured using the surf coder SE3500 (brand name) by Kosaka Laboratory, etc., for example. Here, Ra and Sm are values that define the center line average roughness and the average interval of the irregularities described in JIS B 0601 (1994) and ISO 468, and are obtained by the following equation.

Ra = 1 / l∫ | f (x) | dx
Sm = 1 / nΣSmi
The developer amount regulating blade of the present invention can be produced by bonding the blade member 30 to the support member 31 as shown in FIG. The surface transfer sheet may be peeled off immediately before use.

  The adhesion of the blade member and the support member can be performed by forming an adhesive coating film on the adhesion surface and / or the surface of the support member of the blade member and bonding the blade member and the support member together.

More specifically, for example, by applying a urethane adhesive in which a conductive agent is dispersed so that the volume resistivity is 10 ⁵ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm on the support member, and pressing the blade member A developer amount regulating blade can be produced. By applying a liquid adhesive on the support member, the wettability of both is improved and a high adhesive force is obtained. As the conductive agent dispersed in the adhesive, carbon black such as ketjen black and acetylene black is suitable.

  The thickness of the adhesive layer formed by the adhesive is preferably 5 μm or more, more preferably 10 μm or more, and more preferably 50 μm or less in order to achieve sufficient adhesion. If the thickness of the adhesive layer exceeds 50 μm, uneven curing tends to occur, and cohesive failure may occur in the adhesive layer.

  As the support member, a support member having a predetermined shape can be manufactured from a metal flat plate, more specifically, a stainless steel plate, a phosphor bronze plate, an aluminum plate, or the like using a known processing method. For example, the supporting member can be accurately manufactured with good productivity by cutting the supporting member into a shape of the supporting member with a press or a cutter.

  The thickness of the support member is preferably 50 μm or more, more preferably 80 μm or more, further preferably 90 μm or more, most preferably 100 μm or more, and most preferably 150 μm or less in order to realize a sufficient function as a developer amount regulating blade. Is preferred.

  As for the adhesion side surface of a support member, it is preferable that arithmetic mean roughness (Ra [micrometer]) and the average space | interval of unevenness (Sm [micrometer]) satisfy | fill the following relationship.

1 ≦ Ra · Sm ≦ 10
The arithmetic average roughness (Ra) preferably satisfies 0.01 ≦ Ra ≦ 0.5.

  The total thickness of the developer amount regulating blade is preferably 100 to 450 μm.

  The surface transfer sheet of the developer amount regulating blade manufactured as described above is not peeled until just before the developer amount regulating blade is mounted at a predetermined position of the developing device, and the developer amount regulating blade is used as a component (product). It is desirable to store and transport. Thus, the surface transfer sheet can serve as a protective sheet for the developer amount regulating blade.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a developing device using the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. Reference numeral 12 denotes a developer container containing, for example, a one-component developer 16. The developing device includes a developer container 12 and an electrophotographic photosensitive member 11 that is an image carrier that rotates in the direction of arrow a in the figure, and a developer carrier 13 that is placed opposite to the electrostatic carrier on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 11. The latent image is developed and visualized as a toner image. The developer carrier 13 has a substantially right half circumferential surface that protrudes into the developer container 12 as viewed in the figure, and a substantially left half circumferential surface is exposed to the outside of the developer container 12 so as to face the electrophotographic photosensitive member 11. It is horizontally installed so that it can rotate freely. A minute gap is provided between the developer carrier 13 and the electrophotographic photoreceptor 11. The developer carrier 13 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow b with respect to the rotational direction a of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 11.

  In the developer container 12, the developer amount regulating blade 14 of the present invention is provided above the developer carrier 13, and the developer carrier 13 is positioned upstream of the developer amount regulating blade 14 in the rotational direction. An elastic roller 15 is provided on the surface. The developer amount regulating blade 14 is provided so as to be inclined downward toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrier 13, and abuts against the upper outer peripheral surface of the developer carrier 13 in the rotational direction. . The elastic roller 15 is in contact with a portion of the developer carrier 13 opposite to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 11 and is rotatably supported.

  In the developing device, the elastic roller 15 rotates in the direction of the arrow c in the above-described configuration, and the toner (developer) 16 is supported by the rotation of the elastic roller 15 and supplied to the vicinity of the developer carrier 13. The toner 16 on the elastic roller 15 is rubbed against the developer carrier 13 at the contact portion (nip portion) where the developer carrier 13 and the elastic roller 15 abut on the developer carrier 13. Adhere to.

  The developing device also includes a first voltage applying unit (not shown) for applying a voltage to the developer carrier 13 and a second voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the developer amount regulating blade 14 of the present invention. (Not shown). At least during development, a voltage having an absolute value equal to or greater than the absolute value of the voltage applied to the developer carrying member is applied to the developer amount regulating blade 14. Specifically, the voltage applied to the developing bias preferably has a potential difference of −100 to −300 [V].

  Thereafter, as the developer carrier 13 rotates, the toner 16 adhering to the developer carrier 13 enters between the developer amount regulating blade 14 and the developer carrier 13 between them. When passing through here, it is rubbed by both the surface of the developer carrier 13 and the developer amount regulating blade 14 and is sufficiently charged by friction.

  The charged toner 16 escapes from the contact portion between the developer amount regulating blade 14 and the developer carrier 13 to form a thin layer on the developer carrier 13 and opens a minute gap with the electrophotographic photoreceptor 11. To the opposite developing unit. Then, for example, an alternating voltage in which alternating current is superimposed on direct current is applied as a developing bias between the developer carrying member 13 and the electrophotographic photosensitive member 11 in the developing unit. As a result, the toner 16 on the developer carrying member 13 is transferred corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 11, attached to the electrostatic latent image, developed, and visualized as a toner image.

  The toner 16 remaining on the developer carrier 13 without being consumed in the development in the developing unit is collected in the developer container 12 from the lower part of the developer carrier 13 as the developer carrier 13 rotates. The collected toner 16 is peeled off from the developer carrier 13 by the elastic roller 15 at the contact portion with the developer carrier 13. At the same time, new toner 16 is supplied onto the developer carrier 13 by the rotation of the elastic roller 15, and the new toner 16 is conveyed again to the contact portion between the developer carrier 13 and the developer amount regulating blade 14. . On the other hand, most of the removed toner 16 is conveyed and mixed into the toner 16 in the developer container 12 as the elastic roller 15 rotates, and the charged charge of the removed toner 16 is dispersed.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of an electrophotographic apparatus suitable for employing the developing device of the present invention. Reference numeral 51 denotes a photoconductor as an image carrier, and this example is a drum type electrophotographic photoconductor having a conductive support such as aluminum and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof as basic constituent layers. It is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed in the clockwise direction on the drawing around the support shaft.

  The charging member 52 is a corona discharger that is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 51 and performs a primary charging process on the surface of the photoreceptor so as to have a predetermined polarity and potential. This may be a charging roller. The surface of the photoconductor 51 that has been uniformly charged by the charging member 52 is then exposed to the target image information (laser beam scanning exposure, slit exposure of the original image, etc.) by the exposure means L, so that the peripheral surface thereof is exposed. An electrostatic latent image 53 corresponding to the target image information is formed. The latent image is then sequentially visualized as a toner image by the developing device 54.

  The toner image is then conveyed from a paper feeding unit (not shown) by a transfer unit 55 to a transfer unit between the photoconductor 51 and the transfer unit 55 at an appropriate timing in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor 51. Transfer is sequentially performed on the surface of the transfer material P. The transfer means 55 in this example is a corona discharger (may be a roller type), and the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 51 is transferred from the back of the transfer material P by charging with the opposite polarity to the toner. It will be transferred to the surface side of. In addition, in a color LBP that outputs a color image using four color toners, the toner is temporarily transferred to an intermediate transfer member such as a roller or a belt in order to develop and visualize the four color images, respectively. The image is transferred to the surface side of the transfer material P.

  The transfer material P that has received the transfer of the toner image is separated from the surface of the photoconductor 51 and is forwarded to the heat-fixing roll 58 for image fixing and output as an image formed product. The surface of the photoconductor 51 after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning means 56 after removal of adhering contaminants such as residual toner after transfer, and is repeatedly used for image formation.

  It should be noted that a plurality of elements of the electrophotographic apparatus such as the photosensitive member, the charging member, the developing device, and the cleaning unit can be integrated into the process cartridge. By doing so, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. For example, the photosensitive member and the developing device and, if necessary, a charging member, a cleaning unit, and the like are integrally incorporated in the process cartridge, and can be detachably configured using a guide unit such as a rail of the apparatus main body.

  Examples of the electrophotographic apparatus that can use the developing device of the present invention include a copying machine, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, or an electrophotographic application apparatus such as an electrophotographic plate making system.

  In the following, the present description will be described in more detail with specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these. In the examples, “part” means “part by mass”.

[Example 1]
(Production of blade member)
As a thermoplastic elastomer composition which is a raw material of the blade member, a composition containing the following components was used.
・ Elastomer component Polyamide-polyether block copolymer elastomer (PA-PEt)
E40X S-3 (trade name, manufactured by Daicel-Degussa) 100 parts / electroconductive type conductive agent Special Black 250 (trade name, manufactured by Degussa) 30 parts / magnesium oxide 5 parts / nonionic surfactant glycerin fatty acid ester Excel T95 (Product name manufactured by Kao Co., Ltd.) 1 part Elastomer component is heated and melted to 200 ° C., and a conductive agent, a nonionic surfactant and magnesium oxide previously mixed with a Henschel mixer are added together and kneaded for 20 minutes with a kneader. Thus, a thermoplastic elastomer composition was obtained. Next, this thermoplastic elastomer composition was put into a single screw extruder, extruded at 220 ° C., cooled, cut and pelletized.

  The pelletized thermoplastic elastomer composition was melted at 250 ° C., extruded onto a surface transfer sheet so that the thickness of the solidified blade member was 30 μm, and a two-layer sheet having a thickness of 130 μm was combined. It was prepared by a die extrusion method. As the surface transfer sheet, a polypropylene film having a thickness of 100 μm manufactured by extrusion molding is used. When the surface roughness on the side opposite to the surface transfer sheet (adhesion surface on the blade member side) was measured using a surf coder SE3500 (trade name) manufactured by Kosaka Laboratory, the average interval (Sm) of the irregularities was 10 μm, The arithmetic average roughness (Ra) was 0.5 μm.

(Production of developer amount regulating blade)
An adhesive in which 5% by mass of perchloric acid lithium salt (Nippon Carlit Co., Ltd., trade name: PEL-20A) is dispersed as an ionic conductive agent in a urethane adhesive (trade name: AD76-P1, manufactured by Toyo Morton Co., Ltd.) Was prepared.

  The two-layer sheet blade member and a phosphor bronze sheet having a thickness of 100 μm as a supporting member were bonded together so as to form an adhesive layer having a thickness of 15 μm with the adhesive therebetween. Then, the developer amount regulating blade was produced by press-cutting from the surface transfer sheet side into a dimension in which the length LD in the longitudinal direction was 200 mm and the width SD was 20 mm.

(Measurement of specific volume resistivity of blade members)
The thermoplastic elastomer composition was dried and solidified to a thickness of 2 mm, and the volume resistivity was measured with Hiresta (manufactured by Dia Instruments Co., Ltd.) in a normal temperature and humidity environment (25 ° C., 50 RH%), applied voltage. Measured under 250V. The volume resistivity of the thermoplastic elastomer composition (blade member) was 10 ⁷ Ω · cm.

(Image evaluation)
The produced developer amount regulating blade was mounted on a laser beam printer Lasershot (manufactured by Canon Inc., trade name: Satela) using negatively charged toner. The image density when a solid black image was output under an environment of high temperature and high humidity (temperature 32 ° C., humidity 90 RH%) was measured with a Macbeth densitometer. In addition, the presence or absence of vertical stripes in the initial image was visually observed. Further, the developer amount regulating blade was left in an environment of high temperature and high humidity (temperature 32 ° C., humidity 90 RH%) for 2 weeks, and the presence or absence of bleeding was visually observed.

  The solid black image was evaluated in three stages: ○: Macbeth densitometer measurement value of 1.4 or more, Δ: 1.0 or more and less than 1.4, and x: less than 1.0. The evaluation of initial vertical stripes is in three stages: ○: vertical stripes are not seen at all, Δ: slight density difference appears, and vertical stripes appear, ×: toner is completely missing, and white stripes appear. evaluated. The bleed was evaluated in three stages: ◯: no bleed was observed, △: slight bleed occurred, x: apparently bleed out covered the surface. These results are shown in Table 1.

(Evaluation of toner fusing property)
The produced developer amount regulating blade is mounted on the printer, and after 10,000 images are formed under an environment of high temperature and high humidity (temperature 32 ° C., humidity 90 RH%), the developer amount regulating blade is removed from the developing device. The occurrence of removal and fusion was visually evaluated. Evaluation of fusing: ○: No toner fusing is observed, Δ: Minor fusing occurs in the nip portion, ×: Toner fusing occurs, and streaks occur in the image at the corresponding portion Evaluation was made in three stages. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Example 2]
A developer amount regulating blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following were used as the elastomer component, the electronic conductive type conductive agent, and the nonionic surfactant.
・ Elastomer component Polyester-polyether block copolymer elastomer (PEs-PEt)
Hytrel 4047 (trade name, manufactured by Toray DuPont) 100 parts / electroconductive agent Ketjen Black EC600-JD (product name, Lion Akzo) 10 parts / nonionic surfactant Glycerin fatty acid ester EXCEL 200 (Kao Corporation) Product name) 1 part Moreover, the same evaluation as Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 3
A developer amount regulating blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following were used as the elastomer component.
・ Elastomer component Polyurethane-polyether block copolymer elastomer (PU-PEt)
100 parts of T-8195N (trade name of DIC Bayer Polymer Co., Ltd.) Further, the same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 4
A developer amount regulating blade was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the blade member was 10 μm. Moreover, the same evaluation as Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 5
A developer amount regulating blade was produced in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the thickness of the blade member was 100 μm. Moreover, the same evaluation as Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 6
A developer amount regulating blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the addition amount of the electronic conductivity type conductive agent was changed to 5 parts. Moreover, the same evaluation as Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 1.

〔比較例１〕
エラストマー成分として以下のものを使用した以外は、実施例１と同様に現像剤量規制ブレードを作製した。
・エラストマー成分
エチレン−プロピレン系共重合エラストマー（ＰＥ−ＰＰ）
サントプレーン ２０３−４０（東洋紡社製商品名） １００部
また、実施例１と同様の評価を行った。結果を表２に示した。

[Comparative Example 1]
A developer amount regulating blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following were used as the elastomer component.
・ Elastomer component Ethylene-propylene copolymer elastomer (PE-PP)
Santoprene 203-40 (trade name, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) 100 parts In addition, the same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 2.

[Comparative Example 2]
A developer amount regulating blade was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the blade member was 5 μm. Moreover, the same evaluation as Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 2.

[Comparative Example 3]
A developer amount regulating blade was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the blade member was 150 μm. Moreover, the same evaluation as Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 2.

[Comparative Example 4]
A developer amount regulating blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the nonionic surfactant was not used. Moreover, the same evaluation as Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a manufacturing method of the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention that can be used for producing a blade member. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a developing device using the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic top view (a), a sectional view (b), and a bottom view (c) for explaining the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. It is a typical sectional view for explaining an electrophotographic device.

Explanation of symbols

11 Electrophotographic photosensitive member 12 Developer container 13 Developer carrier 14 Developer amount regulating blade 15 Elastic roller 16 Developer (toner)
30 Blade member 31 Support member 51 Photoconductor 52 Charging member 53 Electrostatic latent image 54 Developing device 55 Transfer means 56 Cleaning means 58 Fixing roller 61 Nozzle 62 Roll 63 Roll 64 Surface transfer sheet 65 Blade member composition SD Orientation direction LD Longitudinal direction L Exposure means P Transfer material

Claims (3)

In the developer amount regulating blade that is installed in contact with the developer carrier and regulates the amount of developer carried out of the developer container by the developer carrier,
At least the contact portion with the developer carrying member has a configuration in which a blade member having a thickness of 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less is laminated on a support member via an adhesive layer,
The blade member includes an electronic conductivity type electrically conductive agent, and a nonionic surfactant as a dispersant, is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a block copolymer comprising a polyether structure, the electronic conductive Type conductive agent is carbon black, the nonionic surfactant is glycerin fatty acid ester,
Ri 30% by mass or less content of 5 mass% or more of the electronic conductivity type conductive agent to the block copolymer containing the polyether structure,
The arithmetic average roughness (Ra [μm]) of the surface of the blade member in contact with the adhesive layer and the average interval of unevenness (Sm [μm]) satisfy the conditions of the following formulas (a) and (b). Characteristic developer amount regulating blade.
2 ≦ Ra · Sm ≦ 25 (a)
0.1 ≦ Ra ≦ 1.0 (b)   2. The developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, wherein the entire thickness is from 100 μm to 450 μm, and the thickness of the support member is from 80 μm to 150 μm.   The support member is made of metal, and the arithmetic average roughness (Ra [μm]) and the average interval of unevenness (Sm [μm]) on the adhesion side surface of the support member satisfy the following relationship: Item 3. The developer amount regulating blade according to Item 1 or 2.
    1 ≦ Ra · Sm ≦ 10
    0.01 ≦ Ra ≦ 0.5

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