JP4953741B2 - Cleaning device, and image forming apparatus and process cartridge including the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device that removes deposits on the surface of a surface moving member, and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine including the same.

As this type of image forming apparatus, various types such as an electrophotographic type and an inkjet type are known, and many include a surface moving member. For example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a latent image carrier (image carrier) such as a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer body (image carrier) such as an intermediate transfer belt, a recording material conveyance member such as a paper conveyance belt, etc. The one provided with the surface moving member is known. Inkjet image forming apparatuses are known that include a surface moving member such as a recording material conveying member such as a paper conveying belt. In general, if an unnecessary deposit adheres to the surface of such a surface moving member, various problems are caused. Therefore, a cleaning means for removing the deposit from the surface of the surface moving member is required. Since this cleaning means is simple in structure and excellent in the removal performance of the deposit, the cleaning blade (pressing member) made of an elastic member such as polyurethane rubber is pressed against the surface of the surface moving member to remove the deposit. The blade type to be removed is widely used.
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a blade type cleaning device, two methods, a trailing method and a counter method, are known. Hereinafter, the cleaning device for each type will be described by taking as an example a cleaning device for a photoreceptor in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory view showing a conventional trailing cleaning device.
In this cleaning device, a cleaning blade 231 made of an elastic member that is elongated along the photosensitive member rotation axis direction orthogonal to the surface movement direction A of the drum-shaped photosensitive member (surface moving member) 10 has its longitudinal direction. 1 side (hereinafter referred to as “contact side”) is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor 10. In the trailing method, a blade holder (holding member) supported by the apparatus main body on the upstream side in the moving direction of the photosensitive member surface with respect to the normal line N of the contacting portion P on the photosensitive member surface with which the contacting edge of the cleaning blade 231 contacts. ) 232 holds the cleaning blade 231. In this specification, the “trailing method” means that the support portion of the holding mechanism that holds the pressing member is the normal of the contact portion on the surface of the surface moving member where the contact side of the pressing member contacts. The surface moving member is also located on the upstream side in the surface moving direction.

FIG. 10B is an explanatory view showing a conventional counter type cleaning device.
Also in this cleaning device, the cleaning blade 231 made of an elastic member elongated in the direction of the photosensitive member rotation axis orthogonal to the surface movement direction A of the photosensitive member has a contact side extending in the longitudinal direction at the surface of the photosensitive member 10. The structure is pressed against. In the counter method, cleaning is performed by the blade holder 232 supported by the apparatus main body on the downstream side in the moving direction of the photosensitive member surface with respect to the normal line N of the contact portion P on the photosensitive member surface with which the contact side of the cleaning blade 231 contacts. The blade 231 is held. In this specification, the “counter method” means that the support portion of the holding mechanism that holds the pressing member is closer to the normal of the contact portion on the surface of the surface moving member where the contact side of the pressing member contacts. The surface moving member is located on the downstream side in the surface moving direction.

Since the counter method can set the contact pressure higher than the trailing method, it has an advantage of higher removal performance than the trailing method, and is widely used (Patent Document 1).
More specifically, in the case of the trailing method, when the cleaning blade 231 is pressed with a large force so as to set the contact pressure high, the cleaning blade 231 is warped and the surface of the photoreceptor is in contact with the contact side of the cleaning blade 231. An anti-abnormality phenomenon occurs in which the upstream side surface 231a of the cleaning blade located on the upstream side in the movement direction hits the surface of the photoreceptor. When the stomach contact phenomenon occurs, the contact area between the cleaning blade 231 and the surface of the photosensitive member increases abruptly. Therefore, even if the cleaning blade 231 is pressed with a large force, the contact pressure is reduced and the removal performance is lowered. It will be. On the other hand, in the case of the counter system, even if the cleaning blade 231 is pressed with a large force so as to set the contact pressure high, the friction force acts against the warp of the cleaning blade, so the warp of the cleaning blade 231 is small. For this reason, even if the cleaning blade 231 is pressed with a large force, the abdomen phenomenon hardly occurs, and a large pressing force can be applied to a small contact area. Therefore, a high contact pressure can be realized and high removal performance can be obtained.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-312191

However, when the frictional force between the cleaning blade 231 and the surface of the photoconductor increases during the rotation of the photoconductor 10, the trailing type cleaning blade 231 warps (bends) in a direction to release the vertical drag. On the other hand, the counter type cleaning blade 231 cannot warp in the direction of releasing the vertical drag. For this reason, when the frictional force between the cleaning blade 231 and the surface of the photoconductor increases, serious problems such as blade curl and excessive load on driving of the photoconductor can occur.
In particular, in recent electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, a toner having a small particle diameter and a spherical shape, particularly a polymerized toner, is often used, and high removal performance is required to remove such toner. . Therefore, it is necessary to ensure sufficient removal performance by employing a counter type cleaning device and setting the contact pressure of the cleaning blade as high as possible. Under such circumstances, the maximum value of the frictional force that can be generated when the frictional force between the cleaning blade and the surface of the photosensitive member fluctuates during the rotation of the photosensitive member increases. It is easy to cause problems such as the occurrence of an excessive load on the driving of the photosensitive member.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and its object is to maintain the high removal performance, while causing problems such as blade curl and excessive load on the driving of the photosensitive member. The present invention provides a cleaning device capable of suppressing the occurrence of the above, and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge including the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to the surface of the surface moving member having one side extending in the longitudinal direction of the pressing member elongated in the direction orthogonal to the surface moving direction of the surface moving member. In the cleaning device that presses and removes deposits on the surface of the surface moving member, the surface moving member is moved downstream in the surface moving direction with respect to the normal of the abutting portion where the one side abuts on the surface of the surface moving member. When the pressing member receives a force from the surface moving member toward the downstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member, the entire pressing member moves away from the surface of the surface moving member. A holding mechanism for holding the pressing member so that it can be displaced, and an elastic force that applies to the pressing member an elastic force opposite to the direction in which the pressing member leaves the surface of the surface moving member. Comprising a force applying means, and the pressing member, one of the two surfaces adjacent to the boundary of the one side, towards the upstream side located on the surface moving direction upstream side of the surface moving member, the surface moving member The elastic member is longer in the direction perpendicular to the one side than the downstream side located on the downstream side in the surface movement direction, and the upstream side extends in the direction perpendicular to the one side to A warp restricting member that restricts the warping of the pressing member that shrinks the facing surface is fixed to the facing surface on the upstream side surface of the pressing member, and the holding mechanism holds the pressing member via the warp restricting member. The warpage restricting member has an end portion on the side close to the surface of the surface moving member at the same position as the boundary side with the downstream side of the opposing surface of the pressing member, or the surface movement more than the boundary side. Close to the surface of the member As it is extending to a position, and is characterized in that it is configured.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the cleaning device of the first aspect, the elastic force applying means applies an elastic force generated by a spring.
The invention according to claim 3 is the cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface moving member is inclined upstream of the surface moving direction of the surface moving member with respect to the normal to the contact portion on the surface of the surface moving member. The one side of the pressing member is swingable around a virtual axis.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the third aspect, the elastic force applied by the elastic force applying means is such that the pressing member presses the pressing member against the surface of the surface moving member. It has a component in the direction of pressing to the upstream side, and the elastic force applying means applies the elastic force to a plurality of different locations in the longitudinal direction of the pressing member. is there.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device of the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the elastic force applied by the elastic force applying means is determined by the pressing member at the start of the surface movement of the surface moving member. The force is set so that the entire pressing member can be displaced away from the surface of the surface moving member against the elastic force by receiving a force from the moving member toward the downstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member. It is characterized by being.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect, the elastic force of the elastic force applying means is such that the pressing member is on the downstream side of the surface moving member in the surface moving direction. The maximum displacement amount of the pressing member when receiving a directing force from the surface moving member is set to be 5 [mm] or less.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect, the normal direction of the contact portion on the surface of the surface moving member applied by the pressing member It has an urging means for increasing the pressing force.
The invention according to claim 8 is the cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the amount of displacement of the pressing member when the pressing member receives a force from the surface moving member toward the downstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member. Displacement restricting means for restricting the upper limit is provided.
The invention according to claim 9 is the cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the pressing member has an elastic property of a rebound resilience at 23 [° C.] of 30% or less. It is a member .
Also, the invention of claim 1 0, in the cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9, lubricants impart to impart a lubricant to the surface of the surface moving member It has the means.
The invention of claim 1 1, in the image forming apparatus that transfers an image formed on an image bearing member is a surface moving member finally recording material, unwanted deposits adhered to the image bearing member As a cleaning means for removing, the cleaning device according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, or tenth aspect is used.
The invention of claim 1 2, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 1, having the image of the carrier and the cleaning device integrally supported, the process cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body It is characterized by.
Further, the invention of claim 1 3, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 1 or 1 2, the image carrier is characterized in that those having a protective layer containing inorganic fine particles.
The invention of claim 1 4, keep the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 3, in which the binder resin of the protective layer is characterized by having a crosslinked structure.
The invention of claim 1 5, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 4, characterized in that it has a charge transporting moiety in the structure of the binder resin.
The invention according to claim 16 is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material carried on a surface of a recording material conveying member which is a surface moving member, and an unnecessary attachment attached on the recording material conveying member. The cleaning device of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 is used as a cleaning means for removing the kimono.
The invention of claim 1 7, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 6, and the recording material conveying member and the cleaning device is supported integrally with the process cartridge is freely provided detachably to the image forming apparatus main body It is characterized by this.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth , fourteenth , fifteenth, or seventeenth aspect , a toner having an average circularity of 0.93 or more is used as a toner constituting the image. It is characterized by using.
The invention according to claim 19 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13 , 14 , 15 , 16, 17 , or 18 , wherein the toner constituting the image has a volume average particle diameter of 3 μm or more. The toner is characterized by using a toner having a size of 8 [μm] or less and a ratio of a volume average particle size to a number average particle size of 1.00 or more and 1.40 or less.
The invention of claim 2 0, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13,14,15,16,17,18 or 19, as the toner constituting the image, the shape factor SF-1 and SF -2 is 100 or more and 180 or less.
The invention of claim 2 1, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13,14,15,16,17,18,19 or 20, as the toner constituting the image, minor relative to the longitudinal axis r1 The ratio of the axis r2 (r2 / r1) is 0.5 or more and 1.0 or less, the ratio of the thickness r3 to the minor axis r2 (r3 / r2) is 0.7 or more and 1.0 or less, and r1 ≧ r2 A toner satisfying a relationship of ≧ r3 is used.
Further, the invention of claim 2 2, the image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 or 21, as the toner constituting the image, a nitrogen atom An organic solvent composition is prepared by dissolving and / or dispersing a toner composition containing a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing polyester, a polyester, a colorant, and a release material in an organic solvent, and the organic composition is added to the aqueous medium in which resin fine particles are present. A toner obtained by dispersing a solvent composition and crosslinking and / or extending it is used.
The invention of claim 2 3, is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus that transfers an image formed on an image bearing member is a surface moving member finally recording material, said image bearing member and said A process cartridge that integrally supports a cleaning unit for removing unnecessary deposits adhered on the image carrier, wherein the cleaning unit is defined as any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. , 9 or 10 is used.
The invention of claims 2 to 4 is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material borne on the surface of the recording material conveying member is a surface moving member, the recording material conveying member And a cleaning means for removing unnecessary adhering matter adhering to the recording material conveying member, the cleaning means as the cleaning cartridge, wherein the cleaning means is defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A cleaning device of 7, 8, 9 or 10 is used.

In the present invention, a counter system is employed in which the pressing member is held by a holding mechanism supported by the apparatus main body on the downstream side of the surface moving member surface moving direction with respect to the normal line of the contact portion on the surface of the surface moving member. Therefore, the contact pressure can be set higher than in the trailing method.
By the way, if the contact pressure is set high, the maximum value of the friction force that can be generated when the friction force between the pressing member and the surface of the surface moving member fluctuates during the surface movement of the surface moving member increases. To do. Here, when the frictional force increases momentarily for some reason, the force that the pressing member receives from the surface moving member toward the downstream side in the surface moving direction suddenly increases, and the contact side of the pressing member becomes the surface moving member. The force for displacing to the downstream side in the surface movement direction increases rapidly. When this force is greater than the force against this (usually, the restoring force of the warping of the pressing member), blade curling occurs. Therefore, when the contact pressure is set to a high value and the maximum value of the frictional force that can be generated increases, the frequency that the force that causes the surface moving member to move downstream in the surface moving direction becomes greater than the restoring force of the warping of the pressing member. Since it becomes higher, the occurrence frequency of blade curling increases.
In the case of the counter system, the distance between the support portion of the apparatus main body that supports the holding mechanism that holds the pressing member and the abutting portion on the surface moving member surface on which the abutting side of the pressing member abuts is the pressing member. The contact side becomes shorter as it is displaced to the downstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member. Therefore, the compressive force received by the pressing member sandwiched between the support portion of the apparatus main body and the contact portion on the surface moving member surface increases as the contact side of the pressing member is displaced downstream in the surface moving member surface moving direction. The reaction force increases the contact pressure between the pressing member and the surface moving member. And when the frictional force between the pressing member and the surface of the surface moving member increases due to the increase of the contact pressure, the driving load of the surface moving member increases. Therefore, if the contact pressure is set to a high value and the maximum value of the frictional force that can be generated increases, the frequency of excessive frictional force that causes an excessive driving load to the surface moving member increases. The frequency of applying an excessive driving load to the member increases.
In the present invention, the pressing member may be displaced in a direction away from the surface of the surface moving member when the pressing member receives a force from the surface moving member toward the downstream side in the surface moving member surface moving direction. It is held by a holding mechanism, and an elastic force opposite to the direction is applied to the pressing member by the elastic force applying means. When an elastic member is used as the pressing member, the elastic force of the elastic force applying means is smaller than the compression elastic force of the elastic member. In such a configuration, when the contact pressure is set high, the frictional force between the pressing member and the surface of the surface moving member increases during the surface movement of the surface moving member, and the contact side of the pressing member becomes Even if the surface moving member is displaced downstream in the surface moving direction, the pressing member can escape in a direction away from the surface of the surface moving member. Therefore, the maximum value of the frictional force that can be generated when the frictional force between the pressing member and the surface of the surface moving member changes during the surface movement of the surface moving member is smaller than that of the conventional counter method. . As a result, the frequency of occurrence of blade curling is reduced, and the frequency of applying an excessive driving load to the surface moving member is also reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the contact pressure is set high in order to obtain high removal performance, the occurrence frequency of problems such as blade curl and excessive load on driving of the photosensitive member is suppressed low. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that the occurrence of such a problem can be suppressed while maintaining a high removal performance.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printer according to the present embodiment.
The printer 100 forms a full-color image, and mainly includes an image forming unit 120 and a paper feeding unit 130. In the following description, the subscripts Y, C, M, and Bk indicate members for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, respectively.

  The image forming unit 120 is provided with a yellow toner process cartridge 121Y, a cyan toner process cartridge 121C, a magenta toner process cartridge 121M, and a black toner process cartridge 121Bk in order from the left side in the drawing. These process cartridges 121Y, 121C, 121M, and 121Bk are arranged side by side in a substantially horizontal direction.

  The secondary transfer device 160 includes an endless intermediate transfer belt 162 that is an intermediate transfer member that is stretched around a plurality of support rollers, primary transfer rollers 161Y, 161C, 161M, and 161Bk, and a secondary transfer roller 165. It is mainly composed. The intermediate transfer belt 162 is provided above the process cartridges 121Y, 121C, 121M, and 121Bk, and is a drum-like photoconductor 10Y, 10C as a latent image carrier that is an image carrier as a surface moving member provided in each process cartridge. It is arranged along the surface movement direction of 10M and 10Bk. The intermediate transfer belt 162 moves on the surface in synchronization with the surface movement of the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10Bk. Each primary transfer roller 161Y, 161C, 161M, 161Bk is arranged on the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 162, and an outer peripheral surface (surface) positioned below the intermediate transfer belt 162 by these primary transfer rollers. ) Are in weak pressure contact with the outer peripheral surfaces (surfaces) of the photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10Bk.

  The configuration and operation of forming a toner image on each of the photoconductors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10Bk and transferring the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 162 are substantially the same for each of the process cartridges 121Y, 121C, 121M, and 121Bk. is there. However, the primary transfer rollers 161Y, 161C, 161M corresponding to the three color process cartridges 121Y, 121C, 121M are provided with a swing mechanism (not shown) that swings them up and down. The swing mechanism operates so that the intermediate transfer belt 162 does not contact the photoconductors 10Y, 10C, and 10M when a color image is not formed.

The secondary transfer device 160 is configured to be detachable from the main body of the printer 100. Specifically, the front cover (not shown) on the front side in FIG. 2 covering the image forming unit 120 of the printer 100 is opened, and the secondary transfer device 160 is moved from the back side to the front side in FIG. By sliding, the secondary transfer device 160 can be detached from the main body of the printer 100. When the secondary transfer device 160 is attached to the main body of the printer 100, an operation opposite to the removal operation may be performed.
A cleaning device for removing adhered matters such as residual toner after the secondary transfer is provided downstream of the secondary transfer roller 165 in the intermediate transfer belt 162 in the surface moving direction and upstream of the process cartridge 121Y. It may be provided. In this case, this cleaning device may have the same configuration as that of a photoconductor cleaning device described later. This cleaning device is preferably provided in the secondary transfer device 160 in a state of being supported integrally with the intermediate transfer belt 162.

Above the secondary transfer device 160, toner cartridges 159Y, 159C, 159M, and 159Bk corresponding to the process cartridges 121Y, 121C, 121M, and 121Bk are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction.
Also, an exposure device 140 that forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the surface of the charged photoreceptors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10Bk with laser light is disposed below the process cartridges 121Y, 121C, 121M, and 121Bk. ing.
A paper feeding unit 130 is disposed below the exposure device 140. The paper feed unit 130 is provided with a paper feed cassette 131 and a paper feed roller 132 for accommodating transfer paper as a recording material, and is provided between the intermediate transfer belt 162 and the secondary transfer roller 165 via a registration roller pair 133. The transfer paper is fed to the secondary transfer nip portion at a predetermined timing.
Further, a fixing device 90 is disposed on the exit side of the secondary transfer nip portion, and on the downstream side of the fixing device 90 in the transfer paper conveyance direction, a discharge roller and a discharge paper for storing the discharged transfer paper are stored. A paper storage unit 135 is disposed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a process cartridge provided in the printer.
Since the configuration of each process cartridge is substantially the same, in the following description, the configuration and operation of the process cartridge will be described with the subscripts Y, C, M, and Bk for color coding omitted.
The process cartridge 121 includes the photoconductor 10 and a cleaning device 30, a charging device 40, and a developing device 50 arranged around the photoconductor 10.

  The cleaning device 30 has one side (contact side) extending in the longitudinal direction of a cleaning blade (hereinafter simply referred to as “blade”) 31 that is an elastic member elongated in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor 10. To remove unnecessary deposits such as transfer residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor. In the present embodiment, polyurethane rubber is used as the material of the blade 31 because it is superior in wearability to the photoreceptor 10 and its own wear resistance compared to other elastic materials. A detailed description of the cleaning device 30 will be described later.

  The cleaning device 30 may be provided with a lubricant application device. In particular, in the present embodiment, so-called spherical toner is used and needs to be cleaned by the blade 31, so that the blade 31 is pressed against the photoconductor 10 under a high load. Therefore, blade wear and film abrasion of the photoconductor 10 are increased. By applying a lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor 10, wear of the blade 31 and film abrasion of the photoconductor 10 can be suppressed. Further, when the photosensitive member 10 is charged by the charging device 40 using discharge as described later, the surface of the photosensitive member is gradually modified by the discharge, and the surface energy is increased. In this case, defective cleaning of the spherical toner is likely to occur, and thus the cleaning property of the spherical toner can be maintained over time by suppressing the modification of the surface of the photoreceptor by applying a lubricant.

  The lubricant application device includes a solid lubricant, a lubricant support member that supports the solid lubricant, and a brush roller for lubricant application that rotates in contact with both the solid lubricant and the photoreceptor 10. Can be used. In such a lubricant application device, a powdery lubricant scraped from the solid lubricant by the brush roller is applied to the surface of the photoconductor 10 by the brush roller. In addition, a stretching member may be arranged on the downstream side of the brush roller in the movement direction of the photosensitive member so as to contact the surface of the photosensitive member 10. The stretching member is supported in a state in which the tip portion is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10, and is used for leveling the lubricant applied to the surface of the photoconductor 10 to make the thickness uniform. As the stretching member, an elastic body such as a urethane rubber blade, an elastic roller, or the like may be brought into contact with the photoconductor with an appropriate pressure. In addition, as another example of the lubricant application device, it is also possible to use a device in which a powdery lubricant reservoir is disposed opposite to the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the lubricant is supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 10.

  The application position of the lubricant may be arranged upstream of the contact portion of the blade 31 with respect to the surface movement direction of the photoconductor 10, but the lubricant is removed together with the toner removed by the blade 31. There is a possibility that a lubricant film cannot be uniformly formed on the surface of the photoreceptor. Therefore, it is preferable that the application position of the lubricant is arranged downstream of the contact portion of the blade 31 and upstream of the charging device 40. In this case, since the lubricant is applied to the surface of the photoconductor after the toner is removed, it can be applied uniformly.

  As the lubricant, a lamellar crystal powder such as zinc stearate is preferably used. A lamellar crystal has a layered structure in which amphiphilic molecules are self-organized, and when a shearing force is applied, the crystal breaks along the layers and is slippery. This action is considered to be effective in reducing the friction coefficient. In addition, it is also possible to use other substances such as various fatty acid salts, waxes, silicone oils and the like as lubricants. Examples of fatty acids include undecyl acid, lauric acid, tridecyl acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, pendadecyl acid, stearic acid, heptadecyl acid, arachidic acid, montanic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, caproic acid, etc. Examples of the metal salt include salts with metals such as zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, aluminum, and calcium.

The charging device 40 is mainly composed of a charging roller 41 disposed so as to contact the photoreceptor 10 and a charging roller cleaner 42 rotating in contact with the charging roller 41.
The developing device 50 supplies toner to the surface of the photoconductor 10 to visualize the electrostatic latent image, and includes a developing roller 51 as a developer carrying member that carries the developer on the surface, and a developer. A stirring screw 52 that stirs the developer stored in the storage portion and a supply screw 53 that supplies the stirred developer to the developing roller 51 are mainly configured.

  The four process cartridges 121 having the above-described configuration can be detached and replaced independently by a service person or a user. Further, with respect to the process cartridge 121 removed from the printer 100, the photoconductor 10, the charging device 40, the developing device 50, and the cleaning device 30 are each configured to be replaceable with a new device. The process cartridge 121 may include a waste toner tank that collects the transfer residual toner collected by the cleaning device 30. In this case, if the configuration is such that the waste toner tank can be detached and replaced independently in the process cartridge 121, the convenience is improved.

Next, the operation of the printer 100 will be described.
When a print command is received, first, the photoconductor 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and the surface of the photoconductor 10 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging roller 41 of the charging device 40. The exposure device 140 irradiates, for example, laser beam light, which is light-modulated in accordance with the input color image data, on the surface of each photoconductor 10 with respect to the surface of each photoconductor 10. The electrostatic latent image is formed. For each electrostatic latent image, each color developer is supplied from the developing roller 51 of the developing device 50, and each color electrostatic latent image is developed with each color developer to form a toner image corresponding to each color. Visualize. Next, a transfer electric field is formed by applying a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the primary transfer roller 161, and a primary transfer nip is formed by weakly pressing the intermediate transfer belt 162 with the primary transfer roller 161. By these actions, the toner image on each photoconductor 10 is efficiently primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 162. On the intermediate transfer belt 162, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photoconductors 10 are transferred so as to overlap each other, thereby forming a laminated toner image.

  The laminated toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 162 is fed at a predetermined timing via a paper feed roller 132 and a registration roller pair 133 to transfer paper stored in the paper feed cassette 131, and is subjected to secondary transfer. By applying a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the roller 165, a transfer electric field is formed and transferred onto the transfer paper. The laminated toner image secondarily transferred onto the transfer paper is sent to the fixing device 90 and fixed by heat and pressure. The fixed transfer sheet is discharged and placed in the discharge storage unit 135 by the discharge roller. On the other hand, the transfer residual toner remaining on each photoconductor 10 after the primary transfer is scraped and removed by the blade 31 of the cleaning device 30.

Next, the cleaning device 30 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram when the main part of the cleaning device 30 is viewed from the rotation axis direction (Y direction) of the photoconductor 10.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part of the cleaning device 30.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning device 30 includes a blade holder 32 formed of a rigid material that holds the blade 31. The blade holder 32 has a substantially L-shaped cross-section when cut along a cross-section orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 10, and the upper surface of the horizontal portion 32A extending in a substantially horizontal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3). The blade 31 is fixed to (the surface facing the upstream side of the photosensitive member surface movement direction). The fixing method may be adhesion, hot melt, or other methods. In the present embodiment, the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32 functions as a warpage restricting member that restricts the blade 31 from warping.

  The blade holder 32 has a vertical portion 32B extending in a substantially vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3). The lower end side (portion on the downstream side of the photosensitive member surface movement direction) of the vertical portion 32B is supported by the blade bracket 38 so as to be slidable in a substantially vertical direction. The lower end portion of the blade bracket 38 (the end portion on the downstream side in the movement direction of the photoreceptor surface) is pivotally supported by a support shaft 34 provided on the frame 33 of the cleaning device 30. In the present embodiment, the frame (device main body) 35 of the cleaning device 30 is located downstream of the normal line N of the abutting portion P where the abutting side of the blade 31 abuts on the surface of the photosensitive member 10 in the moving direction of the photosensitive member surface. The blade 31 is held by the blade bracket 38 supported by the support shaft 34 and the vertical portion 32B of the blade holder 32 via the horizontal portion 32A. That is, the cleaning device 30 of the present embodiment employs a counter method, and the vertical portion 32B of the blade holder 32 and the blade bracket 38 function as a holding mechanism.

  A compression spring 39 as an elastic force applying means is disposed between the upper end portion of the blade bracket 38 (the end portion on the upstream side in the movement direction of the photoreceptor surface) and the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32. Between the upper end portion of the blade bracket 38 and the horizontal portion 32 </ b> A of the blade holder 32, a force in a direction away from each other is exerted by the elastic force of the compression spring 39. At this time, the blade bracket 38 has a lower end supported by the support shaft 34 of the frame 33 and cannot be displaced in the vertical direction. Therefore, the horizontal portion 32 </ b> A of the blade holder 32 is biased upward in the vertical direction by the elastic force of the compression spring 39. Due to this elastic force, as shown in FIG. 1, in the state where the blade 31 is not pressed against the surface of the photoconductor 10, the upstream side portion of the downstream side surface 31 b of the blade 31 in the moving direction of the photoconductor surface and the surface of the photoconductor 10. The angle between the tangent line N of the contact portion P and the downstream side portion in the surface movement direction (hereinafter referred to as “contact angle”) θ is approximately 15 [°] so that the blade 31 faces the photoreceptor surface. Can be touched. The contact angle θ is appropriately set within the range of 5 [°] to 50 [°]. Setting the contact angle θ smaller than 5 [°] is difficult in terms of the layout around the photoconductor, and if the contact angle θ is set larger than 50 [°], sufficient removal performance may not be obtained. This is because the sex becomes higher. A more preferable range of the contact angle θ is 7 to 40 °.

  As shown in FIG. 4, three compression springs 39 are provided to apply elastic force to a plurality of different locations in the longitudinal direction of the blade 31, respectively, in this embodiment, three locations. Thereby, even if it is the compression spring 39 with comparatively small elastic force, sufficient elastic force can be obtained.

  In addition, the cleaning device 30 includes a spring 36 as an urging unit that increases the pressing force in the normal direction of the contact portion P on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 applied by the blade 31. In this embodiment, two springs 36 are provided, and each spring 36 is separated by 110 [mm] from the center point of the blade 31 in the longitudinal direction (photoconductor rotation axis direction) toward the end in the longitudinal direction. Provided at different positions. One end of the spring 36 is connected to the end of the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32, and the other end is connected to an adjusting screw 37 as elastic force adjusting means. The adjustment screw 37 is engaged with a screw hole provided in the frame 33 of the cleaning device 30. When adjusting the pressing force using the adjustment screw 37, the adjustment rod 37 is inserted from the outside of the frame 33 of the cleaning device 30 through the notch hole, and the adjustment screw 37 is rotated to adjust the spring length.

Here, adjustment of the pressing force of the blade 31 against the surface of the photoreceptor 10 will be described.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a device for measuring the pressing force of the blade 31. This measuring device 200 is actually a commercially available sensor conditioner “WGA-710B (manufactured by Kyowa Denki)” and a load cell “LMA-A-20N (manufactured by Kyowa Denki)” to be combined. The measuring apparatus 200 includes three load cells 201. Each load cell 201 is placed on a semi-cylindrical cell base 202 on the longitudinal center point of the blade 31 and from the center point to both ends in the longitudinal direction. Each of them is fixed at a total of three points, two points 140 [mm] away. In addition, a jig 203 having a curved surface with the same radius of curvature as the photoconductor 10 is placed on the load cell 201. Three jigs 203 are arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the blade 31 and set in each load cell 201 at the center of the bottom surface of each jig 203.
The blade 31 is set in the measuring apparatus 200 so that the positional relationship with the jig 203 is the same as the positional relationship with the photoreceptor 10.

When adjusting the pressing force of the blade 31 against the surface of the photoconductor 10 using the measuring device 200, the measuring device 200 is replaced with the process cartridge 121 in the state where the cleaning device 30 is assembled in the printer 100 instead of the photoconductor 10. Install. Specifically, the cell base 202 to which the three load cells are fixed and the three jigs 203 are attached to the process cartridge 121 using a support portion for supporting the drive shaft of the photosensitive member 10. At this time, the imaginary line connecting the contact side of the blade 31 of the cleaning device 30 and the load cell 201 is set to be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the jig. Then, the load applied through each jig 203 is detected by each load cell 201, and the adjustment screw 37 is adjusted while observing the value displayed on the sensor conditioner 204 connected to the measuring device 200 to adjust the blade. Adjust the pressing force of 31.
In measurement, a predetermined weight is placed on each jig 203 in advance, and each value displayed on the sensor conditioner 204 is set to the same value, or the sensor conditioner 204 is set. Needless to say, it is necessary to set the value displayed in (1) to a value obtained by canceling the load applied by the jig 203.

  When the load balance is adjusted so that the pressing force of the blade 31 is uniform in the blade length direction, in this embodiment, the variation in the value of each load cell 201 displayed on the sensor conditioner 204 is ± 10 [g]. The adjustment screws 37 of the two springs 36 are rotated and adjusted so as to be within the range.

  When the pressing force of the blade 31 is adjusted, it should be adjusted so that the contact pressure between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 becomes a target value. Since the contact width (nip width) with the surface is difficult to measure, in general, the linear pressure is adjusted to a target value. Here, the “linear pressure” means a force per unit length in the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive member that acts on a contact portion between the blade 31 and the surface of the photosensitive member 10. A specific method for obtaining the linear pressure is that the total load obtained by adding the values of the load cells 201 displayed on the sensor conditioner 204 is divided by the length T3 of the blade 31 in the longitudinal direction. [N / cm].

  The contact width between the blade 31 and the surface of the photosensitive member 10 becomes longer as the warping of the blade 31 is larger, and becomes longer as the deformation of the blade itself is larger. In the cleaning device 30 of this embodiment, the warpage of the blade 31 is regulated by the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32 as described above, and the warpage of the blade 31 hardly occurs, and the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. This is negligible when compared with the warpage of the blade in the cleaning device employing this counter method. Therefore, in the cleaning device 30 of this embodiment, the contact width depends mainly only on the elastic deformation (compression deformation) in the moving direction of the photoreceptor surface of the blade itself. Therefore, in the cleaning device 30 of this embodiment, the contact width can be shortened as compared with the cleaning device employing the conventional counter method shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the blade 31 is pressed with the same linear pressure as that of the conventional counter type cleaning device, the contact pressure is higher than that of the conventional counter type cleaning device. In other words, the pressing force of the blade 31 required to obtain a contact pressure comparable to that of the conventional counter type cleaning device may be smaller than that of the conventional counter type cleaning device. Note that the contact width in this embodiment is expected to be considerably shorter than the contact width when a conventional counter type cleaning device is used. Therefore, based on this prediction, even if the linear pressure is much smaller than the linear pressure in the conventional counter type cleaning device, it is possible to achieve the same contact pressure as that of this cleaning device, and to exhibit the same removal performance. it is conceivable that.

  The urging means such as the spring 36 is not necessarily provided, and the end of the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32 is connected to the frame 33 of the cleaning device 30 without using such urging means. May be. However, in this case, when the vertical portion 32B of the blade holder slides with respect to the blade bracket 38, the end of the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32 must be configured to be displaceable in the sliding direction with respect to the frame 33. There is.

  In this embodiment, the elastic force generated by the three compression springs 39 constituting the elastic force applying means is a compression spring when a friction force smaller than the maximum static friction force is generated between the blade 31 and the surface of the photosensitive member 10. It is preferable to set the elastic force to such an extent that 39 can shrink. As a result, when the blade 31 receives a large force toward the support shaft 34 due to the maximum static frictional force generated between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 at the start of driving of the photoconductor 10, the compression spring 39 contracts. The blade 31 can slide with respect to the blade bracket 38 together with the blade holder 32 and can be displaced away from the surface of the photoreceptor 10. As a result, the contact pressure between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 can be excessively increased, and the contact pressure can be released at the start of driving of the photoconductor 10. Can be suppressed.

  Further, the elastic force of the three compression springs 39 is such that the maximum displacement amount of the blade 31 when the blade 31 receives a force toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the photosensitive member surface from the photosensitive member 10 is 5 [mm] or less. It is preferable to set. If the blade 31 is configured to be displaced too much, the contact angle θ of the blade 31 may be too large beyond a predetermined range. If the contact angle θ of the blade 31 exceeds the predetermined range and becomes too large, the steady contact pressure increases. As a result, the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is strongly worn, and the steady drive load of the photoreceptor 10 is increased. May increase.

  Even when the elastic force by the three compression springs 39 is set so that the maximum displacement amount of the blade 31 is 5 [mm] or less, the unexpectedly sudden increase of the frictional force causes the blade 31 to be 5 [mm]. It is also possible to displace beyond. When the blade 31 is displaced in the direction in which the compression spring 39 contracts, the blade 31 is rotated about the support shaft 34 by the urging force of the spring 36, and the contact portion P on the surface of the photoconductor is moved in the direction of movement of the photoconductor surface. Shift to the downstream side. If the displacement amount of the blade 31 is small, it can return to the initial contact portion by the elastic force of the compression spring 39, but if the displacement amount of the blade 31 is large, the elastic force of the compression spring 39 returns to the initial contact portion. There is a risk that it will not be possible. This is because the larger the displacement amount of the blade 31 is, the more the contact portion P on the surface of the photoconductor is displaced to the downstream side in the moving direction of the photoconductor surface, thereby increasing the contact angle θ. This is because the frictional force increases as a result of an increase in the normal direction component of the contact portion P in the elastic force.

  Therefore, even if an unexpected sudden increase in frictional force occurs, the blade 31 receives a force from the photoconductor 10 toward the downstream side of the photoconductor surface movement direction so that the blade 31 can return to the initial contact portion P. It is preferable to provide a displacement restricting means for restricting the upper limit of the displacement amount of the blade 31 at the time. Examples of the displacement restricting means include those in which a stopper that contacts the horizontal portion 32 </ b> A of the blade holder 32 is provided on the frame 33.

  In the present embodiment, the blade 31 is a rectangular parallelepiped member that is long in the direction of the photosensitive member rotation axis (Y direction). As shown in FIG. 1, the lengths T1 and T2 (see FIG. 4) in the direction perpendicular to the contact sides of the two surfaces 31a and 31b adjacent to each other with the contact side as the boundary are the photosensitive member surface movement. The length T1 of the upstream side surface 31a located on the upstream side in the movement direction of the photoreceptor surface is longer than the length T2 of the downstream side surface 31b located on the downstream side in the direction. The shape of the blade 31 is a shape having two surfaces 31a and 31b adjacent to each other at the contact side, and can sufficiently remove the deposits on the surface of the photoconductor along the photoconductor rotation axis direction. Then, even if it is not such a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the thing of all solid shapes can be utilized. In addition, each outer peripheral surface of the blade 31 is not necessarily a flat surface, and may be a curved surface.

  Here, the amount of elastic deformation decreases as the blade length (the length in the compression direction) in the direction of compressive deformation when the surface of the photoconductor 10 moves is shorter. The length of the blade 31 in the compression direction is approximately equal to the length T2 of the downstream side surface 31b of the blade 31 in the direction of movement of the photoreceptor surface. Comparing T2 of the present embodiment with T2 of the cleaning device employing the conventional counter method shown in FIG. 10B, the present embodiment is much shorter than the conventional counter-type cleaning device. Therefore, even if only the amount of elastic deformation is compared, the cleaning device 30 of the present embodiment is smaller than the conventional counter type cleaning device. This also shows that the contact width in the cleaning device 30 of this embodiment is shorter than that of a conventional counter type cleaning device.

  When the rectangular parallelepiped blade 31 is used as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the size relationship between the lengths T1, T2, and T3 of each side satisfies T3> T1 ≧ T2. More preferably, T2 is 1 [mm] or more and 1/2 or less of T1. If it is 1 [mm] or less, abnormal noise is likely to occur. It should be noted that the use of a low-rebound resilience material that has recently been attracting attention as the material of the blade 31 or the selection of a material / material having a high JISA hardness is expected to increase the preferred range. The length of each side in the blade 31 of the present embodiment is T1 = 12 [mm], T2 = 4 [mm], and T3 = 325 [mm], but is not limited to this.

  The blade 31 of this embodiment is made of polyurethane rubber and has a JIS hardness of approximately 75 °. Of course, the material and hardness of the blade 31 are not limited to this, and are appropriately selected. Further, as the blade 31, it is preferable to use a low rebound resilience material, specifically, an elastic member having a rebound resilience of 30% or less at 23 [° C.] because stick-slip motion is suppressed. There are two reasons why the impact resilience is 30% or less. One is that in order to clean the spherical toner, it is better that the vibration on the contact side of the blade 31 is less. The other is that it is better that the impact resilience is lower with respect to the wear of the blade 31. Conventionally, when the pulverized toner is cleaned, the blade 31 has the effect of causing the toner contacting the contact side of the blade 31 to jump off, so that when the rebound resilience is low, the splashing effect does not work sufficiently. There was a problem. However, in the case of spherical toner, since the blade passes through before the toner is bounced back, the bounce-off effect does not work. Rather, it has been found that when the impact resilience is high and the contact side of the blade 31 tends to minutely vibrate with respect to the photoconductor 10, the slipping of the spherical toner is promoted. On the other hand, it has been found that a lower rebound resilience is advantageous for wear of the blade 31. In other words, in the repeated image forming process, the blade 31 is gradually worn by the friction with the photoreceptor 10. It is thought that the wear generation mechanism of the blade 31 is that wear occurs as a result of the polymer (for example, polyurethane rubber) constituting the blade 31 being torn as a result of the stick-slip motion of the blade 31 and fatigue fracture. In such a case, a part of the abutting side of the blade 31 is cut, and toner slips from there. On the other hand, when the rebound resilience is lowered, the stick-slip motion of the blade itself is suppressed, so the cumulative number of vibrations at the blade tip portion is higher than that of the high rebound resilience blade even after the repeated image forming process. Fatigue fracture is also suppressed because it is small. As a result, the blade wear does not proceed even after repeated image forming steps, and the cleaning performance is maintained over a long period of time.

  Further, the blade holder 32 of the present embodiment is made of a metal material mainly composed of iron. Even if the blade 31 receives a force from the photoconductor 10 during the rotation of the photoconductor 10, the blade holder 32 is distorted. It has sufficient rigidity that can be sufficiently suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the entire surface of the blade 31 facing the upstream side surface 31 a is fixed to the horizontal portion 32 </ b> A of the blade holder 32. In this embodiment, an adhesive bonding method is used as the fixing method, but other fixing methods such as a method of fixing with a double-sided tape or a hot melt method may be used. As described above, the entire opposing surface of the upstream side surface 31a of the blade 31 is fixed to the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32, and the blade holder 32 has sufficient rigidity as described above. Then, even when the photosensitive member 10 is rotationally driven in a state where the blade 31 is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive member 10, the blade 31 is not substantially warped.

Thus, since the warp of the blade 31 does not substantially occur, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, robustness against environmental fluctuations is improved. Specifically, in the configuration in which the blade warps as in the case where the free length portion of the blade is long, the force due to the warp of the blade 31 changes depending on the temperature and humidity. For example, if the blade is left warped in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, it will be plastically deformed and a phenomenon called “sag” will occur. In this case, the contact pressure of the blade against the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is lowered, the cleaning property is lowered, and there is a possibility that cleaning failure occurs. Therefore, in this embodiment in which the warp of the blade 31 does not substantially occur, the robustness against environmental fluctuations is improved.
Further, the occurrence of warping of the blade means that the blade has a degree of freedom to warp. When the degree of freedom of the blade is large, in the case of the counter method, a serious problem of turning the blade is likely to occur when the frictional force between the blade and the photosensitive member is increased. According to the present embodiment in which the warping of the blade 31 does not substantially occur, the blade is prevented from turning.
Furthermore, the starting torque of the photosensitive member can be reduced. Specifically, as described above, the occurrence of warping of the blade means that the blade has a degree of freedom to warp. Since the frictional force is large at the start of driving of the photosensitive member, if the degree of freedom of the blade is large, it is greatly deformed instantaneously to increase the torque. According to this embodiment in which the warp of the blade 31 does not substantially occur, an increase in torque at the start of driving of the photosensitive member can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the end of the horizontal portion 32A on the side close to the surface of the photoconductor 10, that is, the end of the horizontal portion 32A connected to the vertical portion 32B is formed on the upstream side surface 31a of the blade 31 as shown in FIG. The opposite surface (adhesive surface) is located at the same position as the boundary side with the downstream side surface 31b, but the end of the horizontal portion 32A is closer to the surface of the photoconductor 10 than the boundary side of the blade 31. Even if it extends, the substantial curvature of the blade 31 does not occur similarly.
Further, the end portion of the horizontal portion 32A does not necessarily extend to the boundary side of the blade 31, and only extends to a position that does not reach the boundary side as long as warpage of the blade 31 can be substantially restricted. May be. That is, as long as the warpage of the blade 31 can be substantially restricted, the end portion of the horizontal portion 32A may be separated from the surface of the photoreceptor rather than the boundary side. In this case, the extent to which the end portion of the horizontal portion 32A is allowed to be separated from the surface of the photoreceptor rather than the boundary side depends on the hardness of the blade 31 and between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoreceptor 10. It depends on the friction coefficient. The allowable range is, for example, the length (contact width) of the photosensitive member surface moving direction at the contact portion when the blade 31 is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive member 10 so that the linear pressure becomes 0.790 [N / cm]. ) Can be used as a criterion for determination. It is estimated that the distance between the end of the horizontal portion 32A and the boundary side is allowed up to about 1/4 of the length T2 of the downstream side surface 31b of the blade 31. If further confirmation is made, there is a possibility that 1/2 to T2 or the like is acceptable.

  In this embodiment, an adhesive is applied to the entire bonding surface of the blade 31 to bond the blade 31 to the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32. However, the adhesive is applied only to a part of the bonding surface of the blade 31. The blade 31 may be bonded to the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32. However, among the regions where the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32 and the opposing surface (adhesive surface) of the upstream side surface 31a of the blade 31 overlap each other, at least the end region on the side close to the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is subjected to the fixing process. It is desirable to apply. If the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32 and the blade 31 are firmly fixed in this end region, the frictional force between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor changes for some reason during the rotation of the photoconductor 10. However, the fluttering of the blade 31 can be stably prevented. The same applies to other fixing methods.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the blade 31 receives a force from the photoconductor 10 toward the downstream side of the photoconductor surface movement direction, the entire blade can be displaced in a direction away from the surface of the photoconductor 10. . As a result, when the contact pressure is set high in order to obtain high removal performance, the frictional force between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 increases while the photoconductor 10 is driven, and the contact of the photoconductor 10 is increased. Even if the contact side is displaced downstream in the movement direction of the photoreceptor surface, the blade 31 can escape in a direction away from the surface of the photoreceptor 10. Therefore, the maximum value of the frictional force that can be generated when the frictional force between the blade 31 and the surface of the photosensitive member 10 varies during the driving of the photosensitive member 10 is smaller than that of the conventional counter method. As a result, the frequency of applying an excessive driving load to the photoconductor 10 is reduced.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, as described above, the length of the blade 31 in the compression direction is shorter than that of the conventional counter system. Therefore, if the entire blade is not configured to be displaceable in a direction away from the surface of the photoconductor 10 as in the present embodiment, the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 are in between being driven. When a large frictional force is generated and the blade 31 receives a large force toward the support shaft 34, the degree to which the blade 31 itself can be compressed and deformed by the force is smaller than that of the conventional counter type. Therefore, the contact pressure that can be generated between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 is higher than that of the conventional counter system, and thus the frequency of applying an excessive driving load to the photoconductor 10 is increased. Therefore, as described above, the configuration in which the entire blade is displaceable in a direction away from the surface of the photoconductor 10 to reduce the frequency of applying an excessive driving load to the photoconductor 10 as described above. This is useful in a configuration in which the length 31 in the compression direction is short.

  Of course, as shown in FIG. 6, when the conventional counter type blade 231 receives a force from the photoconductor 10 toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the photoconductor surface, the entire blade is displaced away from the surface of the photoconductor 10. You may comprise so that it may obtain. In such a configuration, the frequency of applying an excessive driving load to the photoconductor 10 can be reduced, and the frequency of occurrence of blade deflection can also be reduced. In the blade 31 shown in FIG. 6, for example, the length T1 of the upstream side surface 31a is 2 [mm], the length T2 of the downstream side surface 31b is 14 [mm], and the JISA hardness is 70 °.

  In addition, the contact side of the blade 31 is configured to be swingable around a virtual axis that is inclined upstream of the normal line N at the contact portion P on the surface of the photoconductor 10 in the direction of movement of the photoconductor surface. It may be. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a rotary shaft 32C is provided on the vertical portion 32B of the blade holder 32, and a long hole 38A into which the rotary shaft 32C enters the blade bracket 38 is provided. The abutting side of the blade 31 is swingable around the. By adopting such a configuration, even when the contact edge of the blade 31 is inclined with respect to the photosensitive member rotation axis direction due to poor fixing accuracy of the blade 31 to the blade holder 32, the inclination is automatically adjusted. Can be adjusted. In such a configuration, the compression spring 39 may be arranged at one location corresponding to the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade 31, but if provided at a plurality of locations as shown in FIG. Can be kept. In addition, in this structure, since the displacement of the rotating shaft 32C can be regulated by the inner wall of the long hole 38A, it has the same function as the displacement regulating means described above.

Next, the photoreceptor 10 used in the printer of this embodiment will be described.
In order to clean the spherical toner, a load larger than the load applied to the blade 31 when cleaning the conventional pulverized toner must be applied. As a result, since the wear of the photoconductor 10 proceeds more than before, it is desired to improve the wear resistance of the photoconductor 10. Hereinafter, an example of the photoreceptor used in the present embodiment will be shown.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the photoreceptor 10 used in the present embodiment.
The photoconductor 10 used in the present embodiment is a negatively charged organic photoconductor, and a photoconductive layer or the like is provided on a drum-like conductive support having a diameter of 30 [mm]. An undercoat layer 51 which is an insulating layer is provided on the conductive support 50 as a base layer. Further, a charge generation layer (CGL) 52 and a charge transport layer (CTL) 53 as a photosensitive layer are provided thereon. Furthermore, a surface protective layer (FR) 54 is laminated thereon.

<Conductive support 50>
As the conductive support, one having a volume resistance of 10 ¹⁰ [Ω · cm] or less can be used. For example, a metal such as aluminum, nickel, chromium, nichrome, copper, gold, silver, platinum, or a metal oxide such as tin oxide or indium oxide is coated on a film or cylindrical plastic or paper by vapor deposition or sputtering. Can be used, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, stainless steel plates and the like, and pipes that have been surface treated by cutting, superfinishing, polishing, etc. . Further, endless nickel belts and endless stainless steel belts disclosed in JP-A-52-36016 can also be used as the conductive support.

  In addition, those obtained by dispersing and coating conductive powder in an appropriate binder resin on the support can also be used as the conductive support of the present invention. Examples of the conductive powder include carbon black, acetylene black, metal powder such as aluminum, nickel, iron, nichrome, copper, zinc and silver, or metal oxide powder such as conductive tin oxide and ITO. It is done. The binder resin used at the same time is polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. , Polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylidene chloride, polyarylate resin, phenoxy resin, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, ethyl cellulose resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl toluene, poly-N-vinyl carbazole, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, Examples thereof include thermoplastic, thermosetting resins, and photocurable resins such as melamine resin, urethane resin, phenol resin, and alkyd resin. Such a conductive layer can be provided by dispersing and coating these conductive powder and binder resin in a suitable solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, methyl ethyl ketone, and toluene. Furthermore, it is electrically conductive by a heat-shrinkable tube in which the conductive powder is contained in a material such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, chlorinated rubber, Teflon (registered trademark) on a suitable cylindrical substrate. Those provided with a conductive layer can also be used favorably as the conductive support of the present invention.

Next, the photosensitive layer will be described.
The photosensitive layer may be a single layer or a multilayer, but for convenience of explanation, first, a case of a multilayer structure including a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer will be described.

<Charge generation layer 52>
The charge generation layer is a layer mainly composed of a charge generation material. Known charge generation materials can be used for the charge generation layer, and representative examples thereof include monoazo pigments, disazo pigments, trisazo pigments, perylene pigments, perinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, quinone condensed polycyclic compounds, Squalic acid dyes, other phthalocyanine pigments, naphthalocyanine pigments, azulenium salt dyes and the like can be mentioned, and these are useful. These charge generation materials can be used alone or in combination.
In the charge generation layer, a charge generation material is dispersed in a suitable solvent together with a binder resin as necessary using a ball mill, attritor, sand mill, ultrasonic wave, etc., and this is dispersed on a conductive support or an undercoat layer It is formed by coating on top and drying.
In the charge generation layer, the charge generation material can be dispersed in the binder resin as necessary. Examples of binder resins that can be used include polyamide, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyketone, polycarbonate, silicone resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl ketone, polystyrene, polysulfone, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, poly Examples include acrylamide, polyvinyl benzal, polyester, phenoxy resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, polyphenylene oxide, polyamide, polyvinyl pyridine, cellulosic resin, casein, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The amount of the binder resin is suitably 0 to 500 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 300 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the charge generating material. The binder resin may be added before or after dispersion. Examples of the solvent used here include isopropanol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethyl cellosolve, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, monochlorobenzene, cyclohexane, toluene, xylene, and ligroin. In particular, ketone solvents, ester solvents, and ether solvents are preferably used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The charge generation layer is mainly composed of a charge generation material, a solvent, and a binder resin, and any additive such as a sensitizer, a dispersant, a surfactant, or silicone oil may be contained therein. good.
As a coating method for the coating solution, a dip coating method, spray coating, beat coating, nozzle coating, spinner coating, ring coating, or the like can be used. The film thickness of the charge generation layer is suitably about 0.01 to 5 [μm], preferably 0.1 to 2 [μm].

<Charge transport layer 53>
The charge transport layer can be formed by dissolving or dispersing a charge transport material and a binder resin in an appropriate solvent, and applying and drying the solution on the charge generation layer. Further, if necessary, two or more kinds of plasticizers, leveling agents, antioxidants and the like can be added.
Charge transport materials include hole transport materials and electron transport materials. Examples of the electron transporting material include chloroanil, bromoanil, tetracyanoethylene, tetracyanoquinodimethane, 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenone, 2,4 , 5,7-tetranitroxanthone, 2,4,8-trinitrothioxanthone, 2,6,8-trinitro-4H-indeno [1,2-b] thiophen-4-one, 1,3,7-tri Examples thereof include electron-accepting substances such as nitrodibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide and benzoquinone derivatives.
Examples of the hole transport material include poly-N-vinylcarbazole and derivatives thereof, poly-γ-carbazolylethyl glutamate and derivatives thereof, pyrene-formaldehyde condensates and derivatives thereof, polyvinylpyrene, polyvinylphenanthrene, polysilane, oxazole derivatives, Oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, monoarylamine derivatives, diarylamine derivatives, triarylamine derivatives, stilbene derivatives, α-phenylstilbene derivatives, benzidine derivatives, diarylmethane derivatives, triarylmethane derivatives, 9-styrylanthracene derivatives, pyrazolines Derivatives, divinylbenzene derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, indene derivatives, butadiene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, bisstilbene derivatives, enamine derivatives, etc. Other known materials may be used. These charge transport materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
As the binder resin, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, Polyvinylidene chloride, polyarylate resin, phenoxy resin, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, ethyl cellulose resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl toluene, poly-N-vinyl carbazole, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, melamine resin, urethane resin And thermoplastic or thermosetting resins such as phenol resins and alkyd resins.
The amount of the charge transport material is appropriately 20 to 300 parts by weight, preferably 40 to 150 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. The thickness of the charge transport layer is preferably 25 [μm] or less from the viewpoint of resolution and responsiveness. Regarding the lower limit, although it differs depending on the system to be used (particularly charging potential, etc.), 5 [μm] or more is preferable. As the solvent used here, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, toluene, dichloromethane, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethane, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone and the like are used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Next, the case where the photosensitive layer has a single layer structure will be described.
The photosensitive layer is formed by dissolving or dispersing the above-described charge generation material, charge transport material, binder resin, etc. in an appropriate solvent, and applying and drying the solution on the conductive support 50 or the undercoat layer 51. it can. You may comprise from a charge generation material and binder resin, without containing a charge transport material. Moreover, a plasticizer, a leveling agent, antioxidant, etc. can also be added as needed.
As the binder resin, in addition to the binder resin previously mentioned in the charge transport layer, the binder resin mentioned in the charge generation layer may be mixed and used. Of course, the polymer charge transport materials mentioned above can also be used favorably. The amount of the charge generating material with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin is preferably 5 to 40 parts by weight, the amount of the charge transporting material is preferably 0 to 190 parts by weight, and more preferably 50 to 150 parts by weight.
The photosensitive layer is formed by dip coating, spray coating, bead coating, a coating solution in which a charge generating material and a binder resin are dispersed together with a charge transporting material using a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dichloroethane, and cyclohexane. It can be formed by coating with a ring coat or the like. The film thickness of the photosensitive layer is suitably about 5 to 25 [μm].

<Undercoat layer 51>
In the photoreceptor according to the exemplary embodiment, an undercoat layer can be provided between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer. In general, the undercoat layer is mainly composed of a resin. However, considering that the photosensitive layer is coated with a solvent on these resins, the resin may be a resin having high solvent resistance with respect to a general organic solvent. desirable. Examples of such resins include water-soluble resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, casein, and sodium polyacrylate, alcohol-soluble resins such as copolymer nylon and methoxymethylated nylon, polyurethane, melamine resin, phenol resin, alkyd-melamine resin, and epoxy. Examples thereof include a curable resin that forms a three-dimensional network structure such as a resin. A metal oxide fine powder pigment exemplified by titanium oxide, silica, alumina, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide and the like may be added to the undercoat layer in order to prevent moire and reduce residual potential. Further, these undercoat layers can be formed using an appropriate solvent and coating method as in the above-described photosensitive layer. Furthermore, a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, a chromium coupling agent, or the like can be used as the undercoat layer of the present invention. In addition, in the undercoat layer of the present invention, Al ₂ O ₃ is provided by anodic oxidation, organic substances such as polyparaxylylene (parylene), SiO ₂ , SnO ₂ , TiO ₂ , ITO, CeO ₂ A material provided with an inorganic material such as a vacuum thin film can also be used favorably. In addition, known ones can be used.
The thickness of the undercoat layer is suitably from 0 to 5 [μm].

<Protective layer 54>
A protective layer 54 can be provided on the outermost surface layer of the photoreceptor to prevent mechanical wear. For example, it is possible to use a photoreceptor whose surface is coated with amorphous silicon in order to improve the wear resistance, or an organic photoreceptor which is provided with an outermost surface layer in which alumina, tin oxide or the like is further dispersed on the surface of the charge transport layer. it can.

  As described above, the configuration of the photoreceptor 1 that can be used in the present embodiment is not limited to a specific configuration. A single layer configuration in which only a photosensitive layer mainly composed of a charge generation material and a charge transport material is provided on a conductive support, or a charge generation layer and a charge mainly composed of a charge generation material on a conductive support. A structure in which a charge transport layer mainly composed of a transport material is laminated, or a photosensitive layer mainly composed of a charge generation material and a charge transport material is provided on a conductive support, and a protective layer is further provided thereon. A charge generation layer mainly composed of a charge generation material and a charge transport layer mainly composed of a charge transport material are laminated on a conductive support, and a protective layer is provided on the charge transport layer. A charge transport layer mainly composed of a charge transport material and a charge generation layer composed mainly of a charge generation material on a conductive support, and a protective layer is provided on the charge generation layer. The present invention can be applied to photoreceptors having various layer configurations such as those described above.

  Moreover, the protective layer which consists of a crosslinked structure is also used effectively as a binder structure of a protective layer. Regarding the formation of a cross-linked structure, a reactive monomer having a plurality of cross-linkable functional groups in one molecule is used to cause a cross-linking reaction using light or thermal energy to form a three-dimensional network structure. is there. This network structure functions as a binder resin and exhibits high wear resistance. From the viewpoint of electrical stability, printing durability, and life, it is a very effective means to use a monomer having a charge transporting ability in whole or in part as the reactive monomer. By using such a monomer, a charge transporting site is formed in the network structure, and the function as a protective layer can be sufficiently expressed. The reactive monomer having charge transporting ability includes a compound containing at least one charge transporting component and a silicon atom having a hydrolyzable substituent in the same molecule, and a charge transporting component in the same molecule. A compound containing a hydroxyl group, a compound containing a charge transporting component and a carboxyl group in the same molecule, a compound containing a charge transporting component and an epoxy group in the same molecule, a charge transporting component in the same molecule And a compound containing an isocyanate group. These charge transport materials having a reactive group may be used alone or in combination of two or more. More preferably, a reactive monomer having a triarylamine structure is effectively used as the monomer having a charge transporting ability because of high electrical and chemical stability and high carrier mobility. In addition to this, monofunctional and bifunctional polymerizable monomers and polymerizable oligomers are used in combination for the purpose of viscosity adjustment during coating, stress relaxation of the cross-linked charge transport layer, low surface energy, and reduction of friction coefficient. be able to. As these polymerizable monomers and oligomers, known ones can be used. In the present invention, the hole transporting compound is polymerized or cross-linked using heat or light. When the polymerization reaction is performed by heat, the polymerization initiator may be used in the case where the polymerization reaction proceeds only with thermal energy. Although it may be necessary, it is preferable to add an initiator in order to advance the reaction efficiently at a lower temperature. In the case of polymerization by light, it is preferable to use ultraviolet light as light, but the reaction rarely proceeds only by light energy, and a photopolymerization initiator is generally used in combination. The polymerization initiator in this case mainly absorbs ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 400 nm or less to generate active species such as radicals and ions, and initiates polymerization. In the present invention, the aforementioned heat and photopolymerization initiator can be used in combination. The charge transport layer having a network structure formed in this manner has high wear resistance, but has a large volume shrinkage during the crosslinking reaction, and if it is too thick, it may cause cracks. In such a case, the protective layer may be a laminated structure, a low molecular dispersion polymer protective layer may be used for the lower layer (photosensitive layer side), and a protective layer having a crosslinked structure may be formed on the upper layer (surface side). good.

As an example of the photoreceptor 10, 182 parts of methyltrimethoxysilane, 40 parts of dihydroxymethyltriphenylamine, 225 parts of 2-propanol, 106 parts of 2% acetic acid, and 1 part of aluminum trisacetylacetonate are mixed to form a protective layer. A coating solution is prepared. This coating solution is applied onto the charge transport layer and dried, and then heated and cured at 110 ° C. for 1 hour to form a protective layer having a thickness of 3 μm.
As another example, 30 parts of a hole transporting compound, 0.6 parts of an acrylic monomer and a photopolymerization initiator (1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone), and 50 parts of monochlorobenzene / 50 parts of dichloromethane are mixed. Dissolve in a solvent to prepare a coating for the surface protective layer. This paint is applied on the previous charge transport layer by spray coating, and cured for 30 seconds at a light intensity of 500 [mW / cm ² ] using a metal halide lamp to form a surface protective layer having a thickness of 5 μm. .

Next, the charging device 40 used in the printer of this embodiment will be described.
As the charging device 40, there has conventionally been a device using a corona charging method using corona discharge. In the corona charging method, a charge wire is disposed close to a member to be charged, and a high voltage is applied to the charge wire to cause a corona discharge between the charge wire and the member to be charged. Is charged. However, in the case of the corona charging method, discharge products such as ozone and nitrogen oxide (NOx) are generated with corona discharge. Since the discharge-generating substance may form a film of nitric acid or nitrate that adversely affects image formation on the surface of the photoreceptor, it is desirable to avoid the occurrence of the substance if possible. Therefore, in recent years, in place of the corona charging method, the development of a contact charging method or a proximity charging method in which the generation of a discharge generating material is small and charging can be performed with low power has been active. In these methods, a charging member such as a roller, a brush, or a blade is brought into contact with or in close proximity to a charged member such as a photosensitive member, and a voltage is applied to the charging member to charge the surface of the charged member. It is. According to this method, compared to the corona charging method, the generation of a discharge generation material is small, and low power can be realized, so that the utility is high. In addition, since a large charging device is not required, the device can be miniaturized, which meets the needs for miniaturization of the device. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an example using a non-contact roller charging method will be shown as an example for achieving the needs for low power, low hazard, and downsizing as described above.

  In addition, when spherical toner is used, as described above, poor cleaning is likely to occur compared to conventional pulverized toner. Even in the configuration in which spherical toner blade cleaning is possible as in the present embodiment, in the unlikely event that a cleaning failure occurs, if the non-contact roller charging method is used, the cleaning failure toner will not adhere to the charging device. Therefore, there is an advantage that an abnormal image does not occur due to charging abnormality. In the charging device according to the present embodiment, the photosensitive member is charged by alternating-current applied discharge by a charging roller 41 which is a charging member that is disposed close to and opposed to be non-contact.

  There is a method in which the photosensitive member is charged by AC applied discharge by a charging member arranged in contact with and opposed to each other. When this method is applied, it is preferable to use an elastic member that improves the contact between the surface of the photoreceptor and the charging member and does not apply mechanical stress to the photoreceptor. However, when an elastic member is used, the charging nip width becomes wide, and the protective material may easily adhere to the charging roller side due to this. Therefore, it is more advantageous to charge the object to be charged without contact.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when the charging device 40 in this embodiment is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 10.
The charging device 40 includes a charging roller 41, a spacer 43, a spring 44, and a power supply 45. The charging roller 41 has a shaft portion 41a and a roller portion 41b. Among these, the roller portion 41b has a function of charging the surface of the photoconductor facing the photoconductor 10, and is configured to be rotatable by the rotation of the shaft portion 41a. A spacer 43, which is a gap holding member, is provided on the charging roller 41 so that the charging portion 41b on the surface of the charging roller faces the photosensitive belt surface with a small gap. Due to the spacer 43, a portion of the surface of the photoconductor 10 that faces an image forming area where an image is formed is disposed so as not to contact the photoconductor 10. The length of the roller portion 41b in the longitudinal direction (photoreceptor rotation axis direction) is set to be longer than the image forming area of the photoconductor 10, and the spacer 43 is brought into contact with the non-image forming area of the photoconductor 10, whereby The minute gap G is formed. The charging roller 41 rotates along with the surface of the photosensitive member via the spacer 43. The minute gap G is configured such that the closest portion between the charging roller portion 41b and the photoreceptor 10 is 1 to 100 [μm]. The closest distance is more preferably 30 to 65 [μm]. In the present embodiment, it is arranged to be 50 [μm].

  A spring 44 for pressing the charging roller 41 toward the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is attached to the shaft portion 41a. Thereby, the minute gap G can be maintained with high accuracy. A charging power source 45 is connected to the charging roller 41, and the surface of the photoconductor 10 is uniformly charged by AC applied discharge in a minute gap G between the surface of the photoconductor 10 and the surface of the charging roller 41. . In the present embodiment, an alternating voltage in which an AC voltage that is an AC component is superimposed on a DC voltage that is a DC component is applied to the roller portion 41 b of the charging roller 41. By using the alternating voltage, the influence of fluctuations in the charging potential caused by fluctuations in the minute gap G is suppressed, and uniform charging becomes possible.

  The charging roller 41 includes a cored bar as a conductive support having a cylindrical shape and a resistance adjusting layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cored bar. In the present embodiment, the charging roller 41 has a diameter of 10 [mm]. For the surface of the charging roller 41, for example, a known material such as a rubber member can be used. This is because, when a rubber member is used, it is difficult to maintain a minute gap G with respect to the photoreceptor 10 due to water absorption of the rubber and generation of deflection. Depending on the image forming conditions, only the central portion of the charging roller 41 may suddenly contact the surface of the photoreceptor. It is difficult to cope with such disturbance of the surface layer of the photoreceptor due to the local and sudden contact of the charging roller 41 with the photoreceptor 10. Therefore, when charging the photoconductor by the non-contact charging method, it is more preferable to use a hard material capable of maintaining a uniform small gap G between the charging roller and the photoconductor.

<Charging roller surface>
As a material whose surface of the charging roller 41 is hard, for example, the following can be used. The resistance adjustment layer is formed of a thermoplastic resin composition (polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, and copolymers thereof) in which a polymer type ion conductive agent is dispersed, and the surface of the resistance adjustment layer is formed with a curing agent. For example, a cured film. The cured film treatment can be performed, for example, by immersing the resistance adjustment layer in a treatment solution containing an isocyanate-containing compound. Alternatively, a cured film layer may be formed again on the surface of the resistance adjustment layer.

Next, the toner used in the printer of this embodiment will be described.
According to the cleaning device 30 of the present embodiment, since high removal performance can be realized, it can be put to practical use for removing toner having an average circularity of 0.93 or more and 1.00 or less. In this specification, the circularity a is a value obtained by L0 / L (L0 indicates the circumference of a circle having the same projected area as the particle image, and L indicates the circumference of the projected image of the particle). The circularity is an index of the degree of unevenness of the toner particles, and indicates 1.00 when the toner is a perfect sphere, and the circularity becomes smaller as the surface shape becomes more complicated.
When the average circularity is in the range of 0.93 to 1.00, the surface of the toner particles is smooth, and the contact area between the toner particles and between the toner particles and the photoreceptor 5 is small, so that the transferability is excellent. On the other hand, toner with a high degree of circularity enters the gap between the photoconductor 10 and the blade 31 during blade-type cleaning, and is easy to slip through. However, according to the cleaning device 30 of the present embodiment, cleaning can be performed and abnormal images can be suppressed. Further, the life of the blade 31 can be extended.

  The volume average particle diameter of the toner is 3 to 8 μm, and the ratio (Dv / Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) is in the range of 1.00 to 1.40. Even when a toner having a small particle size and a narrow particle size distribution is used, good cleaning properties can be obtained. By narrowing the particle size distribution of the toner, the charge distribution becomes uniform, a high-quality image with little background fogging can be obtained, and the transfer rate can be increased. Such toners having a small particle diameter tend to have a relatively high content of external additive fine particles and the like, so that they are easily detached from the toner and slip through the cleaning blade 31. However, according to the cleaning device 30 of the present embodiment, cleaning can be performed and abnormal images can be suppressed. Further, the life of the blade 31 can be extended.

The toner shape factor SF-1 is preferably in the range of 100 to 180, and the shape factor SF-2 is preferably in the range of 100 to 180. 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 the toner on a two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100π / 4. 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.
SF-1 = {(MXLNG) ² / AREA} × (100π / 4) (1)
The shape factor SF-2 indicates the ratio of the unevenness of the toner shape, and is represented by the following formula (2). A value obtained by dividing the square of the perimeter PERI of the figure formed by projecting the toner onto the two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100 / 4π. When the value of SF-2 is 100, there is no unevenness on the toner surface, and as the value of SF-2 increases, the unevenness of the toner surface becomes more prominent.
SF-2 = {(PERI) ² / AREA} × (100 / 4π) (2)
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.

  When the shape of the toner is close to a spherical shape, the contact state between the toner and the toner or the toner and the photoconductor becomes a point contact, so that the adsorbing force between the toners becomes weak and the fluidity increases, and the toner and the photoconductor The attraction force becomes weaker and the transfer rate becomes higher. On the other hand, spherical toner tends to pass through the blade 31. However, according to the cleaning device 30 of the present embodiment, poor cleaning can be suppressed and background dirt can be prevented, so abnormal images due to dirt on the charging roller 41 can be suppressed. be able to. If either of the shape factors SF-1 and SF-2 exceeds 180, the transfer rate is lowered, which is not preferable.

The toner used in the present embodiment has a substantially spherical shape, and can be represented by the following shape rule.
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 ratio of the major axis to the minor axis (r2). / R1) is preferably 0.5 to 1.0 and the ratio of thickness to minor axis (r3 / r2) is preferably in the range of 0.7 to 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. In addition, r1, r2, r3 can be measured by the following method, for example. That is, the toner is uniformly dispersed and adhered on a smooth measurement surface, and 100 particles of the toner are magnified 500 times by a color laser microscope “VK-8500” (manufactured by Keyence Corporation) to obtain the 100 toners. The major axis r1 (μm), the minor axis r2 (μm), and the thickness r3 (μm) of the particles can be measured and obtained from their arithmetic average values.

  A toner suitably used in the exemplary embodiment includes 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 solvent. Is a toner obtained by crosslinking and / or elongation reaction. Hereinafter, the constituent material and the manufacturing method of the toner will be described.

(polyester)
The polyester is obtained by a polycondensation reaction between a polyhydric alcohol compound and a polycarboxylic acid compound. 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. The trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (TO) includes 3 to 8 or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohols (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. The polycondensation reaction between a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polycarboxylic acid (PC) is carried out in the presence of a known esterification catalyst such as tetrabutoxytitanate or dibutyltin oxide, and heated to 150 to 280 ° C. while reducing the pressure as necessary. The produced water is distilled off to obtain a polyester having a hydroxyl group. The hydroxyl value of the polyester is preferably 5 or more, and the acid value of the polyester is usually 1 to 30, preferably 5 to 20. By giving an acid value, it tends to be negatively charged, and furthermore, when fixing to a recording paper, the affinity between the recording paper and the toner is good and the low-temperature fixability is improved. However, when the acid value exceeds 30, there is a tendency to deteriorate with respect to the stability of charging, particularly environmental fluctuation. The weight average molecular weight is 10,000 to 400,000, preferably 20,000 to 200,000. A weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 is not preferable because offset resistance deteriorates. On the other hand, if it exceeds 400,000, the low-temperature fixability is deteriorated.

  In addition to the unmodified polyester obtained by the above polycondensation reaction, the polyester preferably contains a urea-modified polyester. The urea-modified polyester is obtained by reacting a terminal carboxyl group or hydroxyl group of the polyester obtained by the above polycondensation reaction with a polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) to obtain a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group. It is obtained by cross-linking and / or extending the molecular chain by the reaction of the amine with amines.

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 is lowered, and the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

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 B1 to B5 blocked amino groups (B6) 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 urea-modified polyester is produced by a one-shot method or the like. Polyhydric alcohol (PO) and polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) are heated to 150-280 ° C. in the presence of a known esterification catalyst such as tetrabutoxytitanate, dibutyltin oxide, etc., and water generated while reducing the pressure as necessary. Distill off to obtain a polyester having a hydroxyl group. Subsequently, at 40-140 degreeC, this is made to react with polyvalent isocyanate (PIC), and the polyester prepolymer (A) which has an isocyanate group is obtained. Further, this (A) is reacted with amines (B) at 0 to 140 ° C. to obtain a urea-modified polyester.

  When reacting (PIC) and when reacting (A) and (B), a solvent may be used if necessary. Usable solvents include aromatic solvents (toluene, xylene, etc.); ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.); esters (ethyl acetate, etc.); amides (dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, etc.) and ethers And those inert to isocyanates (PIC), such as tetrahydrofuran (such as tetrahydrofuran). In addition, in the crosslinking and / or extension reaction between the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B), a reaction terminator can be used as necessary to adjust the molecular weight of the resulting urea-modified polyester. Examples of the reaction terminator include monoamines (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, etc.), and those obtained by blocking them (ketimine compounds). The weight average molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester is usually 10,000 or more, preferably 20,000 to 10,000,000, and more preferably 30,000 to 1,000,000. If it is less than 10,000, the hot offset resistance deteriorates. The number average molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester or the like is not particularly limited when the above-mentioned unmodified polyester is used, and may be a number average molecular weight that can be easily obtained to obtain the weight average molecular weight. When the urea-modified polyester is used alone, its number average molecular weight is usually 2000-15000, preferably 2000-10000, more preferably 2000-8000. When it exceeds 20000, the low-temperature fixability and the glossiness when used in a full-color apparatus are deteriorated. By using the unmodified polyester and the urea-modified polyester in combination, the low-temperature fixability and the gloss when used in the full-color image forming apparatus 100 are improved. Therefore, it is preferable to use the urea-modified polyester alone. The unmodified polyester may include a polyester modified with a chemical bond other than a urea bond. The unmodified polyester and the urea-modified polyester are preferably at least partially compatible with each other in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. Therefore, it is preferable that the unmodified polyester and the urea-modified polyester have a similar composition. The weight ratio of unmodified polyester to urea-modified polyester is usually 20/80 to 95/5, preferably 70/30 to 95/5, more preferably 75/25 to 95/5, and particularly preferably 80 /. 20-93 / 7. When the weight ratio of the urea-modified polyester 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 glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin containing unmodified polyester and urea-modified polyester is usually 45 to 65 ° C, preferably 45 to 60 ° C. If it is less than 45 ° C., the heat resistance of the toner deteriorates, and if it exceeds 65 ° C., the low-temperature fixability becomes insufficient. In addition, since the urea-modified polyester is likely to be present on the surface of the obtained toner base particles, the heat-resistant storage stability tends to be good even when the glass transition point is low as compared with known polyester-based toners.

(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, Toluidine 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 together 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 , Phenolic condensate E-89 (above, Orient Chemical Industries, Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex TP-302, TP-415 (above, Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt copy Charge PSYVP2038, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge NEGVP2036 of quaternary ammonium salt, copy charge NXVP434 (above, manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex (manufactured by Nippon Carlit), Copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone, azo pigments Sulfonate 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 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. Preferably, it is used 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 developer fluidity 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 to 2 μm, and particularly preferably 5 × 10 −3 to 0.5 μm. 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 size 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, a fluidity-imparting agent is not detached from the toner, a good image quality that does not cause fireflies and the like is obtained, and a reduction in residual toner is further achieved. . Titanium oxide fine particles are excellent in environmental stability and image density stability, but have a tendency to deteriorate the charge rise characteristics. Therefore, if the amount of titanium oxide fine particles added is larger than the amount of silica fine particles added, this side effect is affected. 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

(Toner production method)
Next, a toner manufacturing method will be described. Here, although a preferable manufacturing method is shown, it is not limited to this.

(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 2000 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 salts, dialkyldimethylammonium salts, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salts, pyridinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, benzethonium chloride, fatty acid amide derivatives, polyhydric alcohols 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 (manufactured by Asahi Glass), Florard FC-135 (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M), 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.

As described above, the cleaning device 30 according to the present embodiment has the long blade 31 as a pressing member that is long in the direction (photosensitive member rotation axis direction) orthogonal to the surface moving direction of the photoconductor 10 that is the surface moving member. This is a cleaning device that removes deposits on the surface of the photoconductor 10 by pressing one side (contact side) extending in the direction against the surface of the photoconductor 10. The cleaning device 30 is supported by a frame 33 that is a main body of the apparatus on the downstream side of the normal line N of the abutting portion P where the abutting side abuts on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and a blade 31. Holding mechanisms 32, 34, and 38 that hold the blade 31 so that the entire blade can be displaced away from the surface of the photoconductor 10 when receiving force from the photoconductor 10 toward the downstream side of the photoconductor surface movement direction. The blade 31 has a compression spring 39 as an elastic force applying means that gives the blade 31 an elastic force opposite to the direction away from the surface of the photoreceptor 10. As a result, as described above, even if a high contact pressure is set in order to obtain a high removal performance, it is possible to reduce the frequency of occurrence of blade deflection and the frequency of applying an excessive load to the driving of the photosensitive member 10.
In particular, in the present embodiment, since the elastic force applying means that applies an elastic force generated by a spring is used, a simple configuration can be realized.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a rotation axis corresponding to a virtual axis inclined to the upstream side in the photosensitive member surface moving direction with respect to the normal N at the contact portion P on the surface of the photosensitive member 10. The contact side of the blade 31 is swingable around 32C. As a result, even when the contact side of the blade 31 is inclined with respect to the photosensitive member rotation axis direction, the inclination can be automatically adjusted.
In this case, the elastic force applied by the compression spring 39 has a component in a direction in which the blade 31 is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor 10 toward the upstream side in the movement direction of the photoconductor surface. If the elastic force is applied to a plurality of different locations in the scale direction, the posture of the blade can be maintained stably.
In this embodiment, the elastic force applied by the compression spring 39 resists the elastic force when the blade 31 receives a force from the photoconductor 10 toward the downstream side in the movement direction of the photoconductor surface when the photoconductor 10 starts to be driven. Thus, the strength is set such that the entire blade can be displaced away from the surface of the photoreceptor 10. As a result, the contact pressure between the blade 31 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 can be excessively increased, and the contact pressure can be released at the start of driving of the photoconductor 10, and the contact pressure is prevented from excessively increasing. can do.
In this embodiment, the elastic force of the compression spring 39 is such that the maximum displacement amount of the blade 31 when the blade 31 receives a force toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the photosensitive member surface from the photosensitive member 10 is 5 [mm] or less. It is set to be. Thereby, it can suppress that contact angle (theta) of the blade 31 becomes large exceeding a predetermined range. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation where the steady contact pressure increases, and to prevent the surface of the photoconductor 10 from being worn strongly and the steady drive load of the photoconductor 10 from increasing.
Further, in the present embodiment, a spring 36 is provided as a biasing means for increasing the pressing force in the normal direction of the contact portion P on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 applied by the blade 31. Thereby, a sufficiently high contact pressure can be easily realized.
Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the displacement restricting means for restricting the upper limit of the displacement amount of the blade 31 when the blade 31 receives a force from the photoreceptor 10 toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the photoreceptor surface is provided. Also good. In this case, even if an unexpected sudden increase in frictional force occurs, the contact side of the blade 31 can return to the original contact portion P.
In the present embodiment, the blade 31 is an elastic member having a rebound resilience at 23 [° C.] of 30% or less. Thereby, the wear of the blade 31 is suppressed as described above.
In the present embodiment, the blade 31 has the upstream side surface 31a located on the upstream side in the photosensitive member surface moving direction of the two surfaces 31a and 31b adjacent to the contact side as a boundary, and the photosensitive member surface moving direction. The length in the direction orthogonal to the contact side is longer than the downstream side surface 31b located on the downstream side. Further, the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32, which is a warpage restricting member that restricts the warping of the blade 31 in the direction in which the upstream side surface 31a extends in the direction orthogonal to the contact side, is opposed to the upstream side surface 31a of the blade 31. It adheres to the surface. By adopting such a configuration, as described above, the contact width can be shortened while maintaining the contact pressure comparable to that of the conventional counter type cleaning device, so that a high contact pressure can be realized. Effects such as can be obtained.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the horizontal portion 32A of the blade holder 32 is such that the end portion on the side close to the surface of the photoreceptor 10 has a boundary side with the downstream side surface 31b on the facing surface (fixing surface) of the blade 31. It is comprised so that it may extend to the same position. Thereby, since the free length part of the blade 31 is eliminated, the warp of the blade 31 can be effectively controlled.
In the present embodiment, a lubricant applying unit that applies a lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor 10 may be provided.

In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning device 30 for the photoconductor has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, and the cleaning for the surface moving member in all image forming apparatuses. It can be used as a device. Therefore, for example, it has one photoconductor and a plurality of (for example, four color) developing devices, and by sequentially rotating each developing device, a toner image of each color is formed on the photoconductor, and the toner image is finally obtained. In addition, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by transferring to a transfer paper, and can also be applied to a monochrome image forming apparatus. Further, the present invention is not limited to a printer, and can be used as a cleaning device for a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions. It should be noted that the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic system, an ink jet system, or another system. In short, if it is an image forming apparatus provided with a surface moving member that needs to remove deposits adhered to the surface, It can be applied as a cleaning device for a surface moving member. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied even if the deposit to be removed is any powder such as toner, paper dust, metal powder, or liquid such as developer.
The present invention is not limited to a cleaning device for a photoconductor, but also to a cleaning device for removing a surface transfer member other than the photoconductor, such as a transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 162. Applicable. Also, not only image bearing members such as photoreceptors and intermediate transfer belts, but also deposits such as toner and paper dust adhered to the surface of a recording material conveying member that carries and conveys a recording material on the surface are removed. It can also be applied to a cleaning device. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a cleaning device for any surface moving member that needs to remove deposits attached to the surface. Of course, the surface moving member may be in the form of a drum or a belt, and may be any member as long as the surface moves. However, in the case of a cleaning device for a belt-shaped surface moving member, the cleaning device is generally arranged so that the belt is sandwiched between a support roller and a blade for supporting the belt. A backup member such as a flat plate member may be disposed on the side, and the cleaning device may be disposed such that the belt is sandwiched between the backup member and the blade. Further, when the object to be cleaned is the photoreceptor 10 as in this embodiment, the photoreceptor is an organic photoreceptor, an amorphous silicon photoreceptor, or a protection made of a binder resin having a crosslinked structure on the surface of the organic photoreceptor. A photoreceptor provided with a layer may be used, and the present invention can be applied as a cleaning device for any photoreceptor. When the intermediate transfer belt 162 is to be cleaned, the intermediate transfer belt may be a polyimide-based intermediate transfer belt considering heat resistance and stretchability, an intermediate transfer belt using a polyethylene-based material, or a fluorine-based / rubber-based intermediate belt. The transfer belt may be used, and the present invention can be applied as a cleaning device for any intermediate transfer belt.
In the various application examples described here, the configuration of the photoconductor cleaning device 30 described in the above embodiment can be used almost as it is, or can be appropriately modified according to the application example.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when a main part of the printer cleaning device according to the embodiment is viewed from the direction of the photosensitive member rotation axis. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printer. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a process cartridge provided in the printer. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the cleaning apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the measuring apparatus of the pressing force of the braid | blade provided in the cleaning apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the blade provided in the cleaning apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the cleaning apparatus. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a photoconductor used in the printer. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when a charging device used in the printer is viewed from a direction orthogonal to a photosensitive member rotation axis direction. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the cleaning apparatus of the conventional trailing system. (B) is an explanatory view showing a conventional counter type cleaning device.

Explanation of symbols

10Y, 10C, 10M, 10Bk Photoconductor 30 Cleaning device 31 Cleaning blade 31a Upstream side surface 31b Downstream side surface 32 Blade holder 32A Horizontal portion 32B Vertical portion 32C Rotating shaft 33 Frame body 34 Support shaft 36 Spring 37 Adjustment screw 38 Blade bracket 38A Long hole 39 Compression Spring 40 Charging Device 120 Image Forming Unit 121Y, 121C, 121M, 121Bk Process Cartridge 130 Paper Feed Unit 140 Exposure Device 160 Secondary Transfer Device 162 Intermediate Transfer Belt 165 Secondary Transfer Roller 200 Measuring Device 201 Load Cell 202 Cell Base 203 Tool 204 Sensor Conditioner 231 Cleaning Blade 232 Blade Holder

Claims (24)

One side of the pressing member that is long in the direction perpendicular to the surface moving direction of the surface moving member is pressed against the surface of the surface moving member to remove deposits on the surface of the surface moving member. In the cleaning device to
The surface moving member is supported by the apparatus main body on the downstream side of the surface moving direction of the surface moving member with respect to the normal line of the abutting portion where the one side abuts on the surface of the surface moving member, and the pressing member is moved in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member A holding mechanism for holding the pressing member so that the entire pressing member can be displaced in a direction away from the surface of the surface moving member when receiving a force toward the downstream side from the surface moving member;
Elastic force applying means for applying an elastic force in the direction opposite to the direction in which the pressing member leaves the surface of the surface moving member to the pressing member ;
Of the two surfaces adjacent to the one side as a boundary, the pressing member has an upstream side surface located on the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member located on the downstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member. It is an elastic member whose length in the direction orthogonal to the one side is longer than the downstream side surface,
A warp restricting member that restricts the warping of the pressing member such that the upstream side surface extends in a direction orthogonal to the one side and the facing surface of the upstream side surface contracts is fixed to the upstream surface facing the pressing member. ,
The holding mechanism holds the pressing member via the warp regulating member,
The warpage restricting member is such that an end portion on the side close to the surface of the surface moving member is at the same position as a boundary side with the downstream side surface on the facing surface of the pressing member, or the surface moving member is more than the boundary side. A cleaning device configured to extend to a position close to the surface of the cleaning device. The cleaning device according to claim 1.
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic force applying means applies an elastic force generated by a spring. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2,
A configuration in which the one side of the pressing member is swingable around a virtual axis inclined to the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member with respect to the normal line at the contact portion on the surface of the surface moving member. A cleaning device comprising: The cleaning device according to claim 3.
The elastic force applied by the elastic force applying means has a component in a direction to press the pressing member against the surface of the surface moving member toward the upstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic force applying means applies the elastic force to a plurality of different locations in the longitudinal direction of the pressing member. The cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4.
The elastic force applied by the elastic force applying means is such that the pressing member receives a force from the surface moving member toward the downstream side of the surface moving direction of the surface moving member when the surface moving member starts moving. The cleaning device is characterized in that the strength is set such that the entire pressing member can be displaced in a direction away from the surface of the surface moving member. The cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
The elastic force of the elastic force applying means is such that the maximum displacement of the pressing member when the pressing member receives a force from the surface moving member toward the downstream side in the surface moving direction of the surface moving member is 5 [mm] or less. It is set so that it may become. The cleaning device characterized by the above-mentioned. The cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
A cleaning apparatus comprising biasing means for increasing a pressing force in a normal direction of the abutting portion on the surface of the surface moving member applied by the pressing member. The cleaning device according to claim 7.
A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a displacement regulating means for regulating an upper limit of a displacement amount of the pressing member when the pressing member receives a force from the surface moving member toward the downstream side in the surface movement direction of the surface moving member. . The cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
The cleaning device, wherein the pressing member is an elastic member having a rebound resilience at 23 [° C.] of 30% or less . In the cleaning apparatus of the 請 Motomeko 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9,
A cleaning device comprising a lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to the surface of the surface moving member. In an image forming apparatus that finally transfers an image formed on an image carrier, which is a surface moving member, to a recording material,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 is used as a cleaning means for removing unnecessary deposits adhering to the image carrier. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 1,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge that integrally supports the image carrier and the cleaning device and is detachably provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 1 or 1 2,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the image carrier has a protective layer containing inorganic fine particles. Keep the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 3,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the binder resin of the protective layer has a crosslinked structure. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 4,
An image forming apparatus having a charge transporting portion in the structure of the binder resin. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material carried on the surface of a recording material conveying member which is a surface moving member,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 is used as a cleaning means for removing unnecessary deposits adhered on the recording material conveying member. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein
An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge that integrally supports the recording material conveying member and the cleaning device and is detachably provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13 , 14 , 15 , 16, or 17 .
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner having an average circularity of 0.93 or more as a toner constituting the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13 , 14 , 15 , 16, 17 , or 18 .
As the toner constituting the image, the volume average particle size is 3 [μm] or more and 8 [μm] or less, and the ratio of the volume average particle size to the number average particle size is 1.00 or more and 1.40 or less. An image forming apparatus using toner. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13 , 14 , 15 , 16, 17 , 18 or 19 ,
An image forming apparatus using toner having shape factors SF-1 and SF-2 of 100 or more and 180 or less as toner constituting the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, 12, 13 , 14 , 15 , 16, 17 , 18 , 19 , or 20 .
As the toner constituting the image, the ratio (r2 / r1) of the minor axis r2 to the major axis r1 is 0.5 or more and 1.0 or less, and the ratio (r3 / r2) of the thickness r3 to the minor axis r2 is 0. An image forming apparatus using a toner satisfying a relation of r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3 that is 0.7 or more and 1.0 or less. Claim 11 and 12, 13,14,15,16,17,18,19,2 0 or the image forming apparatus 21,
As a toner constituting the image, an organic solvent composition is prepared by dissolving and / or dispersing a toner composition containing a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent in an organic solvent. An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner obtained by dispersing the organic solvent composition in an aqueous medium in which resin fine particles are present and causing a crosslinking and / or elongation reaction. An image forming apparatus that finally transfers an image formed on an image carrier, which is a surface moving member, to a recording material, is detachably attached to the image carrier and an unnecessary attachment attached to the image carrier. In the process cartridge that integrally supports the cleaning means for removing the kimono,
A process cartridge using the cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 as the cleaning means. It is configured to be detachable from the main body of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material carried on the surface of a recording material conveying member that is a surface moving member, and is attached to the recording material conveying member and the recording material conveying member. In a process cartridge that integrally supports a cleaning means for removing unnecessary deposits,
A process cartridge using the cleaning device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 as the cleaning means.

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