JP5241156B2 - Electrophotographic photosensitive member and electrophotographic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member and an electrophotographic apparatus .

  Currently, as an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a photosensitive layer (organic photosensitive layer) using an organic material as a photoconductive substance (a charge generation substance or a charge transport substance) is provided on a support from the viewpoint of low cost and high productivity. An organic electrophotographic photosensitive member is widely used. As organic electrophotographic photoreceptors, the following photoreceptors are mainly used because of the advantages of high sensitivity and a variety of material designs. That is, a charge generation layer containing a charge generation material such as a photoconductive dye or a photoconductive pigment and a charge transport layer containing a charge transfer material of a photoconductive polymer or a photoconductive low molecular weight compound are laminated. An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a laminated photosensitive layer.

  Since the electric external force and / or mechanical external force is directly applied to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in charging, exposure, development, transfer, and cleaning, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is required to have durability against these external forces. . Specifically, durability against the occurrence of scratches and wear on the surface due to external force, that is, scratch resistance and wear resistance is required.

  As a technique for improving the scratch resistance and abrasion resistance of the surface of the organic electrophotographic photosensitive member with respect to the above problems, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a hardened layer using a curable resin as a binder resin as a surface layer is available. It is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). Further, a charge transporting cured layer formed by curing and polymerizing a monomer having a carbon-carbon double bond and a charge transporting monomer having a carbon-carbon double bond with heat or light energy is used as a surface layer. An electrophotographic photosensitive member is disclosed (see Patent Documents 2 and 3). Further disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor using a charge transporting cured layer formed by curing and polymerizing a hole transporting compound having a chain polymerizable functional group in the same molecule by the energy of electron beam as a surface layer. (See Patent Documents 4 and 5).

  Thus, in recent years, as a technique for improving the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the peripheral surface of the organic electrophotographic photosensitive member, the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is a cured layer, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the surface layer. Technology has been established.

  Incidentally, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is generally used in an electrophotographic image forming process including a charging step, an exposure step, a development step, a transfer step, and a cleaning step as described above. Of these, the cleaning step of cleaning the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by removing the transfer residual toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member after the transferring step is an important step for obtaining a clear image.

  As a cleaning method, a method using a cleaning blade has become the mainstream from the advantages of cost and ease of design. In detail, the cleaning blade is brought into contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member to eliminate a gap between the cleaning blade and the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the residual toner is scraped off by preventing the toner from slipping out. is there.

  However, in the above cleaning method, since the frictional force between the cleaning blade and the electrophotographic photosensitive member is large, chattering or peeling of the cleaning blade is likely to occur. Furthermore, a cleaning failure is likely to occur due to a chipping or chipping of the blade edge. Here, chatter of the cleaning blade is a phenomenon caused by vibration of the cleaning blade due to an increase in frictional resistance between the cleaning blade and the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In addition, the cleaning blade is a phenomenon that the cleaning blade is reversed in the moving direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

  The problem of these cleaning blades becomes more prominent as the mechanical strength of the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member becomes higher, that is, the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member becomes harder to wear. That is, this problem is caused by increasing the mechanical strength of the surface layer by using the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a cured layer as described above. The surface layer of the organic electrophotographic photoreceptor is generally formed by a dip coating method, but the surface layer formed by the dip coating method (that is, the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor) is very much. It becomes smooth. Therefore, the contact area between the cleaning blade and the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is increased, the frictional resistance between the cleaning blade and the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is increased, and the above problem becomes remarkable.

  As a method of overcoming the chattering and peeling of the cleaning blade, a method of appropriately roughening the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is known. Examples of the technique for roughening the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member include the following methods. In order to facilitate separation of the transfer material from the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, control the technology for keeping the surface roughness of the electrophotographic photosensitive member within a specified range and the drying conditions when forming the surface layer. Thus, the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughened to a rough skin shape (see Patent Document 6). There is also a technique (see Patent Document 7) for roughening the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by containing particles in the surface layer. There is also a technique for roughening the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by polishing the surface of the surface layer using a metal wire brush (see Patent Document 8). In addition, the surface of the organic electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughened in order to solve the problem of cleaning blade reversal and edge chipping, which are problematic in electrophotographic apparatuses using specific cleaning means and toner at a specific process speed or higher. There is also a technique (refer to Patent Document 9). There is also a technique for roughening the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by polishing the surface of the surface layer using a film-like abrasive (see Patent Document 10). Furthermore, there is a technique (see Patent Document 11) for roughening the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by blasting.

  However, the above patent documents do not specifically describe the details of the surface shape of the electrophotographic photosensitive member roughened as described above. Further, the above-described roughening by the prior art, from the viewpoint of moderately roughening the surface layer, although a certain effect on the reduction of the frictional force with the cleaning blade described above is recognized, but further improvement is required. Yes. Furthermore, with respect to the problem of controlling the cleaning performance and toner adhesion from a microscopic viewpoint in that the surface shape is streaky, irregular or uneven in size, Further improvement is required.

On the other hand, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a predetermined dimple shape has been proposed by focusing on control of the surface shape of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and conducting detailed analysis and examination (see Patent Documents 12 and 13). . This method has been found to solve problems related to cleaning performance and rubbing memory. Specifically, a technique is disclosed in which the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member is compression-molded using a well-type stamper with unevenness. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, this technique can be formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by controlling the independent uneven shape better than the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 6 to 11 described above. Is considered to be more effective. According to this method, by forming a well-shaped concavo-convex shape having a length or pitch of 10 to 3,000 nm on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the toner releasability is improved and the nip pressure of the cleaning blade is reduced. It becomes possible to do. As a result, it is said that the wear of the photoreceptor can be reduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-127652 JP 05-216249 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-072640 JP 2000-066424 A JP 2000-066425 A JP-A-53-092133 JP-A-52-026226 JP-A-57-094772 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 01-099060 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-139666 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-150850 JP 2001-0666814 A International Publication No. 2005/093518 Pamphlet

  However, in the image forming apparatus in which the nip pressure of the cleaning blade is reduced as described above, cleaning failure tends to occur in an environment such as low temperature and low humidity. Further, in recent full-color image forming apparatuses, the toner has been reduced in particle size and spheroidized in order to improve the image quality. However, such a toner has higher fluidity, and therefore, compared with conventional toners. It is said that cleaning is difficult. Reducing the nip pressure of the cleaning blade is more disadvantageous from the viewpoint of maintaining the cleaning performance for such a small particle size and high sphericity toner. For this reason, it is difficult to maintain stable cleaning performance throughout the life of the photoreceptor.

  As described above, the conventional technology has a certain effect for improving the durability performance, the cleaning performance, and the suppression of image defects, but there is still room for improvement in improving the overall performance. This is the current situation.

  An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of exhibiting good cleaning performance in various usage environments even during long-term use, and an electrophotographic apparatus using the same. For the purpose.

  As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that the above-described problems can be effectively improved by controlling the surface shape of the photoreceptor to a specific range. Furthermore, it has been found that the above problems can be improved more effectively by controlling the surface shape of the photoreceptor and the cleaning means. The details are described below.

The present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support, and having an independent convex portion on the surface,
The protrusions independent of the surface are formed by laser ablation, or by performing shape transfer by pressing a mold having a predetermined shape against the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
When the convex area ratio Smr is defined by the following formula (1), the convex area ratio Smr on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfies the following formula (2). is there.
Smr = Scut / Sk (1)
(Sk indicates a reference area, and Scut obtains a three-dimensional surface shape curved surface with the reference area, and converts the three-dimensional surface shape curved surface to an average height surface (the height obtained by averaging the height values of all measurement data). The average height surface of Scut is the load length Rmr (50%) of the roughness curve defined in JIS B 0601-2001 in the plane direction. (This is the value obtained by extending to.)
Smr ≦ 0.40 (2)

Furthermore, the present invention comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an exposure unit for forming a charging unit that charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an electrostatic latent image on the charged the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, electrostatic a developing means for forming a toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by developing with toner a latent image, a transfer unit that transfers to a transfer material the toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member , and at least with an electrophotographic apparatus and a cleaning means, a to clean the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member after transferring the toner image, characterized in that said electrophotographic photosensitive member, an the electrophotographic photosensitive member An electrophotographic apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member and an electrophotographic apparatus that maintain good cleaning performance and have high toner transferability even during long-term durability and various usage environments.

  The electrophotographic photoreceptor and electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the characteristics of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention will be described.

The photoreceptor of the present invention has a concavo-convex shape on the surface, and the convex area ratio Smr is expressed by the following formula (1).
Smr = Scut / Sk (1)
(Sk indicates a reference area, and Scut indicates a three-dimensional surface shape curved surface obtained with the reference area at an average height plane (a plane constituted by the average height of all measurement data). Shows the cross-sectional area obtained by
Is defined by the following formula (2):
Smr ≦ 0.40 (2)
It is characterized by satisfying.

  Here, Scut in the present invention is a value obtained by extending the load length Rmr (50%) of the roughness curve defined in JIS B 0601-2001 in the surface direction.

  The measurement parameters were determined as follows.

Reference area (Sk) = 100 μm ²
Cut-off value (λs) = 0.25 μm
Cut-off value (λc) = 0.08mm

  The measurement is performed by dividing the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member into four equal parts in the direction of rotation of the photosensitive member and dividing it into 25 equal parts in the direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the photosensitive member, according to the above parameters. Do. Then, the Scut value obtained for each measurement point is arithmetically averaged, and the value obtained by dividing by the reference area is defined as Smr in the present invention.

Next, in the photoconductor of the present invention, the standard deviation Tσ of the convex shape interval with respect to the photoconductor longitudinal direction is expressed by the following formula (3).
Tσ ≦ Lpc (3)
(Lpc represents the average diameter of each convex shape obtained from the cross-sectional area obtained by cutting the surface shape curved surface at the average height surface)
It is preferable to satisfy.

In the present invention, the standard deviation Tσ is determined by the following procedure. First, the surface shape data of 100 μm ² used for the calculation of Scut is divided into 10 in the direction orthogonal to the photosensitive member rotation direction, and contour curve data with respect to the height direction at the dividing line position is extracted. Next, the obtained contour curve is cut at a cutting level of 50%, and the load length of each convex element is obtained. Here, the distance between the midpoints of the adjacent convex element load length line segments is defined as T (i), and the standard deviation for the entire T (i) obtained is defined as Tσ.

  The measurement of the convex portions on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member can be performed with a commercially available laser microscope. For example, the following laser microscope can be used. KEYENCE ultra-deep shape measuring microscopes VK-8550 and VK-8700. Surface shape measuring system Surface Explorer SX-520DR type machine manufactured by Ryoka System Co., Ltd. Scanning confocal laser microscope OLS3000 manufactured by Olympus Corporation. Or, Real Color Confocal Microscope Oplitex C130 manufactured by Lasertec Corporation.

Even when the Scut value of each convex shape is 1 μm ² or less, observation with a laser microscope and an optical microscope is possible. However, in order to further improve measurement accuracy, observation and measurement with an electron microscope as follows are performed. Is preferred. Keyence Corporation ultra-deep shape measuring microscopes VK-9500, VK-9500GII, VK-9700. A violet laser microscope such as Nano Search Microscope SFT-3500 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation. Real surface view microscopes VE-7800, VE-8800, and VE-9800 manufactured by Keyence Corporation. Alternatively, carry scope JCM-5100 manufactured by JEOL Ltd.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention having a plurality of independent convex portions. 2A to 2G show examples of specific Scut measurement surface shapes of the respective convex portions. The average diameter of each convex shape obtained from the cross-sectional area of the Scut measurement surface is defined as Lpc. Measurement surface views 3A to 3F show examples of specific shapes of cross sections of the respective convex portions in the normal direction of the photoreceptor. As shown in FIGS. 2A to G, various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, and a hexagon can be formed as the Scut measurement surface shape. Moreover, as a cross-sectional shape in the normal direction, as shown in FIGS. 3A to F, those having an edge such as a triangle, a quadrangle, and a polygon, a wave shape composed of a continuous curve, the triangle, a quadrangle, and a polygon Various shapes are possible, such as a part or all of the edges transformed into a curve.

  The plurality of convex portions formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member may all have the same shape, size, and depth, or may have a mixture of different shapes and sizes.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2G, the length of the straight line that is the maximum of each convex portion is defined as a major axis diameter Rpc. For example, the diameter is adopted as the minor axis diameter in the case of a circle, the minor axis in the case of an ellipse, and the shorter one of the sides in the case of a rectangle. In addition, for example, the diameter is defined as the major axis diameter Rpc in the case of a circle, the longer diameter in the case of an ellipse, and the diagonal line in the case of a quadrangle.

  In the present invention, a method of forming a plurality of convex portions on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes, for example, laser ablation processing. When a dimple-shaped recess is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor by laser ablation processing, it is preferable that the oscillation pulse width of the laser used is 1 ps or more and 100 ns or less. A laser having an oscillation pulse width shorter than 1 ps has too high coherence, so that it is difficult to perform mask exposure and productivity is lowered. Further, when the oscillation pulse width is longer than 100 ns, the surface is easily damaged by heat, and it becomes difficult to obtain dimples having a desired diameter. An excimer laser can be suitably used as the laser having an oscillation pulse width of 1 ps to 100 ns.

  In the excimer laser used in the present invention, first, a rare gas such as Ar, Kr, and Xe and a mixed gas of a halogen gas such as F and Cl are excited and coupled by applying energy with an electron beam or X-ray. To do. After that, when it dissociates by falling to the ground state, a laser beam is emitted.

Examples of the gas used in the excimer laser include ArF, KrF, XeCl, and XeF. In particular, KrF or ArF is preferable. As a method for forming the concave portion, as shown in FIG. 4, a mask in which a laser beam transmitting portion b and a shielding portion a are appropriately arranged is used. Only laser light that has passed through the mask is condensed by the lens and irradiated onto the workpiece, whereby a convex portion having a desired shape and arrangement is formed. Since a large number of convex portions within a certain area can be simultaneously formed regardless of the shape and area of the convex portions, the process can be completed in a short time. In the excimer laser, processing of several mm ² to several cm ² is performed per irradiation. In laser processing, as shown in FIG. 5, the photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) f is rotated by a work rotation motor d, and the laser irradiation position is shifted in the axial direction of the photosensitive member by a work moving device e. As a result, it is possible to efficiently form convex portions over the entire surface of the photoreceptor. At this time, the excimer laser irradiator c does not move. The depth of the convex portion is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 μm. According to the present invention, it is possible to realize rough surface machining with high controllability of the size, shape, and arrangement of the convex portions, high accuracy, and high flexibility.

  Further, in the present invention, when the same mask pattern is repeatedly processed, the uniformity of the rough surface on the entire surface of the photoreceptor is increased, and as a result, the mechanical load applied to the cleaning blade when used in the electrophotographic apparatus is uniform. It becomes. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a mechanical load applied to the cleaning blade is formed by forming a mask pattern on an arbitrary circumferential line of the photosensitive member so as to form an array in which both convex portions h and concave portions g exist. Can be further prevented.

  In the present invention, another method for forming a plurality of convex portions on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a method of transferring a shape by pressing a mold having a predetermined shape against the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

  FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a cross section of the apparatus. After the predetermined mold B is attached to the pressure device A that can repeatedly press and release, the mold is brought into contact with the photoreceptor C at a predetermined pressure to transfer the shape. Thereafter, the pressure is once released and the photoconductor C is rotated, and then the pressure is again applied to perform the shape transfer process. By repeating this process, it is possible to form a predetermined convex shape over the entire circumference of the photoreceptor C.

  Moreover, the following method is also possible as a method of shape transfer by a mold. As shown in FIG. 8, after a mold B longer than the entire circumference of the photoconductor C is attached to the pressure device A, the photoconductor C is moved in the direction of the arrow while applying a predetermined pressure to the photoconductor C. Rotate and move. By doing so, it is possible to form a predetermined dimple shape over the entire circumference of the photoreceptor.

  As another example, a sheet-shaped mold may be sandwiched between a roll-shaped pressurizing device and a photoreceptor, and surface processing may be performed while feeding the mold sheet. It is also possible to heat the mold and the photoreceptor for the purpose of efficiently transferring the shape.

  The material, size, and shape of the mold itself can be selected as appropriate. Examples of the material include metal having a fine surface processed, or a silicon wafer surface patterned with a resist, a resin film in which fine particles are dispersed, and a metal film coated on a resin film having a predetermined fine surface shape. It is done. An example of the mold shape is shown in FIGS. In FIG. 9A, A-1 is a view of the mold shape viewed from above, and A-2 is a perspective view of the mold shape viewed from the lateral direction. In FIG. 9B, B-1 is a view of the mold shape viewed from above, and B-2 is a perspective view of the mold shape viewed from the lateral direction.

  It is also possible to install an elastic body between the mold and the pressure device for the purpose of uniformly applying pressure to the photoreceptor.

By the way, the concavo-convex shape of the present invention works most effectively when applied to an electrophotographic photosensitive member whose surface is not easily worn. This is because an electrophotographic photosensitive member whose surface is hard to wear is highly durable, but problems such as chattering and scratching of the cleaning blade, rubbing memory, image flow, developability and transferability are likely to occur. Therefore, in the present invention, the elastic deformation rate of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is preferably 40% or more and 65% or less, more preferably 45% or more, and further preferably 50% or more. The universal hardness value (HU) of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is preferably 150 N / mm ² or more and 220 N / mm ² or less.

  If the universal hardness value (HU) is too large or the elastic deformation rate is too small, the elastic force on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is insufficient. Then, the paper powder or toner sandwiched between the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cleaning blade rubs the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, so that the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is likely to be damaged. As a result, wear tends to occur.

  In addition, if the universal hardness value (HU) is too large, even if the elastic deformation rate is high, the amount of elastic deformation becomes small. As a result, a large pressure is applied to the local portion of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Deep scratches are likely to occur on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Further, even if the universal hardness value (HU) is in the above range, if the elastic deformation rate is too small, the amount of plastic deformation becomes relatively large, so that fine scratches are likely to occur on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. And wear tends to occur. This is particularly noticeable not only when the elastic deformation rate is too small but also when the universal hardness value (HU) is too small.

  As described above, when the universal hardness value (HU) and the elastic deformation rate are in the above ranges, the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is less likely to be worn and scratches are less likely to occur. Therefore, since the above-mentioned fine surface shape changes very little from the beginning to after repeated use, or does not change, the initial performance can be maintained well even when used repeatedly for a long time.

  Here, the universal hardness value (HU) and elastic deformation rate of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member described above are the values of the microhardness measuring device Fischerscope H100V (manufactured by Fischer) in a temperature 23 ° C./humidity 50% RH environment. It is the value measured using. The Fischerscope H100V has a continuous hardness by making an indenter abut against the object to be measured (the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member), applying a continuous load to the indenter, and directly reading the indentation depth under the load. It is a device to seek. A Vickers quadrangular pyramid diamond indenter with a facing angle of 136 ° is used as the indenter. The indenter is pressed against the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the final load applied to the indenter is 6 mN, and the final load is 6 mN. The time (holding time) for holding the state applied is set to 0.1 second. The measurement points were 273 points.

  FIG. 10 shows an outline of an output chart of the Fischer scope H100V (Fischer). FIG. 11 shows an example of an output chart of a Fischer scope H100V (Fischer) when the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention is a measurement object. 10 and 11, the vertical axis represents the load F (mN) applied to the indenter, and the horizontal axis represents the indentation depth h (μm). FIG. 10 shows the results when the load applied to the indenter is increased stepwise to maximize the load (A → B) and then decreased gradually (B → C). FIG. 11 shows the results when the load applied to the indenter is increased stepwise to finally make the load 6 mN, and then the load is decreased stepwise.

Here, the universal hardness value (HU) can be obtained by the following equation from the indentation depth of the indenter when a final load of 6 mN is applied to the indenter. In the following formula, HU means universal hardness (HU), F _f means the final load, S _f means the surface area of the indented portion when the final load is applied, h _f means the indentation depth of the indenter when the final load is applied.

  In addition, the elastic deformation rate is the work amount (energy) performed by the indenter on the measurement target (the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member), that is, the increase / decrease of the load on the measurement target (the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member) It can be obtained from the change in energy due to. Specifically, a value (We / Wt) obtained by dividing the elastic deformation work We by the total work Wt is the elastic deformation rate. The total work Wt is the area of the region surrounded by A-B-D-A in FIG. 10, and the elastic deformation work We is the area of the region surrounded by C-B-D-C.

  Next, the configuration of the electrophotographic photoreceptor according to the present invention will be described.

  As described above, the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and an organic photosensitive layer (hereinafter also simply referred to as “photosensitive layer”) provided on the support. In general, a cylindrical organic electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer formed on a cylindrical support is widely used, but a belt-like or sheet-like shape is also possible.

  Even if the photosensitive layer is a single-layer type photosensitive layer containing the charge transport material and the charge generation material in the same layer, the charge generation layer containing the charge generation material and the charge transport layer containing the charge transport material Separated layered (functionally separated type) photosensitive layers may be used. From the viewpoint of electrophotographic characteristics, a laminated photosensitive layer is preferable. The laminated photosensitive layer has a normal layer type photosensitive layer laminated in the order of the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer from the support side, and a reverse layer type photosensitive layer laminated in the order of the charge transport layer and the charge generation layer from the support side. is there. From the viewpoint of electrophotographic characteristics, a normal layer type photosensitive layer is preferred. Further, the charge generation layer may have a laminated structure, and the charge transport layer may have a laminated structure. Further, a protective layer can be provided on the photosensitive layer for the purpose of improving the durability performance.

  The support may be anything that exhibits conductivity (conductive support). For example, a support made of metal (made of alloy) such as iron, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, zinc, titanium, lead, nickel, tin, antimony, indium, chromium, aluminum alloy, and stainless steel can be used. Moreover, the said metal support body and plastic support body which have the layer which formed the film by vacuum deposition of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, and an indium oxide tin oxide alloy can also be used. Also, a support in which conductive particles such as carbon black, tin oxide particles, titanium oxide particles, and silver particles are impregnated into plastic or paper together with an appropriate binder resin, or a plastic support having a conductive binder resin is provided. It can also be used.

  Further, the surface of the support may be subjected to cutting treatment, roughening treatment, or alumite treatment for the purpose of preventing interference fringes due to scattering of laser light.

  A conductive layer is provided between the support and the intermediate layer or photosensitive layer (charge generation layer, charge transport layer) described later for the purpose of preventing interference fringes due to laser light scattering and covering the scratches on the support. May be.

  The conductive layer can be formed using a conductive layer coating solution in which carbon black, a conductive pigment or a resistance adjusting pigment is dispersed and / or dissolved in a binder resin. You may add the compound which carries out hardening polymerization by the heating or radiation irradiation to the coating liquid for conductive layers. The surface of a conductive layer in which a conductive pigment or a resistance adjusting pigment is dispersed tends to be roughened.

  The thickness of the conductive layer is preferably 0.2 to 40 μm, more preferably 1 to 35 μm, and still more preferably 5 to 30 μm.

  Examples of the binder resin used for the conductive layer include the following. Polymers / copolymers of vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid ester, vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal. Polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyurethane, cellulose resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, silicon resin and epoxy resin.

  Examples of the conductive pigment and the resistance adjusting pigment include particles of metals (alloys) such as aluminum, zinc, copper, chromium, nickel, silver, and stainless steel, and those obtained by vapor deposition on the surfaces of plastic particles. Alternatively, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, bismuth oxide, indium oxide doped with tin, or metal oxide particles of tin oxide doped with antimony or tantalum may be used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more types are used in combination, they may be simply mixed, or may be in the form of a solid solution or fusion.

  An intermediate layer having a barrier function or an adhesive function may be provided between the support or the conductive layer and the photosensitive layer (charge generation layer, charge transport layer). The intermediate layer is formed to improve the adhesion of the photosensitive layer, improve the coating property, improve the charge injection property from the support, and protect the photosensitive layer from electrical breakdown.

  Examples of the material for the intermediate layer include the following. Polyvinyl alcohol, poly-N-vinylimidazole, polyethylene oxide, ethyl cellulose, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, casein, polyamide, N-methoxymethylated 6 nylon, copolymer nylon, glue and gelatin. An intermediate | middle layer is formed by apply | coating the coating liquid for intermediate | middle layers obtained by dissolving these materials in a solvent, and drying this.

  The thickness of the intermediate layer is preferably 0.05 to 7 μm, and more preferably 0.1 to 2 μm.

  Examples of the charge generating material used in the photosensitive layer of the present invention include the following. Pyrylium and thiapyrylium dyes. Phthalocyanine pigments having various central metals and various crystal systems (α, β, γ, ε, X type, etc.). Antanthrone pigment. Dibenzpyrenequinone pigment. Pyrantron pigment. Azo pigments such as monoazo, disazo and trisazo. Indigo pigment. Quinacridone pigment. Asymmetric quinocyanine pigment. Quinocyanine pigment. Amorphous silicon. These charge generation materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the charge transport material used in the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention include the following. Pyrene compounds, N-alkylcarbazole compounds, hydrazone compounds, N, N-dialkylaniline compounds, diphenylamine compounds, triphenylamine compounds, triphenylmethane compounds, pyrazoline compounds, styryl compounds, stilbene compounds.

  When functionally separating the photosensitive layer into a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, the charge generation layer can be formed as follows. First, the charge generating material is dispersed together with a binder resin and a solvent in an amount of 0.3 to 4 times (mass ratio) using a homogenizer, ultrasonic dispersion, ball mill, vibration ball mill, sand mill, attritor or roll mill. The charge generation layer is formed by applying the coating solution for charge generation layer thus obtained and drying it. The charge generation layer may be a vapor deposition film of a charge generation material.

  The charge transport layer can be formed by applying a charge transport layer coating solution obtained by dissolving a charge transport material and a binder resin in a solvent and drying the coating solution. In addition, among the above charge transport materials, those having film formability alone can be formed as a charge transport layer by itself without using a binder resin.

  Examples of the binder resin used for the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer include the following. Polymers and copolymers of vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters, vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene. Polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyurethane, cellulose resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, silicon resin and epoxy resin.

  The film thickness of the charge generation layer is preferably 5 μm or less, and more preferably 0.1 to 2 μm. The thickness of the charge transport layer is preferably 5 to 50 μm, more preferably 10 to 35 μm.

  In the present invention, in order to improve durability, which is one of the characteristics required for the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the material design of the charge transport layer serving as the surface layer is important in the case of the above-described function-separated type photosensitive member. For that purpose, high strength binder resin is used, the ratio of charge transport material and binder resin exhibiting plasticity is controlled, and polymer charge transport material is used. It is effective to form the surface layer with a curable resin in order to express the above.

  That is, in the present invention, the charge transport layer itself can be composed of a curable resin, and a curable resin layer can be formed on the above-described charge transport layer as a second charge transport layer or a protective layer. The characteristics required for the curable resin layer are both the strength of the film and the charge transport capability, and are generally composed of a charge transport material and a polymerized or crosslinkable monomer or oligomer.

  As the charge transport material, known hole transport compounds and electron transport compounds can be used. Examples of the polymerizable or crosslinkable monomer or oligomer include a chain polymerization material having an acryloyloxy group and a styrene group, and a sequential polymerization material having a hydroxyl group, an alkoxysilyl group, and an isocyanate group. Among these, from the viewpoint of the obtained electrophotographic characteristics, versatility, material design, and production stability, a combination of a hole transporting compound and a chain polymerization material is preferable, and both a hole transporting group and an acryloyloxy group are preferable. Particularly preferred is a system for curing a compound having in the molecule. As the curing means, known means using heat, light, and radiation can be used.

  The thickness of the hardened layer is preferably 5 to 50 μm, more preferably 10 to 35 μm, as described above in the case of the charge transport layer. In the case of the second charge transport layer or protective layer, the thickness is preferably 0.1 to 20 μm, and more preferably 1 to 10 μm.

  Furthermore, various additives can be added to each layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention. Examples of the additive include a deterioration inhibitor such as an antioxidant and an ultraviolet absorber, and a lubricant for fluorine atom-containing resin particles.

  The toner used in the present invention will be described below.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner can be suitably measured by a pore electrical resistance method. In the present invention, the weight average particle diameter of the toner was measured using Coulter Multisizer II (manufactured by Coulter). As the electrolytic solution, a 1% NaCl aqueous solution prepared using primary sodium chloride may be used. For example, ISOTON R-II (manufactured by Coulter Scientific Japan) may be used. As a measurement method, 0.3 ml of a surfactant (preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate) is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of the electrolytic aqueous solution, and 2 to 20 mg of a measurement sample is further added. The electrolyte in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the volume and number distribution of the toner are measured by the measuring device to calculate the volume distribution and the number distribution. (D4) (The median value of each channel is used as a representative value for each channel) and its standard deviation are obtained.

  When the weight average particle diameter is larger than 6.0 μm, particles of 2 to 60 μm are measured using a 100 μm aperture. In the case of a weight average particle size of 3.0 to 6.0 μm, a particle of 1 to 30 μm is measured using a 50 μm aperture. When the weight average particle size is less than 3.0 μm, particles of 0.6 to 18 μm are measured using a 30 μm aperture.

  In the present invention, the shape of the toner is defined by the average circularity. At that time, the average circularity of the toner is measured using a flow type particle image measuring device “FPIA-2100 type” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation), and is calculated using the following equation.

  Here, the “particle projected area” is the area of the binarized toner particle image, and the “peripheral length of the particle projected image” is the length of the contour line obtained by connecting the edge points of the toner particle image. Define. In the measurement, the perimeter of the particle image when image processing is performed at an image processing resolution of 512 × 512 (pixels of 0.3 μm × 0.3 μm) is used. In the present invention, the circularity is an index indicating the degree of unevenness of the toner particles, and is 1.000 when the toner particles are completely spherical. The more complicated the surface shape, the smaller the circularity.

  The average circularity C, which means the average value of the circularity frequency distribution, is calculated from the following equation, where ci is the circularity (center value) at the dividing point i of the particle size distribution and m is the number of measured particles.

  In addition, “FPIA-2100”, which is a measuring apparatus used in the present invention, calculates the circularity of each particle, and then calculates the average circularity. Divide 1.0 into classes equally divided by 0.01. Then, the average circularity is calculated using the center value of the dividing points and the number of measured particles.

  As a specific measurement method, 10 ml of ion-exchanged water from which impure solids have been removed in advance is prepared in a container, and a surfactant, preferably an alkylbenzene sulfonate, is added as a dispersant therein, and then further measurement is performed. Add 0.02 g of sample and disperse uniformly. As a means for dispersion, an ultrasonic disperser “Tetora 150 type” (manufactured by Nikka Ki Bios Co., Ltd.) is used, and dispersion treatment is performed for 2 minutes to obtain a dispersion for measurement. In that case, it cools suitably so that the temperature of this dispersion may not be 40 degreeC or more. In order to suppress variation in circularity, the installation environment of the apparatus is controlled to 23 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C. so that the in-machine temperature of the flow type particle image analyzer FPIA-2100 is 26 to 27 ° C. Then, automatic focusing is performed using 2 μm latex particles at regular intervals, preferably every 2 hours.

  For measuring the circularity of the toner, the flow type particle image measuring device is used, and the concentration of the dispersion is readjusted so that the concentration of the toner at the time of measurement is 3000 to 10,000 / μl. Measure more than one. After the measurement, using this data, data having an equivalent circle diameter of less than 2 μm is cut to determine the average circularity of the toner.

  Furthermore, “FPIA-2100”, which is a measuring apparatus used in the present invention, has the following advantages compared with “FPIA-1000” that has been used to calculate the shape of a conventional toner. That is, the magnification of the processed particle image has been improved, and the accuracy of toner shape measurement has been improved by improving the processing resolution of the captured image (256 × 256 → 512 × 512), thereby making sure the fine particles are more reliable. It is possible to supplement. Therefore, when it is necessary to measure the shape more accurately as in the present invention, the FPIA 2100 that can obtain information on the shape more accurately is advantageous.

  The average circularity of the toner particles is preferably 0.925 to 0.995. If the average circularity is less than 0.925, transfer efficiency (particularly multiple transfer and secondary transfer) starts to decrease, and as a result, the establishment of toner filming during durability increases. On the other hand, if it exceeds 0.995, the toner itself rolls very well, and slipping through cleaning is likely to occur, resulting in poor cleaning.

  The method for producing the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited, but in order to control the average circularity, it is preferably produced by a suspension polymerization method, a mechanical pulverization method, or a spheronization treatment. Further, in order to obtain an average circularity of 0.925 to 0.950, a mechanical pulverization method and a spheronization treatment are particularly preferable, and in order to obtain an average circularity of 0.950 to 0.995, a suspension polymerization method is particularly preferable. preferable.

  The toner shape is preferably in the above range, but this range can be achieved by adjusting the pulverization condition and surface treatment modification condition of the toner.

  As a developing method used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, first, there is a method of developing in a non-contact state with respect to a photoreceptor (one-component non-contact development). There is also a method (one-component contact development) in which development is performed in contact with the photoreceptor. Further, there is a method (two-component contact development) in which toner particles mixed with a magnetic carrier are used as a developer, and the developer is conveyed by magnetic force and developed in contact with a photoreceptor. There is also a method (two-component non-contact development) in which the two-component developer is developed in a non-contact state with respect to the photoreceptor. In the present invention, any of the above methods can be suitably used.

  Next, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus equipped with the photoconductor of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with a process cartridge suitable for carrying out the image forming method of the present invention. An instruction number 1 is a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum), which is driven to rotate about a shaft 2 in a direction indicated by an arrow at a predetermined peripheral speed. The peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 that is driven to rotate is uniformly charged to a predetermined positive or negative potential by a charging unit (primary charging unit: charging roller or the like) 3. Next, exposure light (image exposure light) 4 output from exposure means (not shown) such as slit exposure or laser beam scanning exposure is received. In this way, electrostatic latent images corresponding to the target image are sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. The charging unit 3 is not limited to the contact charging unit using a charging roller, and may be a corona charging unit using a corona charger, or may be another type of charging unit.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is developed with the toner of the developing unit 5 to become a toner image. Next, the toner image formed and supported on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is sequentially transferred onto a transfer material (plain paper / coated paper) P by a transfer bias from a transfer means (transfer roller or the like) 6. . Instead of the transfer material P, a system in which a toner image is once transferred to an intermediate transfer member or an intermediate transfer belt and then transferred to a transfer material is also possible.

  The transfer material P that has received the transfer of the toner image is separated from the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and is introduced into the fixing means 8 to receive the image fixing, and is printed out of the apparatus as an image formed product (print, copy). Be out. The peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 after the toner image is transferred is cleaned by a cleaning means (cleaning blade) 7 after the transfer residual toner is removed. Further, after static elimination processing by pre-exposure light (not shown) from pre-exposure means (not shown), it is repeatedly used for image formation. As shown in FIG. 12, when the charging unit 3 is a contact charging unit using a charging roller, pre-exposure is not necessarily required.

  Among the above-described components of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, the charging unit 3, the developing unit 5, the transfer unit 6 and the cleaning unit 7, a plurality of components can be housed in a container and integrally combined as a process cartridge. It is. The process cartridge may be configured to be detachable from the electrophotographic apparatus main body of a copying machine or a laser beam printer. In FIG. 12, the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, the charging unit 3, the developing unit 5 and the cleaning unit 7 are integrally supported to form a cartridge, and the electrophotographic apparatus is used by using a guide unit 10 such as a rail of the electrophotographic apparatus main body. The process cartridge 9 is detachable from the main body.

  Next, the cleaning configuration in the present invention will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cleaning means of the present invention. The cleaning blade 7a has a flat plate shape and a thickness of t (mm). The upper portion of the cleaning blade 7a is held by the blade support sheet metal 7b, and a free length L (mm) protrudes from the blade support sheet metal 7b. The cleaning blade 7 a is in contact with the photosensitive member 1 at a point A on the photosensitive member 1.

Here, the Young's modulus of the cleaning blade provided in contact with the photosensitive member is Yb [MPa], and the contact pressure of the cleaning blade to the photosensitive member is Ab [N / m]. At this time, the relationship among the convex area ratio Smr, the convex height Ldv, the Young's modulus Yb, and the contact pressure Ab of the photoconductor is expressed by the following formula (4).
0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Ldv (4)
It has been found that the increase in torque during cleaning is reduced when the condition is satisfied. This is considered to be because, in the region satisfying the formula (4), when the cleaning blade is pushed in, the blade surface does not reach the bottom surface of the uneven portion formed on the photoreceptor.

Further, when the weight average particle diameter of the toner is Dt, the following formula (5)
Ldv−0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Dt (5)
It has been found that when the toner satisfies the above condition, toner slippage during cleaning is reduced. This is considered to be because, in the region satisfying the formula (5), when the cleaning blade is pushed in, the distance between the blade surface and the bottom surface of the uneven portion on the photosensitive member becomes narrower than the toner particle diameter. From this viewpoint, the following formula (6)
Ldv−0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Dt−σ (6)
(Dt−σ represents a value obtained by subtracting the standard deviation of the particle size distribution of the toner from Dt)
It has been found that when the toner satisfies the above condition, the toner slippage is further improved.

Therefore, the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention has the following formulas (4) and (5).
0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Ldv (4)
Ldv−0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Dt (5)
(Ldv represents the height of the protrusion, and Dt represents the weight average particle diameter of the toner)
It is preferable to satisfy.

Furthermore, the convex area ratio Smr, Young's modulus Yb, and contact pressure Ab are expressed by the following formula (6).
Ldv−0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Dt−σ (6)
(Dt−σ represents a value obtained by subtracting the standard deviation of the particle size distribution of the toner from Dt)
Is more preferable.

  Further, the angle formed by the extension line of the blade support metal plate 7b and the tangent line on the photoconductor 1 at the point A where the extension line of the blade support metal plate 7b and the photoconductor 1 intersect with each other is the set angle of the cleaning blade to the photoconductor. It is defined as θ. θ is preferably 10 ° or more and 80 ° or less, and more preferably 20 ° or more and 70 ° or less. This is because when θ is less than 10 °, the cleaning performance tends to decrease due to dispersion of the contact pressure. Also, if θ exceeds 80 °, the cleaning blade 7a is inverted and the cleaning performance tends to be inferior.

  The contact length in the rotational movement direction of the photosensitive member at the contact portion A between the cleaning blade 7a and the photosensitive member 1 is 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less, and the contact pressure is 0.5 MPa or more and 20 MPa or less. It is preferable. Furthermore, the contact pressure is more preferably 0.5 MPa or more and 2.0 MPa or less. This is because if the contact length is less than 5 μm, the contact between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive member becomes unstable, whereas if the contact length exceeds 100 μm, the contact pressure is dispersed, and thus cleaning failure tends to occur. Because it is. When the contact pressure is less than 0.5 MPa, the contact between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive member becomes unstable and the toner easily slips through. When the contact pressure exceeds 20 MPa, the above-described problem due to an increase in frictional force tends to occur. .

The cleaning blade 7a is an elastic blade mainly composed of urethane rubber, and its physical property values are based on the measuring method described in JIS-K6301. The cleaning blade preferably has a hardness of 50 to 90 (Shore hardness HS), a 100% modulus of 20 to 90 (Kgf / cm ² ), and a rebound resilience of 5 to 70%. Further, it is preferable to treat the surface of the cleaning blade with an isocyanate compound on a part including the contact portion of the cleaning blade 7a with the photoreceptor 1. That is, it is preferable to use a product in which a cured thin film is formed on the surface of the polyurethane resin by reacting the isocyanate compound with moisture in the air or the polyurethane resin itself on the surface of the polyurethane resin, since the effect is further improved in the present invention. . The Young's modulus of the blade in the present invention was determined from a uniaxial tensile test.

  Further, the support method and shape of the cleaning blade 7a are not limited to those shown in FIG. 13, and can be appropriately selected according to the system to be used.

  Examples of the present invention will now be described, but the present invention is not limited to the following. In the examples, “part” means “part by mass”.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 1>
First, an electrophotographic photoreceptor used in the present invention was produced.

  A surface-cut aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 84 mm and a length of 370.0 mm was used as a support (cylindrical support).

  Next, 60 parts of powder composed of barium sulfate particles having a tin oxide coating layer, 15 parts of titanium oxide, 43 parts of resol type phenol resin, 0.015 part of silicone oil, 3.6 parts of silicone resin, 2-methoxy- 50 parts of 1-propanol / 50 parts of methanol were prepared. And the solution which consists of these materials was disperse | distributed with the ball mill for about 20 hours, and the coating material for conductive layers was prepared. The conductive layer dispersion prepared in this manner was applied on an aluminum cylinder by dipping, and was cured by heating in an oven at a temperature of 140 ° C. for 1 hour to form a resin layer having a thickness of 15 μm. Here, the powder made of the barium sulfate particles having the tin oxide coating layer is a trade name: Pastoran PC1, manufactured by Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. The titanium oxide is a trade name: TITANIX JR, manufactured by Teika Co., Ltd. The resol type phenol resin is trade name: Phenolite J-325, manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc., and has a solid content of 70% by mass. The silicone oil is trade name: SH28PA, manufactured by Toray Silicone Co., Ltd. The silicone resin is trade name: Tospearl 120, manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.

  Next, a solution prepared by dissolving 10 parts of a copolymer nylon resin and 30 parts of a methoxymethylated 6 nylon resin in a mixed solution of 400 parts of methanol / 200 parts of n-butanol was dip-coated on the resin layer, and the temperature was It was dried by heating in an oven at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes. By doing so, an intermediate layer having a film thickness of 0.45 μm was formed. Here, the copolymerized nylon resin is trade name: Amilan CM8000, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. The methoxymethylated 6 nylon resin is trade name: Toresin EF-30T, manufactured by Teikoku Chemical Co., Ltd.

  Next, 20 parts of hydroxygallium phthalocyanine having strong peaks at 7.4 ° and 28.2 ° of Bragg angle 2θ ± 0.2 ° of CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction, 0.2 part of calixarene compound having the following structural formula,

10 parts of polyvinyl butyral [trade name: ESREC BX-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.] and 600 parts of cyclohexanone were dispersed in a sand mill apparatus using glass beads having a diameter of 1 mm for 4 hours, and then 700 parts of ethyl acetate was added to charge. A dispersion for the generation layer was prepared. This was applied by a dip coating method and heated and dried in an oven at a temperature of 80 ° C. for 15 minutes to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.170 μm.

  Next, 70 parts of a hole transporting compound having the following structural formula,

100 parts of polycarbonate resin (Iupilon Z400, manufactured by Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics) was dissolved and prepared in a mixed solvent of 600 parts of monochlorobenzene and 200 parts of methylal to prepare a charge transport layer coating material. Using the coating material, a charge transport layer was dip-coated on the charge generation layer and dried by heating in an oven at a temperature of 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a thickness of 15 μm.

Next, after dissolving 0.5 part of fluorine atom-containing resin as a dispersant in a mixed solvent of 20 parts of 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptafluorocyclopentane and 20 parts of 1-propanol, A solution was prepared by adding 10 parts of tetrafluoroethylene resin powder as a lubricant. Then, the solution was subjected to four treatments at a pressure of 58.8 MPa [600 kgf / cm ² ] with a high-pressure disperser to uniformly disperse the solution. This was filtered with a polyflon filter (trade name: PF-040, manufactured by Advantech Toyo Co., Ltd.) to prepare a lubricant dispersion. Here, the fluorine atom-containing resin is trade name: GF-300, manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd. The 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptafluorocyclopentane is a trade name: Zeolora H, manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd. The tetrafluoroethylene resin powder is trade name: Lubron L-2, manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd. The high-pressure disperser is trade name: Microfluidizer M-110EH, manufactured by Microfluidics, USA.

  Thereafter, 90 parts of a hole transporting compound represented by the following structural formula, 70 parts of 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptafluorocyclopentane and 70 parts of 1-propanol were added to the lubricant dispersion. It was. And it filtered with the polyfluorone filter [Brand name: PF-020, Advantech Toyo Co., Ltd.], and prepared the coating material for 2nd electric charge transport layers.

  Using this paint, a second charge transport layer was applied on the charge transport layer and then dried in an oven at an atmospheric temperature of 50 ° C. for 10 minutes. Then, the electron beam was irradiated for 1.6 seconds in nitrogen while rotating the cylinder at 200 rpm under the conditions of an acceleration voltage of 150 KV and a beam current of 3.0 mA in nitrogen. Subsequently, in nitrogen, the temperature was increased from 25 ° C. to 125 ° C. over 30 seconds. The temperature was raised and a curing reaction was carried out. In addition, it was 15KGy when the absorbed dose of the electron beam at this time was measured. The oxygen concentration in the electron beam irradiation and heat curing reaction atmosphere was 15 ppm or less. Thereafter, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is naturally cooled in the air to a temperature of 25 ° C., and is subjected to a post heat treatment in the air for 30 minutes in an oven at a temperature of 100 ° C. to form a second charge transport layer having a thickness of 5 μm. A photographic photoreceptor was obtained.

A concave portion was formed on the outermost surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member obtained as described above using a KrF excimer laser (wavelength λ = 248 nm, pulse width = 17 ns). At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, a quartz glass mask having a pattern in which circular laser light shielding portions a having a diameter of 28 μm are arranged at intervals of 10 μm is used, and irradiation energy is set to 0.9 J / cm ² once. The irradiation area per irradiation was 1.4 mm square. In FIG. 14, b is a laser beam transmission part. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the photoconductor is rotated, and irradiation is performed while shifting the irradiation position in the axial direction. 1 was obtained.

The photoreceptor No. When the surface shape of No. 1 was magnified and observed with a laser microscope (VK-9500, manufactured by Keyence Corporation), as shown in FIG. 15A, a cylindrical convex portion having an average diameter Lpc of 5.6 μm was obtained. It was confirmed that they were formed at intervals of 2.8 μm. FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15B in FIG. As shown there, the average value of the height Ldv of the convex portion was 1.0 μm. Further, the average value of the convex shape intervals T was 8.0 μm, and the standard deviation Tσ was 0.4 μm. Further, the number of convex portions per 10,000 μm ² was 156, and Smr was 38%.

Further, the electrophotographic photoreceptor No. 1 was left in an environment of temperature 23 ° C./humidity 50% RH for 24 hours, and then the elastic deformation rate and universal hardness (HU) were measured. As a result, the elastic deformation rate value was 54%, and the universal hardness (HU) value was 180 N / mm ² .

<Photoreceptor Production Example 2>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced which was different from the photosensitive member production example 1 in the method of forming the recesses.

  First, in the same manner as in photoreceptor production example 1, an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a second charge transport layer was obtained.

The obtained electrophotographic photosensitive member was subjected to surface processing using the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 by installing the shape transfer mold shown in FIG. In FIG. 16, A shows the shape of the mold viewed from above, and B shows the shape of the mold viewed from the lateral direction. Moreover, D, E, and F represent the longest diameter, space | interval, and height of a recessed part, respectively. The temperature of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the mold is controlled so that the temperature of the charge transport layer in the pressurizing portion is 110 ° C., and the photosensitive member is circumferentially pressed while being pressurized at a pressure of 4.9 MPa (50 kg / cm ² ). The shape is transferred by rotating, and the photosensitive member No. 2 was obtained.

The photoreceptor No. obtained as described above was obtained. When the surface shape of No. 2 was enlarged and observed with a laser microscope (VK-9500, manufactured by Keyence Corporation), as shown in FIG. 17, a convex part with Lpc: 1.4 μm and depth Ldv: 1.0 μm was formed. I found out. In FIG. 17, A shows the arrangement state of the Scut plane. B represents the surface shape data of 100 μm ² used for calculating the Scut of the photoconductor in the normal direction of the Scut plane, divided into 10 in the direction orthogonal to the photoconductor rotation direction, and with respect to the height direction at the division line position. The cross-sectional shape of the surface which has a contour curve data convex part is shown. The shape measurement results are shown in Table 1 below.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 3>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a concave portion forming condition different from that of the photosensitive member production example 1 was produced.

Except that the irradiation energy of the excimer laser in forming the recess was 1.8 J / cm ² , processing was performed in the same manner as in Photoconductor Production Example 1, and Photoconductor No. 3 was obtained. The shape measurement results are shown in Table 1 below.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 4>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a method of forming a recess different from that of the photosensitive member production example 1 was further manufactured.

  First, after applying the second charge transport layer, it was prepared by the same method as in Production Example 1 until it was dried in an oven at an atmospheric temperature of 50 ° C. for 10 minutes. With the press-fitting shape transfer processing apparatus using the mold shown in FIG. 8, the shape transfer mold shown in FIG. The longest diameter, interval, and height of the mold recess used at this time were 2.0 μm, 1.0 μm, and 3.0 μm, respectively. The temperature of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the mold during processing was controlled at 80 ° C., and shape transfer was performed by rotating the photosensitive member in the circumferential direction while applying a pressure of 2 MPa.

  Thereafter, electron beam irradiation was performed for 1.6 seconds in a nitrogen atmosphere while rotating the support at 200 rpm under the conditions of an acceleration voltage of 150 KV and a beam current of 3.0 mA. Subsequently, the temperature around the support was raised from 25 ° C. to 125 ° C. over 30 seconds in a nitrogen atmosphere, and a polymerization reaction of the polymerizable material contained in the surface layer was performed. In addition, when the absorbed dose of the electron beam at this time was measured, it was 15KGy. The oxygen concentration in the electron beam irradiation and heating polymerization reaction atmosphere was 15 ppm or less. Thereafter, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is naturally cooled in the air to a temperature of 25 ° C. and subjected to a post-heat treatment in the air for 30 minutes in an oven at a temperature of 100 ° C. to form a second charge transport layer having a thickness of 5 μm. Body No. 4 was obtained. Table 1 shows the shape measurement results.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 5>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced which was different from the photosensitive member production example 1 in the material of the photosensitive member and the method of forming the recesses.

  First, in Production Example 1, instead of polycarbonate resin [Iupilon Z400, manufactured by Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd.], a charge transport layer having a film thickness of 20 μm is formed using a copolymerized polyarylate resin represented by the following structural formula. Formed. Thereafter, a material not forming the second charge transport layer was obtained as an electrophotographic photoreceptor.

(In the formula, m and n represent the ratio (copolymerization ratio) of the repeating unit in the present resin, and in the present resin, m: n = 7: 3. The present resin is a random copolymer. )

  The molar ratio of the terephthalic acid structure to the isophthalic acid structure in the polyarylate resin (terephthalic acid structure: isophthalic acid structure) is 50:50. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) is 130,000.

  Next, in the mold used in Photoconductor Production Example 2, except that D: 10.0 μm, E: 5.0 μm, F: 6.0 μm, and the temperature of the electrophotographic photoreceptor surface during processing was 150 ° C. In the same manner as in photoconductor production example 2, the photoconductor no. 5 was obtained. Table 1 shows the shape observation results.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 6>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced which was different from the photosensitive member production example 5 in the formation conditions of the recesses.

  First, an electrophotographic photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in photoreceptor production example 5.

Next, in the mold used in Photoconductor Production Example 2, D: 10.0 μm, E: 5.0 μm, F: 6.5 μm, and the temperature of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the mold during processing are controlled to 125 ° C. And 2.5 MPa (25 kg / cm ² ). Other than that, processing was carried out in the same manner as in Photoconductor Production Example 2, and Photoconductor No. 6 was obtained. Table 1 shows the shape observation results.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 7>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced which was different from the photosensitive member production example 2 in the method of forming the recesses.

  Photoreceptor No. 2 was prepared in the same manner as in Photoreceptor Production Example 2 except that surface treatment by mold transfer was not performed on the photoreceptor. 7 was obtained. Table 1 shows the shape measurement results.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 8>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced which was different from the photosensitive member production example 1 in the formation conditions of the recesses.

  First, an electrophotographic photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in photoreceptor production example 1.

  Next, processing was performed in the same manner as in Photoconductor Production Example 1 except that a mask in which the diameter of the laser light shielding portion a was expanded to 30 μm was used, and Photoconductor No. 8 was obtained. Table 1 shows the shape measurement results.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 9>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced which was different from the photosensitive member production example 1 in the method of forming the recesses.

  First, an electrophotographic photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in photoreceptor production example 1.

Next, irregularities were formed by polishing. A polishing sheet (trade name: C-2000, manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), polishing abrasive grains: Si-C (average particle size: 9 μm), substrate: polyester film (thickness: 75 μm), and photoreceptor. The surface was roughened. Specifically, the polishing sheet feed speed: 220 mm / sec, the electrophotographic photosensitive member rotation speed: 40 rpm, the pressing pressure: 3 N / m ² , the rotation direction of the polishing sheet and the electrophotographic photosensitive member is 3 minutes in the counter direction, and the rough surface The photosensitive member no. 9 was obtained. Table 1 shows the shape measurement results.

<Photoreceptor Production Example 10>
Next, an electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced which was different from the photosensitive member production example 1 in the method of forming the recesses.

  First, an electrophotographic photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in photoreceptor production example 1.

Next, irregularities were formed by blasting. Using a dry blasting apparatus (manufactured by Fuji Seiki Seisakusho), blasting was performed under the following conditions. The abrasive grains were spherical glass beads having an average particle diameter of 30 μm (trade name: UB-01L, manufactured by Union Co., Ltd.). At that time, the air blowing pressure was 3.5 kgf / cm ² , the blast gun moving speed was 333 mm / sec, and the work (photoconductor) rotation speed was 300 rpm. Further, the distance between the blast gun discharge port and the photosensitive member was 100 mm, the abrasive discharge angle was 90 °, the abrasive supply amount was 200 g / min, and the number of blasts was one way × 2 times.

  Further, the abrasive material remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member is removed by blowing compressed air to remove the photosensitive member No. 10 was obtained. Table 1 shows the shape measurement results.

<Nonmagnetic toner production example 1>
Next, a non-magnetic toner used in the present invention was manufactured.

First, the following materials were mixed in a blender.
Styrene / n-butyl acrylate copolymer 84.5 parts (mass ratio 85/15, Mw = 330000)
・ Saturated polyester resin (polycondensate of propylene oxide-modified bisphenol A and isophthalic acid, Tg = 56 ° C., Mw = 18000, acid value = 8, hydroxyl value = 13) 2.5 parts ・ negative charge control agent (ditter 3 parts, carbon black 7.0 parts, refined normal paraffin wax 5 parts (maximum endothermic peak 74 ° C. during temperature rise measurement in DSC)

  Then, the above mixture is melt-kneaded with a biaxial extruder heated to 110 ° C., and the cooled kneaded product is coarsely pulverized with a hammer mill (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), and then finely pulverized with an air jet fine pulverizer. did. The collision plate was adjusted to be 90 degrees with respect to the collision direction. The resulting finely pulverized product was subjected to air classification to obtain toner particles. Thereafter, spheronization treatment was performed with a batch-type impact surface treatment apparatus (treatment temperature 40 ° C., rotational treatment blade peripheral speed 75 m / second, treatment time 3 minutes).

  Next, with respect to 100 parts of the resulting spheroidized toner particles, 1.0 part of rutile titanium oxide fine particles, 0.7 part of hydrophobic silica fine particles having a primary particle size of 15 nm, and hydrophobic silica particles 2 having a primary particle size of 110 nm. .5 parts were externally added with a Henschel mixer. Thus, non-magnetic toner (black toner) No. 1 was obtained. Here, the rutile-type titanium oxide fine particles have a primary particle size of 35 nm and are treated with 10% by mass of an isobutylsilane coupling agent. The hydrophobic silica fine particles having a primary particle size of 15 nm are those treated with 10% by mass of silicone oil. The hydrophobic silica particles having a primary particle size of 110 nm are those treated with 5% by mass of silicone oil. Non-magnetic toner No. The physical properties of 1 are shown in Table 2 below.

<Nonmagnetic toner production example 2>
Next, a nonmagnetic toner having a different material from that of Nonmagnetic Toner Production Example 1 was produced.

  First, instead of using 7.0 parts of carbon black, C.I. Non-magnetic toner (cyan toner) No. 1 was prepared in the same manner as in Non-magnetic Toner Production Example 1 except that 7.0 parts of I Pigment Blue 15: 3 was used. 2 was obtained. Non-magnetic toner No. The physical properties of 2 are shown in Table 2 below.

<Nonmagnetic toner production example 3>
Next, a non-magnetic toner was produced by a method different from the above production example.

First, 250 parts of 0.1N—Na ₃ PO ₄ aqueous solution was added to 405 parts of ion-exchanged water and heated to 60 ° C., and then 40.0 parts of 1.07N—CaCl ₂ aqueous solution was gradually added to obtain calcium phosphate. An aqueous medium containing salt was obtained.

On the other hand, the following prescription was uniformly dispersed and mixed using an attritor (Mitsui Miike Chemical Co., Ltd.) to prepare a monomer composition.
-Styrene 80 parts-N-butyl acrylate 20 parts-Divinylbenzene 0.2 parts-Saturated polyester resin (polycondensate of propylene oxide modified bisphenol A and isophthalic acid, Tg = 70 ° C., Mw = 41000, acid value = 15 mg KOH / G, hydroxyl value = 25) 4.0 parts, negatively chargeable charge control agent (Al compound of di-tertiary butylsalicylic acid) 1 part, C.I. I Pigment Blue 15: 3 6.0 parts

  This monomer composition was heated to a temperature of 60 ° C., and 12 parts of an ester wax mainly composed of behenyl behenate (maximum endothermic peak 72 ° C. during temperature rise measurement in DSC) was added, mixed and dissolved. In this, 3 parts of a polymerization initiator 2,2′-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) [t1 / 2 (half-life) = 140 minutes, at 60 ° C.] was dissolved to obtain a polymerizable monomer composition. A product was prepared.

The polymerizable monomer composition is put into the aqueous medium, and the temperature is 60.5 ° C. and N ₂ atmosphere, and TK type homomixer (Special Machine Industries Co., Ltd.) is used at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes. Stir and granulate. Then, it was made to react at the temperature of 60.5 degreeC for 6 hours, stirring with a paddle stirring blade. Thereafter, the liquid temperature was raised to 80 ° C. and stirring was continued for 4 hours. After completion of the reaction, distillation was further performed at a temperature of 80 ° C. for 3 hours, the suspension was cooled, hydrochloric acid was added to dissolve the calcium phosphate salt, and filtration and washing were performed to obtain wet toner particles. Then, the particles were dried at 40 ° C. for 12 hours to obtain colored particles (toner particles).

100 parts of the toner particles, 1.0 part of hydrophobic silica fine particles having a primary particle diameter of 12 nm, and 1.5 parts of hydrophobic silica fine particles having a primary particle diameter of 110 nm are mixed with a Henschel mixer (Mitsui Miike Chemical Co., Ltd.). Mixed. Thus, non-magnetic toner (cyan toner) No. 3 was obtained. Here, the hydrophobic silica fine particles having a primary particle size of 12 nm are treated with 10% by mass of silicone oil and have a BET specific surface area value of 130 m ² / g. Further, the hydrophobic silica fine particles having a primary particle size of 110 nm are those treated with 5% by mass of silicone oil. Non-magnetic toner No. The physical properties of 3 are shown in Table 2 below.

<Manufacture of carriers>
Next, a carrier used in the present invention was manufactured.

First, the following materials were put into a four-necked flask, heated to 85 ° C. over 50 minutes while stirring and mixed, and reacted and cured at this temperature for 120 minutes.
-50 parts of phenol (hydroxybenzene)-80 parts of a 37% by weight formalin aqueous solution-50 parts of water-320 parts of magnetite fine particles surface-treated with a silane coupling agent (KBM403; manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 80 parts of α-Fe 2 O 3 fine particles surface-treated with a coupling agent (KBM403; manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 15 parts of 25% by mass ammonia water

  The mixed material was then cooled to 30 ° C. and 500 parts of water were added, the supernatant was removed, the precipitate was washed with water and air dried. Subsequently, this was dried under reduced pressure (665 Pa = 5 mmHg) at 160 ° C. for 24 hours to obtain a magnetic carrier core (A) using a phenol resin as a binder resin.

  A 3% by mass methanol solution of γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane was applied to the surface of the obtained magnetic carrier core (A). During coating, methanol was volatilized while coating while applying a shear stress to the magnetic carrier core (A) continuously.

  While stirring the magnetic carrier core (A) treated with the silane coupling agent in the processing machine at 50 ° C., the silicone resin SR2410 (manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.) is made 20% as the silicone resin solid content. Diluted with toluene. Then, it added under reduced pressure and performed 0.5 mass% resin coating.

  Thereafter, the toluene was volatilized while stirring in a nitrogen gas atmosphere for 2 hours, and then heat treatment was performed at 140 ° C. for 2 hours in a nitrogen gas atmosphere to loosen the agglomeration, and then 200 mesh (75 μm aperture). The above coarse particles were removed to obtain a carrier.

The obtained carrier had a volume average particle size of 35 μm and a true specific gravity of 3.7 g / cm ³ .

Example 1
The electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 was mounted on a modified machine (modified to a negatively charged type) of an electrophotographic copying machine iRC6800 manufactured by Canon Inc., and evaluated as follows.

  First, in an environment of a temperature of 23 ° C./humidity of 50% RH, potential conditions are set so that the dark potential (Vd) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is −700 V, and the bright potential (Vl) is −200 V. The initial potential of the photoreceptor was adjusted.

  Next, a cleaning blade made of polyurethane rubber was set so that the contact angle was 25 ° and the contact pressure was 26 g / cm with respect to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

First, the rotating state of the photosensitive member mounted in the modified machine in this state and without toner interposed was evaluated as follows.
◎: Rotation possible ○: Rotation possible but slight blade chatter △: Rotation is possible but blade is crumbly ×: Blade cannot be turned over

  As a result, as shown in Table 3 below, it was found that the photoconductor and the cleaning configuration of the present invention can achieve a good cleaning state even when no toner is present.

Next, the non-magnetic toner 1 and the carrier are mixed at a toner concentration of 8% to prepare a two-component developer No. No. 1 was manufactured, and an image output durability test of 5000 sheets was performed under the condition of intermittent A4 sheet size of 2 sheets. A test chart having a printing ratio of 5% was used. The cleaning blade edge on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member after the durability was observed, and the toner slipping state due to poor cleaning was evaluated as follows.
◎: No toner slipping ○: Very slight toner slipping in part of the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member Δ: Toner slipping in the entire longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member

  As a result, as shown in Table 3 below, toner slip-out due to poor cleaning was not observed.

  In addition, the rotational torque of the photoconductor before and after durability was measured by the current value of the motor. The initial torque was the average value of the current from the 5th sheet to the 10th sheet after the start of the durability, and the torque after the durability was the average value of the current during the printing of 5 sheets after 1000 sheets. The initial torque current value at this time was set to 1.0, and the ratio with the torque current value after durability was obtained. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3 below.

(Example 2)
A non-magnetic toner 3 and a carrier are mixed at a toner concentration of 8% to obtain a two-component developer No. 3 was prepared, and an image output test was conducted and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photoconductor, blade, and setting conditions used for image output were changed as shown in Table 3 below. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3 below.

  This example shows that the photoconductor of the present invention can maintain good cleaning performance even when using toner having a high average circularity.

(Examples 3 to 12)
An image output test was conducted and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photoconductor, developer, cleaning blade and setting conditions used for image output were changed as shown in Table 3 below. Here, only in Example 12, a two-component developer No. 2 produced by mixing the nonmagnetic toner 2 and the carrier at a toner concentration of 8%. 2 was used. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3 below.

  In this example, although an increase in torque was observed, good cleaning characteristics were exhibited in all cases.

(Comparative Examples 1-4)
An image output test was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photoconductor and developer used for image output were changed as shown in Table 3 below. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3 below.

  In the image output method of this comparative example, the cleaning characteristics with respect to the photosensitive member were inferior, and the torque increase was increased even during the endurance.

It is a figure which shows an example of the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor which has two or more independent recessed parts. It is a figure which shows the example (AG) of the shape of the opening of the recessed part of the electrophotographic photoreceptor surface in this invention. It is a figure which shows the example (A-F) of the shape of the cross section of the recessed part of the electrophotographic photoreceptor surface in this invention. It is a figure which shows the example (partial enlarged view) of the arrangement pattern of the mask of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the example of the laser processing apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example (partial enlarged view) of the arrangement pattern of the convex part of the outermost surface of the photoreceptor obtained by this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the example of the press-contact shape transfer processing apparatus by the mold in this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of another example of the press-contact shape transfer processing apparatus by the mold in this invention. It is a figure which shows the example (A, B) of the shape of the mold in this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the output chart of Fischer scope H100V (made by Fischer). It is another figure which shows an example of the output chart of Fischer scope H100V (made by Fischer). 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic apparatus including a process cartridge having the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the detail of an example of the contact method of the cleaning blade in this invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement pattern (partially enlarged view) of the mask used in the photoreceptor manufacture example 1. FIG. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an arrangement pattern (partially enlarged view) of convex portions on the outermost surface of the photoconductor obtained by the photoconductor production example 1, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the shape of the mold used in the photoconductor manufacture example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an arrangement pattern (partially enlarged view) of concave portions on the outermost surface of the photoconductor obtained in Photoconductor Production Example 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrophotographic photoreceptor 2 Axis 3 Charging means 4 Exposure light 5 Developing means 6 Transfer means 7 Cleaning means 7a Cleaning blade 7b Blade support sheet metal 8 Fixing means 9 Process cartridge 10 Guide means P Transfer material a Laser light shielding part b Laser light transmission Part c Excimer laser beam irradiator d Work rotation motor e Work moving device f Photosensitive drum g Recessed portion non-formed portion h Recessed portion formed portion A Pressure device B Mold C Photosensitive member

Claims (5)

An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support, the surface having independent protrusions,
The protrusions independent of the surface are formed by laser ablation, or by performing shape transfer by pressing a mold having a predetermined shape against the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
An electrophotographic photosensitive member characterized in that when the convex area ratio Smr is defined by the following formula (1), the convex area ratio Smr on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfies the following formula (2).
Smr = Scut / Sk (1)
(Sk indicates a reference area, and Scut obtains a three-dimensional surface shape curved surface with the reference area, and converts the three-dimensional surface shape curved surface to an average height surface (the height obtained by averaging the height values of all measurement data). The average height surface of Scut is the load length Rmr (50%) of the roughness curve defined in JIS B 0601-2001 in the plane direction. (This is the value obtained by extending to.)
Smr ≦ 0.40 (2) The electrophotographic standard deviation Tσ convex interval with respect to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive member, the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to 請 Motomeko 1 that satisfy the following formula (3).
Tσ ≦ Lpc (3)
(Lpc indicates the average diameter of each convex shape obtained from the cross-sectional area obtained by cutting the surface shape curved surface at the average height surface.) An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging means for charging the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the toner the electrostatic latent image transferring a developing means for forming a toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by developing, a transfer unit that transfers to a transfer material the toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the toner image a cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor after, and at least with an electrophotographic apparatus, that said electrophotographic photosensitive member, an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1 or 2 A feature of an electrophotographic apparatus. Said cleaning means, wherein a cleaning blade provided in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a Young's modulus of the cleaning blade Yb [MPa], the contact pressure on the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the cleaning blade Ab when the [N / m], the convex portion area rate Smr, the Young's modulus Yb and the contact pressure Ab is as defined in claim 3, characterized by satisfying the following formulas (4) and (5) Electrophotographic device.
0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Ldv (4)
Ldv−0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Dt (5)
(Ldv indicates the height of the protrusion, and Dt indicates the weight average particle diameter of the toner.) The convex portion area rate Smr, the Young's modulus Yb and the contact pressure Ab is, electrophotographic apparatus according to 請 Motomeko 4 that meet the following formula (6).
Ldv−0.0143 × Ab ÷ Yb ÷ Smr <Dt−σ (6)
(Dt−σ represents a value obtained by subtracting the standard deviation of the particle size distribution of the toner from Dt.)