JP5338361B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus solving greasing caused by toner scattering and not only allowing the use of small particle diameter toner but improving dot reproducibility by non-contact development with the use of the small particle diameter toner. <P>SOLUTION: The tandem type image forming apparatus 1 has a developing apparatus 13 for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor 11 disposed at a space in a position to face a toner supply roller 131 by applying DC voltage and AC voltage in a superimposed manner to a toner cloud generating electrode 14 installed between the toner supply roller 131 and the photoreceptor 11, at spaces from both of them, thereby applying electric potential to the toner supplied by the toner supply roller 131 to cause the toner to fly. The toner contains at least a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and a total energy value when measuring in a state of ventilating at ventilation speed of 0.6 mm/sec by a powder rheometer satisfies 3-15 mJ. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in image quality of an image forming apparatus that performs non-contact cloud development in a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine using an electrophotographic system.

In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus (in the case of an intermediate transfer method), a toner image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier is placed in a nip formed by the electrostatic latent image carrier and an intermediate transfer belt. The toner image is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt by applying pressure and electric force, then subjected to secondary transfer onto a recording member such as paper, and after a fixing operation by pressing and heating, the final image is obtain.
In order to obtain a high-quality final image, it is necessary to develop the toner faithfully to the electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier. However, in a development process using a general two-component developer, the developed toner is scraped off by a carrier at the time of toner development, so that it is difficult to faithfully develop the electrostatic latent image. In the case of one-component development, there is no scraping with a carrier, but the same problem occurs when development is carried out with the developing roller that conveys charged toner to the development area and the electrostatic latent image carrier. .
As a means for improving the image quality by reducing the stress applied to the developed toner as described above, a non-contact development method using a cloud development method has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In the cloud development method, a DC voltage and an AC voltage are superimposed and applied to an electrode provided at a distance between the toner on a toner supply member that is placed opposite to the electrostatic latent image carrier. As a result, the toner on the toner supply member is released, a cloud-like toner group is formed in the vicinity of the electrode, and the difference between the electrode potential and the image portion potential on the electrostatic latent image carrier is utilized to statically Development is performed only on the electrostatic latent image portion on the electrostatic latent image carrier. Therefore, the stress received after the toner is developed on the electrostatic latent image carrier is smaller than that in the contact development method, and a good toner image can be formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier.
In addition, a toner image is formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier in order to develop the toner released from the surface of the toner supply member on the electrostatic latent image carrier by an electrode between the electrostatic latent image carrier and the toner supply member. There is an advantage that the developing bias necessary for this is smaller than that of jumping development (for example, see Patent Document 2), which is also non-contact development.
Various non-contact developing devices that hop toner by controlling the voltage phase of the electrodes installed on the toner supply member have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 3), but the installation and control of the electrodes are complicated. Cost.
Further, a superimposed voltage of a DC voltage and an AC voltage is applied to the developing sleeve, and the DC voltage is applied to the linear control electrode (control electrode member electrode) between the latent image carrier and the developing sleeve from a common electrode. There has also been proposed an image forming apparatus that improves the appearance of magnetic brushes and prevents the generation of unnecessary cloud by applying (see, for example, Patent Document 4), but electrode installation and control are complicated and costly. There is a problem.
As described above, the cloud development method has an advantage that non-contact development can be performed with a relatively simple configuration. In view of the fact that there is almost no stress in the developing process on the developed toner on the electrostatic latent image carrier, a plurality of color toners are superimposed on a single electrostatic latent image carrier. Specialized in image forming apparatuses that perform image formation.

As described above, the cloud development method can be said to be an excellent development method in which the stress applied to the already developed toner image is small during development. However, when forming a color image by the cloud development method, it is difficult to suppress toner scattering on the photosensitive member. This drawback will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a general charging / static discharge (exposure) / development process using the cloud development method.
In this apparatus, image formation on the photoreceptor 11 is performed in the following procedure. First, the photosensitive member 11 rotating in the direction A in FIG. 17 is uniformly charged to the same polarity as the toner, for example, using the charging device 12. Next, using a static eliminator such as a laser, the image portion is neutralized to form a latent image. Thereafter, the toner supplied to the developing portion by the toner supply member 131 in the developing device 13 is clouded by the toner cloud generating electrode 15 and developed into an image portion (a portion subjected to charge removal) on the photoreceptor 11. By repeating this process sequentially, a color image is superimposed on the photoreceptor 11.

Here, FIG. 18 shows a process of developing a different color toner image on a portion where toner already exists. Conventionally, for example, FIG. 18A shows a state in which the toner image 7 is formed on the photoconductor 11 by an existing developing unit. Here, reference numeral 6 on the photoconductor 11 indicates a distribution of negative charges formed by the charging process.
When a toner image is formed on the toner image 7 in FIG. 18A by the next developing means (for example, when magenta toner is superimposed on yellow toner to form red), the already formed toner image 7 is included. Then, charging (negative polarity) is performed on the photoreceptor 11. At this time, negative charge is also applied to the toner, and the toner charge amount increases. For this reason, the electrostatic repulsive force between the toners increases, and as a result, a part of the toner image 7 is scattered on the photoconductor 11 and becomes soiled (FIG. 18B). At this time, the smaller the toner particle size, the larger the charge amount per one toner particle, the electrostatic repulsive force between the toners increases, the scattering on the photoconductor 11 increases, and the background stains are increased. Become prominent. Further, as shown in FIG. 18C, even when the toner scattering does not occur in this charging process, the charge that was originally held in the toner is removed by the subsequent charge removal process, and the electrostatic adsorption force is lost. Toner scattering occurs (FIG. 18D). At this time, as the toner has a smaller particle size, the amount of toner per unit area increases. Therefore, the amount of toner that loses the electrostatic attractive force increases, and toner scattering is more likely to occur.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus using the conventional cloud development method, the discharge of electricity is repeated on each color toner image on the single photoconductor 11 to form the toner image layer by the above-described toner scattering. It is difficult to eliminate background stains. In particular, scumming becomes noticeable when the toner lamination amount increases in a multicolor image and when a small particle size toner is used.
Although it has been proposed to suppress unnecessary cloud generation and prevent image smearing as in Patent Document 4, as described above, the fundamental cause of toner scattering on the photoconductor 11 is on the photoconductor 11. Each color toner is formed while being discharged and discharged, and it is difficult to suppress toner scattering by adjusting the cloud generation amount.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. By adopting a tandem cloud development system, the background contamination due to toner scattering, which was a problem in the conventional cloud development system, is solved, and the conventional cloud development is performed. Not only can the use of small-diameter toner that could not be used in the system be used, but rather, the use of small-diameter toner can further suppress scumming. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a process cartridge that have better dot reproducibility, which is a characteristic of non-contact development.
Further, by combining the tandem type cloud developing system and the photoconductor 11 described in the present invention, wear of the photoconductor 11 having high durability (wear resistance) and the surface of the photoconductor 11 due to scavenging does not occur. Due to the synergistic effect of the cloud development method, the image forming device can dramatically improve durability (wear resistance) than before, suppress scumming over a long period of time, and maintain good dot reproducibility, An object is to provide an image forming method and a process cartridge.

The features of the present invention, which is a means for solving the above problems, are listed below.
As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have come up with the invention shown below. That is, the present invention is as described in the following (1) to (12).
(1) A DC voltage and an AC voltage are superimposed and applied to a toner cloud generating electrode disposed between the toner supply member and the electrostatic latent image carrier so as to be supplied by the toner supply member. A developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier that is spaced apart from the toner supply member by applying a potential to the toner and flying the toner; and the electrostatic latent image carrier For each toner color used for image formation, and a toner image formed on each electrostatic latent image carrier by a developing device corresponding to each color, and sequentially transferring the toner image, and the transfer device A tandem type image forming apparatus comprising: a secondary transfer device that collectively transfers the toner images transferred in step 1 onto a recording member; and a fixing device that fixes the toner image on the recording member.
The toner contains at least a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and has a total energy value of 3 to 15 mJ when measured with a powder rheometer at a ventilation rate of 0.6 mm / sec. A tandem-type image forming apparatus.
(2) The toner has a weight average particle diameter of 2 to 7 μm and a ratio (D4 / Dn) of the weight average particle diameter (D4) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) of 1.0 to 1.2. The shape factor SF-1 is in the range of 110 to 150, and the shape factor SF-2 is in the range of 110 to 150. The tandem image forming apparatus according to (1),
(3) The toner includes, as an external additive, at least 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of inorganic fine particles having a primary average particle diameter of 80 to 500 nm with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner. (2) The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (2).
(4) The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the inorganic fine particles are at least one selected from silica and titanium oxide.
(5) In the toner, a toner material liquid in which at least a polymer having a site capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent is used. The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the tandem image forming apparatus is obtained by performing at least one of a crosslinking reaction or an extension reaction in a medium.
(6) The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the carrier used in the developing device has a weight average particle diameter in a range of 15 to 45 μm.
(7) The charging device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier is applied with at least a DC voltage on which an alternating voltage is superimposed, according to any one of (1) to (6) The tandem type image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.
(8) A charging device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier includes a charging member that is in the form of a roller and is disposed in close proximity to the electrostatic latent image carrier. The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7).
(9) The latent electrostatic image bearing member has at least a photosensitive layer on the conductive support 111, and has at least a trifunctional or higher-functional radical polymerizable monomer and no charge on the surface of the photosensitive layer. The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the tandem image forming apparatus has a cross-linked surface layer obtained by curing a radically polymerizable compound having a transporting structure with a light energy irradiation device.
(10) The fixing device is made of a magnetic metal and is stretched between a heating roller heated by electromagnetic induction, a fixing roller arranged in parallel with the heating roller, the heating roller and the fixing roller, An endless belt-shaped toner heating medium that is heated by the heating roller and rotated by the two rollers, and is pressed against the fixing roller via the toner heating medium, and in a forward direction with respect to the toner heating medium The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (9), further including a pressure roller that rotates to form a fixing nip portion.
(11) An image forming method comprising forming an image using the tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (10).
(12) The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein at least the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing device are detachably integrated. Process cartridge.

The present invention, which is a means for solving the above problems, has the following specific effects.
According to the present invention, not only the background contamination due to toner scattering, which has been a problem in the conventional cloud development method, is solved, but it is possible not only to use a small particle size toner that could not be employed in the conventional cloud development method, An image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can suppress scumming more by adopting a particle size toner, and further improve dot reproducibility that is a characteristic of non-contact development by using a small particle size toner. A forming method and a process cartridge can be provided.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a process cartridge used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a contact-type charging device used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the developing device used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention in more detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement and separation distances of the cloud generation electrode, the toner supply roller, and the electrostatic latent image carrier in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and types of voltages applied to the cloud generation electrode and the toner supply roller. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a fixing device used in an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a layer configuration of a heating belt included in the fixing device. It is a figure which shows the vertical load and rotational torque in a powder rheometer. It is a figure which shows how to obtain | require the total energy with a powder rheometer. It is a figure for demonstrating the shape of the rotary blade used with a powder rheometer. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the shape of a toner in order to explain the shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the electrophotographic photoreceptor used for the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of 1by3 dot pattern of 600 dpi used for image evaluation. It is a figure which shows the order of the color printed when printing using a dot pattern, and a magnitude | size (length of a recording paper conveyance direction and a perpendicular direction). It is a figure which shows the general electrification, static elimination (exposure), and development process using a cloud image development system. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the background dirt and toner scattering which generate | occur | produce with the conventional cloud image development system.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a process cartridge according to the present invention will be described in detail by embodiments. Each embodiment described below is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and various technically preferable limitations are given, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a main configuration of an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
1 and 2, a tandem type image forming apparatus having four image forming stations, each of which forms an image of a different color and finally obtains a color image. Hereinafter, the image formation will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document transport device (ADF) 5 that transports a document, a scanner unit 4 for reading a document, and a digital signal output from the scanner unit electrically processed by the image processing unit. The image forming unit 3 forms an image on a recording sheet based on a digital signal output from the processing unit. In the scanner unit 4, an image of a document placed on the document placement table is read by a color CCD through an irradiation lamp, a mirror, and a lens, and the data is sent to the image processing unit. In the image processing unit, necessary processing is performed on the data, converted into an image signal, and sent to the image forming unit 3.

In the image forming unit 3, four image forming stations 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K using yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) toners are arranged in parallel. One intermediate transfer belt 21 and one secondary transfer roller 25 are provided for one image forming station 10. As an example of the image forming station 10 constituting the image forming apparatus 1, a configuration of a yellow image forming station 10Y is shown. In particular, the other cyan image forming station 10C, magenta image forming station 10M, and black image forming station 10K have the same configuration and operation unless otherwise described.
The image forming station 10 can be used as a process cartridge 10 that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1.
When the image forming operation is started, at the yellow image forming station 10Y, the surface of the photoconductor 11 serving as an electrostatic latent image carrier is uniformly charged by the charging device 12. Each of the photoreceptors 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K in which an organic photoreceptor layer is formed on an electrically grounded cored bar is rotatably held in the directions of arrows A1 to A4, and the charging device 12Y by each corona discharge. , 12C, 12M, and 12K, the surface is uniformly negatively charged, and then light exposure is performed on image portions corresponding to the respective colors by the exposure devices 30Y, 30C, 30M, and 30K including light emitting means including laser diodes (not shown). As a result, electrostatic latent images are formed on the photoreceptors 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K.
Then, an electrostatic latent image of a yellow component image of a full-color original is formed on the charged photoreceptor 11 by exposure from the optical writing exposure device 30, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 13Y. Imaged. In addition, similar image forming operations are performed in the cyan image forming station, the magenta image forming station, and the black image forming station 10 with a predetermined time difference, and toner images of cyan, magenta, and black are formed on each photoconductor 11. Is done. In order to superimpose the toner images Y, C, M, and Bk formed on the photoreceptor 11 at the image forming stations 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K as one full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 21, the intermediate transfer is performed. On the back side of the belt 21, a primary transfer roller 23 is disposed at a position opposite to the photoconductor 11 of each image forming station 10, and a predetermined transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 23, whereby the toner of each image forming station 10. The images are successively transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 in a superimposed manner.

The photoreceptor 11 in each image forming station 10 after being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21 has its surface potential removed by an unillustrated photo-eliminator unit, and residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor 11 is removed by a cleaning blade of the cleaning device 15. A series of image forming cycles such as removal and charging by the charging device 12 described above are repeated. After the transfer by the intermediate transfer belt 21, the surface of the photoconductor 11 is neutralized by an optical neutralization unit, and then a residue such as toner is removed by a cleaning device 15. The toner removed by the cleaning device 15 is transported to a waste toner storage tank through a waste toner transport path.
Deposits such as toner and paper dust remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the transfer of the full-color toner image to the recording paper 6 are removed by a cleaning brush roller and a cleaning blade (not shown) of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 22. In the same manner as the photoconductor waste toner, the toner is conveyed to a waste toner storage unit. Tension rollers 211, 212, and 213 installed in a transfer unit including the intermediate transfer belt 21, a roller 211 facing the transfer roller 25, a transfer bias power source, a belt drive shaft, and the like apply tension to the transfer belt by a cam mechanism. By releasing, the intermediate transfer belt 21 can be changed between a state where it is in contact with the photoconductor 11 of each image forming station 10 and a state where it is separated.
As a result, when the machine is operating, the photosensitive member 11 of each image forming station 10 is brought into a contact state before rotating, and when the machine is stopped, the photosensitive member 11 is separated from the photosensitive member 11. After the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21, the surface of the photoreceptor is neutralized by the light neutralizing unit, and the cleaning device 15 first (upstream position in the rotational direction of the photosensitive body in the cleaning unit) first counters the rotational direction of the photosensitive body. The brush roller is rotated in the direction of contact to disturb the residual toner and adhering matter on the photoconductor to weaken the adhesion to the photoconductor 11, and a blade made of a rubber elastic body is brought into contact with the photoconductor 11 at the downstream position. In this way, the above-described disturbed toner and deposits are removed.

Thereafter, the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21 is synchronized with the secondary transfer roller 25 to which a predetermined bias is applied to the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 that has become one full-color image. Then, it is transferred onto the recording paper conveyed. The transfer device 20 includes a primary transfer roller 23, a secondary transfer roller 25, an intermediate transfer belt 21, a belt cleaning device 22, and the like.
In addition, the recording paper 6 is selected from the plurality of paper feeding cassettes 40 arranged in the paper feeding device 2 by the pick-up roller 42 from the paper feeding cassette 40 by the recording paper selected by the control of the image forming apparatus 1. It is pulled out one by one. Then, the image is conveyed to the image forming 3 by the conveying roller 43. Then, the registration roller 44 measures the timing of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 and sends it to the secondary transfer roller 25.
Thereafter, the recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 31 and heated and pressurized to fix the toner image on the recording paper and output a full color image.
Further, when performing double-sided printing, it is sent back to the double-sided conveyance unit 32 before being sent from the image fixing device 31 to the paper discharge tray 48. Thereafter, it is sent again to the previous registration roller 44 and printing on the second surface is performed.

In the developing device 13, a developing sleeve 132 including a magnetic field generating unit is disposed in a position facing the photoconductor 11. Below the developing sleeve 132, a screw 134 for mixing toner introduced from a toner bottle (not shown) with a developer and pumping it up to the developing sleeve 132 while stirring, and a paddle 135 for stirring and mixing the toner and the carrier, Is provided. The developer composed of toner and magnetic carrier pumped up by the developing sleeve 132 is regulated to a predetermined developer layer thickness by a doctor blade (not shown) and is carried on the developing sleeve 132. The developing sleeve 132 carries and conveys the developer while moving in the same direction at a position facing the photoconductor 11 and supplies toner to the latent image surface of the photoconductor 11.
Although FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the two-component developing type developing device 13, the present invention is not limited to this, and a one-component developing type developing device can also be applied. Further, in the developing devices 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K, different color toners are held in a negatively charged state together with the carrier. Further details will be described later.
The charging device 12 applies a predetermined voltage from the power source 134 to uniformly charge the surface of the photoconductor 11 by bringing a charging roller 121, which is a charging member disposed opposite to the photoconductor 11, into contact or non-contact. Further details will be described later.
Further, the cleaning device 15 has a cleaning blade for the photoreceptor 11. Further, although not shown, a recovery blade, a film, and the like for recovering the cleaned toner and a recovery coil for transporting the toner are provided. The cleaning blade is made of a material such as metal, resin, rubber, etc., and rubbers such as fluorine rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, urethane rubber are preferably used, and among these, urethane rubber is particularly preferable. In addition, a lubricant application device that applies a fluororesin, a silicone resin, and a metal stearate such as zinc stearate and aluminum stearate as a lubricant may be provided.

In FIG. 1, the image forming station 10 used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention also functions as a process cartridge.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of a process cartridge used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, in the process cartridge 10, a charging device 12, a developing device 13, and a cleaning device 15 are arranged around the photoconductor 11. The process cartridge 10 only needs to include at least the photoconductor 11 and other process devices. A latent image is formed on the photoconductor 11 by the laser light L emitted from the exposure device 30 disposed on the upper portion.

In FIG. 2, charging devices 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K of each corona discharge type are shown as means for charging the photoconductor 11 on average, but other than this, solid discharge elements, needle electrode devices, rollers A known method such as a charging device or a conductive brush device can be used. This is particularly effective when a charging device such as a contact charging method or a non-contact proximity charging method is used.
The contact charging method referred to here is a charging method in which a charging member such as a charging roller, a charging brush, or a charging blade is in direct contact with the photoreceptor 11. On the other hand, the proximity charging method is, for example, a type in which the charging roller is arranged close to the surface of the photoreceptor 11 in a non-contact state so as to have a gap of 200 μm or less. If the gap is too large, the charging tends to become unstable. If the gap is too small, the surface of the charging member may be contaminated when toner remaining on the photoreceptor 11 is present. There is. Accordingly, the gap is suitably 10 to 200 μm, preferably 10 to 100 μm. It is preferable to apply at least a DC voltage on which an alternating voltage is superimposed to the charging device. Thereby, it is possible to uniformly charge the entire length of the photoconductor 11 as compared with the case where only the DC voltage is applied. Due to the synergistic effect of applying the DC voltage with the alternating voltage superimposed on the charging device 12 and the clouding of the toner in the developing device 13 which will be described later, an image having a uniform density can be obtained particularly in a solid image.

<In case of roller charging>
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the configuration of an example of a contact-type charging device used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. A photoconductor 11 as an image carrier that is a charged body is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed (process speed) in the direction of an arrow. The charging roller 121 which is a charging member brought into contact with the photosensitive member 11 is basically composed of a cored bar 122 and a conductive rubber layer 123 concentrically and integrally formed on the outer periphery of the cored bar 122. In addition to being held freely rotating by a bearing member (not shown) or the like, the photosensitive member 11 is pressed with a predetermined pressing force by a pressing means (not shown). It rotates following the rotation drive. The charging roller 121 is formed to a diameter of 16 mm by coating a medium resistance rubber layer of about 100,000 Ω · cm on a core metal having a diameter of 9 mm.
In addition to the charging roller 121, a magnetic brush can be selected as the shape of the charging member used in the present invention. In the case of using a magnetic brush, the magnetic brush is composed of various ferrite particles such as Zn—Cu ferrite as a charging member, a non-magnetic conductive sleeve for supporting it, and a magnet roll included therein. In addition, when using a fur brush, for example, as a material of the fur brush, a fur treated with carbon, copper sulfide, metal, and metal oxide is used, and this is wound around a metal or other conductive core metal. By charging or pasting, it becomes a charger.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the developing device used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention in more detail. The toner in the developing device 131 is stirred and charged together with the carrier by the screw 134 and then pumped up by the paddle 135 to form a magnetic spike on the developing sleeve 132. The toner on the magnetic spike moves onto the toner supply roller 131 due to a potential difference (V _T −V _R ) applied to the toner supply roller 131 and the developing sleeve 132.
The subsequent development process will be described for the first station (the most upstream station in FIG. 2). The toner on the toner supply roller is clouded due to potential difference fluctuation between the cloud generation electrode 14 to which the DC voltage and the AC voltage are superimposed and the toner supply roller 131. The clouded toner floats in the vicinity of the cloud generation electrode 14, and when the image portion latent image on the photoconductor 11 approaches the opposite surface, the photoconductor 11 is caused by the potential difference between the image portion potential and the cloud generation electrode potential. And image formation is performed on the image portion. The toner remaining on the photoconductor 11 is removed by the cleaning device 19.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement and separation distances of the cloud generation electrode, toner supply roller, and photoconductor in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and the types of voltages applied to the cloud generation electrode and toner supply roller. As shown in FIG. 6, the cloud generation electrode 14 is disposed at the closest distance dc from the toner supply roller 131 and at the closest distance (dg−dc) from the surface of the photoreceptor 11. Two to four tungsten wires are formed as electrodes at intervals of 1 mm and perpendicular to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 11. In addition, a direct voltage (potential Vc) and an alternating voltage (potential Vpp) are superimposed and applied to the cloud generation electrode 14 in order to perform the toner development described above.
In other stations, toner images of the respective colors are formed on the photosensitive member 11 through the same process. The toner image formed on the photoconductor 11 is superimposed and transferred by an electric field and pressure on the intermediate transfer belt 21 in order from the upstream in the vicinity of the primary transfer nip formed by each primary transfer roller 23 corresponding to each photoconductor 11. To form a color image.
Thereafter, the image is transferred onto the recording paper 6 moving in the direction C in FIG. 2 using an electric field and pressure at the secondary transfer nip formed by the secondary transfer roller 25 and the secondary transfer counter roller 211. The toner image transferred onto the recording paper 6 is fixed on the recording paper 6 by the pressure and heat generated by the fixing device 50 to obtain a final image.

The intermediate transfer belt 21 is preferably a resin layer, but may have an elastic layer or a surface layer as necessary. Examples of the resin material constituting the resin layer include polycarbonate, fluororesin (ETFE, PVDF), polystyrene, chloropolystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-vinyl chloride copolymer, styrene- Vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, Styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer and styrene-phenyl acrylate copolymer), styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid) Acid phenyl copolymers, etc.), styrene-α -Styrenic resins such as methyl chloroacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid ester copolymer (monopolymer or copolymer containing styrene or styrene substitution product), methyl methacrylate resin, butyl methacrylate resin , Ethyl acrylate resin, butyl acrylate resin, modified acrylic resin (silicone modified acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin modified acrylic resin, acrylic / urethane resin, etc.), vinyl chloride resin, styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-acetic acid Vinyl copolymer, rosin-modified maleic acid resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyester polyurethane resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, polyvinylidene chloride, ionomer resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, Ton resin, ethylene - can be used ethyl acrylate copolymer, xylene resin and polyvinyl butyral resin, polyamide resin, one kind or two kinds or more selected from the group consisting of modified polyphenylene oxide resin. However, it is natural that the material is not limited to the above materials.
Examples of the elastic material (elastic material rubber, elastomer) constituting the elastic layer include butyl rubber, fluorine-based rubber, acrylic rubber, EPDM, NBR, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene rubber natural rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, Butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene terpolymer, chloroprene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, urethane rubber, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, epichlorohydrin rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber , Polysulfide rubber, polynorbornene rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, thermoplastic elastomer (eg polystyrene, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyamide, polyurea, polyester , It is possible to use one kind or two kinds or more selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon resin) or the like. However, it is a matter of course that the material is not limited to the above materials.

The material of the surface layer of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is not particularly limited, but a material that increases the secondary transfer property by reducing the adhesion force of the toner to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is required. For example, materials that use one or more of polyurethane, polyester, epoxy resin, etc. to reduce surface energy and increase lubricity, such as fluorine resin, fluorine compound, fluorocarbon, titanium dioxide, silicon carbide, etc. One kind or two or more kinds of powders and particles or particles having different particle diameters can be dispersed and used. Further, it is also possible to use a material having a surface energy reduced by forming a fluorine-rich layer on the surface by heat treatment, such as a fluorine-based rubber material.
Further, a resistance value adjusting conductive agent is added to the resin layer and the elastic layer of the intermediate transfer belt 21. The conductive material for adjusting the resistance value is not particularly limited. For example, carbon black, graphite, metal powder such as aluminum and nickel, tin oxide, titanium oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, potassium titanate, antimony oxide-tin oxide Conductive metal oxides such as composite oxide (ATO) and indium oxide-tin oxide composite oxide (ITO), and conductive metal oxide covered with insulating fine particles such as barium sulfate, magnesium silicate, and calcium carbonate. It may be a thing. Of course, the conductive agent is not limited thereto.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an example of a fixing device used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As the fixing device 50 used in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, for example, the fixing device 50 shown in FIG. 7 can be preferably used.
The fixing device 50 shown in FIG. 7 includes a heating roller 51 that is heated by electromagnetic induction of the induction heating unit 56, a fixing roller 52 (opposite rotating body) arranged in parallel with the heating roller 51, and the heating roller 51 and the fixing roller. And an endless belt-like heat-resistant belt (toner heating medium) 53 that is heated by the heating roller 51 and rotated in the direction of arrow A by rotation of at least one of these rollers. The pressure roller 54 is a pressure roller (pressure rotator) that is pressed against the fixing roller 52 and rotates in the forward direction with respect to the belt 53.
According to such a fixing device 50, the following effects can be obtained. That is, in a normal fixing device, when paper is continuously passed, fixing heat is taken away by the paper, so that the temperature drop (fluctuation) becomes remarkable with respect to the target fixing temperature. However, when the fixing device 50 is heated by electromagnetic induction, the temperature can be increased rapidly, so that the fixing heat deprived by the paper can be immediately compensated. The drop (fluctuation) in the fixing temperature can be reduced. When a high adhesion amount image such as a solid image is continuously passed, an unfixed image that has been uniformly developed due to the clouding of toner is fixed at a constant temperature, so of course within the page due to its synergistic effect Thus, an image having a uniform density with no density variation between pages can be obtained.

In the above configuration, the heating roller 51 is made of a hollow cylindrical magnetic metal member such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or an alloy of these metals, and has an outer diameter of, for example, 20 to 40 mm and a thickness of, for example, 0.3 to 1.0 mm. As a result, the temperature rises quickly with a low heat capacity.
The fixing roller 52 (opposing rotating body) includes a metal core 521 made of, for example, stainless steel, and an elastic member 522 covered with a core metal 521 in a solid or foamed heat-resistant silicone rubber. In order to form a contact portion having a predetermined width between the pressure roller 54 and the fixing roller 52 by the pressing force from the pressure roller 54, the outer shape is set to about 20 to 40 mm, which is larger than the heating roller 51. The elastic member 522 has a thickness of about 4 to 6 mm. With this configuration, the heat capacity of the heating roller 51 is smaller than the heat capacity of the fixing roller 52, so that the heating roller 51 is rapidly heated and the warm-up time is shortened.
The belt 53 stretched between the heating roller 51 and the fixing roller 52 is heated at a contact portion (W1) with the heating roller 51 heated by the induction heating means 56. The inner surface of the belt 53 is continuously heated by the rotation of the heating roller 51 and the fixing roller 52, and as a result, the entire belt 53 is heated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a layer configuration of a heating belt included in the fixing device. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the belt 53. The configuration of the belt 53 is as follows.
The following four layers are formed from the inner layer to the surface layer.
・ Base 544 (resin layer: polyimide (PI) resin, etc.)
・ Heat generation layer 541 (Ni, Ag, SUS, etc. as conductive materials)
・ Intermediate layer 542 (Aiming for uniform fixing with an elastic layer)
・ Surface layer (release layer) 543 (Aiming at release effect and oilless with fluororesin material)
The thickness of the release layer 543 is desirably about 10 μm to 300 μm, and particularly desirably about 200 μm. In this way, the toner image 7 formed on the recording paper 6 is sufficiently wrapped by the surface layer portion of the belt 53, so that the toner image 7 can be uniformly heated and melted.
The thickness of the release layer 543, that is, the surface release layer, needs to be at least 10 μm in order to ensure wear resistance over time. Further, when the thickness of the release layer 543 is larger than 300 μm, the heat capacity of the belt 53 is increased and the time required for warm-up is increased. In addition, in the toner fixing process, the belt surface temperature is difficult to decrease, the agglomeration effect of the melted toner at the fixing portion outlet cannot be obtained, the belt releasability is reduced, and the toner adheres to the belt. Hot offset occurs.
As a base material of the belt 53, a heat-resistant resin layer such as a fluorine resin, a polyimide resin, a polyamide resin, a polyamideimide resin, a PEEK resin, a PES resin, or a PPS resin is used instead of the heat generating layer 531 made of the metal. May be used.

  The pressure roller 54 includes, for example, a metal core 541 made of a metal cylindrical member having high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum, and an elastic member having high heat resistance and high toner releasability provided on the surface of the metal core 541. 542. In addition to the above metal, SUS may be used for the core metal 541. The pressure roller 54 presses the fixing roller 52 via the belt 53 to form a fixing nip (N). In this embodiment, the pressure roller 54 is harder than the fixing roller 52. As a result, the pressure roller 54 bites into the fixing roller 52 (and the belt 53), and the recording paper 6 follows the circumferential shape of the surface of the pressure roller 54 by this biting. Has an effect that makes it easier to leave. The outer diameter of the pressure roller 54 is about 20 to 40 mm, which is the same as that of the fixing roller 52, but the wall pressure is about 0.5 to 2.0 mm, which is thinner than the fixing roller 52.

As shown in FIG. 7, the induction heating means 56 that heats the heating roller 51 by electromagnetic induction has an excitation coil 57 that is a magnetic field generation means, and a coil guide plate 571 around which the excitation coil 57 is wound. Yes. The coil guide plate 571 has a semi-cylindrical shape arranged close to the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 51, and the exciting coil 57 is formed by passing a long exciting coil wire along the coil guide plate 571 in the axial direction of the heating roller 51. It is one that is wound alternately. The exciting coil 571 is connected to a driving power source (not shown) whose oscillation circuit has a variable frequency.
On the outside of the excitation coil 571, a semi-cylindrical excitation coil core 572 made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite is fixed to the excitation coil core support member 573 and is disposed close to the excitation coil 57.

Next, the toner used in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described. First, the important points (weight average particle diameter, average circularity, external additives, etc.) of the toner in the present invention will be described, and the constituent materials and the production method of the toner will be described later.
(Total energy)
The total energy value of the toner is “freeman” as a powder rheometer.
It is measured using “FT4” manufactured by technology. First, a 25 mL split container having an inner diameter of 25 mm (a cylinder having a height of 22 mm placed on a 25 mL container having a height of 59 mm and made separable vertically) is filled with an amount of the toner exceeding 59 mm in height. At this time, since the toner volume is reduced by the following conditioning, it is important to fill the container as much as possible.
After the toner is filled, conditioning is performed to homogenize the sample by gently stirring the filled toner. This conditioning is necessary in order to always make the flow state of the toner to be measured uniform, and thus it is possible to control the variation in the measured value with little.
In conditioning, the rotor blades are gently agitated in the direction of rotation (clockwise as viewed from above) so that the toner is not stressed in the filled state, so that most of the excess air and partial stress are eliminated. To make the sample homogeneous. Specific conditioning conditions are agitation at a tip angle of 40 mm / s with an approach angle of + 5 °. At this time, the propeller-type rotor blades move downward simultaneously with the rotation, so that the tip draws a spiral, and the angle of the spiral path drawn by the propeller tip at this time is called an approach angle.

After repeating the conditioning operation four or more times, the container upper end of the split container is gently moved, and the toner inside the vessel is worn at a position of 59 mm in height to obtain a toner that fills the 25 mL container. The conditioning operation is performed because it is important to always obtain a powder having a constant volume in order to stably obtain the total energy of the toner.
The toner thus obtained is transferred to a 35 mL container having an inner diameter of 25 mm and a height of 80 mm.
After the toner is transferred to a 200 mL container, an optional aeration measurement kit is installed, and after conditioning is performed three times, air is introduced at a ventilation rate of 0.6 mm / sec, while particles are filled in the container. Rotational torque and vertical load when rotating at a tip speed of 100 mm / sec of the rotor blades while moving from a filling surface H1 to H2 at an approach angle of -5 °. During measurement, the rotor blades are agitated in the rotational direction (counterclockwise when viewed from above) that receives resistance from the toner.
Here, the measurement is performed while flowing air at 0.6 mm / min in order to approximate the flow state of the clouded toner in the cloud development. Freeman
In the FT4 manufactured by technology, the inflow state of air can be set to an arbitrary value. The approach angle is set to -5 ° because it has a high correlation with the flowability of the developer in the developing device.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing vertical load and rotational torque in the powder rheometer. The relationship between the rotational torque or the vertical load with respect to the depth H from the filling surface H1 is shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b).
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how to obtain the total energy with the powder rheometer. FIG. 10 shows the energy gradient (mJ / mm) with respect to the depth H obtained from the rotational torque and the vertical load. The area obtained by integrating the energy gradient in FIG. 10 is the total energy amount (mJ). In the present invention, the total energy amount is obtained by integrating a section from 5 mm to 55 mm in height from the bottom surface.
In the present invention, in order to reduce the influence of error, the average value when this conditioning and energy measurement operation cycle is performed five times is defined as the total energy amount (mJ) defined in the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the shape of a rotary blade used in a powder rheometer. Rotor blade is freeman
A two-blade propeller type φ23.5 mm diameter blade shown in FIG. 11 manufactured by technology is used.

  The toner in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention has a total energy value of 3 to 15 mJ, more preferably 5 to 13 mJ when measured with a powder rheometer at a ventilation rate of 0.6 mm / sec. preferable. By using the toner having such a total energy value, the toner can be appropriately clouded. A toner having a total energy value lower than 3 mJ has a very high fluidity, so that clouding is actively performed, and the toner easily scatters to a non-image portion of the photoreceptor 11. A toner having a total energy value higher than 15 mJ has very low fluidity, so that the clouded toner is likely to be present in an aggregated state, and the cloud generation electrode 14 is contaminated to easily prevent clouding. Furthermore, since the agglomerated toner is developed on the image portion of the photoconductor 11, the dot reproducibility is deteriorated. Therefore, the toner has a small particle size by setting the total energy value in the range of 3 to 15 mJ, more preferably 5 to 13 mJ when measured with a powder rheometer at a ventilation rate of 0.6 mm / sec. Even with toner, there is no background smear, the image is solid, and an image with fine dots and good image quality can be obtained.

(Weight average particle size)
The toner in the present invention preferably has a weight average particle diameter of 2 to 7 μm. By using the toner having such a particle size, the toner is easily uniformly charged by stirring in the developing device, and it becomes difficult to generate weakly and reversely charged toner, so that the clouded toner is not scattered. It can be attached to the image portion of the body 11. Further, since the dots can be faithfully reproduced, a high-resolution and high-quality image can be obtained, and particularly when used in a full-color copying machine, a high-quality image excellent in color reproducibility can be obtained. When the weight average particle diameter is larger than the range in the present invention, the toner is less likely to be uniformly charged by stirring in the developing device, and weakly and reversely charged toner is likely to be generated. When flying, it becomes easy to cause soiling. In addition, it is difficult to obtain a high-resolution and high-quality image, and when the balance of the toner in the developer is performed, the variation in the particle size of the toner often increases. Conversely, a toner having a weight average particle size smaller than this range is substantially difficult to produce. The weakly and reversely charged toner is a toner that has a charge amount close to 0 and is hardly charged. The weakly charged toner is called a weakly charged toner. If the toner is positively charged, the toner is called reversely charged toner.

The weight average particle diameter (D4) of the toner is measured with a particle size measuring device (“Multisizer III”, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) with an aperture diameter of 100 μm, and analysis software (Beckman
The analysis was performed with a Coulter Multisizer 3 Version 3.51). Specifically, 0.5 ml of 10 wt% surfactant (alkylbenzene sulfonate Neogen SC-A; manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) is added to a 100 ml glass beaker, 0.5 g of each toner is added, and the mixture is mixed with a micropartel. Then, 80 ml of ion exchange water was added. The obtained dispersion was subjected to a dispersion treatment for 10 minutes with an ultrasonic disperser (W-113MK-II, manufactured by Honda Electronics Co., Ltd.). The dispersion was measured using the Multisizer III and Isoton III (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) as the measurement solution. In the measurement, the toner sample dispersion was dropped so that the concentration indicated by the apparatus was 8 ± 2%. In this measurement method, it is important that the concentration is 8 ± 2% from the viewpoint of the reproducibility of the particle size. Within this concentration range, no error occurs in the particle size.

(D4 / Dn)
In the toner of the present invention, the ratio (D4 / Dn) of the weight average particle diameter (D4) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) is preferably 1.0 to 1.2. By using a toner having such a particle size and particle size distribution, it is excellent in heat-resistant storage stability, low-temperature fixability, and hot offset resistance, and particularly when used in a full-color copying machine, etc. Sex is obtained.
When D4 / Dn exceeds 1.2, even if the weight average particle diameter is in the above range, the charge amount distribution becomes wide and weakly / reversely charged toner is generated, and scumming due to toner scattering occurs. there is a possibility. Furthermore, the resolving power also decreases, which is not preferable.
The particle size distribution (D4 / Dn) of the toner is measured with a particle size measuring device (“Multisizer III”, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) at an aperture diameter of 100 μm as in the case of the measurement of the weight average particle size (D4). , Analysis software (Beckman
The analysis was performed with Coulter Multisizer 3 Version 3.51).

(Shape factor)
The shape factor SF-1 of the toner is preferably in the range of 110 to 150, and the shape factor SF-2 is preferably in the range of 110 to 150. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating the shape of the toner in order to explain the shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2. The shape factor SF-1 indicates the ratio of the roundness of the toner shape and is represented by the following formula (1). This is a value obtained by dividing the square of the maximum length MXLNG of the shape formed by projecting the toner on a two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100π / 4.
SF-1 = {(MXLNG) 2 / AREA} × (100π / 4) Formula (1)
When the value of SF-1 is 100, the shape of the toner becomes a true sphere, and becomes larger as the value of SF-1 increases.
The shape factor SF-2 indicates the ratio of the unevenness of the toner shape, and is represented by the following formula (2). A value obtained by dividing the square of the perimeter PERI of the figure formed by projecting the toner onto the two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100 / 4π.
SF-2 = {(PERI) 2 / AREA} × (100 / 4π) (2)
When the value of SF-2 is 100, there is no unevenness on the toner surface, and as the value of SF-2 increases, the unevenness of the toner surface becomes more prominent.
Specifically, the shape factor is measured by taking a photograph of the toner at a magnification of 1000 times with a scanning electron microscope (S-800: manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.), reading it with a scanner, and converting it into image data. This was measured by binarizing the image data using an image analysis apparatus (LUSEX3: manufactured by Nireco) and analyzing at least 500 toner particles.
When the shape of the toner is close to a spherical shape, the contact state between the toner and the toner or the toner and the photoconductor 11 becomes a point contact, so that the adsorbing force between the toners becomes weak and the fluidity becomes high. The attracting force with the body 11 is also weakened and the transfer rate is increased. If either of the shape factors SF-1 and SF-2 is smaller than 110, the toner easily moves when the toner is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt or the recording paper, and dust and color misregistration are likely to occur. If either of the shape factors SF-1 and SF-2 exceeds 150, the transfer rate is lowered, which is not preferable.

(External additive)
In the toner of the present invention, an external additive having a primary average particle diameter of 80 to 500 nm is preferably externally added, so that the external additive is embedded in the surface of the toner by sufficient stirring in a developing device. Problems such as changes in charge amount and toner developability caused by the incorporation of toner can be improved. When the primary average particle diameter of the external additive is smaller than 80 nm, it is easily embedded in the toner surface, and there is no problem in the initial stage. However, there is a phenomenon such as the external additive being embedded in the toner surface by long-term stirring or the like. In this case, the effect of reducing the adhesion force between the photoconductor 11 and the toner or between the intermediate transfer belt and the toner cannot be obtained, and the transferability may be deteriorated and uniform transfer may not be obtained. On the other hand, if it is larger than 500 nm, the fluidity of the toner is deteriorated, and the uniform transferability may be hindered.
Further, the toner in the present invention is disadvantageous for cleaning because it has a smaller particle size and a nearly spherical shape as compared with the conventional toner. Therefore, by increasing the additive amount of the large particle size external additive having a primary average particle size of 80 to 500 nm, a dam layer is formed at the blade edge portion, and the effect of suppressing toner slipping is aimed at.
The external additive having a large particle size is preferably at least one inorganic fine particle selected from silica and titanium oxide.

Hereinafter, the constituent material and the production method of the toner used in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described.
The base colored particles of the toner used in the present invention comprise at least a binder resin, a chromatic colorant, and a release agent, and are pulverized, polymerized (suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization dispersion polymerization, emulsion aggregation, emulsion aggregation). Etc.), but is not limited to these production methods. The toner used in the present invention is preferably a toner having a small particle size and a nearly spherical shape so as to output a high-quality and high-definition image. As a method for producing such a toner, a method in which a base toner obtained by a pulverization method is spheroidized by a surffusion system or the like, an oil phase is emulsified, suspended or aggregated in an aqueous medium to form toner base particles. There are suspension polymerization method, emulsion polymerization method, polymer suspension method and the like. Hereinafter, these toner production methods and materials, additives, and the like used in the production methods will be described.

(Suspension polymerization method)
A colorant, a release agent and the like are dispersed in an oil-soluble polymerization initiator and a polymerizable monomer, and then emulsified and dispersed by an emulsification method described later in an aqueous medium containing a surfactant and other solid dispersants. Thereafter, a polymerization reaction is performed to form particles, and excess surfactant and the like are washed away to obtain toner particles. Polymerizable monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-cyanoacrylic acid, α-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid or maleic anhydride, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone Functional groups can be introduced on the surface of toner particles by using a part of acrylate or methacrylate such as acrylamide or these methylol compounds, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole, ethyleneimine, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and other amino groups. . Further, by selecting a dispersant having an acid group or a basic group as a dispersant to be used, the dispersant can be adsorbed and left on the particle surface to introduce a functional group.

(Emulsion polymerization aggregation method)
A water-soluble polymerization initiator and a polymerizable monomer are emulsified in water using a surfactant, and a latex is synthesized by an ordinary emulsion polymerization technique. Separately, a dispersion in which a colorant, a release agent and the like are dispersed in an aqueous medium is prepared, and after mixing, the toner is aggregated to a toner size and heat-fused to obtain a toner. A functional group can be introduced on the surface of the toner particles by using a latex similar to the monomer that can be used in the suspension polymerization method.

(Polymer suspension method)
As an aqueous medium, water alone may be used, but a solvent miscible with water may be used in combination. Examples of the miscible solvent include alcohol (methanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (methylcellosolve, etc.), lower ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.) and the like. In the oil phase of the toner composition, a colorant such as resin, prepolymer and pigment, a release agent, a charge control agent and the like are dissolved or dispersed in a volatile solvent. An oil phase composed of a toner composition is dispersed in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant, a solid dispersant and the like, and a prepolymer is reacted to form particles.
In order to introduce a functional group into the toner particles, a copolymer with a monomer having a functional group used in the suspension polymerization method, or a functional group of an acid group as an acid monomer in the case of a polyester resin is used. It can be obtained by using one having three or more and esterifying the terminal hydroxyl group of the obtained polyester resin with a compound having a plurality of acid groups. Further, as a dispersion stabilizer in an aqueous medium, which will be described later, an acid group-containing surfactant, polar polymer, organic or inorganic resin fine particles can be used, and an acid group can be introduced by remaining on the toner particle surface. Examples of the acid group include a carboxyl group, a sulfone group, a sulfonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group.

(Dry grinding method)
As an example of the pulverization system, a toner having at least a step of mechanically mixing raw materials including a binder resin, a charge control agent, and a colorant, a step of melt-kneading, a step of pulverizing, and a step of classifying A manufacturing method can be applied. Further, in order to improve the dispersibility of the colorant, the colorant may be mixed with other raw materials after the masterbatch treatment and processed to the next step.
The mixing step for mechanical mixing may be performed under normal conditions using a normal mixer using rotating wings, and is not particularly limited. When the above mixing process is completed, the mixture is then charged into a kneader and melt-kneaded. As the melt kneader, a uniaxial or biaxial continuous kneader or a batch kneader using a roll mill can be used. Specific apparatuses for kneading the toner include batch type two rolls, a Banbury mixer and a continuous type twin screw extruder, for example, KTK type twin screw extruder manufactured by Kobe Steel, TEM type twin screw manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd. Extruder, KCK twin screw extruder, Ikegai Iron Works PCM type twin screw extruder, Kurimoto Iron Works KEX type twin screw extruder, continuous single screw kneader, such as Bus Etc. are preferably used. The melt-kneaded product obtained as described above is cooled and then pulverized. For pulverization, for example, coarsely pulverized using a hammer mill, a funnel plex, etc. A machine can be used. The pulverization is desirably performed so that the average particle diameter is 3 to 15 μm. Further, the pulverized product is adjusted in particle size to 2 to 7 μm by a wind classifier or the like. Next, the external additive is externally added to the toner particles. The toner particles and the external additive are mixed and stirred using a mixer, and the external additive is crushed and coated on the surface of the toner particles.
In this pulverized toner, a known binder resin can be used, but it is preferable to use a polyester resin from the viewpoint of improving the dispersibility of the pigment and obtaining an image of a wider color gamut. Further, since the binder resin is made of a crystalline polyester, an amorphous polyester, and a release agent, a wide fixing temperature range can be secured. Moreover, in order not to impair the gloss, hot offset can be prevented by improving the dispersibility of the release agent.

(Sphericalizing of pulverized toner)
The toner by the pulverization / classification method is indefinite as it is, and depending on the pulverization method, the circularity is 0.930 to 0.950, and the circularity is not 0.960 to 0.998. The degree of circularity can be increased by mechanical spheroidizing treatment or heat treatment as described below, and spherical toner having a circularity of 0.960 to 0.998 can be obtained. The circularity is a value obtained by optically detecting particles and dividing by the circumference of an equivalent circle having the same projected area.
[Mechanical processing]
For example, as described in JP-A-09-085741, a method using a turbo mill (manufactured by Turbo Industry), a kryptron (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries), a Q-type mixer (manufactured by Mitsui Mining), a hybridizer The shape of the pulverized toner can be made spherical by continuous treatment with a mechano-fusion device (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.) or a mechano-fusion device (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.).
[Heat treatment (dry type)]
For example, the shape of the pulverized toner can be made spherical by semi-melting the toner particle surface with hot air of 100 to 300 ° C. using a surffusion system (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Industry Co., Ltd.).
[Heat treatment (wet)]
The shape of the pulverized toner can be made spherical by immersing the toner obtained by the pulverization method in a high-temperature liquid at a temperature (about 200 ° C.) at which the toner has plasticity.

The toner used in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention is close to a polymer suspension method, and at least a polymer having a site capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent in an organic solvent. A toner obtained by cross-linking and / or stretching reaction of a toner material solution dissolved or dispersed in a water-based medium is preferable. The polymer having a site capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group is preferably a polyester prepolymer having a site capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group, and the polyester prepolymer is crosslinked and / or crosslinked in an aqueous medium. Alternatively, it undergoes an elongation reaction and is contained in the toner as a modified polyester. Hereinafter, a method for producing the toner will be described in detail.
(Modified polyester)
The toner according to the present invention preferably contains a modified polyester (i) as a binder resin. The modified polyester (i) refers to a state in which a bonding group other than an ester bond is present in the polyester resin, and resin components having different configurations are bonded to the polyester resin by a covalent bond, an ionic bond, or the like. Specifically, the polyester terminal is modified by introducing a functional group such as an isocyanate group that reacts with a carboxylic acid group or a hydroxyl group into a polyester terminal and further reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group.
Examples of the modified polyester (i) include urea-modified polyester obtained by a reaction between a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group and amines (B). As the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group, a polyester having a polycondensate of a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) and having an active hydrogen group is further added to a polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC). And those reacted with. Examples of the active hydrogen group possessed by the polyester include a hydroxyl group (alcoholic hydroxyl group and phenolic hydroxyl group), an amino group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, and the like. Among these, an alcoholic hydroxyl group is preferable.

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

Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) include divalent carboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC). (DIC) alone and (DIC) with a small amount of (TC) Mixtures are preferred.
Divalent carboxylic acids (DIC) include alkylene dicarboxylic acids (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.); alkenylene dicarboxylic acids (maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc.); aromatic dicarboxylic acids (phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid) And naphthalenedicarboxylic acid). Of these, preferred are alkenylene dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC) include aromatic polycarboxylic acids having 9 to 20 carbon atoms (such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid). In addition, as polyhydric carboxylic acid (PC), you may make it react with polyhydric alcohol (PO) using the above-mentioned acid anhydride or lower alkyl ester (Methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, etc.).
The ratio of the polyhydric alcohol (PO) to the polycarboxylic acid (PC) is usually 2/1 to 1/1, preferably as the equivalent ratio [OH] / [COOH] of the hydroxyl group [OH] and the carboxyl group [COOH]. Is 1.5 / 1 to 1/1, more preferably 1.3 / 1 to 1.02 / 1.
As the polyhydric alcohol compound (PO) and polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC), in addition to those exemplified above, other substances may be used as long as they can form a polyester having an active hydrogen group by polycondensation. It is also possible to do.

Examples of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, etc.); alicyclic polyisocyanates (isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.) ); Aromatic diisocyanates (tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); araliphatic diisocyanates (α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); isocyanates; Those blocked with caprolactam or the like; and combinations of two or more of these.
The ratio of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) is usually 5/1 to 1/1, preferably as an equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group. 4/1 to 1.2 / 1, more preferably 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1. When [NCO] / [OH] exceeds 5, low-temperature fixability deteriorates. When the molar ratio of [NCO] is less than 1, when a urea-modified polyester is used, the urea content in the ester is lowered and hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

The content of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) component in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 0.5 to 40 wt%, preferably 1 to 30 wt%, more preferably 2 to 20 wt%. . If it is less than 0.5 wt%, the hot offset resistance deteriorates, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. On the other hand, if it exceeds 40 wt%, the low-temperature fixability deteriorates.
The number of isocyanate groups contained per molecule in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 1 or more, preferably 1.5 to 3 on average, more preferably 1.8 to 2 on average. Five. If it is less than 1 per molecule, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester will be low, and the hot offset resistance will deteriorate.
Next, as amines (B) to be reacted with the polyester prepolymer (A), a divalent amine compound (B1), a trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2), an amino alcohol (B3), an amino mercaptan (B4) ), Amino acid (B5), and amino acid block of B1 to B5 (B6).

Examples of the divalent amine compound (B1) include aromatic diamines (phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, etc.); alicyclic diamines (4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dimethyldicyclohexyl). Methane, diamine cyclohexane, isophorone diamine, etc.); and aliphatic diamines (ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, etc.) and the like. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. Examples of amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline. Examples of amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan and aminopropyl mercaptan. Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid. Examples of the compound (B6) obtained by blocking the amino group of B1 to B5 include ketimine compounds and oxazolidine compounds obtained from the amines of B1 to B5 and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.). Among these amines (B), preferred are B1 and a mixture of B1 and a small amount of B2.
The ratio of the amines (B) is equivalent to the equivalent ratio [NCO] / [NHX] of the isocyanate group [NCO] in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group and the amino group [NHX] in the amine (B). Is usually 1/2 to 2/1, preferably 1.5 / 1 to 1 / 1.5, more preferably 1.2 / 1 to 1 / 1.2. When [NCO] / [NHX] is more than 2 or less than 1/2, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester is lowered, and the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

The urea-modified polyester may contain a urethane bond together with a urea bond. The molar ratio of the urea bond content to the urethane bond content is usually 100/0 to 10/90, preferably 80/20 to 20/80, and more preferably 60/40 to 30/70. When the molar ratio of the urea bond is less than 10%, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.
The modified polyester (i) used in the present invention is produced by a one-shot method or a prepolymer method. The weight average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is usually 10,000 or more, preferably 20,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably 30,000 to 1,000,000. The peak molecular weight at this time is preferably 1000 to 10000. When the molecular weight is less than 1000, the elongation reaction hardly occurs, the elasticity of the toner is small, and as a result, the resistance to hot offset deteriorates. On the other hand, when it exceeds 10,000, the problem in production becomes high in the deterioration of fixability, particle formation and pulverization. The number average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is not particularly limited when the unmodified polyester (ii) described later is used, and may be a number average molecular weight that can be easily obtained to obtain the weight average molecular weight. (I) When used alone, the number average molecular weight is usually 20000 or less, preferably 1000 to 10000, and more preferably 2000 to 8000. When it exceeds 20000, the low-temperature fixability and the glossiness when used in a full-color device are deteriorated.
In the crosslinking reaction or elongation reaction between the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B) for obtaining the modified polyester (i), a reaction terminator is used as necessary to adjust the molecular weight of the resulting urea-modified polyester. Can do. Examples of the reaction terminator include monoamines (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, etc.), and those obtained by blocking them (ketimine compounds).

(Unmodified polyester)
In the present invention, not only the modified polyester (i) is used alone, but also the unmodified polyester (ii) can be contained as a binder resin component together with the (i). By using (ii) in combination, the low-temperature fixability and the gloss when used in a full-color device are improved, which is preferable to the single use.
Examples of (ii) include polycondensates of a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC), which are the same as the polyester component (i), and preferred ones are also the same as (i). . Further, (ii) is not limited to unmodified polyester, but may be modified with a chemical bond other than a urea bond, for example, may be modified with a urethane bond. It is preferable that (i) and (ii) are at least partially compatible with each other in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. Therefore, the polyester component (i) and (ii) preferably have similar compositions. In the case of containing (ii), the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) is usually 5/95 to 80/20, preferably 5/95 to 30/70, more preferably 5/95 to 25/75, Particularly preferred is 7/93 to 20/80. If the weight ratio of (i) is less than 5%, the hot offset resistance deteriorates, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability.
The peak molecular weight of (ii) is 1000-10000 normally, Preferably it is 2000-8000, More preferably, it is 2000-5000. If it is less than 1000, heat-resistant storage stability will deteriorate, and if it exceeds 10,000, low-temperature fixability will deteriorate. The hydroxyl value of (ii) is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 to 120, and particularly preferably 20 to 80. If it is less than 5, it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. As for the acid value of (ii), 1-5 are preferable, More preferably, it is 2-4. Since a high acid value wax is used as the wax, the low acid value binder leads to electrification and high volume resistance, so that it is easy to match the toner used for the two-component developer.
The glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin is usually 35 to 70 ° C, preferably 55 to 65 ° C. If the temperature is lower than 35 ° C., the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner is deteriorated. Since the urea-modified polyester is likely to be present on the surface of the obtained toner base particles, the toner tends to have good heat storage stability even when the glass transition point is low as compared with known polyester-based toners.

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

The colorant used in the present invention can also be used as a master batch combined with a resin. As the binder resin to be kneaded together with the production of the masterbatch or the masterbatch, in addition to the modified and unmodified polyester resins mentioned above, styrene such as polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyltoluene, and polymers of substituted products thereof; Styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer Styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α- Chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, Tylene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-malein Styrene copolymers such as acid ester copolymers; polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, poly Acrylic resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, paraffin wax, etc. The
This master batch can be obtained by mixing and kneading a master batch resin and a colorant under a high shear force to obtain a master batch. In this case, an organic solvent can be used in order to enhance the interaction between the colorant and the resin. In addition, a so-called flushing method called watering paste containing water of colorant is mixed and kneaded together with resin and organic solvent, and the colorant is transferred to the resin side to remove moisture and organic solvent components. Since it can be used as it is, it is not necessary to dry it and it is preferably used. For mixing and kneading, a high shear dispersion device such as a three-roll mill is preferably used.

(Release agent)
Moreover, a wax can be contained together with a binder resin and a colorant. As the wax used in the present invention, known waxes can be used, and examples thereof include polyolefin wax (polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, etc.); long chain hydrocarbon (paraffin wax, sazol wax, etc.); carbonyl group-containing wax.
Of these, carbonyl group-containing waxes are preferred. Examples of the carbonyl group-containing wax include polyalkanoic acid esters (carnauba wax, montan wax, trimethylolpropane tribehenate, pentaerythritol tetrabehenate, pentaerythritol diacetate dibehenate, glycerin tribehenate, 1,18. -Octadecanediol distearate, etc.); polyalkanol esters (tristearyl trimellitic acid, distearyl maleate, etc.); polyalkanoic acid amides (ethylene diamine dibehenyl amide, etc.); polyalkylamides (trimellitic acid tristearyl amide, etc.) And dialkyl ketones (such as distearyl ketone). Among these carbonyl group-containing waxes, polyalkanoic acid esters are preferred.
The melting point of the wax is usually 40 to 160 ° C, preferably 50 to 120 ° C, more preferably 60 to 90 ° C. A wax having a melting point of less than 40 ° C. has an adverse effect on heat resistant storage stability, and a wax having a melting point of more than 160 ° C. tends to cause a cold offset when fixing at a low temperature. Further, the melt viscosity of the wax is preferably 5 to 1000 cps, more preferably 10 to 100 cps as a measured value at a temperature 20 ° C. higher than the melting point. Waxes exceeding 1000 cps have poor effects for improving hot offset resistance and low-temperature fixability. The content of the wax in the toner is usually 0 to 40% by weight, preferably 3 to 30% by weight.

(Charge control agent)
The toner may contain a charge control agent as necessary. All known charge control agents can be used, such as nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, chromium-containing metal complex dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (fluorine-modified). Quaternary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus simple substances or compounds, tungsten simple substances or compounds, fluorine-based activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives.
Specifically, Nitronine-based dye Bontron 03, quaternary ammonium salt Bontron P-51, metal-containing azo dye Bontron S-34, oxynaphthoic acid metal complex E-82, salicylic acid metal complex E- 84, E-89 of a phenol-based condensate (manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), TP-302 of a quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex, TP-415 (manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium Salt copy charge PSY
VP2038, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge of quaternary ammonium salt NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex (manufactured by Nippon Carlit) ), Copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone, azo pigments, and other polymer compounds having a functional group such as a sulfonic acid group, a carboxyl group, and a quaternary ammonium salt.
In the present invention, the amount of charge control agent used is determined uniquely by the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of additives used as necessary, and the toner production method including the dispersion method, and is uniquely limited. However, it is preferably used in the range of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. The range of 0.2 to 5 parts by weight is preferable. When the amount exceeds 10 parts by weight, the chargeability of the toner is too high, the effect of the main charge control agent is reduced, the electrostatic attractive force with the developing roller is increased, the flowability of the developer is reduced, and the image density is reduced. Incurs a decline. These charge control agents can be dissolved and dispersed after being melt-kneaded with a masterbatch and resin, and of course, they can be added directly when dissolved and dispersed in an organic solvent. May be.

(General considerations for external additives)
The important matters of the external additive in the present invention are as described above, but the matters that should be generally considered are described below. As an external additive for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the obtained colored particles, inorganic fine particles, hydrophobized inorganic fine particles and the like can be used. Any of them can be used as long as the conditions are satisfied. For example, silica fine particles, hydrophobic silica, fatty acid metal salts (such as zinc stearate and aluminum stearate), metal oxides (such as titania, alumina, tin oxide, and antimony oxide), fluoropolymers, and the like may be contained. Particularly suitable external additives include hydrophobized silica, titania, titanium oxide, and alumina fine particles.
As silica fine particles, HDK
There are H 2000, HDK H 2000/4, HDK H 2050EP, HVK21, HDK H 1303 (manufactured by Hoechst) and R972, R974, RX200, RY200, R202, R805, R812 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.). Moreover, as titania fine particles, P-25 (made by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.), STT-30, STT-65C-S (above, made by Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.), TAF-140 (made by Fuji Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.), MT-150W, There are MT-500B, MT-600B, MT-150A (manufactured by Teika). In particular, as hydrophobized titanium oxide fine particles, T-805 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.), STT-30A, STT-65S-S (above, manufactured by Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.), TAF-500T, TAF-1500T (above, Fuji Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.), MT-100S, MT-100T (above, Teika Co.), IT-S (Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.) and the like.
In order to obtain hydrophobized inorganic fine particles, silica fine particles, titania fine particles, and alumina fine particles, hydrophilic fine particles are treated with a silane coupling agent such as methyltrimethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane, or octyltrimethoxysilane. Can be obtained. In addition, silicone oil-treated inorganic fine particles obtained by treating the silicone oil with heat if necessary to treat the inorganic fine particles are also suitable.
Examples of the silicone oil include dimethyl silicone oil, methylphenyl silicone oil, chlorophenyl silicone oil, methyl hydrogen silicone oil, alkyl modified silicone oil, fluorine modified silicone oil, polyether modified silicone oil, alcohol modified silicone oil, amino modified silicone. Oil, epoxy-modified silicone oil, epoxy-polyether-modified silicone oil, phenol-modified silicone oil, carboxyl-modified silicone oil, mercapto-modified silicone oil, acrylic, methacryl-modified silicone oil, α-methylstyrene-modified silicone oil and the like can be used.

Examples of the inorganic fine particles are as described above, such as silica and alumina. Among them, silica and titanium dioxide are particularly preferable. In addition, polymer fine particles such as polystyrene obtained by soap-free emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization and dispersion polymerization, methacrylic acid ester and acrylic acid ester copolymer, polycondensation system such as silicone, benzoguanamine and nylon, thermosetting resin And polymer particles.
Such a fluidizing agent can be surface-treated to increase hydrophobicity and prevent deterioration of flow characteristics and charging characteristics even under high humidity. For example, silane coupling agents, silylating agents, silane coupling agents having an alkyl fluoride group, organic titanate coupling agents, aluminum coupling agents, silicone oils, modified silicone oils and the like are preferable surface treatment agents. .
Examples of the cleaning property improver for removing the developer after transfer remaining on the photoreceptor 11 or the primary transfer medium include fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, and stearic acid, such as polymethyl methacrylate fine particles and polystyrene fine particles. Examples thereof include polymer fine particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization. The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution and a volume average particle size of 0.01 to 1 μm.

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

2) The toner material liquid is emulsified in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant and resin fine particles.
The aqueous medium may be water alone or an organic solvent such as alcohol (methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (methyl cellosolve, etc.), lower ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.). It may be included. The amount of the aqueous medium used relative to 100 parts by weight of the toner material liquid is usually 50 to 2000 parts by weight, preferably 100 to 1000 parts by weight. If the amount is less than 50 parts by weight, the dispersion state of the toner material liquid is poor, and toner particles having a predetermined particle diameter cannot be obtained. If it exceeds 20000 parts by weight, it is not economical.
Further, in order to improve the dispersion in the aqueous medium, a dispersant such as a surfactant and resin fine particles is appropriately added. As surfactants, anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters, alkylamine salts, amino alcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, amine salt types such as imidazoline, Quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salts, dialkyldimethylammonium salts, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salts, pyridinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, benzethonium chloride, fatty acid amide derivatives, polyhydric alcohols Nonionic surfactants such as derivatives, for example, amphoteric surfactants such as alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine and N-alkyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betaine And the like.
Further, by using a surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group, the effect can be obtained in a very small amount. Preferred anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include fluoroalkylcarboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and metal salts thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonylglutamate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkyl (C6-C16 ) Oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-C4) sodium sulfonate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-C8) -N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonic acid sodium, fluoroalkyl (C16-C20) carvone Acids and metal salts, perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids (C7 to C13) and metal salts thereof, perfluoroalkyl (C4 to C12) sulfonic acids and metal salts thereof, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- ( 2-Hydroxyethyl) Perful Looctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (C6-C16) ethyl phosphate, etc. Can be mentioned.

As a trade name, Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113 (above, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129 (above, made by Sumitomo 3M), Unidyne DS-101, DS-102 (above, Daikin Industries, Ltd.), MegaFuck F-110, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 (above, Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.) ), Xtop EF-102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (above, manufactured by Tochem Products), Footent F-100, F150 (above, Neos) Manufactured).
In addition, as the cationic surfactant, aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts such as aliphatic primary, secondary or tertiary amine acids having a fluoroalkyl group, and perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salts. , Benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, trade names include Surflon S-121 (manufactured by Asahi Glass), Florard FC-135 (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M), Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Industries) Manufactured), MegaFuck F-150, F-824 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-132 (Tochem Products), Footgent F-300 (Neos), and the like.

As the resin fine particles, any resin can be used as long as it can form an aqueous dispersion, and it may be a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. Examples thereof include vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, polyester resins, polyamide resins, polyimide resins, silicon resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, urea resins, aniline resins, ionomer resins, and polycarbonate resins. As the resin, two or more of the above resins may be used in combination.
Of these, vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, polyester resins, and combinations thereof are preferred because an aqueous dispersion of fine spherical resin particles is easily obtained. For example, vinyl resins are polymers obtained by homopolymerization or copolymerization of vinyl monomers, such as styrene- (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, (meth) acrylic acid-acrylic acid esters. Examples thereof include resins such as a polymer, a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, and a styrene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymer. The average particle size of the resin fine particles is 5 to 200 nm, preferably 20 to 300 nm. In addition, inorganic compound dispersants such as tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, colloidal silica, and hydroxyapatite can also be used.
As a dispersant that can be used in combination with the above resin fine particles and inorganic compound dispersant, the dispersed droplets may be stabilized by a polymer protective colloid. For example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-cyanoacrylic acid, α-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid or maleic anhydride and other (meth) acrylic monomers containing hydroxyl groups Bodies such as acrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, acrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, acrylic acid-γ-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-γ-hydroxy Propyl, acrylic acid-3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate Rylic acid esters, N-methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide, etc., vinyl alcohol or ethers with vinyl alcohol, such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, or compounds containing vinyl alcohol and a carboxyl group Esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or their methylol compounds, acid chlorides such as acrylic acid chloride, methacrylic acid chloride, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl Nitrogen compounds such as imidazole and ethyleneimine, or homopolymers or copolymers such as those having a heterocyclic ring thereof, polyoxyethylene, Oxypropylene, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, polyoxy Polyoxyethylenes such as ethylene nonylphenyl ester, celluloses such as methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose can be used.
The dispersion method is not particularly limited, and known equipment such as a low-speed shear method, a high-speed shear method, a friction method, a high-pressure jet method, and an ultrasonic wave can be applied. Among these, the high-speed shearing method is preferable in order to make the particle size of the dispersion 2 to 20 μm. When a high-speed shearing disperser is used, the rotational speed is not particularly limited, but is usually 1000 to 30000 rpm, preferably 5000 to 20000 rpm. The dispersion time is not particularly limited, but in the case of a batch method, it is usually 0.1 to 5 minutes. The temperature during dispersion is usually 0 to 150 ° C. (under pressure), preferably 40 to 98 ° C.

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

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

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

Next, the carrier used in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described. First, the important point (weight average particle diameter) of the carrier in the present invention will be described, and the constituent material of the carrier and the production method will be described later.
(Carrier characteristics evaluation method)
<Weight average particle size>
The weight average particle diameter Dw of the carrier is calculated based on the particle diameter distribution (relationship between the number frequency and the particle diameter) of the particles measured on the basis of the number. The weight average particle diameter Dw in this case is represented by the formula (3).
Dw = {1 / Σ (nD3)} × {Σ (nD4)} (3)
In formula (3), D represents the representative particle size (μm) of the particles present in each channel, and n represents the total number of particles present in each channel. The channel indicates a length for equally dividing the particle size range in the particle size distribution diagram, and 2 μm is adopted in the present invention. In addition, as the representative particle size of the particles present in each channel, the lower limit value of the particle size of the particles stored in each channel was adopted.
Further, the number average particle diameter Dp of the carrier and the core material particles of the carrier is calculated based on the particle diameter distribution of the particles measured on the basis of the number. The number average particle diameter Dp in this case is represented by the formula (4).
Dp = (1 / ΣN) × (ΣnD) Equation (4)
In Equation (4), N represents the total number of particles measured, n represents the total number of particles present in each channel, and D represents the lower limit of the particle size of the particles stored in each channel (2 μm). Show.
In the present invention, a microtrack particle size analyzer model HRA9320-X100 (manufactured by Honeywell) can be used as a particle size analyzer for measuring the particle size distribution. The measurement conditions are as follows.
[1] Particle size range: 8 to 100 μm
[2] Channel length (channel width): 2 μm
[3] Number of channels: 46
[4] Refractive index: 2.42

(Constituent materials and manufacturing method of carriers)
As the carrier in the present invention, conventionally known carriers such as iron powder, ferrite powder, magnetite powder, magnetic resin carrier having a particle diameter of about 15 to 45 μm can be used. Examples of the coating material include amino resins such as urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, urea resin, polyamide resin, and epoxy resin. Polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resins such as acrylic resins, polymethyl methacrylate resins, polyacrylonitrile resins, polyvinyl acetate resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl butyral resins, polystyrene resins and styrene acrylic copolymer resins, Halogenated olefin resins such as vinyl, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate resin and polybutylene terephthalate resin, polycarbonate resins, polyethylene resins, polyvinyl fluoride resins, polyvinylidene fluoride resins, polytrifluoroethylene resins, polyhexafluoropropylene resins , Copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic monomers, copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and vinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and vinyl Fluoro terpolymers, and silicone resins terpolymers etc. of vinylidene fluoride and non-fluorinated monomer. Moreover, you may contain electrically conductive powder etc. in coating resin as needed. As the conductive powder, metal powder, carbon black, titanium oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide or the like can be used. These conductive powders preferably have an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less. When the average particle diameter is larger than 1 μm, it becomes difficult to control electric resistance.

Next, the photoreceptor 11 used in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described.
The electrophotographic photosensitive member 11 has at least a photosensitive layer 112 on a conductive support 111, and a trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer that does not have at least a charge transporting structure on the surface layer 113 of the photosensitive layer 112 and charge transport. It is preferable to have a crosslinked layer obtained by curing a radically polymerizable compound having a crystalline structure with light energy irradiation means. As a result, the wear resistance and scratch resistance are high, transfer characteristics are excellent, and high image quality can be realized over a long period of time.
The following factors can be considered as the reason.
A tri- or higher functional radically polymerizable monomer is used for the cross-linked surface layer 113, thereby developing a three-dimensional network structure and obtaining a high-hardness cross-linked surface layer having a very high degree of cross-linking, and having high wear resistance. Achieved. On the other hand, when only the monofunctional and bifunctional radically polymerizable monomers are used, the cross-linking bond in the cross-linked surface layer 113 is dilute, and a dramatic improvement in wear resistance is not achieved. When the cross-linked surface layer 113 contains a polymer material, the development of the three-dimensional network structure is hindered and the degree of cross-linking is lowered, so that sufficient wear resistance cannot be obtained as compared with the present invention. Furthermore, the compatibility between the polymer material and the cured product resulting from the reaction of the radical polymerizable composition (radical polymerizable monomer or radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure) is poor, resulting in localized from phase separation. Wears and appears as a scratch on the surface.
The cross-linked surface layer 113 contains a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure in addition to the trifunctional radical polymerizable monomer, and this is being cross-linked during curing of the trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer. Is taken in. On the other hand, when a low molecular charge transport material having no functional group is contained in the cross-linked surface layer 113, precipitation of the low molecular charge transport material and white turbidity occur due to its low compatibility, and the cross-linked surface layer 113 The mechanical strength of the steel also decreases.

Next, the constituent material of the coating solution for the crosslinked surface layer 113 will be described.
The trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transporting property used in the present invention is a hole transporting structure such as triarylamine, hydrazone, pyrazoline, carbazole, such as condensed polycyclic quinone, diphenoquinone, cyano group. And a monomer having no electron transport structure such as an electron-withdrawing aromatic ring having a nitro group and having three or more radical polymerizable functional groups. The radical polymerizable functional group may be any group as long as it has a carbon-carbon double bond and is capable of radical polymerization. Examples of these radical polymerizable functional groups include 1-substituted ethylene functional groups and 1,1-substituted ethylene functional groups shown below.
(1) Examples of the 1-substituted ethylene functional group include functional groups represented by the following formulas.
CH ₂ = _{CH-X 2} -
(In the formula, X ₂ is an arylene group such as a phenylene group or a naphthylene group which may have a substituent, an alkenylene group which may have a substituent, a —CO— group, a —COO— group. , —CON (R ₃₆ ) — group (R ₃₆ represents an alkyl group such as hydrogen, methyl group or ethyl group, an aralkyl group such as benzyl group, naphthylmethyl group or phenethyl group, or an aryl group such as phenyl group or naphthyl group. Or represents an —S— group.)
Specific examples of these substituents include a vinyl group, a styryl group, a 2-methyl-1,3-butadienyl group, a vinylcarbonyl group, an acryloyloxy group, an acryloylamide group, and a vinyl thioether group.

(2) Examples of 1,1-substituted ethylene functional groups include functional groups represented by the following formulas.
_{CH 2 = C (Y 4)} -X 3 -
(However, in the formula, Y ₄ represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an aralkyl group which may have a substituent, a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a naphthyl group, etc. Aryl group, halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, alkoxy group such as methoxy group or ethoxy group, -COOR ₃₇ group (R ₃₇ is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted methyl group, ethyl group, etc. An alkyl group, an optionally substituted benzyl, an aralkyl group such as a phenethyl group, an optionally substituted phenyl group, an aryl group such as a naphthyl group, or -CONR ₃₈ R ₃₉ (R ₃₈ and R ₃₉ is a hydrogen atom, which may have a substituent an alkyl group such as methyl group and ethyl group, which may have a substituent group benzyl group, naphthylmethyl group, or a, such as a phenethyl group, Alkyl group or a substituent a phenyl group which may have a represents an aryl group such as phenyl or naphthyl, which may be the same or different from each other.) Further, X ₃ is the same as X ₂ in the formula 10 A substituent, a single bond, or an alkylene group, provided that at least one of Y ₄ and X ₃ is an oxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, an alkenylene group, and an aromatic ring.)

Specific examples of these substituents include an α-acryloyloxy chloride group, a methacryloyloxy group, an α-cyanoethylene group, an α-cyanoacryloyloxy group, an α-cyanophenylene group, and a methacryloylamino group.
In addition, examples of the substituent further substituted with the substituent for X ₂ , X ₃ , and Y ₄ include, for example, an alkyl group such as a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a methyl group, and an ethyl group, a methoxy group, and an ethoxy group. And aryloxy groups such as phenoxy group, aryl groups such as phenyl group and naphthyl group, and aralkyl groups such as benzyl group and phenethyl group.
Among these radical polymerizable functional groups, acryloyloxy group and methacryloyloxy group are particularly useful, and a compound having three or more acryloyloxy groups is, for example, a compound having three or more hydroxyl groups in the molecule and an acrylic group. It can be obtained by using an acid (salt), an acrylic acid halide, or an acrylic ester to cause an ester reaction or a transesterification reaction. A compound having three or more methacryloyloxy groups can be obtained in the same manner. Further, the radical polymerizable functional groups in the monomer having three or more radical polymerizable functional groups may be the same or different.
Specific examples of the trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transporting structure include the following, but are not limited to these compounds.
That is, examples of the radical polymerizable monomer used in the present invention include trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, HPA-modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate, EO-modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and PO-modified. Trimethylolpropane triacrylate, caprolactone modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate, HPA modified trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETTA), glycerol triacrylate, ECH modified glycerol triacrylate, EO modified glycerol triacrylate , PO-modified glycerol triacrylate, Lith (acryloxyethyl) isocyanurate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA), caprolactone-modified dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hydroxypentaacrylate, alkyl-modified dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, alkyl-modified dipentaerythritol tetraacrylate, alkyl Modified dipentaerythritol triacrylate, dimethylolpropane tetraacrylate (DTMPTA), pentaerythritol ethoxytetraacrylate, EO modified phosphoric acid triacrylate, 2,2,5,5-tetrahydroxymethylcyclopentanone tetraacrylate, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The proportion of the trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure used in the present invention is 20 to 80% by weight, preferably 30 to 70% by weight, based on the total amount of the crosslinked surface layer 113. When the monomer component is less than 20% by weight, the three-dimensional cross-linking density of the cross-linked surface layer 113 is small, and a drastic improvement in wear resistance is not achieved as compared with the case of using a conventional thermoplastic binder resin. On the other hand, if it is 80% by weight or more, the content of the charge transporting compound is lowered, and the electrical characteristics are deteriorated. Since the required wear resistance and electrical characteristics differ depending on the process used, it cannot be said unconditionally, but considering the balance of both characteristics, the range of 30 to 70% by weight is most preferable.
The radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure used in the present invention includes a hole transporting structure such as triarylamine, hydrazone, pyrazoline, carbazole, such as condensed polycyclic quinone, diphenoquinone, cyano group and nitro group. It refers to a compound having an electron transport structure such as an electron-withdrawing aromatic ring and having a radical polymerizable functional group. Examples of the radical polymerizable functional group include those shown in the above radical polymerizable monomer, and acryloyloxy group and methacryloyloxy group are particularly useful.

In addition, as the radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure, a polyfunctional compound having two or more functional groups can be used, but a monofunctional compound is preferable in terms of film quality and electrostatic characteristics. This is because when a bifunctional or higher functional charge transport compound is used, it is fixed in the crosslinked structure by a plurality of bonds. However, since the charge transport structure is very bulky, distortion occurs in the cured resin, resulting in a crosslinked surface layer. The internal stress of 113 becomes high, and it becomes easy to cause cracks and scratches due to carrier adhesion and the like. When the film thickness is 5 μm or less, there is no particular problem. However, when a film exceeding 5 μm is formed, the internal stress of the cross-linked surface layer 113 becomes very high, and cracks are likely to occur immediately after cross-linking.
In addition, in terms of electrostatic characteristics, when a bifunctional or higher functional charge transporting compound is used, it is fixed in the crosslinked structure with a plurality of bonds, so that the intermediate structure (cation radical) during charge transport is stably maintained. In other words, the sensitivity is lowered due to charge trapping, and the residual potential is likely to increase. Such deterioration of the electrical characteristics appears as an image such as a decrease in image density and thinning of characters. For this reason, the radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure uses a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transporting structure and is fixed in a pendant shape between crosslinks, thereby causing cracks and scratches. And stabilization of electrostatic characteristics.

Further, the triarylamine structure is highly effective as a charge transporting structure. Moreover, what has one functional group is preferable, and when a compound shown by the structure of the following general formula 1 or 2 is used, electrical characteristics such as sensitivity and residual potential are favorably maintained.

（式中、Ｒ_１は水素原子、ハロゲン原子、置換基を有してもよいアルキル基、置換基を有してもよいアラルキル基、置換基を有してもよいアリール基、シアノ基、ニトロ基、アルコキシ基、−ＣＯＯＲ_７（Ｒ_７は水素原子、置換基を有してもよいアルキル基、置換基を有してもよいアラルキル基又は置換基を有してもよいアリール基）、ハロゲン化カルボニル基若しくはＣＯＮＲ_８Ｒ_９（Ｒ_８及びＲ_９は水素原子、ハロゲン原子、置換基を有してもよいアルキル基、置換基を有してもよいアラルキル基又は置換基を有してもよいアリール基を示し、互いに同一であっても異なっていてもよい）を表わし、Ａｒ_１、Ａｒ_２は置換もしくは未置換のアリーレン基を表わし、同一であっても異なってもよい。Ａｒ_３、Ａｒ_４は置換もしくは未置換のアリール基を表わし、同一であっても異なってもよい。Ｘは単結合、置換もしくは無置換のアルキレン基、置換もしくは無置換のシクロアルキレン基、置換もしくは無置換のアルキレンエーテル基、酸素原子、硫黄原子、ビニレン基を表わす。Ｚは置換もしくは無置換のアルキレン基、置換もしくは無置換のアルキレンエーテル基、アルキレンオキシカルボニル基を表わす。ｍ、ｎは０〜３の整数を表わす。）

(In the formula, R ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an aralkyl group which may have a substituent, an aryl group which may have a substituent, a cyano group, a nitro group, Group, alkoxy group, —COOR ₇ (R ₇ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an aralkyl group which may have a substituent or an aryl group which may have a substituent), halogen Carbonyl group or CONR ₈ R ₉ (R ₈ and R ₉ may have a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an aralkyl group which may have a substituent, or a substituent. Ar ₁ and Ar ₂ each represent a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group, and may be the same or different.Ar ₃ , which may be the same or different from each other. Ar ₄ may be substituted Represents an unsubstituted aryl group, which may be the same or different, X represents a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene ether group, An oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a vinylene group, Z represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene ether group, or an alkyleneoxycarbonyl group, and m and n represent an integer of 0 to 3.)

Specific examples of general formulas (1) and (2) are shown below.
In the general formulas (1) and (2), in the substituent of R ₁ , examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, and a butyl group, and examples of the aryl group include a phenyl group and a naphthyl group. The aralkyl group includes a benzyl group, a phenethyl group, and a naphthylmethyl group, and the alkoxy group includes a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, and the like. These include a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, and a methyl group. Substituted with an alkyl group such as an ethyl group, an alkoxy group such as a methoxy group or an ethoxy group, an aryloxy group such as a phenoxy group, an aryl group such as a phenyl group or a naphthyl group, an aralkyl group such as a benzyl group or a phenethyl group, etc. May be.
Of the substituents for R ₁ , particularly preferred are a hydrogen atom and a methyl group.
Substituted or unsubstituted Ar ₃ and Ar ₄ are aryl groups, and examples of the aryl group include condensed polycyclic hydrocarbon groups, non-fused cyclic hydrocarbon groups, and heterocyclic groups.
The condensed polycyclic hydrocarbon group preferably has 18 or less carbon atoms forming a ring, for example, a pentanyl group, an indenyl group, a naphthyl group, an azulenyl group, a heptaenyl group, a biphenylenyl group, an as-indacenyl group. , S-indacenyl group, fluorenyl group, acenaphthylenyl group, preadenyl group, acenaphthenyl group, phenalenyl group, phenanthryl group, anthryl group, fluoranthenyl group, acephenanthrenyl group, aceanthrylenyl group, triphenylyl group, pyrenyl group , A chrycenyl group, a naphthacenyl group, and the like.

Examples of the non-fused cyclic hydrocarbon group include monovalent groups of monocyclic hydrocarbon compounds such as benzene, diphenyl ether, polyethylene diphenyl ether, diphenyl thioether and diphenyl sulfone, or biphenyl, polyphenyl, diphenylalkane, diphenylalkene, diphenylalkyne, Monovalent groups of non-condensed polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds such as triphenylmethane, distyrylbenzene, 1,1-diphenylcycloalkane, polyphenylalkane, and polyphenylalkene, or ring assemblies such as 9,9-diphenylfluorene And monovalent groups of hydrocarbon compounds.
Examples of the heterocyclic group include monovalent groups such as carbazole, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, oxadiazole, and thiadiazole.

The aryl group represented by Ar ₃ or Ar ₄ may have a substituent as shown below, for example.
(1) Halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group and the like.
(2) Alkyl groups, preferably C1-C12, especially C1-C8, more preferably C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl groups, and these alkyl groups further include a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, It may have a phenyl group substituted with a C1-C4 alkoxy group, a phenyl group or a halogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group or a C1-C4 alkoxy group. Specifically, methyl group, ethyl group, n-butyl group, i-propyl group, t-butyl group, s-butyl group, n-propyl group, trifluoromethyl group, 2-hydroxyethyl group, 2-ethoxyethyl Group, 2-cyanoethyl group, 2-methoxyethyl group, benzyl group, 4-chlorobenzyl group, 4-methylbenzyl group, 4-phenylbenzyl group and the like.
(3) An alkoxy group (—OR ₂ ), and R ₂ represents the alkyl group defined in (2). Specifically, methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy group, i-propoxy group, t-butoxy group, n-butoxy group, s-butoxy group, i-butoxy group, 2-hydroxyethoxy group, benzyloxy group And a trifluoromethoxy group.
(4) An aryloxy group, and examples of the aryl group include a phenyl group and a naphthyl group. This may contain a C1-C4 alkoxy group, a C1-C4 alkyl group or a halogen atom as a substituent. Specific examples include a phenoxy group, a 1-naphthyloxy group, a 2-naphthyloxy group, a 4-methoxyphenoxy group, and a 4-methylphenoxy group.
(5) Alkyl mercapto group or aryl mercapto group, and specific examples include methylthio group, ethylthio group, phenylthio group, p-methylphenylthio group and the like.

（式中、Ｒ_３及びＲ_４は各々独立に水素原子、前記（２）で定義したアルキル基、またはアリール基を表わす。アリール基としては、例えばフェニル基、ビフェニル基又はナフチル基が挙げられ、これらはＣ１〜Ｃ４のアルコキシ基、Ｃ１〜Ｃ４のアルキル基またはハロゲン原子を置換基として含有してもよい。Ｒ_３及びＲ_４は共同で環を形成してもよい）
具体的には、アミノ基、ジエチルアミノ基、Ｎ−メチル−Ｎ−フェニルアミノ基、Ｎ，Ｎ−ジフェニルアミノ基、Ｎ，Ｎ−ジ（トリール）アミノ基、ジベンジルアミノ基、ピペリジノ基、モルホリノ基、ピロリジノ基等が挙げられる。
（７）メチレンジオキシ基、又はメチレンジチオ基等のアルキレンジオキシ基又はアルキレンジチオ基等が挙げられる。
（８）置換又は無置換のスチリル基、置換又は無置換のβ−フェニルスチリル基、ジフェニルアミノフェニル基、ジトリルアミノフェニル基等。
前記Ａｒ_１、Ａｒ_２で表わされるアリーレン基としては、前記Ａｒ_３、Ａｒ_４で表されるアリール基から誘導される２価基である。 (6)

(In the formula, R ₃ and R ₄ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group defined in (2) above, or an aryl group. Examples of the aryl group include a phenyl group, a biphenyl group, and a naphthyl group. These may contain a C1-C4 alkoxy group, a C1-C4 alkyl group, or a halogen atom as a substituent. R ₃ and R ₄ may form a ring together)
Specifically, amino group, diethylamino group, N-methyl-N-phenylamino group, N, N-diphenylamino group, N, N-di (tolyl) amino group, dibenzylamino group, piperidino group, morpholino group And pyrrolidino group.
(7) An alkylenedioxy group or an alkylenedithio group such as a methylenedioxy group or a methylenedithio group.
(8) A substituted or unsubstituted styryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted β-phenylstyryl group, a diphenylaminophenyl group, a ditolylaminophenyl group, and the like.
The arylene group represented by Ar ₁ and Ar ₂ is a divalent group derived from the aryl group represented by Ar ₃ and Ar ₄ .

X represents a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene ether group, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a vinylene group.
The substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group is a C1-C12, preferably C1-C8, more preferably a C1-C4 linear or branched alkylene group, and these alkylene groups further include a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group, It may have a cyano group, a C1-C4 alkoxy group, a phenyl group or a halogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, or a phenyl group substituted with a C1-C4 alkoxy group. Specifically, methylene group, ethylene group, n-butylene group, i-propylene group, t-butylene group, s-butylene group, n-propylene group, trifluoromethylene group, 2-hydroxyethylene group, 2-ethoxyethylene Group, 2-cyanoethylene group, 2-methoxyethylene group, benzylidene group, phenylethylene group, 4-chlorophenylethylene group, 4-methylphenylethylene group, 4-biphenylethylene group and the like.
The substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylene group is a C5-C7 cyclic alkylene group, and these cyclic alkylene groups have a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1-C4 alkyl group, and a C1-C4 alkoxy group. May be. Specific examples include a cyclohexylidene group, a cyclohexylene group, and a 3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene group.
The substituted or unsubstituted alkylene ether group represents ethyleneoxy, propyleneoxy, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, alkylene ether group alkylene group is hydroxyl group, methyl group, ethyl group, etc. You may have the substituent of.

または、

で表わされ、
Ｒ_５は水素、アルキル基（前記（２）で定義されるアルキル基と同じ）、アリール基（前記Ａｒ_３、Ａｒ_４で表わされるアリール基と同じ）、ａは１または２、ｂは１〜３を表わす。
前記Ｚは置換もしくは未置換のアルキレン基、置換もしくは無置換のアルキレンエーテル基、アルキレンオキシカルボニル基を表わす。
置換もしくは未置換のアルキレン基としは、前記Ｘのアルキレン基と同様なものが挙げられる。
置換もしくは無置換のアルキレンエーテル基としては、前記Ｘのアルキレンエーテル基が挙げられる。
アルキレンオキシカルボニル基としては、カプロラクトン変性基が挙げられる。 The vinylene group is

Or

Represented by
R ₅ is hydrogen, an alkyl group (same as the alkyl group defined in (2) above), an aryl group (same as the aryl group represented by Ar ₃ or Ar ₄ above), a is 1 or 2, and b is 1 to 2 3 is represented.
Z represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene ether group, or an alkyleneoxycarbonyl group.
Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group include the same alkylene groups as those described above for X.
Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted alkylene ether group include the alkylene ether group represented by X.
Examples of the alkyleneoxycarbonyl group include a caprolactone-modified group.

Further, a radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure is more preferably a compound having the structure of the following general formula (3).

を表わす。）
上記一般式で表わされる化合物としては、Ｒｂ、Ｒｃの置換基として、特にメチル基、エチル基である化合物が好ましい。 (Wherein, o, p and q are each an integer of 0 or 1, Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Rb and Rc represent a substituent other than a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, And s and t each represents an integer of 0 to 3. Za is a single bond, a methylene group, an ethylene group,

Represents. )
As the compound represented by the above general formula, a compound having a methyl group or an ethyl group as a substituent for Rb and Rc is particularly preferable.

  The radically polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure represented by the general formulas (1) and (2), particularly (3) used in the present invention is polymerized with the carbon-carbon double bond open on both sides. Therefore, in a polymer that is not a terminal structure but is incorporated in a chain polymer and crosslinked by polymerization with a tri- or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer, it exists in the main chain of the polymer, and Present in the cross-linked chain between the chain and the main chain (this cross-linked chain has an intermolecular cross-linked chain between one polymer and another polymer, and a site where the main chain is folded in one polymer. And other intramolecular cross-linked chains that are cross-linked with other sites derived from the polymerized monomer at positions away from this in the main chain), but even if they are present in the main chain, Even if present, the triarylamine structure suspended from the chain moiety is It has at least three aryl groups arranged in the radial direction and is bulky, but is not directly bonded to the chain part, but is suspended from the chain part via a carbonyl group, etc. Since these triarylamine structures can be arranged adjacent to each other in the polymer, there is little structural distortion in the molecule, and the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is also fixed. In the case of the layer 113, it is presumed that an intramolecular structure that is relatively free from interruption of the charge transport path can be adopted.

Specific examples of the radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transporting structure are shown below, but are not limited to the compounds having these structures.

Specific examples of the radically polymerizable compound having a bifunctional charge transporting structure are shown below, but are not limited to the compounds having these structures.

Specific examples of the radical polymerizable compound having a trifunctional charge transporting structure are shown below, but the invention is not limited to the compounds having these structures.

Further, the radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure used in the present invention is important for imparting the charge transport performance of the crosslinked surface layer 113, and this component is 20 to 80% by weight based on the total amount of the crosslinked surface layer 113. It is preferably 30 to 70% by weight. If this component is less than 20% by weight, the charge transport performance of the cross-linked surface layer 113 cannot be maintained sufficiently, and deterioration of electrical characteristics such as a decrease in sensitivity and an increase in residual potential appear with repeated use. On the other hand, if it is 80% by weight or more, the content of the trifunctional monomer having no charge transport structure is lowered, and the crosslink density is lowered, so that high wear resistance is not exhibited. Although the electrical characteristics and abrasion resistance required differ depending on the process used, it cannot be said unconditionally, but considering the balance of both characteristics, the range of 30 to 70% by weight is most preferable.
The surface layer 113 is obtained by curing at least a trifunctional or higher-functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transporting structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure. Monofunctional and bifunctional radically polymerizable monomers and radically polymerizable oligomers can be used in combination for the purpose of imparting functions such as stress relaxation of the crosslinked surface layer 113, lower surface energy, and reduced friction coefficient. Known radical polymerizable monomers and oligomers can be used.
Examples of the monofunctional radical monomer include 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl carbitol acrylate, 3-methoxybutyl acrylate, benzyl acrylate, and cyclohexyl acrylate. , Isoamyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, methoxytriethylene glycol acrylate, phenoxytetraethylene glycol acrylate, cetyl acrylate, isostearyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, styrene monomer, and the like.
Examples of the bifunctional radical polymerizable monomer include 1,3-butanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, 1, Examples include 6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, EO-modified bisphenol A diacrylate, EO-modified bisphenol F diacrylate, and neopentyl glycol diacrylate.
Examples of the functional monomer include those substituted with a fluorine atom such as octafluoropentyl acrylate, 2-perfluorooctylethyl acrylate, 2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate, 2-perfluoroisononylethyl acrylate, No. 60503, JP-B-6-45770, siloxane repeating units: 20-70 acryloyl polydimethylsiloxane ethyl, methacryloyl polydimethylsiloxane ethyl, acryloyl polydimethylsiloxane propyl, acryloyl polydimethylsiloxane butyl, diacryloyl polydimethylsiloxane Examples include vinyl monomers having a polysiloxane group such as diethyl, acrylates and methacrylates.
Examples of the radical polymerizable oligomer include epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, and polyester acrylate oligomers. However, when a large amount of monofunctional and bifunctional radically polymerizable monomers and radically polymerizable oligomers are contained, the three-dimensional cross-linking density of the cross-linked surface layer 113 is substantially reduced, resulting in a decrease in wear resistance. For this reason, the content of these monomers and oligomers is limited to 50 parts by weight or less, preferably 30 parts by weight or less, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the tri- or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer.

Further, the surface layer 113 is obtained by curing at least trifunctional or higher-functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure by light energy irradiation. In order to advance the crosslinking reaction efficiently, a polymerization initiator may be used in the crosslinked surface layer 113.
Examples of the polymerization initiator include diethoxyacetophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethane-1-one, 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone, 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2- Hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1- (4-morpholinophenyl) butanone-1,2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, 2-methyl Acetophenone-based or ketal-based photopolymerization initiators such as 2-morpholino (4-methylthiophenyl) propan-1-one, 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione-2- (o-ethoxycarbonyl) oxime, benzoin , Benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isobutyl ether Benzoin ether photopolymerization initiators such as benzoin isopropyl ether, benzophenone, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, methyl o-benzoylbenzoate, 2-benzoylnaphthalene, 4-benzoylbiphenyl, 4-benzoylphenyl ether, acrylated benzophenone, 1 Benzophenone photopolymerization initiators such as 2-benzoylbenzene, thioxanthones such as 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2,4-dimethylthioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 2,4-dichlorothioxanthone As photopolymerization initiators and other photopolymerization initiators, ethyl anthraquinone, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl Phenylethoxyphosphine oxide, bis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phenylphosphine oxide, bis (2,4-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphine oxide, methylphenylglyoxyester, 9,10 -Phenanthrene, an acridine type compound, a triazine type compound, an imidazole type compound is mentioned. Moreover, what has a photopolymerization acceleration effect can also be used individually or in combination with the said photoinitiator. Examples thereof include triethanolamine, methyldiethanolamine, ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, isoamyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, (2-dimethylamino) ethyl benzoate, 4,4′-dimethylaminobenzophenone, and the like.
These polymerization initiators may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The content of the polymerization initiator is 0.5 to 40 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the total content having radical polymerizability.

Furthermore, the coating liquid can contain additives such as various plasticizers (for the purpose of stress relaxation and adhesion improvement), leveling agents, and low molecular charge transport materials having no radical reactivity, as necessary. As these additives, known additives can be used, and as plasticizers, those used in general resins such as dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate can be used, and the amount used is the total solid content of the coating liquid. To 20% by weight or less, preferably 10% or less. As leveling agents, silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil and methylphenyl silicone oil, polymers or oligomers having a perfluoroalkyl group in the side chain can be used, and the amount used is based on the total solid content of the coating liquid. 3% by weight or less is appropriate.
The crosslinked surface layer 113 of the present invention is formed by applying and curing a coating solution containing at least a trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure. The When the radically polymerizable monomer is a liquid, such a coating liquid can be applied by dissolving other components in the liquid, but if necessary, it is diluted with a solvent and applied. Solvents used at this time include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone, esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and propyl ether. And ethers such as dichloromethane, dichloroethane, trichloroethane, and chlorobenzene, aromatics such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, and cellosolves such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, and cellosolve acetate. These solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The dilution ratio with the solvent varies depending on the solubility of the composition, the coating method, and the target film thickness, and is arbitrary. The coating can be performed using a dip coating method, spray coating, bead coating, ring coating method or the like.

In this invention, after apply | coating this coating liquid, light energy is given from the outside and it hardens | cures. As the energy of light, UV irradiation light sources such as high-pressure mercury lamps and metal halide lamps that mainly emit light in the ultraviolet light can be used. Is possible. Irradiation light amount 300 mW / cm ² or more, preferably 1000 mW / cm ² or less, time consuming for the curing reaction is less than 300 mW / cm ^2. If it is higher than 1000 mW / cm ^2, the progress of the reaction becomes non-uniform and the cross-linked surface layer 113 becomes very rough. Further, when curing by light energy, it is preferable to reduce the oxygen concentration in order to prevent cross-linking inhibition by oxygen.
In the composition contained in the cross-linked surface layer 113 coating solution, it is possible to contain a binder resin as long as the smoothness, electrical characteristics, or durability of the photoreceptor surface is not impaired. However, when a polymer material such as a binder resin is included in the coating liquid, it is in phase with the polymer formed by the curing reaction of the radical polymerizable composition (radical polymerizable monomer and radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure). Phase separation occurs due to poor solubility, and the surface of the crosslinked surface layer 113 becomes uneven. Therefore, it is preferable not to use a binder resin.
In the cross-linked surface layer 113 of the present invention, it is necessary to contain a bulky charge transporting structure in order to maintain electrical characteristics and to increase the cross-linking density in order to increase the strength. In such curing after application of the crosslinked surface layer 113, if very high energy is applied from the outside and the reaction proceeds rapidly, the curing proceeds unevenly and the unevenness of the crosslinked film surface becomes severe. For this reason, the thing using the external energy of light which can control reaction rate with the irradiation intensity | strength of light and the amount of polymerization initiators is preferable.

In the case of using the crosslinked surface layer forming material of the present invention, examples of the coating method include, for example, an acrylate monomer having three acryloyloxy groups and a triarylamine compound having one acryloyloxy group as the coating liquid. When these are used, their use ratio is 7: 3 to 3: 7, and 3-20% by weight of a polymerization initiator is added to the total amount of these acrylate compounds, and a solvent is added to prepare a coating solution. To do. For example, in the case where the charge transport layer 1122 which is the lower layer of the cross-linked surface layer 113 uses a triarylamine donor as the charge transport material and polycarbonate as the binder resin, and the cross-linked surface layer 113 is formed by spray coating, As the solvent for the coating solution, tetrahydrofuran, 2-butanone, ethyl acetate, and the like are preferable, and the use ratio is 3 to 10 times the total amount of the acrylate compound.
Next, for example, the prepared coating solution is applied by spraying or the like on a photoreceptor in which an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and the charge transport layer 1122 are sequentially laminated on a support such as an aluminum cylinder. Thereafter, it is dried at a relatively low temperature for a short time (25 to 80 ° C., 1 to 10 minutes) and cured by UV irradiation or heating.
For UV irradiation, it uses a metal halide lamp, the illuminance (365 nm) is 300 mW / cm ² or more, preferably 1000 mW / cm ² or less, for example, the case of irradiation with UV light of 600 mW / cm ^2, for example upon curing, the drum It is only necessary to rotate and uniformly irradiate all surfaces for about 45 to 360 seconds. At this time, the drum temperature is controlled so as not to exceed 100 ° C.
After the curing is completed, the photosensitive member is obtained by heating at 100 to 150 ° C. for 10 to 30 minutes to reduce the residual solvent.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described according to the layer structure.
<About the layer structure of the electrophotographic photoreceptor>
The electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing an electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The photosensitive member 11 has a single layer structure in which a photosensitive layer having a charge generating function and a charge transporting function is provided on a conductive support 111. FIG. 13A shows the case where the crosslinked surface layer 113 is the entire photosensitive layer, and FIG. 13B shows the case where the crosslinked surface layer 113 is the surface portion of the photosensitive layer.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The photosensitive member 11 has a stacked structure in which a charge generation layer having a charge generation function and a charge transport layer 1122 having a charge transport material function are stacked on a conductive support 111. FIG. 14A shows the case where the cross-linked surface layer 113 is the entire charge transport layer 1122, and FIG. 14B shows the case where the cross-linked surface layer 113 is the surface portion of the charge transport layer 1122. .

<About conductive support>
Examples of the conductive support 111 include those having a volume resistance of 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm or less, such as aluminum, nickel, chromium, nichrome, copper, gold, silver, platinum, and other metals, tin oxide, indium oxide, and the like. After vapor-depositing or sputtering a film or cylindrical plastic, paper coated, or a plate of aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, stainless steel, etc. Pipes subjected to surface treatment such as cutting, super finishing and polishing can be used. Further, an endless nickel belt and an endless stainless steel belt disclosed in JP-A-52-36016 can also be used as the conductive support 111.
In addition, a material obtained by dispersing conductive powder in an appropriate binder resin and coating it on the support can also be used as the conductive support 111 of the present invention.
Examples of the conductive powder include carbon black, acetylene black, metal powder such as aluminum, nickel, iron, nichrome, copper, zinc and silver, or metal oxide powder such as conductive tin oxide and ITO. Can be mentioned. The binder resin used at the same time is polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. , Polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylidene chloride, polyarylate resin, phenoxy resin, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, ethyl cellulose resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl toluene, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, Examples thereof include thermoplastic, thermosetting resins, and photocurable resins such as melamine resin, urethane resin, phenol resin, and alkyd resin. Such a conductive layer can be provided by dispersing and coating these conductive powder and binder resin in a suitable solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, methyl ethyl ketone, and toluene.
Furthermore, it is electrically conductive by a heat-shrinkable tube in which the conductive powder is contained in a material such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, chlorinated rubber, Teflon (registered trademark) on a suitable cylindrical substrate. Those provided with a conductive layer can also be used favorably as the conductive support 111 of the present invention.

<About photosensitive layer>
Next, the photosensitive layer will be described. The photosensitive layer may have a laminated structure or a single layer structure.
In the case of a laminated structure, the photosensitive layer includes a charge generation layer having a charge generation function and a charge transport layer 1122 having a charge transport function. In the case of a single layer structure, the photosensitive layer is a layer having a charge generation function and a charge transport function at the same time.
Hereinafter, each of the photosensitive layer having a laminated structure and the photosensitive layer having a single layer structure will be described.
<Photosensitive layer with a laminated structure>
(Charge generation layer)
The charge generation layer is a layer mainly composed of a charge generation material having a charge generation function, and a binder resin can be used in combination as necessary. As the charge generation material, inorganic materials and organic materials can be used.
Inorganic materials include crystalline selenium, amorphous selenium, selenium-tellurium, selenium-tellurium-halogen, selenium-arsenic compounds, and amorphous silicon. As amorphous silicon, dangling bonds terminated with hydrogen atoms or halogen atoms, or doped with boron atoms, phosphorus atoms or the like are preferably used.
On the other hand, a known material can be used as the organic material. For example, phthalocyanine pigments such as metal phthalocyanine and metal-free phthalocyanine, azulenium salt pigments, squaric acid methine pigments, azo pigments having carbazole skeleton, azo pigments having triphenylamine skeleton, azo pigments having diphenylamine skeleton, dibenzothiophene skeleton Azo pigments having a fluorenone skeleton, azo pigments having an oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigments having a bis-stilbene skeleton, azo pigments having a distyryl oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigments having a distyrylcarbazole skeleton, perylene Pigments, anthraquinone or polycyclic quinone pigments, quinoneimine pigments, diphenylmethane and triphenylmethane pigments, benzoquinone and naphthoquinone pigments, cyanine and azomethine pigments, Goido based pigments, and bisbenzimidazole pigments. These charge generation materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

As a binder resin used as necessary for the charge generation layer, polyamide, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyketone, polycarbonate, silicone resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl ketone, polystyrene, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, Examples include polyacrylamide. These binder resins can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more. In addition to the binder resin described above as a binder resin for the charge generation layer, a polymer charge transport material having a charge transport function, such as an arylamine skeleton, benzidine skeleton, hydrazone skeleton, carbazole skeleton, stilbene skeleton, pyrazoline skeleton, etc. Polymer materials such as polycarbonate, polyester, polyurethane, polyether, polysiloxane, and acrylic resin, polymer materials having a polysilane skeleton, and the like can be used.
Specific examples of the former include JP-A-01-001728, JP-A-01-009964, JP-A-01-013061, JP-A-01-019049, JP-A-01-241559, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 04-011627, 04-175337, 04-183719, 04-2225014, 04-230767, 04-320420, 05 -232727, JP-A 05-310904, JP-A 06-234836, JP-A 06-234837, JP-A 06-234838, JP-A 06-234839, JP-A 06-234840. No. 1, JP-A 06-234841, JP-A 06-239049, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 06-236050, 06-236051, 06-295077, 07-0756374, 08-176293, 08-208820, 08 No. -21640, JP 08-253568, JP 08-269183, JP 09-062019, JP 09-043883, JP 09-71642, JP 09-87376. No. 1, JP-A 09-104746, JP 09-110974, JP 09-110976, JP 09-157378, JP 09-221544, JP 09-227669. JP 09-235367 A, JP 09-241369 A Charge transporting polymer materials described in JP 09-268226 A, JP 09-272735 A, JP 09-302084 A, JP 09-302085 A, JP 09-328539 A, etc. Can be mentioned.
Specific examples of the latter include polysilylene polymers described in, for example, JP-A No. 63-285552, JP-A No. 05-19497, JP-A No. 05-70595, JP-A No. 10-73944, and the like. Illustrated.

The charge generation layer may contain a low molecular charge transport material.
Low molecular charge transport materials that can be used in the charge generation layer include hole transport materials and electron transport materials.
Examples of the electron transporting material include chloroanil, bromanyl, tetracyanoethylene, tetracyanoquinodimethane, 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenone, 2,4 , 5,7-tetranitroxanthone, 2,4,8-trinitrothioxanthone, 2,6,8-trinitro-4H-indeno [1,2-b] thiophen-4-one, 1,3,7-tri Examples thereof include electron-accepting substances such as nitrodibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide and diphenoquinone derivatives. These electron transport materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.
Examples of the hole transporting material include the electron donating materials shown below and are used favorably. As hole transport materials, oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, monoarylamine derivatives, diarylamine derivatives, triarylamine derivatives, stilbene derivatives, α-phenylstilbene derivatives, benzidine derivatives, diarylmethane derivatives, triaryls Other known materials such as methane derivatives, 9-styrylanthracene derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives, divinylbenzene derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, indene derivatives, butadiene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, bisstilbene derivatives, enamine derivatives, and the like can be given. These hole transport materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

Methods for forming the charge generation layer include a vacuum thin film preparation method and a casting method from a solution dispersion system.
As the former method, a vacuum deposition method, a glow discharge decomposition method, an ion plating method, a sputtering method, a reactive sputtering method, a CVD method, or the like is used, and the above-described inorganic materials and organic materials can be satisfactorily formed.
In addition, in order to provide a charge generation layer by the casting method described later, if necessary, the inorganic or organic charge generation material together with a binder resin, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dioxolane, toluene, dichloromethane, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethane, cyclohexanone, cyclohexane. Can be formed by dispersing with a ball mill, attritor, sand mill, bead mill, etc. using a solvent such as pentanone, anisole, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, etc. . Moreover, leveling agents, such as a dimethyl silicone oil and a methylphenyl silicone oil, can be added as needed. The coating can be performed using a dip coating method, spray coating, bead coating, ring coating method or the like.
The thickness of the charge generation layer provided as described above is suitably about 0.01 to 5 μm, preferably 0.05 to 2 μm.

(About charge transport layer)
The charge transport layer 1122 is a layer having a charge transport function, and the cross-linked surface layer 113 having a charge transport structure of the present invention is useful as the charge transport layer 1122. When the cross-linked surface layer 113 is the entire charge transport layer 1122, the radical polymerizable composition of the present invention (radical polymerization having no charge transport structure) is formed on the charge generation layer as described in the above cross-linked surface layer preparation method. A coating solution containing a polymerizable monomer and a radically polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure (hereinafter the same) and a filler is applied, and if necessary, after drying, a curing reaction is initiated by external energy to form a crosslinked surface layer 113. Is done. At this time, the film thickness of the crosslinked surface layer 113 is 10 to 30 μm, preferably 10 to 25 μm. If the thickness is less than 10 μm, a sufficient charging potential cannot be maintained.
In addition, when the cross-linked surface layer 113 is formed on the surface portion of the charge transport layer 1122 and the charge transport layer 1122 has a laminated structure, the lower layer portion of the charge transport layer 1122 contains a charge transport material having a charge transport function and a binder resin. Dissolve or disperse in a suitable solvent, and apply and dry it on the charge generation layer, and apply a coating solution containing the radical polymerizable composition of the present invention and a filler on the outside. It is crosslinked and cured by energy.
As the charge transport material, the electron transport material, hole transport material and polymer charge transport material described in the charge generation layer can be used. As described above, the use of the polymer charge transport material can reduce the solubility of the lower layer when the surface layer is applied, and is particularly useful.
As the binder resin, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, Polyvinylidene chloride, polyarylate resin, phenoxy resin, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, ethyl cellulose resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl toluene, poly-N-vinyl carbazole, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, melamine resin, urethane resin And thermoplastic or thermosetting resins such as phenol resins and alkyd resins.
The amount of the charge transport material is appropriately 20 to 300 parts by weight, preferably 40 to 150 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. However, when a polymer charge transport material is used, it can be used alone or in combination with a binder resin.

As the solvent used for coating the lower layer portion of the charge transport layer 1122, the same solvent as that used for the charge generation layer can be used. These solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The lower layer portion of the charge transport layer 1122 can be formed by the same coating method as that for the charge generation layer.
If necessary, a plasticizer and a leveling agent can be added.
As a plasticizer that can be used in combination with the lower layer portion of the charge transport layer 1122, those used as plasticizers for general resins such as dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate can be used as they are, and the amount used is 100 parts by weight of binder resin. About 0 to 30 parts by weight is appropriate.
Leveling agents that can be used in combination with the lower layer portion of the charge transport layer 1122 include silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil and methylphenyl silicone oil, and polymers or oligomers having a perfluoroalkyl group in the side chain. In addition, about 0 to 1 part by weight is appropriate for 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
The thickness of the lower layer portion of the charge transport layer 1122 is appropriately about 5 to 40 μm, and preferably about 10 to 30 μm.
When the crosslinked surface layer 113 is a surface portion of the charge transport layer 1122, the radically polymerizable composition of the present invention is contained on the lower layer portion of the charge transport layer 1122, as described in the method for preparing the crosslinked surface layer. After the coating liquid is applied and dried as necessary, the curing reaction is started by external energy such as heat or light, and the crosslinked surface layer 113 is formed. At this time, the film thickness of the crosslinked surface layer 113 is 1 to 20 μm, preferably 2 to 10 μm. If the thickness is less than 1 μm, the durability varies due to uneven film thickness. If the thickness is more than 20 μm, the entire thickness of the charge transport layer 1122 is increased, and the reproducibility of the image is reduced due to the diffusion of charges.

<Single photosensitive layer>
A photosensitive layer having a single layer structure is a layer having a charge generation function and a charge transport function at the same time, and the cross-linked surface layer 113 having a charge transport structure of the present invention is a single layer by containing a charge generation material having a charge generation function. It is useful as a photosensitive layer having a structure. As described in the method for forming the charge generation layer, the charge generation material is dispersed together with the coating solution containing the radical polymerizable composition, applied onto the charge generation layer 1121, dried as necessary, and then externally applied. The curing reaction is started by energy, and the crosslinked surface layer 113 is formed. In addition, you may add the liquid in which the charge generation material was previously disperse | distributed with the solvent to this coating material for bridge | crosslinking surface layers. At this time, the film thickness of the crosslinked surface layer 113 is 10 to 30 μm, preferably 10 to 25 μm. If the thickness is less than 10 μm, a sufficient charging potential cannot be maintained. If the thickness is more than 30 μm, peeling from the conductive substrate or the undercoat layer tends to occur due to volume shrinkage during curing.
Further, when the cross-linked surface layer 113 is a surface portion of a photosensitive layer having a single-layer structure, the lower layer portion of the photosensitive layer is appropriately formed of a charge generating material having a charge generating function, a charge transporting material having a charge transport function, and a binder resin. It can be formed by dissolving or dispersing in a solvent, coating and drying. Moreover, a plasticizer, a leveling agent, etc. can also be added as needed. As the charge generation material dispersion method, the charge generation material, the charge transport material, the plasticizer, and the leveling agent may be the same as those already described in the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer 1122. As the binder resin, in addition to the binder resin previously mentioned in the section of the charge transport layer 1122, the binder resin mentioned in the charge generation layer may be mixed and used. In addition, the above-described polymer charge transport materials can also be used, which is useful in that contamination of the lower layer photosensitive layer composition into the crosslinked surface layer 113 can be reduced. The thickness of the lower layer portion of the photosensitive layer is suitably about 5 to 30 μm, preferably about 10 to 25 μm.
When the cross-linked surface layer 113 is a surface portion of a photosensitive layer having a single layer structure, the coating solution containing the radical polymerizable composition of the present invention and the charge generating material is applied onto the lower layer portion of the photosensitive layer as described above. Then, after drying, if necessary, it is cured by external energy such as heat or light to form the crosslinked surface layer 113. At this time, the film thickness of the crosslinked surface layer 113 is 1 to 20 μm, preferably 2 to 10 μm. When the thickness is less than 1 μm, the durability varies due to the film thickness unevenness.
The charge generation material contained in the photosensitive layer having a single layer structure is preferably 1 to 30% by weight based on the total amount of the photosensitive layer, and the binder resin contained in the lower layer portion of the photosensitive layer is 20 to 80% by weight of the total amount. 10 to 70 parts by weight of the transport material is preferably used.

<About the intermediate layer>
In the photoreceptor 11, when the crosslinked surface layer 113 is a surface portion of the photosensitive layer, it is possible to provide an intermediate layer for the purpose of suppressing mixing of lower layer components into the crosslinked surface layer 113 or improving adhesion with the lower layer. is there. This intermediate layer prevents inhibition of the curing reaction and unevenness of the crosslinked surface layer 113 caused by mixing of the lower photosensitive layer composition in the outermost surface layer containing the radical polymerizable composition. It is also possible to improve the adhesion between the lower photosensitive layer and the surface cross-linked layer.
In the intermediate layer, a binder resin is generally used as a main component. Examples of these resins include polyamide, alcohol-soluble nylon, water-soluble polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl butyral, and polyvinyl alcohol. As a method for forming the intermediate layer, a generally used coating method is employed as described above. In addition, about 0.05-2 micrometers is suitable for the thickness of an intermediate | middle layer.

<About the undercoat layer>
In the photoreceptor 11, an undercoat layer can be provided between the conductive support 111 and the photosensitive layer 112. In general, the undercoat layer is mainly composed of a resin. However, considering that the photosensitive layer 112 is coated on the resin with a solvent, these resins are resins having a high solvent resistance with respect to a general organic solvent. Is desirable. Examples of such resins include water-soluble resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, casein, and sodium polyacrylate, alcohol-soluble resins such as copolymer nylon and methoxymethylated nylon, polyurethane, melamine resin, phenol resin, alkyd-melamine resin, and epoxy. Examples thereof include a curable resin that forms a three-dimensional network structure such as a resin. Further, a metal oxide fine powder pigment exemplified by titanium oxide, silica, alumina, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide and the like may be added to the undercoat layer in order to prevent moire and reduce residual potential.
These undercoat layers can be formed by using an appropriate solvent and coating method as in the photosensitive layer 112 described above. Furthermore, a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, a chromium coupling agent, or the like can be used as the undercoat layer of the present invention. In addition, in the undercoat layer of the present invention, Al ₂ O ₃ is provided by anodization, organic substances such as polyparaxylylene (parylene), SiO ₂ , SnO ₂ , TiO ₂ , ITO, CeO ₂ A material provided with an inorganic material such as a vacuum thin film can also be used favorably. In addition, known ones can be used. The thickness of the undercoat layer is suitably from 0 to 5 μm.

<Addition of antioxidant to each layer>
In the present invention, in order to improve environmental resistance, in order to prevent a decrease in sensitivity and an increase in residual potential, in particular, a crosslinked surface layer 113, a charge generation layer 1121, a charge transport layer 1122, an undercoat layer, an intermediate layer, and the like. An antioxidant can be added to each layer such as a layer.
The following are mentioned as antioxidant which can be used for this invention.
(Phenolic compounds)
2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, butylated hydroxyanisole, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-ethylphenol, stearyl-β- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4 -Hydroxyphenyl) propionate, 2,2'-methylene-bis- (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis- (4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4, 4'-thiobis- (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-butylidenebis- (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 1,1,3-tris- (2-methyl-4 -Hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene, tetrakis- [methylene- -(3 ', 5'-di-t-butyl-4'-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] methane, bis [3,3'-bis (4'-hydroxy-3'-t-butylphenyl) butyric acid ] Cryol ester, tocopherols and the like.
(Paraphenylenediamines)
N-phenyl-N'-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N'-di-sec-butyl-p-phenylenediamine, N-phenyl-N-sec-butyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N'- Di-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N′-dimethyl-N, N′-di-t-butyl-p-phenylenediamine and the like.
(Hydroquinones)
2,5-di-t-octylhydroquinone, 2,6-didodecylhydroquinone, 2-dodecylhydroquinone, 2-dodecyl-5-chlorohydroquinone, 2-t-octyl-5-methylhydroquinone, 2- (2-octadecenyl) ) -5-methylhydroquinone and the like.
(Organic sulfur compounds)
Dilauryl-3,3′-thiodipropionate, distearyl-3,3′-thiodipropionate, ditetradecyl-3,3′-thiodipropionate, and the like.
(Organic phosphorus compounds)
Triphenylphosphine, tri (nonylphenyl) phosphine, tri (dinonylphenyl) phosphine, tricresylphosphine, tri (2,4-dibutylphenoxy) phosphine, and the like.
These compounds are known as antioxidants such as rubbers, plastics and fats and oils, and commercially available products can be easily obtained.
The addition amount of the antioxidant in the present invention is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the layer to be added.

<Synthesis Example of Compound having Charge Transporting Structure>
The compound having a charge transporting structure in the present invention is synthesized, for example, by the method described in Japanese Patent No. 3164426. An example of this is shown below.
(1) Synthesis of hydroxy group-substituted triarylamine compound (the following structural formula B) 113.85 g (0.3 mol) of a methoxy group-substituted triarylamine compound (the following structural formula A) and 138 g (0.92 mol) of sodium iodide To this, 240 ml of sulfolane was added and heated to 60 ° C. in a nitrogen stream. In this solution, 99 g (0.91 mol) of trimethylchlorosilane was added dropwise over 1 hour, and the mixture was stirred at a temperature of about 60 ° C. for 4 and a half hours to complete the reaction. About 1.5 L of toluene was added to the reaction solution, cooled to room temperature, and washed repeatedly with water and an aqueous sodium carbonate solution. Thereafter, the solvent was removed from the toluene solution and purified by column chromatography (adsorption medium: silica gel, developing solvent: toluene: ethyl acetate = 20: 1). Cyclohexane was added to the obtained pale yellow oil to precipitate crystals. In this way, 88.1 g (yield = 80.4%) of white crystals of the following structural formula B was obtained.
Melting point: 64.0-66.0 ° C

構造式Ｂ

Structural formula A

Structural formula B

(2) Triarylamino group-substituted acrylate compound (Exemplary Compound No. 54 in Table 1)
82.9 g (0.227 mol) of the hydroxy group-substituted triarylamine compound (Structural Formula B) obtained in (1) above was dissolved in 400 ml of tetrahydrofuran, and an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH: 12.4 g, Water: 100 ml) was added dropwise. The solution was cooled to 5 ° C., and 25.2 g (0.272 mol) of acrylic acid chloride was added dropwise over 40 minutes. Then, it stirred at 5 degreeC for 3 hours, and complete | finished reaction. The reaction solution was poured into water and extracted with toluene. This extract was repeatedly washed with an aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water. Thereafter, the solvent was removed from the toluene solution and purified by column chromatography (adsorption medium: silica gel, developing solvent: toluene). N-Hexane was added to the obtained colorless oil to precipitate crystals. In this way, Exemplified Compound No. As a result, 80.73 g (yield = 84.8%) of 54 white crystals were obtained.
Melting point: 117.5-119.0 ° C

システムの線速は１５０ｍｍ／ｓｅｃ、３００ｍｍ／ｓｅｃの二種類で行った。また、各線速で、約５ｃｍ^２のベタ画像で静電潜像担持体上のトナー量を測定し、付着量が各色約０．５ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２となるように各々の評価機（評価用画像出力機（改造機１，２）、比較用評価機（量産機））の現像条件を設定した。クラウド発生用電極は線速が１５０ｍｍ／ｓｅｃ時には２本、高現像能力が要求される線速３００ｍｍ／ｓｅｃ時には４本設置した。 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to what is illustrated here. The part in an Example represents a weight part.
<Evaluation machine>
Although there is no restriction on the order of setting the toner colors, in this embodiment, the order is yellow, cyan, magenta, and black.
In order to verify the effect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus (Imagio MP C5000) manufactured by Ricoh was used as an evaluation image output device as an evaluation image output device, and the charging roller was changed as it was (the DC voltage superimposed with the alternating voltage was also applied) None) and the remodeling machine 1 in which the electrode for cloud generation is arranged in the developing section and the charging roller is changed from the non-contact type to the contact type so that only a DC voltage that does not superimpose an alternating voltage is applied and the cloud generating electrode is applied to the developing section. The evaluation image was output and the image quality was evaluated at 600 dpi output using the modified machine 2 in which the above-mentioned was installed.
As a comparative evaluation machine, a normal Imagio MP C5000 mass production machine was used. Table 3 summarizes these matters.

The system linear velocity was 150 mm / sec and 300 mm / sec. Further, the toner amount on the electrostatic latent image carrier is measured with a solid image of about 5 cm ² at each linear velocity, and each evaluation machine (evaluation image) is adjusted so that the adhesion amount is about 0.5 mg / cm ^{2 for} each color. The development conditions of the output machine (modified machines 1 and 2) and the comparative evaluation machine (mass production machine) were set. Two electrodes for cloud generation were installed when the linear velocity was 150 mm / sec, and four when the linear velocity was 300 mm / sec where high development capability was required.

Table 4 shows process conditions relating to the developing unit of the present invention (image output machine for evaluation).

<Toner>
Specific examples of the toner used for the evaluation are shown below.
-Toner a-
~ Synthesis of organic fine particle emulsion ~
In a reaction vessel equipped with a stir bar and a thermometer, water 683 parts, sodium salt of ethylene oxide methacrylate adduct sulfate (Eleminol RS-30, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries), 166 parts of methacrylic acid, butyl acrylate When 110 parts and 1 part of ammonium persulfate were charged and stirred at 3800 rpm for 30 minutes, a white emulsion was obtained. The system was heated to raise the system temperature to 75 ° C. and reacted for 4 hours. Further, 30 parts of a 1% ammonium persulfate aqueous solution was added, and the mixture was aged at 75 ° C. for 6 hours, and an aqueous dispersion of vinyl resin (methacrylic acid-butyl acrylate-methacrylic acid ethylene oxide adduct sulfate sodium salt copolymer). [Fine particle dispersion 1] was obtained. The volume average particle diameter of [fine particle dispersion 1] measured by LA-920 was 110 nm. A portion of [Fine Particle Dispersion 1] was dried to isolate the resin component. The Tg of the resin was 58 ° C., and the weight average molecular weight was 130,000.

~ Preparation of aqueous phase ~
990 parts of water, 83 parts of [fine particle dispersion 1], 37 parts of a 48.3% aqueous solution of dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate (Eleminol MON-7: Sanyo Chemical Industries) and 90 parts of ethyl acetate were mixed and stirred to give a milky white color Obtained liquid. This is designated as [Aqueous Phase 1].

-Preparation of aqueous solution of fluorinated activator-
N, N, N, -trimethyl- [3- (4-perfluorononenyloxybenzamido) propyl] ammonium, 10 parts of iodide product name Aftergent 310 (manufactured by Neos) and 297 parts of methanol are placed in a container and brought to 50 ° C. Heat and stir until clear. The obtained fluorine-based activator methanol solution was added dropwise to 693 parts of stirred ion-exchanged water, and stirred at 50 ° C. for 30 minutes after completion of the addition to obtain [Fluorine-based activator aqueous solution 1].

~ Synthesis of low molecular weight polyester ~
In a reaction vessel equipped with a condenser, a stirrer and a nitrogen inlet tube, 229 parts of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct, 529 parts of bisphenol A propylene oxide 3-mole adduct, 208 parts terephthalic acid, 46 parts adipic acid and dibutyl 2 parts of tin oxide was added, reacted at 230 ° C. for 7 hours at normal pressure, and further reacted for 5 hours at a reduced pressure of 10 to 15 mmHg. Then 44 parts of trimellitic anhydride was added to the reaction vessel, and 3 parts at 180 ° C. and normal pressure. By reacting for a time, [low molecular weight polyester 1] was obtained. [Low molecular polyester 1] had a number average molecular weight of 2,300, a weight average molecular weight of 6,700, Tg of 43 ° C., and an acid value of 25.

~ Synthesis of intermediate polyester and prepolymer ~
In a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling pipe, a stirrer and a nitrogen introduction pipe, 682 parts of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct, 81 parts of bisphenol A propylene oxide 2-mole adduct, 283 parts of terephthalic acid, trimellitic anhydride 22 And 2 parts of dibutyltin oxide were added, reacted at 230 ° C. for 7 hours at normal pressure, and further reacted for 5 hours at a reduced pressure of 10 to 15 mmHg to obtain [Intermediate Polyester 1]. [Intermediate Polyester 1] had a number average molecular weight of 2200, a weight average molecular weight of 9700, Tg of 54 ° C., an acid value of 0.5, and a hydroxyl value of 52.
Next, 410 parts of [Intermediate polyester 1], 89 parts of isophorone diisocyanate and 500 parts of ethyl acetate are placed in a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling pipe, a stirrer and a nitrogen introduction pipe, and reacted at 100 ° C. for 5 hours. Polymer 1] was obtained. [Prepolymer 1] had a free isocyanate weight percentage of 1.53%.

~ Synthesis of ketimine ~
In a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, 170 parts of isophoronediamine and 75 parts of methyl ethyl ketone were charged and reacted at 50 ° C. for 4 and a half hours to obtain [ketimine compound 1]. The amine value of [ketimine compound 1] was 417.

~ Synthesis of master batch (MB) ~
Add 1200 parts of water, 540 parts of carbon black (Printex35 manufactured by Dexa) [DBP oil absorption = 42 ml / 100 mg, pH = 9.5], 1200 parts of polyester resin, and mix with a Henschel mixer (made by Mitsui Mining). Was kneaded at 130 ° C. for 1 hour using two rolls, rolled and cooled, and pulverized with a pulverizer to obtain [Masterbatch 1].
1200 parts of water, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 180 (PV
650 parts of Fast Yellow HG (Clariant)) and 1200 parts of polyester resin are added and mixed with a Henschel mixer (Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.). The mixture is kneaded at 130 ° C. for 1 hour using two rolls, rolled and cooled with a pulverizer. Grinding to obtain [Masterbatch 2].
1200 parts of water, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 (Lionol Blue FG-7351 (Toyo Ink)) 540 parts,
1,200 parts of polyester resin was added, mixed with a Henschel mixer (Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.), the mixture was kneaded at 130 ° C. for 1 hour using two rolls, rolled and cooled, and pulverized with a pulverizer to obtain [Masterbatch 3]. .
1200 parts of water, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 Hostaperm Pink E (Clarint)) 540 parts,
1,200 parts of polyester resin was added, mixed with a Henschel mixer (Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.), the mixture was kneaded at 130 ° C. for 1 hour using two rolls, rolled and cooled, and pulverized with a pulverizer to obtain [Masterbatch 4]. .

~ Preparation of oil phase ~
In a container equipped with a stirring bar and a thermometer, 378 parts of [Low molecular weight polyester 1], 95 parts of Carnauba WAX, and 947 parts of ethyl acetate were charged, heated to 80 ° C. with stirring, and kept at 80 ° C. for 5 hours. Cooled to 30 ° C. in 1 hour. Next, 500 parts of [Masterbatch 1] and 500 parts of ethyl acetate were placed in a container and mixed for 1 hour to obtain [Raw material solution 1].
[Raw Material Solution 1] 1324 parts are transferred to a container, and using a bead mill (Ultra Visco Mill, manufactured by Imex Co., Ltd.), liquid feeding speed is 1 kg / hr, disk peripheral speed is 6 m / sec, and 0.5% zirconia beads are 80% by volume. Carbon black and WAX were dispersed under conditions of filling and 3 passes. Next, 1324 parts of a 65% ethyl acetate solution of [low molecular weight polyester 1] was added, followed by two passes with a bead mill under the above conditions to obtain [Pigment / WAX Dispersion 1]. The solid content concentration of [Pigment / WAX Dispersion 1] (130 ° C., 30 minutes) was 50%.

~ Emulsification⇒Desolvation ~
[Pigment / WAX Dispersion 1] 749 parts, [Prepolymer 1] 115 parts, [Ketimine Compound 1] 2.9 parts in a container, and TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Co., Ltd.) 2 After mixing for 1 minute, 1200 parts of [Aqueous Phase 1] was added to the container, and mixed with a TK homomixer at 13,000 rpm for 30 minutes to obtain [Emulsion Slurry 1].
[Emulsion slurry 1] was put into a container equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, and after removing the solvent at 30 ° C for 8 hours, aging was carried out at 45 ° C for 7 hours to obtain [Dispersion slurry 1].

~ Cleaning ⇒ Fluoroactive agent treatment ⇒ Drying ⇒ Air sieve ~
[Dispersion Slurry 1] After filtering 100 parts under reduced pressure,
(1): 100 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the filter cake, mixed with a TK homomixer (rotation speed: 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes), and then filtered.
(2): 100 parts of a 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added to the filter cake of (1), mixed with a TK homomixer (30 minutes at 12,000 rpm), and then filtered under reduced pressure.
(3): 100 parts of 10% hydrochloric acid was added to the filter cake of (2), mixed with a TK homomixer (10 minutes at 12,000 rpm) and filtered.
(4): 300 parts of ion-exchanged water is added to the filter cake of (3), mixed with a TK homomixer (10 minutes at 12,000 rpm), and then filtered twice to obtain [filter cake 1]. It was.
(5): 630 parts of [Filter cake 1] and 2928 parts of ion-exchanged water are put in a container, stirred with a three-one motor (manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.) (rotation speed: 400 rpm for 5 minutes) and heated to 30 ° C. While maintaining the rotation speed and temperature, 11 parts of [Fluoroactive aqueous solution 1] is dropped. It stirred for 60 minutes after completion | finish of dripping, and filtered, and obtained the filter cake 1 after a fluorine-type activator process.
[Filter cake 1 after treatment with fluorine-based activator] was dried at 45 ° C. for 48 hours in a circulating drier. Then, it was sieved with a mesh of 75 μm to obtain a toner. 1.0 part of silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm and 0.5 part of titanium oxide fine powder (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm are added to 100 parts by weight of the toner. Then, 0.6 part of silica fine powder having an average particle diameter of 90 nm (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) was mixed with a Henschel mixer, and then sieved to produce [Toner a_Bk].
Similarly, [Toner a_Y] was produced by changing [Master batch 1] to [Master batch 2]. Similarly, [Master batch 1] was changed to [Master batch 3] to produce [Toner a_C]. Further, similarly, [Master batch 1] was changed to [Master batch 4] to produce [Toner a_M].

-Toner b-
[Toner a_Bk], [Toner a_Y], [Toner a_C], [Toner a_M] [Toner a_Bk], [Toner a_Y], [Toner, except that the steps of ~ emulsification → solvent removal ~ were changed as follows. [Toner b_Bk], [Toner b_Y], [Toner b_C], and [Toner b_M] were produced in the same manner as [a_C] and [Toner a_M].
~ Emulsification⇒Desolvation ~
[Pigment / WAX Dispersion 1] 749 parts, [Prepolymer 1] 115 parts, [Ketimine Compound 1] 2.9 parts in a container, and TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika) for 3 minutes at 6,500 rpm After mixing, 1200 parts of [Aqueous Phase 1] was added to the container and mixed with a TK homomixer at a rotational speed of 16,000 rpm for 35 minutes to obtain [Emulsified Slurry 2].
[Emulsion slurry 2] was put into a container equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, and after removing the solvent at 30 ° C. for 8 hours, aging was carried out at 45 ° C. for 7 hours to obtain [Dispersion slurry 2].

-Toner c-
Toner c constituent material:
Binder resin… Polyol resin (1/2 outflow start temperature 118 ° C.) 98 parts Release agent… Carnauba wax 3 parts Colorant For black kutner… Carbon black 5 parts
For yellow toner: Benzimidazolone yellow pigment
(C.I. Pigment Yellow 180) 4 parts
For magenta toner: Quinacridone magenta pigment
(C.I. Pigment Red122) 6 parts
For cyan toner: Copper phthalocyanine blue pigment
(C.I. Pigment Blue 15) 3 parts Charge control agent: Salicylic acid derivative zinc salt 3.5 parts The toner constituent materials are sufficiently mixed for each color in a blender and then melted in a biaxial extruder heated to 100 to 110 ° C. Kneaded. The kneaded product was allowed to cool and then roughly pulverized with a cutter mill, and pulverized with a fine pulverizer using a jet stream, and each color matrix colored particle c was obtained using an air classifier.
Each color matrix colored particle c is passed through an apparatus set at a temperature of 300 ° C., a hot air flow rate of 1000 l / min, a supply air flow rate of 100 l / min, and a rotation speed of 600 rpm using surffusion (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.). It was.
1.0 part of silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm and 0.5 part of titanium oxide fine powder (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm are added to 100 parts by weight of the toner. [Toner c_Bk], [Toner c_Y], [Toner c_C], and [Toner] were mixed with 0.6 parts of silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 90 nm using a Henschel mixer. c_M].

-Toner d-
[Toner c_Bk], [Toner c_Y], [Toner c_C], and [Toner c_M] [Toner c_Bk] except that the spheroidizing process was not performed.
, [Toner d_Bk], [Toner d_Y], [Toner d_C], and [Toner d_M] were produced in the same manner as [Toner c_Y], [Toner c_C], and [Toner c_M].

-Toner e-
In [Toner a_Bk], [Toner a_Y], [Toner a_C], and [Toner a_M], the steps of ~ emulsification → desolvation ~ are changed as follows, and the average is obtained with respect to 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner. 1.0 part of silica fine powder with 15 nm particle size (hexamethyldisilazane treatment), 0.5 part of titanium oxide fine powder with 15 nm average particle diameter (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) and silica fine powder with 90 nm average particle diameter ( Hexamethyldisilazane treatment) [Toner e_Bk] [Toner a_Bk], [Toner a_Y], [Toner a_C], [Toner a_M], except that 4.8 parts were mixed with a Henschel mixer and then screened. ], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M] were prepared.
~ Emulsification⇒Desolvation ~
[Pigment / WAX Dispersion 1] 749 parts, [Prepolymer 1] 115 parts, [Ketimine Compound 1] 2.9 parts in a container, and TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Co., Ltd.) 2 at 5,500 rpm After mixing for 1 minute, 1200 parts of [Aqueous phase 1] was added to the container, and mixed with a TK homomixer at a rotational speed of 12,500 rpm for 30 minutes to obtain [Emulsified slurry 3].
[Emulsion slurry 3] was put into a container equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, and after removing the solvent at 30 ° C. for 8 hours, aging was carried out at 40 ° C. for 9 hours to obtain [Dispersed slurry 3].

-Toner f-
In [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C] and [Toner e_M], 1.0 part of silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is applied to 100 parts of the obtained toner. After mixing 0.5 parts of titanium oxide fine powder with an average particle size of 15 nm (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) and 0.6 parts of silica fine powder with an average particle size of 480 nm (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) with a Henschel mixer [Toner f_Bk], [Toner f_Y], [Toner f_C], and [Toner f_M] are produced in the same manner as [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M] except for the case where the toner is removed. did.

-Toner g-
In [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C] and [Toner e_M], 1.0 part of silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is applied to 100 parts of the obtained toner. After mixing 0.5 parts of titanium oxide fine powder with an average particle size of 15 nm (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) and 4.6 parts of silica fine powder with an average particle size of 480 nm (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) using a Henschel mixer. [Toner g_Bk], [Toner g_Y], [Toner g_C], and [Toner g_M] are produced in the same manner as [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M] except for the case where the toner is removed. did.

-Toner h-
Toner h constituent material:
Binder resin: Polyester resin (1/2 outflow start temperature: 106 ° C.) 98 parts Mold release agent: Carnauba wax 2.5 parts Colorant, charge control agent: Same as toner c Blender is sufficient for the above toner constituent materials for each color After mixing, the mixture was melt kneaded with a twin screw extruder heated to 100 to 110 ° C. The kneaded product was allowed to cool and then coarsely pulverized with a cutter mill, pulverized with a fine pulverizer using a jet stream, and each color matrix colored particle h was obtained using an air classifier.
Further, 100 parts of each colored matrix colored particle h, 1.0 part of silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm and titanium oxide fine powder (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm ) 0.5 part and 0.6 part of silica fine powder with an average particle size of 90 nm (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) were mixed with a Henschel mixer and then subjected to sieving [Toner h_Bk], [Toner h_Y], [Toner h_C] and [Toner h_M] were prepared.

-Toner i-
In [Toner a_Bk], [Toner a_Y], [Toner a_C], and [Toner a_M], the steps of ~ emulsification ⇒ desolvation ~ and ~ washing ⇒ fluorine activator treatment ⇒ drying ⇒ air sieving are as follows. [Toner a_Bk], [Toner a_Y], [Toner a_C], and [Toner a_M] were prepared in the same manner as [Toner a_Bk], [Toner a_Y], [Toner i_Y], [Toner i_C], and [Toner i_M]. .
~ Emulsification⇒Desolvation ~
[Pigment / WAX Dispersion 1] 749 parts, [Prepolymer 1] 115 parts, [Ketimine Compound 1] 2.9 parts in a container, 2 at 5,800 rpm with a TK Homomixer (made by Tokushu Kika) After mixing for 1 minute, 1200 parts of [Aqueous phase 1] was added to the container, and mixed with a TK homomixer at 13,000 rpm for 30 minutes to obtain [Emulsion slurry 4].
[Emulsion slurry 4] was put into a container equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, and after removing the solvent at 35 ° C. for 6 hours, aging was carried out at 45 ° C. for 9 hours to obtain [Dispersed slurry 4].
~ Cleaning ⇒ Fluoroactive agent treatment ⇒ Drying ⇒ Air sieve ~
[Dispersion Slurry 4] After filtering 100 parts under reduced pressure,
(1): 100 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the filter cake, mixed with a TK homomixer (rotation speed: 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes), and then filtered.
(2): 100 parts of a 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added to the filter cake of (1), mixed with a TK homomixer (30 minutes at 12,000 rpm), and then filtered under reduced pressure.
(3): 100 parts of 10% hydrochloric acid was added to the filter cake of (2), mixed with a TK homomixer (10 minutes at 12,000 rpm) and filtered.
(4): 300 parts of ion-exchanged water is added to the filter cake of (3), mixed with a TK homomixer (10 minutes at 12,000 rpm) and then filtered twice to obtain [filter cake 2]. It was.
(5): 630 parts of [Filter cake 2] and 2928 parts of ion-exchanged water are put in a container, stirred with a three-one motor (manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.) (rotation speed: 400 rpm for 5 minutes) and heated to 30 ° C. While maintaining the rotation speed and temperature, 11 parts of [Fluoroactive aqueous solution 2] are dropped. After completion of the dropwise addition, the mixture was stirred for 60 minutes and filtered to obtain [Filter cake 2 after treatment with fluorine-based activator].
[Filter cake 2 after fluorinated activator treatment] was dried at 50 ° C. for 46 hours in a circulating dryer. And it sieved with the mesh of 90 micrometers mesh, and obtained the toner.

-Toner j-
In [Toner i_Bk], [Toner i_Y], [Toner i_C], and [Toner i_M], [Toner i_Bk], except that the steps of ~ washing → fluorine activator treatment → drying → air sieving are changed as follows: [Toner j_Bk], [Toner j_Y], [Toner j_C], and [Toner j_M] were produced in the same manner as [Toner i_Y], [Toner i_C], and [Toner i_M].
~ Cleaning ⇒ Fluoroactive agent treatment ⇒ Drying ⇒ Air sieve ~
[Dispersion Slurry 4] After filtering 100 parts under reduced pressure,
(1): 100 parts of ion-exchanged water was added to the filter cake, mixed with a TK homomixer (rotation speed: 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes), and then filtered.
(2): 100 parts of a 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added to the filter cake of (1), mixed with a TK homomixer (30 minutes at 12,000 rpm), and then filtered under reduced pressure.
(3): 100 parts of 10% hydrochloric acid was added to the filter cake of (2), mixed with a TK homomixer (10 minutes at 12,000 rpm) and filtered.
(4): 300 parts of ion-exchanged water is added to the filter cake of (3), mixed with a TK homomixer (10 minutes at 12,000 rpm) and then filtered twice to obtain [filter cake 3]. It was.
(5): 630 parts of [Filter cake 3] and 2928 parts of ion-exchanged water are put into a container, and stirred at a three-one motor (manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.) (rotation speed: 400 rpm for 5 minutes) and heated to 30 ° C. While maintaining the rotation speed and temperature, 11 parts of [Fluoroactive aqueous solution 3] is dropped. After completion of the dropwise addition, the mixture was stirred for 60 minutes and filtered to obtain [filter cake 3 after treatment with a fluorine-based activator].
[Filter cake 3 after treatment with fluorine-based activator] was dried for 40 hours at 55 ° C. in a circulating dryer. Then, it was sieved with a mesh of 75 μm to obtain a toner.

-Toner k-
In [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M], silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is added to 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner. 0 parts, 0.5 parts of titanium oxide fine powder with an average particle diameter of 15 nm (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) and 0.5 parts of silica fine powder with an average particle diameter of 60 nm (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) were mixed with a Henschel mixer. [Toner k_Bk], [Toner k_Y], [Toner k_C], and [Toner k_M] are the same as [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M] Produced.

-Toner l-
In [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M], silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is added to 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner. 0 parts, 0.5 parts of titanium oxide fine powder with an average particle diameter of 15 nm (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) and 5.1 parts of silica fine powder with an average particle diameter of 90 nm (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) were mixed with a Henschel mixer. [Toner l_Bk], [Toner l_Y], [Toner l_C], and [Toner l_M] are the same as [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M]. Produced.

-Toner m-
In [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M], silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is added to 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner. 0 parts, 0.5 parts of titanium oxide fine powder with an average particle size of 15 nm (treated with isobutyltrimethoxysilane) and 0.6 parts of silica fine powder with an average particle size of 510 nm (treated with hexamethyldisilazane) were mixed with a Henschel mixer. [Toner m_Bk], [Toner m_Y], [Toner m_C], and [Toner m_M] are the same as [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M]. Produced.

-Toner n-
In [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], and [Toner e_M], silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is added to 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner. [Toner e_Bk], [Toner e_Y], [Toner e_C], except that 0 part and 0.5 part of titanium oxide fine powder (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) having an average particle size of 15 nm were mixed with a Henschel mixer and then subjected to sieving. [Toner n_Bk], [Toner n_Y], [Toner n_C], and [Toner n_M] were prepared in the same manner as [Toner e_M].

-Toner o-
In [Toner j_Bk], [Toner j_Y], [Toner j_C], and [Toner j_M], silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is added to 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner. 0 parts, 0.5 parts of titanium oxide fine powder with an average particle diameter of 15 nm (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) and 0.5 parts of silica fine powder with an average particle diameter of 90 nm (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) were mixed with a Henschel mixer. [Toner j_Bk], [Toner j_C], [Toner o_Y], [Toner o_C], [Toner o_M] are set in the same manner as [Toner j_Bk], [Toner j_Y], [Toner j_C], and [Toner j_M]. Produced.

-Toner p-
In [Toner c_Bk], [Toner c_Y], [Toner c_C], and [Toner c_M], silica fine powder (hexamethyldisilazane treatment) having an average particle diameter of 15 nm is added to 100 parts by weight of the obtained toner. [Toner c_Bk], [Toner c_Y], [Toner c_C], except that 0 part and 0.5 part of titanium oxide fine powder (isobutyltrimethoxysilane treatment) having an average particle size of 15 nm were mixed with a Henschel mixer and then subjected to sieving. And [Toner c_M], [Toner p_Bk], [Toner p_Y], [Toner p_C], and [Toner p_M] were produced.

The physical properties of the toners a to p thus prepared are shown in Tables 5-1 to 5-2.

<Career>
Next, a specific production example of the carrier used for evaluation is shown.
-Production of carrier A-
Acrylic resin solution (solid content 50 wt%) 21.0 parts Guanamin solution (solid content 70 wt%) 6.4 parts Alumina particles [0.3 μm, specific resistance 1014 (Ω · cm)] 7.6 parts Silicone resin solution 65. 0 part [solid content 23 wt% (SR2410: manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone)]
Aminosilane 1.0 part [Solid content 100 wt% (SH6020: manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone)]
60 parts of toluene 60 parts of butyl cellosolve was dispersed with a homomixer for 10 minutes to obtain a blend coating film forming solution of an acrylic resin and a silicone resin containing alumina particles. A fired ferrite powder [(MgO) 1.8 (MnO) 49.5 (Fe2O3) 48.0: average particle size; 35 μm] was used as the core material, and the coating film forming solution was applied to the surface of the core material with a film thickness of 0. It was applied and dried with a Spira coater (Okada Seiko Co., Ltd.) so as to have a thickness of 15 μm. The obtained carrier was baked by standing in an electric furnace at 150 ° C. for 1 hour. After cooling, the ferrite powder bulk was crushed using a sieve having an aperture of 106 μm to obtain a carrier. The measurement of the binder resin film thickness was performed by observing the cross section of the carrier with a transmission electron microscope so that the coating film covering the carrier surface could be observed. Thus, carrier A having a weight average particle diameter of 35 μm was obtained.

-Production of carrier B-
In carrier A, except that the average particle size of the sintered ferrite powder [(MgO) 1.8 (MnO) 49.5 (Fe2O3) 48.0: average particle size; 35 μm] of the core material was changed to 20 μm, carrier A In the same manner as above, carrier B having a weight average particle diameter of 20 μm was obtained.

-Production of carrier C-
In carrier A, except that the average particle size of the sintered ferrite powder [(MgO) 1.8 (MnO) 49.5 (Fe2O3) 48.0: average particle size; 35 μm] of the core material was changed to 50 μm, carrier A In the same manner as above, Carrier C having a weight average particle diameter of 50 μm was obtained.

Table 6 shows the physical properties of the carriers A to C thus prepared.

<Electrostatic latent image carrier>
Next, a specific example of producing the photoreceptor used for evaluation will be described. The photoreceptor used in the present invention is not limited to these examples.
-Photoreceptor i-
An undercoat layer was formed on an Al support (outer diameter 30 mmφ) by dipping so that the film thickness after drying was 3.5 μm.
・ Coating liquid for undercoat layer 6 parts alkyd resin (Beckosol 1307-60-EL, manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.)
Melamine resin
4 parts (Super Becamine G-821-60, manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.)
Titanium oxide
40 copies
(CR-EL: Ishihara Sangyo)
Methyl ethyl ketone
50 parts A charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.2 μm was formed on this undercoat layer by dip-coating in a charge generation layer coating solution containing a bisazo pigment having the following structure and drying by heating.

ポリビニルブチラール（ＸＹＨＬ、ＵＣＣ製） ０．５部
シクロヘキサノン
２００部
メチルエチルケトン
８０部
この電荷発生層上に下記構造の電荷輸送層用塗工液を用いて、浸積塗工し、加熱乾燥させ、膜厚２２μｍの電荷輸送層とした。 Bisazo pigment with the following structure
2.5 parts

Polyvinyl butyral (XYHL, manufactured by UCC) 0.5 part cyclohexanone
200 parts methyl ethyl ketone
80 parts On this charge generation layer, a charge transport layer coating liquid having the following structure was dip-coated and heat-dried to obtain a charge transport layer having a thickness of 22 μm.

テトラヒドロフラン
８０部
１％シリコーンオイルのテトラヒドロフラン溶液 ０．２部
（ＫＦ５０、信越化学工業製）
電荷輸送層１１２２上に下記構成の架橋表面層塗工液を用いて、スプレー塗工した。メタルハライドランプ、照射光強度：４５０ｍＷ／ｃｍ^２、照射時間：１２０秒の条件で光照射を行い、更に１３０℃で３０分乾燥を加え４．０μｍの架橋表面層を設け、感光体iを得た。 Coating liquid for charge transport layer Bisphenol Z-type polycarbonate
10 parts Low molecular charge transport material with the following structure
10 copies

Tetrahydrofuran
80 parts Tetrahydrofuran solution of 1% silicone oil 0.2 parts (KF50, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Spray coating was performed on the charge transport layer 1122 using a crosslinked surface layer coating solution having the following constitution. A metal halide lamp, irradiation light intensity: 450 mW / cm ² , irradiation time: 120 seconds, light irradiation was performed, and drying was further performed at 130 ° C. for 30 minutes to provide a 4.0 μm cross-linked surface layer to obtain a photoreceptor i. .

Cross-linked surface layer coating solution Trifunctional or higher radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transporting structure 8 parts KAYARAD DPHA (Nippon Kayaku)
Trifunctional or higher-functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure 2 parts KAYARAD DPCA120 (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku)
6 parts of a radically polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transporting structure

(Exemplary Compound No. 54)
Photopolymerization initiator
1 part 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone (Irgacure 184, manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals)
Tetrahydrofuran
80 copies

-Photoreceptor ii-
Examples of the radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure in the photoreceptor i. Instead of 55, Exemplified Compound No. 1 as a radical polymerizable compound having a bifunctional charge transporting structure is used. Photoreceptor ii was prepared in the same manner as Photoreceptor i except that 181 was used.

-Photoreceptor iii-
Examples of the radical polymerizable compound having a monofunctional charge transport structure in the photoreceptor i. In place of 55, Exemplified Compound No. 1 as a radical polymerizable compound having a trifunctional charge transporting structure is used. Photoconductor iii was prepared in the same manner as photoconductor i except that 381 was used.

-Photoreceptor iv-
Photoreceptor iv was prepared in the same manner as Photoreceptor i except that no cross-linked surface layer was provided on Photoreceptor i.

<Evaluation method>
(Chile, dot defect, color shift evaluation)
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a 600 dpi 1-by-3 dot pattern used for image evaluation. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the order of colors to be printed and the size (the length in the conveyance direction and the vertical direction of the recording paper) when printing is performed using a dot pattern.
As an evaluation image, the 600 dpi 1-by-3 dot pattern shown in FIG. 15 is yellow, magenta, cyan, black, blue (cyan + magenta), green (yellow + cyan), red (yellow + magenta), three-color black (yellow + Select 100 out of 1,000 continuous prints in the order (cyan + magenta) in the order of 2 cm in the recording paper transport direction and 15 cm in the direction perpendicular to the recording paper transport direction (see FIG. 16). Each image was observed with 10 loupes for each image, and a comparative evaluation was performed using a limit sample to comprehensively evaluate the image quality rank of the minute dots.
Further, as another evaluation image, three dots of 600 dpi are 10 cm long in the direction perpendicular to the recording paper conveyance direction, and yellow, magenta, cyan, black, blue (cyan + magenta), green (yellow + cyan), red ( Yellow + magenta) and three-color black (yellow + cyan + magenta) are arranged in the order of 1,000 sheets printed from 1,000 consecutive sheets, and the image quality rank of fine lines is visually evaluated using limit samples. evaluated.
The image quality rank was five, and a good image having no dust or dot defects was set to 5, and one having no dust or dot defects that could not be established as an image was set to 1. Evaluate each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, blue (cyan + magenta), green (yellow + cyan), red (yellow + magenta), three-color black (yellow + cyan + magenta), and final comprehensive evaluation The average value is shown.

(Soil stain density ΔID evaluation)
In the measurement of the background stain ΔID in the present invention, the toner residue on the latent image carrier was sampled with a film, and the measurement difference between the film ID before sampling and the ID after sampling was measured at three points, and the average value was calculated.
Specifically, after outputting 20,000 image charts of 5% image area in full color mode, the blank image is stopped during development, and the toner residue on each color latent image carrier after development is collected with a film. Then, the difference from the image density of the untransferred (uncollected) film was measured using an 938 spectrodensitometer (manufactured by X-Rite) at an observation light source D50 and a viewing angle of 2 °, and the average value was measured. Was defined as the soil density ΔID value of the background portion.
The background dirt rank is 5 levels, ΔID is 0 to 0.003, 5, 0.004 to 0.006 is 4, 0.007 to 0.009 is 3, 0.01 to 0.012 is 2,. 013 or more was set to 1.

Table 7 shows combinations of examples and comparative examples using the evaluation machine, toner, and carrier as factors, and Table 8 shows the evaluation results. The solid uniformity was measured as follows.
(Solid uniformity)
An A3 all-solid image was output, the image density at four corners and one center of the A3 paper was measured, the solid uniformity was calculated by the following formula, and the rank was given according to the following criteria.
Solid uniformity = (maximum value of image density−minimum value of image density) × 100 (%)
The image density was measured using a gloss meter manufactured by Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd. under the condition of an incident angle of 60 °.
Average image density at 5 locations
Rank 5: less than 15%
Rank 4: 15-30%
Rank 3: 31-50%
Rank 2: 51-70%
Rank 1: 71% or more

  According to the above table, according to the tandem image forming apparatus including the developing device having the electrode for cloud generation according to the embodiment and using the toner having a specific particle diameter and having D4 / Dn, shape factor, and F value. It can be seen that an image having a fine image quality with fine dots can be obtained with a small particle size toner having no background stain, solid uniformity, and fine dots.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Paper feeder 3 Image forming part 4 Scanner part 5 Automatic document feeder (ADF)
6 Recording paper 7 Toner 8 Negative charge 10 Image forming station (process cartridge)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Photoconductor 111 Conductive support body 112 Photosensitive layer 1121 Charge generation layer 1122 Charge transport layer 113 Surface layer 12 Charging device 121 Charging roller 122 Core metal 123 Conductive rubber layer 124 Power supply 13 Developing device 131 Toner supply roller 132 Developing sleeve 134 Screw 135 Paddle 14 Cloud generating electrode 15 Voltage supply device 19 Cleaning device 20 Transfer device 21 Intermediate transfer belt 211, 212, 213 Support roller 22 Belt cleaning device 23 Primary transfer roller 24 Transport belt 25 Secondary transfer roller 30 Exposure device 32 Double-side transport unit 40 Paper feed cassette 42 Pickup roller 43 Transport roller 44 Registration roller 47 Discharge roller 48 Discharge tray 50 Fixing device 51 Heating roller 52 Fixing roller 521 Core metal 522 Elastic member 53 Heat resistant base 53 Doo (toner heating medium)
531 Heat generation layer 532 Intermediate layer 533 Surface layer (release layer)
534 Base 54 Pressure roller 541 Core metal 542 Elastic member 55 Temperature sensor 56 Induction heating means 561 Excitation coil 562 Coil guide plate 563 Excitation coil core 564 Excitation coil core support member

JP-A-57-198470 JP 2006-58365 A JP 2007-133376 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-140789

Claims (12)

The toner supply member and the electrostatic latent image carrier are supplied by the toner supply member by superimposing a DC voltage and an AC voltage on a toner cloud generating electrode that is disposed apart from the toner supply member and the electrostatic latent image carrier. A developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier that is spaced apart from the toner supply member by applying a potential to the toner and flying the toner; and the electrostatic latent image carrier For each toner color used for image formation, and
A primary transfer device that sequentially superimposes and transfers toner images formed on each electrostatic latent image carrier with a developing device corresponding to each color;
A secondary transfer device that collectively transfers the toner images transferred by the transfer device onto a recording member;
A tandem image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing device that fixes a toner image on the recording member;
The toner is
Consisting of at least a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent,
A tandem type image forming apparatus, wherein a total energy value measured with a powder rheometer at a ventilation rate of 0.6 mm / sec is 3 to 15 mJ. The toner is
The weight average particle diameter is 2 to 7 μm, the ratio (D4 / Dn) of the weight average particle diameter (D4) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) is 1.0 to 1.2,
The tandem image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape factor SF-1 is in a range of 110 to 150, and the shape factor SF-2 is in a range of 110 to 150. 3. The toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner contains, as an external additive, at least 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of inorganic fine particles having a primary average particle diameter of 80 to 500 nm with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner. Tandem type image forming apparatus. The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inorganic fine particles include at least one selected from silica and titanium oxide. In the toner, a toner material liquid in which at least a polymer having a site capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent is contained in an aqueous medium. The tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tandem image forming apparatus is obtained by performing at least one of a crosslinking reaction and an extension reaction. The tandem type image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the carrier used in the developing device has a weight average particle diameter in a range of 15 to 45 µm. 7. The tandem type according to claim 1, wherein the charging device for forming the electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier applies a DC voltage on which an alternating voltage is superimposed. Image forming apparatus. 2. The charging device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier includes a charging member that is in the form of a roller and is disposed in close proximity to the electrostatic latent image carrier. The tandem type image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 7. The electrostatic latent image carrier has at least a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, and has at least a trifunctional or higher functional radical polymerizable monomer and a charge transporting structure on the surface of the photosensitive layer. The tandem-type image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a crosslinked surface layer obtained by curing the radical polymerizable compound having the light-curing compound with a light energy irradiation device. The fixing device includes:
A heating roller made of magnetic metal and heated by electromagnetic induction;
A fixing roller disposed in parallel with the heating roller;
An endless belt-shaped toner heating medium that is stretched between the heating roller and the fixing roller, heated by the heating roller, and rotated by the both rollers;
2. A pressure roller that is in pressure contact with the fixing roller via the toner heating medium, and that rotates in the forward direction with respect to the toner heating medium to form a fixing nip portion. 10. The tandem type image forming apparatus according to any one of 9 above.   An image forming method comprising forming an image using the tandem type image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is detachable from the tandem image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and at least the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing device are detachably integrated. Process cartridge for equipment.

Images