JP5605697B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, which includes a plurality of image forming units each having an image carrier, a transfer unit, and a protective layer forming apparatus.

  In recent years, colorization of image forming apparatuses has progressed, but most of the images that are actually output are monochrome images. In the office where the most output is made, the color image occupies less than 20%. This is because the need for a color image is not low, and when the image is not necessarily a color image, a monochrome image is output to reduce the cost. In such a situation, a black unit for forming a monochrome image (for example, three image forming units for forming cyan, yellow, and magenta toner images) for forming a color image (for example, three image forming units for forming cyan, yellow, and magenta toner images). One image forming unit for forming a black toner image is overwhelmingly used. For this reason, generally, the image carrier of the black unit reaches the end of its life quickly.

  Thus, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an image forming apparatus in which a black unit and a color unit have different charging methods for an image carrier and conditions for forming a protective layer on the image carrier. The black unit uses a DC charging system, the color unit uses an AC + DC charging system, and the black unit uses a coating amount of the image carrier protecting agent made of zinc stearate smaller than that of the color unit. The black unit employs a DC charging system to extend the life of the image carrier, and since the amount of the image carrier protective agent applied is small, it is possible to extend the life of the protective layer forming apparatus. The color unit employs an AC + DC charging method, but wear of the image carrier due to AC hazard is suppressed by increasing the amount of application of the image carrier protective agent.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an image carrier obtained by blending boron nitride as an inorganic additive with a fatty acid metal salt such as zinc stearate as in the case of an image carrier protective agent in a means for solving the problems described later. Protective agents are described. In Patent Document 2, as a method for molding the image carrier protecting agent, a powdered lubricant is put into a mold and molded by applying pressure in the mold, or the powdered lubricant is heated. A melt molding method is described in which the product is melted and poured into a mold and then cooled and molded. However, Patent Document 2 does not describe which molding method is adopted in which case.

  However, in order to extend the life of the image carrier, when different charging methods are employed for the black unit and the color unit as in Patent Document 1, a plurality of types of power sources must be provided for the charging device. As the cost goes up. Moreover, when different protective layer coating conditions are employed as in Patent Document 1, the configuration of the optimal protective layer coating apparatus is often different, which also increases the overall cost. Thus, when different charging methods and protective layer coating conditions are employed for the black unit and the color unit, cost reduction due to mass production cannot be expected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. The purpose of the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units having different usage frequencies, and the life of an image forming unit that is frequently used can be reduced to another image without significantly changing the configuration of each image forming unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be extended beyond an image unit.

In order to solve the above problems, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image carrier that carries a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image carrier to a transfer medium, and the toner image transferred to the transfer medium. A plurality of image forming units each provided with protective layer forming means for forming an image carrier protective layer containing at least a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic additive on the surface of the image carrier after being formed. In image forming apparatuses having different unit usage frequencies, a compression layered image carrier protective agent is used for the protective layer forming means disposed in the frequently used image forming unit, and the image forming unit is used less frequently. A melt-molded image carrier protective agent is used as the protective layer forming means, and the compression-molded image carrier protective agent is an inorganic additive compared to the melt-molded image carrier protective agent. Specially characterized by high boron nitride content It is an.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, among the plurality of juxtaposed image forming units, the frequently used image forming unit is juxtaposed at an end portion. .
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect, the compression-molded image carrier protective agent has a content of a composition other than the fatty acid metal salt in the range of 10% to 40%. It is characterized by.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the content of the composition other than the fatty acid metal salt is 1% or more and 15% or less in the melt-molded increased carrier protective agent. It is a feature.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, the fatty acid metal salt is zinc stearate.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect, the protective layer forming means is in contact with both the image carrier and the image carrier protective agent, and the image is formed. A supply member for supplying the image carrier protecting agent to the image carrier while removing the carrier protective agent is provided.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect, the protective layer forming means presses the image carrier protective agent applied on the image carrier. And a film forming means for forming a film.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh aspect, the image carrier moving direction downstream from the transfer unit and an image from the protective layer forming unit. A cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is provided on the upstream side in the carrier movement direction.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth aspect, wherein the image carrier includes an outermost layer including a thermosetting resin. To do.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth aspect, the image carrier is a photoconductor.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the image forming apparatus further comprises charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier. .
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the charging unit includes a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage having an AC component.
The invention of claim 13 is the image forming apparatus of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the transfer medium is an intermediate transfer medium, A protective layer forming means for forming an image carrier protective layer containing at least a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride on the intermediate transfer medium is provided.
The invention according to claim 14 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein the toner image has a circularity (particle projection). It is characterized in that the toner is formed from a toner having a circumference of a circle having the same area as that of the area / perimeter of the projected particle image of 0.93 or more and 1.00 or less.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelve, thirteen, or fourteenth image, D4) and a number average (D1) ratio (D4 / D1) are formed from a toner having a ratio of 1.00 to 1.40.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, or fifteenth aspect. And the protective layer forming means are incorporated into a process cartridge configured to be detachable integrally with the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  In the present invention, an image carrier protecting agent having a different molding method and different boron nitride content is used in a plurality of image forming units having different usage frequencies. That is, among the image forming units that are frequently used, among the inorganic additives added to the image carrier protective agent, the characteristics hardly change due to the discharge, and even when subjected to the discharge, the lubricity is lost compared to the fatty acid metal salt. It contains a lot of hard-to-break boron nitride in comparison with imaging units that are infrequently used. For this reason, an image forming unit that is frequently used uses an image carrier protecting agent that is produced by compression molding that is hard to become relatively hard even if it contains a large amount of an inorganic additive such as boron nitride. The compression molded image carrier protective agent contains an inorganic additive such as boron nitride in an amount sufficient to compensate for the inconvenience, although the consumption rate (the amount of wear of the image carrier protective agent with respect to the number of images formed) varies greatly. Can be made. The compression-molded image carrier protective agent has an excessively high consumption rate in the initial stage, and the fatty acid metal salt itself slips between the image carrier and the abutting member in contact with the image carrier, and the slipped fatty acid metal salt itself carries the image. The charging member disposed in contact with or close to the body may be contaminated. However, by adding an inorganic additive such as boron nitride, the absolute amount of the fatty acid metal salt itself can be reduced, and contamination of the charging member can also be suppressed. In addition, the effect of maintaining lubricity is great due to the abundance of inorganic additives such as boron nitride. Thereby, even if the use frequency of the image forming unit is high, the life of the image carrier and the charging device can be extended. On the other hand, a melt-formed image carrier protective agent is used as a protective layer forming means of an image forming unit that is not frequently used. The melt-molded image carrier protective agent becomes hard when the amount of inorganic additives such as boron nitride is excessive, and it is difficult to form a protective layer. Therefore, it is impossible to add inorganic additives as much as compression molding. However, the melt-molded image carrier protective agent is sufficient for an image forming unit that is not frequently used because it can maintain a relatively stable consumption rate even if the amount of inorganic additive added is small. Also, the melt-molded image carrier protective agent has a lower consumption rate than the compression-molded image carrier protective agent, and therefore has the advantage of requiring less capacity to be mounted on the image carrier protective device, thus saving space. Can be achieved. As described above, in the present invention, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the charging device or the protective layer coating apparatus for each of the plurality of image forming units, and only the image carrier protective agent provided in the protective layer coating apparatus is used. The service life of a high-frequency image forming unit can be extended compared to other image forming units.

  Even if an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units having different use frequencies, the life of the image forming unit having a high use frequency can be reduced to another image forming unit without significantly changing the configuration of each image forming unit. There is an excellent effect that it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be extended beyond the unit.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a main configuration of a printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a black image forming unit of the printer. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a cyan image forming unit of the printer.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color printer which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a main configuration of a printer according to the present embodiment. In this printer, as shown in FIG. 1, four image forming units 10C, 10Y, 10M, and 10K that form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are horizontally extended. Are juxtaposed at a predetermined interval. In the following, subscripts C, Y, M, and K indicate cyan, yellow, magenta, and black colors, respectively. The image forming units 10C, 10Y, 10M, and 10K include photoconductors 1C, Y, M, and K that are image carriers that rotate in the direction of arrow A, and charging rollers 2C, Y, M, and K are respectively developed around the photoreceptors. Devices 4C, Y, M, K, transfer rollers 5C, Y, M, K, cleaning blades 6C, Y, M, K, protective layer forming units 7C, Y, M, K are arranged in this order. An exposure device 3 is provided below the image forming unit 10. The charging roller 2 is disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the photosensitive member 1 and charges the photosensitive member 1 to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential by applying a bias. The exposure apparatus 3 uses an LD or LED as a light emitting element, and irradiates the photosensitive member 1 charged by the charging roller 2 with light modulated based on image data, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 1. To do. The developing device 4 includes a rotatable developing sleeve 4a and a magnet roller fixed therein, and carries the developer on the developing sleeve 4a. In this embodiment, two-component magnetic brush development using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier is used as a developer. However, a single-component development method that does not use a carrier may be used as another development method. A voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 4a from a developing bias power source. Due to the potential difference between the developing bias and the potential of the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier 1, development is performed by attaching charged toner to the electrostatic latent image in the developing region. The transfer roller 5 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 with a predetermined pressing force during transfer, and a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 1 is formed at a transfer nip portion between the photoconductor 1 and the transfer roller 5 by applying a voltage. The image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8. As will be described later, the cleaning blade 6 removes transfer residual toner remaining on the photoconductor 1 after transfer and residues such as a protective agent deteriorated by discharge. Further, as will be described later, the protective layer forming unit 7 forms a protective layer containing at least a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride on the photoreceptor 1.

  The intermediate transfer belt 8 is stretched by a plurality of conveying rollers including a driving roller, and is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow B in the figure. A secondary transfer roller 9 is arranged on the downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8 with respect to each image forming unit 10. The toner images on the photoreceptor 1 developed by the image forming units 10C, 10Y, 10M, 10K, and 10K are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 to which a transfer voltage is applied by the transfer roller 5. The yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 are transferred to the paper P by the secondary transfer roller 9. The multiple toner images on the paper P are fixed by a fixing device (not shown).

  The image forming unit 10 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body as a process cartridge integrally including the photosensitive member 1, the charging roller 2, the developing device 4, the transfer roller 5, the cleaning blade 6, the protective layer forming unit 7, and the like. It is configured to be possible. Further, not only the entire image forming unit 10 can be replaced, but also in units such as the photosensitive member 1, the charging roller 2, the developing device 4, the transfer roller 5, the cleaning blade 6, and the protective layer forming unit 7, respectively. The structure which can be exchanged for a thing may be sufficient.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming units 10C, 10Y, 10M, and 10K will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the black image forming unit. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the cyan image forming unit. Although FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the cyan image forming unit, the configurations of yellow and magenta are the same except that the toner color provided in the developing device 4 is different. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the image forming units 10C, 10Y, 10M, and 10K, as described above, the photosensitive member 1, the charging roller 2, the developing device 4, and the transfer roller 5 are different except that the toner colors are different. The configuration of the cleaning blade 6 is the same. However, the protective agent block 14K used in the protective layer forming unit 7K in the black image forming unit 10K, and the protective layer forming unit 7C in cyan, yellow and magenta (for color) image forming units 10C, Y and M, The protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M used in Y and M have different molding methods and capacities.

  First, the configuration of the protective layer forming unit 7K will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the protective layer forming unit 7K includes a protective agent block 14K to be described later, an application brush 15K for supplying the protective agent to the photosensitive member 1K, and a leveling agent for leveling the protective agent supplied on the photosensitive member 1K. A blade 16K and the like are provided. The coating brush 15K has a rotational speed controlled by a drive motor (not shown) capable of controlling the rotational speed, and is rotationally driven while having a predetermined linear speed difference with respect to the photoreceptor 1K, while scraping off the protective agent block 14 and pulverizing it. The photoconductor 1K is supplied. As the application brush 15K, for example, a roll brush obtained by winding a tape having brush fibers in a pile ground around a metal core in a spiral shape can be used. At this time, the protective agent block 14K is pressed against the application brush 15K by the pressing spring 17K in the arrow direction in the figure. The force to be pressed by the pressing spring 17K is sufficient to spread the protective agent on the photosensitive member 1K to form a protective layer, and the linear pressure is preferably 5 gf / cm or more and 80 gf / cm or less, preferably 10 gf / cm. More preferably, it is not less than cm and not more than 60 gf / cm. Further, since the protective agent supplied to the photoreceptor 1 by the application brush 15K may not be a sufficient protective layer when supplied, a leveling blade 16K may be installed in order to form a more uniform protective layer. preferable. The leveling blade 16K is supported in trading with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1K, and the protective agent on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 is leveled to form a dense coating state.

  Here, the protective agent block 14K used in the protective layer forming unit 7K is obtained as follows. The protective agent block 14K used in this embodiment includes at least a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride and is compression-molded. In compression molding, a powder mainly composed of a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride is mixed, and then the mixed powder is put into a mold and pressure is applied in the mold to obtain the protective agent block 14. In the protective agent block 14K according to the present embodiment, the content of a composition such as boron nitride other than the fatty acid metal salt is 10% or more and 40% or less, more preferably 15 to 35%. Since the protective agent block by compression molding can prevent the protective agent block from becoming too hard due to the addition of an inorganic additive such as boron nitride as compared with melt molding, a large amount of inorganic additive such as boron nitride can be added. . Therefore, compression molding is preferable when it is desired to extend the life like the protective layer forming unit 7K. However, it is difficult to control the consumption rate of the protective agent block 14K by compression molding. Therefore, although it is necessary to prepare a large-capacity protective agent block 14K, the black image forming unit 10K is generally disposed at the end of a plurality of image forming units arranged side by side. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 8 is disposed on the most downstream side in the moving direction. Therefore, in the black image forming unit 10K, it is easy to create a space for the large-capacity protective agent block 14K, and it is possible to extend the life by installing the large-capacity protective agent block 14K. .

  Next, the configuration of the protective layer forming units 7C, Y, M will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the protective layer forming units 7C, Y, and M are coating brushes 15C, Y, and M that supply protective agents to protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M, and photoreceptors 1C, Y, and M, which will be described later. And leveling blades 16C, Y, M and the like for leveling the protective agent supplied onto the photoreceptors 1C, Y, M. The application brushes 15C, Y, and M are rotationally controlled by a drive motor (not shown) capable of controlling the rotational speed, and are rotationally driven with a predetermined linear speed difference with respect to the photoreceptors 1C, Y, and M to protect them. The agent blocks 14C, Y, M are scraped off and supplied to the photoreceptors 1C, Y, M while being pulverized. As the application brushes 15C, Y, and M, for example, a roll brush in which a tape having brush fibers piled around a metal core is spirally wound can be used. At this time, the protective agent blocks 14C, Y, M are pressed against the application brushes 15C, Y, M by the pressing springs 17C, Y, M in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The force to be pressed by the pressing spring 17 is sufficient when the protective agent spreads on the photoreceptors 1C, 1Y, 1M and becomes a protective layer, and the linear pressure is 5 gf / cm or more and 80 gf / cm or less. Preferably, it is 10 gf / cm or more and 60 gf / cm or less. In addition, since the protective agent supplied to the photoreceptors 1C, Y, and M by the application brushes 15C, Y, and M may not be a sufficient protective layer when supplied, in order to form a more uniform protective layer, the protective agent is not uniform. The blades 16C, Y, and M are preferably installed. The leveling blades 16C, Y, and M are supported by trading with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1, and the protective agent on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 is leveled to form a dense coating state.

  Here, the protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M used in the protective layer forming units 7C, Y, and M are obtained as follows. The protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M used in the present embodiment include at least a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride and are melt-molded. In melt molding, a powder mainly composed of a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride is mixed, the mixed powder is heated and melted, poured into a mold, and then cooled to protect the protective agent block 14. obtain. In the protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M according to this embodiment, the content of a composition such as boron nitride other than the fatty acid metal salt is 1% or more and 15% or less, and more preferably 3 to 12%. In the case of the protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M by melt molding, if the content of a composition such as boron nitride other than the fatty acid metal salt exceeds 12%, the protective agent block 14 becomes too hard, and instead the photoreceptor 1C. , Y and M are worn, which is not preferable. However, according to melt molding, if the amount of additives such as boron nitride is below a certain level, fluctuations in the consumption rate of the protective agent block can be suppressed even when additives such as boron nitride are added. Can do. Therefore, the protective layer forming units 7C, Y, and M for cyan, yellow, and magenta, which are used less frequently, use the protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M by melt molding that require a small capacity. Thereby, in the image forming units 10C, Y, and M, it is not necessary to expand the space for the protective layer forming units 7C, Y, and M like the protective layer forming unit 7K, and space saving can be achieved.

  When the leveling blade 16 for leveling the protective agent is installed as in this embodiment, the leveling blade 16 may also function as a cleaning member. The cleaning function to be removed and the leveling function to level the protective layer on the photoreceptor 1 may be different in the rubbing state of an appropriate member. In order to more reliably form a uniform protective layer, it is preferable to previously remove the residue mainly composed of toner on the photoreceptor 1 with the cleaning blade 6 so that the residue does not enter the protective layer. preferable. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cleaning blade 6 is provided upstream of the protective layer forming unit 7 in the photosensitive member moving direction.

  Examples of the fatty acid metal salt used in the protective agent block 14 of the protective layer forming unit 7 include barium stearate, lead stearate, iron stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, steer Calcium phosphate, cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, zinc oleate, magnesium oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, copper oleate, lead oleate, manganese oleate, zinc palmitate, cobalt palmitate, Lead palmitate, magnesium palmitate, aluminum palmitate, calcium palmitate, lead caprylate, lead caprate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, calcium linolenate, ricinoleic acid Lead, there is a ricinoleic acid cadmium and mixtures thereof, but not limited thereto. Moreover, you may mix and use these.

  Of the fatty acid metal salts described above, it is particularly preferable to use zinc stearate. This is because zinc stearate is superior in cleaning property and photoreceptor protection (extensibility on the photoreceptor) as compared with other fatty acid metal salts. In addition, stearic acid is the cheapest of the higher fatty acids, and among them, the zinc salt is a very stable substance excellent in hydrophobicity.

  Further, as a composition other than the fatty acid metal salt used for the protective agent block 14, it is essential to contain boron nitride, but other inorganic additives, for example, mica, molybdenum disulfide, disulfide as a lubricant component. Tungsten, talc, kaolin, montmorillonite, calcium fluoride, graphite, and abrasives may contain silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, magnesia, ferrite, magnetite and the like. The degree of influence of the lubricant component and the abrasive component of these inorganic additives on the hardness of the protective agent block 14 is the same.

  Further, in order to suppress mechanical stress on the surface of the photoreceptor 1, it is preferable to use a brush fiber having flexibility for the application brush 15 of the protective layer forming unit 7. As a specific material of the brush fiber having flexibility, one or more kinds can be selected and used from generally known materials. Specifically, polyolefin resins (eg, polyethylene, polypropylene); polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resins (eg, polystyrene, acrylic resin, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl ether, and Polyvinyl chloride); vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer; styrene-acrylic acid copolymer; styrene-butadiene resin; fluorine resin (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene); Polyester; Nylon; Acrylic; Rayon; Polyurethane; Polycarbonate; Phenol resin; Amino resin (eg urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine) Fat, benzoguanamine resins, urea resins, polyamide resins); Among such, may be a resin having flexibility. Also, in order to adjust the degree of deflection, diene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene propylene rubber, isoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, hydrin rubber, norbornene rubber, etc. are used in combination. May be.

  The brush fiber of the application brush 15 has a fiber diameter of about 10 to 500 μm, the length of the brush fiber is 1 to 15 mm, and the brush density is 10,000 to 300,000 per square inch (1.5 × 10 7 per square meter). ˜4.5 × 10 8) are preferably used. In addition, it is preferable to use a coating brush that has a high density of extreme power from the viewpoint of uniformity of supply and stability, and one fiber is made from several to several hundreds of fine fibers. Is also preferable. For example, bundling 50 fine fibers of 6.7 decitex (6 denier), such as 333 decitex = 6.7 decitex × 50 filament (300 denier = 6 denier × 50 filament), and implanting as one fiber Is also possible.

  Moreover, you may provide the coating layer in the surface of the application brush 15 for the purpose of stabilizing the surface shape of a brush, environmental stability, etc. as needed. As a component constituting the coating layer, it is preferable to use a coating layer component that can be deformed according to the bending of the brush fiber, and these are not limited as long as the material can maintain flexibility. Polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene; polystyrene, acrylic (for example, polymethyl methacrylate), polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, Polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resins such as polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl ether, and polybiliketones; vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers; silicone resins composed of organosiloxane bonds or modified products thereof (for example, alkyd resins, Modified products by reester resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane, etc.); Fluororesin such as perfluoroalkyl ether, polyfluorovinyl, polyfluorovinylidene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene; polyamide; polyester; polyurethane; polycarbonate; urea-formaldehyde resin, etc. Amino resins; epoxy resins, composite resins of these, and the like.

  Further, the material of the leveling blade 16 used in the protective layer forming unit 7 is not particularly limited. For example, an elastic body such as urethane rubber, hydrin rubber, silicone rubber, or fluorine rubber, which is generally known as a cleaning blade material. Can be used alone or blended. In addition, these rubber blades may be coated or impregnated with a low friction coefficient material at the contact portion with the photoreceptor 1. Further, in order to adjust the hardness of the elastic body, fillers represented by other organic fillers and inorganic fillers may be dispersed.

  The leveling blade 16 made of these materials is fixed to the holder by any method such as adhesion or fusion so that the free end can be pressed against the surface of the photoreceptor 1. The blade thickness of the leveling blade 16 is not uniquely defined in consideration of the force applied by pressing, but is preferably about 0.5 to 5 mm, and more preferably about 1 to 3 mm. It can be preferably used. In addition, the length that can be bent from the holder of the leveling blade, that is, the so-called free length, can not be uniquely defined in consideration of the force applied by pressing in the same manner, but is approximately 1 to 15 mm. If it is possible, it can be preferably used, and if it is about 2 to 10 mm, it can be more preferably used.

  Other configurations of the leveling blade 16 include a method of coating and dipping a surface layer of resin, rubber, elastomer, etc. on the surface of an elastic metal blade such as a spring plate, if necessary, via a coupling agent, a primer component, etc. It may be formed by heat curing or the like if necessary, and if necessary, surface polishing or the like may be applied. The thickness of the elastic metal blade is preferably about 0.05 to 3 mm, and more preferably about 0.1 to 1 mm. Moreover, in an elastic metal blade, in order to suppress the twist of a braid | blade, you may perform processes, such as a bending process, in the direction substantially parallel to a spindle after attachment. As a material for forming the surface layer, fluorine resin such as PFA, PTFE, FEP, PVdF, silicone elastomer such as fluorine rubber, methylphenyl silicone elastomer, and the like can be used together with a filler, if necessary. It is not limited to this.

  Next, the photoreceptor 1 that is preferably used in the present invention will be described. In the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention, a photosensitive layer is provided on a conductive support. The photosensitive layer is composed of a single layer type in which a charge generation material and a charge transport material are mixed, or a forward layer type in which a charge transport layer is provided on the charge generation layer, or a charge generation layer is provided on the charge transport layer. There is a reverse layer type. In addition, a protective layer can be provided on the photosensitive layer in order to improve the mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, gas resistance, cleaning property, and the like of the photoreceptor. An undercoat layer may be provided between the photosensitive layer and the conductive support. In addition, an appropriate amount of a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a leveling agent and the like can be added to each layer as necessary.

Examples of the conductive support of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention include those having a volume resistance of 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm or less, such as aluminum, nickel, chromium, nichrome, copper, gold, silver, platinum, and the like. Metal, tin oxide, indium oxide and other metal oxides are vapor deposited or sputtered to form film or cylindrical plastic, paper coated, or aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, stainless steel plates and the like, After forming a tube into a drum shape by a method such as drawing, it is possible to use a tube that has been surface-treated by cutting, superfinishing, polishing, or the like. A drum-shaped support having a diameter of 20 to 150 mm, preferably 24 to 100 mm, and more preferably 28 to 70 mm can be used. If the diameter of the drum-shaped support is 20 mm or less, it is physically difficult to arrange the charging, exposure, development, transfer, and cleaning steps around the drum. If the diameter of the drum-shaped support is 150 mm or more, image formation is performed. The apparatus becomes undesirably large. In particular, when the image forming apparatus is a tandem type, it is necessary to mount a plurality of photoconductors, and thus the diameter is preferably 70 mm or less, and preferably 60 mm or less. Further, endless nickel belts and endless stainless steel belts disclosed in JP-A-52-36016 can also be used as the conductive support.

  Examples of the undercoat layer of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention include a resin or a white pigment and a resin-based material, and a metal oxide film obtained by chemically or electrochemically oxidizing the surface of a conductive substrate. However, those containing a white pigment and a resin as main components are preferred. Examples of the white pigment include metal oxides such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and zinc oxide. Among them, it is most preferable to contain titanium oxide that is excellent in preventing charge injection from the conductive substrate. Examples of the resin used for the undercoat layer include thermoplastic resins such as polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, casein, and methylcellulose; thermosetting resins such as acrylic, phenol, melamine, alkyd, unsaturated polyester, and epoxy; Mixtures can be exemplified.

  Examples of the charge generating substance of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention include azo pigments such as monoazo pigments, bisazo pigments, trisazo pigments, and tetrakisazo pigments, triarylmethane dyes, thiazine dyes, and oxazine dyes. Xanthene dyes, cyanine dyes, styryl dyes, pyrylium dyes, quinacridone pigments, indigo pigments, perylene pigments, polycyclic quinone pigments, bisbenzimidazole pigments, indanthrone pigments, squarylium pigments, Organic pigments and dyes such as phthalocyanine pigments, inorganic materials such as selenium, selenium-arsenic, selenium-tellurium, cadmium sulfide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, amorphous silicon can be used. Various types can be mixed and used. The undercoat layer may be a single layer or a plurality of layers.

  Examples of the charge transport material of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention include anthracene derivatives, pyrene derivatives, carbazole derivatives, tetrazole derivatives, metallocene derivatives, phenothiazine derivatives, pyrazoline compounds, hydrazone compounds, styryl compounds, styrylhydrazone compounds, and enamine compounds. , Butadiene compounds, distyryl compounds, oxazole compounds, oxadiazole compounds, thiazole compounds, imidazole compounds, triphenylamine derivatives, phenylenediamine derivatives, aminostilbene derivatives, triphenylmethane derivatives, etc. Can do.

  The binder resin used to form the photosensitive layer of the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer is electrically insulating and is a known thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, photocurable resin, and photoconductive material. Suitable binder resins include, for example, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride copolymer, Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyester, phenoxy resin, (meth) acrylic resin, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyarylate, thermoplastic resin such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, ABS resin, phenol resin , Epoxy resin, urethane resin, melamine resin, isocyanate resin, alkyd resin, Examples thereof include a thermosetting resin such as a ricone resin, a thermosetting acrylic resin, a kind of binder resin such as a photoconductive resin such as polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl anthracene, and polyvinyl pyrene, or a mixture of various binder resins. In particular, it is not limited to these.

Examples of the antioxidant used in each layer of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention include the following.
Monophenol 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, 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxynisol and the like.
Bisphenol compounds; 2,2′-methylene-bis- (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2′-methylene-bis- (4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4 ′ -Thiobis- (3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-butylidenebis- (3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol) and the like.
High molecular phenolic compound; 1,1,3-tris- (2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-tert-butylphenyl) butane, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3 5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene, tetrakis- [methylene-3- (3 ′, 5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] methane, bis [3,3 '-Bis (4'-hydroxy-3'-t-butylphenyl) butyric acid] glycol ester, tocophenols, and the like.
Para-phenylenediamines; 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.

  In addition, as a plasticizer used for each layer of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention, for example, those used as a general resin plasticizer such as dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate can be used as they are, and the amount used thereof. Is suitably about 0 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  Further, a leveling agent may be added to the charge transport layer of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention. As the leveling agent, silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil and methylphenyl silicone oil, polymers or oligomers having a perfluoroalkyl group in the chain are used, and the amount used is 100 parts by weight of binder resin. 0 to 1 part by weight is suitable.

  As described above, the surface layer of the photoreceptor 1 used in the present invention is provided to improve the mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, gas resistance, cleaning property, and the like of the photoreceptor 1. Examples of the surface layer include a polymer having a mechanical strength higher than that of the photosensitive layer and a polymer in which an inorganic filler is dispersed. The polymer used for the surface layer may be either a thermoplastic polymer or a thermosetting polymer, but the thermosetting polymer has a high mechanical strength and does not wear due to friction with the cleaning blade. It is very preferable because of its extremely high ability to suppress. If the surface layer has a thin film thickness, there is no problem even if it does not have the charge transport capability. However, if the surface layer without the charge transport capability is formed thick, the sensitivity of the photoreceptor decreases, the potential increases after exposure, and the residual layer remains. Since it is easy to cause an increase in potential, it is preferable to include the above-described charge transport material in the surface layer or to use a polymer having a charge transport capability for the protective layer. Since the mechanical strength of the photosensitive layer and the surface layer is generally greatly different, if the protective layer wears and disappears due to friction with the cleaning blade, the photosensitive layer is worn away immediately. It is important that the layer has a sufficient thickness, and it is preferably 0.01 to 12 μm, preferably 1 to 10 μm, and more preferably 2 to 8 μm. If the film thickness of the surface layer is 0.1 μm or less, it is not preferable because it is too thin and easily disappears due to friction with the cleaning blade, and wear of the photosensitive layer proceeds from the disappeared portion. When the film thickness of the surface layer is 12 μm or more, the sensitivity is lowered, the potential after exposure is increased, and the residual potential is easily increased. In particular, when a polymer having charge transport capability is used, the cost of the polymer having charge transport capability is high. This is not preferable.

  The polymer used for the surface layer is preferably a polymer that is transparent to the writing light at the time of image formation and has excellent insulating properties, mechanical strength, and adhesiveness. ABS resin, ACS resin, olefin-vinyl monomer copolymer Coalescence, chlorinated polyether, allyl resin, phenol resin, polyacetal, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyacrylate, polyallylsulfone, polybutylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, acrylic resin, poly Examples of resins include methylbenten, polypropylene, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polystyrene, AS resin, butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, and epoxy resin. It is. These polymers may be thermoplastic polymers, but in order to increase the mechanical strength of the polymers, they are crosslinked with a crosslinking agent having a polyfunctional acryloyl group, carboxyl group, hydroxyl group, amino group, etc. By using a curable polymer, the mechanical strength of the surface layer is increased, and wear due to friction with the cleaning blade can be greatly reduced.

  As described above, the surface layer of the photoreceptor 1 preferably has a charge transport capability. In order to provide the surface layer with a charge transport capability, the polymer used for the surface layer and the charge transport material described above are used. A method of mixing and a method of using a polymer having a charge transporting capability for the surface layer are conceivable, and the latter method is preferable because it can obtain a photoconductor with high sensitivity and little increase in potential after exposure and little increase in residual potential.

Next, an intermediate transfer medium preferably used in the present invention will be described. Although the intermediate transfer belt 8 is used as an intermediate transfer medium in FIG. 1, the belt is not limited to a belt shape, and may be a cylindrical shape. As the medium used for the intermediate transfer medium, a medium having a volume resistance of 10 ⁵ to 10 ¹¹ Ω · cm is preferable. If the volume resistivity is below 10 ⁵ Omega · cm, when the transfer of the toner image is performed onto the intermediate transfer medium from the photosensitive member, there is so-called transfer dust which the toner image with the discharge is disturbed occurs, 10 ¹¹ If it exceeds Ω · cm, after the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to a transfer medium such as paper, the counter charge of the toner image remains on the intermediate transfer medium and appears as an afterimage on the next image. is there.

  As the intermediate transfer medium, for example, a metal oxide such as tin oxide or indium oxide, a conductive particle such as carbon black, or a conductive polymer, alone or in combination, kneaded with a thermoplastic resin, and then an extrusion molded belt A cylindrical or cylindrical plastic can be used. In addition, the above-mentioned conductive particles and conductive polymer are added to a resin solution containing a thermal crosslinking reactive monomer or oligomer, if necessary, and subjected to centrifugal molding while heating to obtain an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer medium You can also. When providing a surface layer on the intermediate transfer medium, among the surface layer materials used for the above-mentioned photoreceptor surface layer, the composition excluding the charge transport material is appropriately adjusted in combination with a conductive substance, Can be used.

Next, the toner suitably used in the present invention will be described. First, the toner used in the present invention preferably has an average circularity of 0.93 to 1.00. The value obtained from the following formula (1) is defined as circularity. This circularity is an index of the degree of unevenness of the toner particles, and indicates 1.00 when the toner is a perfect sphere, and the circularity becomes smaller as the surface shape becomes more complicated.
Circularity SR = perimeter of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter of the particle projection image
... Formula 1

  When the average circularity is in the range of 0.93 to 1.00, the surface of the toner particles is smooth, and the contact area between the toner particles and between the toner particles and the photosensitive member is small, so that the transferability is excellent. Since there are no angular toner particles in the toner that forms the dots, when the pressure is brought into contact with the transfer medium during the transfer, the pressure is uniformly applied to the entire toner that forms the dots, and the transfer is not easily lost. Further, since the toner particles have no corners, the developer agitation torque in the developing device is small, and the agitation drive is stabilized, so that no abnormal image is generated. Further, since the toner particles are not angular, the abrasive power of the toner particles themselves is small, and the surface of the image carrier is not damaged or worn.

Next, a method for measuring the circularity will be described.
The circularity can be measured using a flow type particle image analyzer FPIA-1000 manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics. As a specific measuring method, 0.1 to 0.5 ml of a surfactant, preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate, is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of water from which impure solids have been previously removed, and further measurement is performed. Add about 0.1-0.5g of sample. The suspension in which the sample is dispersed is subjected to dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the shape and particle size of the toner are measured by the above apparatus with the dispersion concentration being 3000 to 10000 / μl.

  The toner used in the present invention preferably has a weight average diameter D4 of 3 to 10 μm. In this range, since the toner particles have a sufficiently small particle size with respect to the minute latent image dots, the dot reproducibility is excellent. When the weight average diameter D4 is less than 3 μm, phenomena such as a decrease in transfer efficiency and a decrease in blade cleaning properties tend to occur. When the weight average diameter D4 exceeds 10 μm, it is difficult to suppress scattering of characters and lines.

  Further, the toner used in the present invention preferably has a ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average diameter D4 and the number average diameter D1 of 1.00 to 1.40. The closer the value of (D4 / D1) is to 1, the sharper the particle size distribution of the toner. Therefore, when the ratio of the weight average diameter D4 to the number average diameter D1 (D4 / D1) is in the range of 1.00 to 1.40, the selective development due to the toner particle diameter does not occur, and the image quality is excellent. Since the toner particle size distribution is sharp, the triboelectric charge amount distribution is also sharp, and fogging is suppressed. If the toner particle diameter is uniform, the latent image dots are developed so as to be arranged densely and orderly, and thus the dot reproducibility is excellent.

  Next, a method for measuring the particle size distribution of toner particles will be described. Examples of the measuring device for the particle size distribution of toner particles by the Coulter counter method include Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (both manufactured by Coulter). The measurement method is described below.

  First, 0.1 to 5 ml of a surfactant (preferably alkyl benzene sulfonate) is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of the electrolytic aqueous solution. Here, the electrolytic solution is a solution prepared by preparing a 1% NaCl aqueous solution using primary sodium chloride. For example, ISOTON-II (manufactured by Coulter) can be used. Here, 2 to 20 mg of a measurement sample is further added. The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the measurement device is used to measure the volume and number of toner particles or toner using a 100 μm aperture as an aperture. Volume distribution and number distribution are calculated. From the obtained distribution, the weight average diameter D4 and the number average diameter D1 of the toner can be obtained. As channels, 2.00 to less than 2.52 μm; 2.52 to less than 3.17 μm; 3.17 to less than 4.00 μm; 4.00 to less than 5.04 μm; 5.04 to less than 6.35 μm; 6 Less than 35 to 8.00 μm; less than 8.00 to less than 10.08 μm; less than 10.08 to less than 12.70 μm; less than 12.70 to less than 16.00 μm; less than 16.00 to less than 20.20 μm; Uses 13 channels of less than 40 μm; 25.40 to less than 32.00 μm; 32.00 to less than 40.30 μm, and targets particles having a particle size of 2.00 μm to less than 40.30 μm.

  In addition, as such a substantially spherical toner, a toner composition containing a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent in an aqueous medium in the presence of fine resin particles. A toner produced by crosslinking and / or elongation reaction is preferred. The toner produced by this reaction can reduce the hot offset by curing the toner surface, and can prevent the fixing device from becoming dirty and appearing on the image.

  Examples of the prepolymer made of a modified polyester resin that can be used in the production of the toner include a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group, and examples of the compound that extends or crosslinks with the prepolymer include amines (B). Is mentioned. Examples of the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group include a polycondensate of a polyol (1) and a polycarboxylic acid (2) and a polyester having an active hydrogen group further reacted with a polyisocyanate (3). Can be mentioned. 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.

  Examples of the polyol (1) include a diol (1-1) and a trivalent or higher polyol (1-2). The diol (1-1) alone or the diol (1-1) and a small amount of (1- The mixture of 2) is preferred. Diol (1-1) includes 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, etc.) F, bisphenol S, etc.); alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.) adduct of the above alicyclic diol; Examples include adducts of alkylene oxides (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.) of enols. Among these, 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. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyol (1-2) include 3 to 8 or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohols (glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, etc.); (Trisphenol PA, phenol novolak, cresol novolak, etc.); and alkylene oxide adducts of the above trivalent or higher polyphenols.

  Examples of the polycarboxylic acid (2) include a dicarboxylic acid (2-1) and a trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (2-2). The dicarboxylic acid (2-1) alone and the dicarboxylic acid (2-1) ) And a small amount of a trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (2-2). Dicarboxylic acid (2-1) includes alkylene dicarboxylic acid (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.); alkenylene dicarboxylic acid (maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc.); aromatic dicarboxylic acid (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 polycarboxylic acid (2-2) include aromatic polycarboxylic acids having 9 to 20 carbon atoms (trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, and the like). In addition, as polycarboxylic acid (2), you may make it react with polyol (1) using the acid anhydride or lower alkyl ester (methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, etc.) of the above-mentioned thing. The ratio of the polyol (1) and the polycarboxylic acid (2) is usually 2/1 to 1/1, preferably 1. as the equivalent ratio [OH] / [COOH] of the hydroxyl group [OH] and the carboxyl group [COOH]. 5/1 to 1/1, more preferably 1.3 / 1 to 1.02 / 1.

  Examples of the polyisocyanate (3) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, etc.); alicyclic polyisocyanates (isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); Diisocyanates (tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); araliphatic diisocyanates (α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); isocyanurates; polyisocyanates such as phenol derivatives, oximes, caprolactams And a combination of two or more of these.

  The ratio of the polyisocyanate (3) is usually 5/1 to 1/1, preferably 4 /, as the equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group. 1 to 1.2 / 1, more preferably 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1. When [NCO] / [OH] exceeds 5, low-temperature fixability deteriorates. If the molar ratio of [NCO] is less than 1, the urea content in the modified polyester will be low, and the hot offset resistance will deteriorate. The content of the polyisocyanate (3) component in the prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group at the terminal is usually 0.5 to 40% by weight, preferably 1 to 30% by weight, more preferably 2 to 20% by weight. It is. If it is less than 0.5% by weight, 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% by weight, the low-temperature fixability deteriorates. The number of isocyanate groups contained per molecule in the prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 1 or more, preferably 1.5 to 3 on average, more preferably 1.8 to 2.5 on average. It is. 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.

  As the amines (B), the diamine (B1), trivalent or higher polyamine (B2), amino alcohol (B3), amino mercaptan (B4), amino acid (B5), and amino groups of B1 to B5 were blocked. (B6) etc. are mentioned. Examples of the diamine (B1) include aromatic diamines (phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′diaminodiphenylmethane, etc.); alicyclic diamines (4,4′-diamino-3,3′dimethyldicyclohexylmethane, diaminecyclohexane, Isophorone diamine etc.); and aliphatic diamines (ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine etc.) and the like. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyamine (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 B1 to B5 amino group blocked (B6) include ketimine compounds and oxazoline compounds obtained from the B1 to B5 amines 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.

  Furthermore, if necessary, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester can be adjusted using an elongation terminator. Examples of the elongation terminator include monoamines (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, etc.), and those obtained by blocking them (ketimine compounds).

  The ratio of amines (B) is the equivalent ratio [NCO] / [NHx] of isocyanate groups [NCO] in the prepolymer (A) having isocyanate groups and amino groups [NHx] in amines (B). The ratio 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] exceeds 2 or less than 1/2, the molecular weight of the polyester (i) modified with a urea bond becomes low, and the hot offset resistance deteriorates. In the present invention, the urea-modified polyester (i) 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.

  By these reactions, a modified polyester used in the toner, particularly urea-modified polyester (i) can be prepared. These urea-modified polyesters (i) are produced by a one-shot method or a prepolymer method. The weight average molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester (i) is usually 10,000 or more, preferably 20,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably 30,000 to 1,000,000. If it is less than 10,000, the hot offset resistance deteriorates. The number average molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester 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. In the case of urea-modified polyester (i) 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 present invention, not only the urea-modified polyester (i) is used alone, but also the urea-modified polyester (i) and an unmodified polyester (ii) can be contained as a binder resin component. By using polyester (ii) that has not been modified in combination, low-temperature fixability and glossiness when used in a full-color apparatus are improved, which is preferable to single use. Examples of the unmodified polyester (ii) include polycondensates of the polyol (1) and the polycarboxylic acid (2) similar to the polyester component of the urea-modified polyester (i), and preferable ones are urea-modified. It is the same as polyester (i). The unmodified polyester (ii) is not limited to unmodified polyester, but may be modified with a chemical bond other than a urea bond, and may be modified with a urethane bond, for example. The urea-modified polyester (i) and the unmodified polyester (ii) are preferably at least partially compatible with each other in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. Accordingly, the polyester component of the urea-modified polyester (i) and the unmodified polyester (ii) preferably have a similar composition. When the unmodified polyester (ii) is contained, the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) is usually 5/95 to 80/20, preferably 5/95 to 30/70, more preferably 5/95. To 25/75, particularly preferably 7/93 to 20/80. When the weight ratio of the urea-modified polyester (i) is less than 5%, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability.

  The peak molecular weight of the unmodified polyester (ii) is usually 1000 to 30000, preferably 1500 to 10000, and more preferably 2000 to 8000. 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 the unmodified polyester (ii) is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 to 120, and particularly preferably 20 to 80. If it is less than 5, it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. The acid value of unmodified polyester (ii) is usually 1-30, preferably 5-20. By having an acid value, it tends to be negatively charged.

In the present invention, the glass transition temperature Tg of the binder resin is usually 50 to 70 ° C., preferably 55 to 65 ° C. If it is less than 50 ° C., the blocking of the toner during high temperature storage deteriorates, and if it exceeds 70 ° C., the low-temperature fixability becomes insufficient. Due to the coexistence of the urea-modified polyester resin, the dry toner of the present invention tends to have good heat-resistant storage stability even when the glass transition point is low, as compared with known polyester-based toners. As the storage elastic modulus of the binder resin, the temperature TG ′ at which the measurement frequency is 20 Hz is 10000 dyne / cm ² is usually 100 ° C. or higher, preferably 110 to 200 ° C. If it is less than 100 ° C., the resistance to hot offset deteriorates. As the viscosity of the binder resin, the temperature Tη at 1000 poise at a measurement frequency of 20 Hz is usually 180 ° C. or lower, preferably 90 to 160 ° C. If it exceeds 180 ° C, the low-temperature fixability deteriorates. That is, the temperature TG ′ is preferably higher than the temperature Tη from the viewpoint of achieving both low temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. In other words, the difference (TG′−Tη) between the temperature TG ′ and the temperature Tη is preferably 0 ° C. or more. More preferably, it is 10 degreeC or more, Most preferably, it is 20 degreeC or more. The upper limit of the difference is not particularly limited. Further, from the viewpoint of achieving both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability, the difference between the temperature Tη and the temperature Tg is preferably 0 to 100 ° C. More preferably, it is 10-90 degreeC, Most preferably, it is 20-80 degreeC.

  The binder resin can be produced by the following method. The polyol (1) and the polycarboxylic acid (2) are heated to 150 to 280 ° C. in the presence of a known esterification catalyst such as tetrabutoxytitanate or dibutyltin oxide, and the generated water is distilled off as necessary. Thus, a polyester having a hydroxyl group is obtained. Next, this is reacted with polyisocyanate (3) at 40 to 140 ° C. to obtain a prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group. Further, the amine (B) is reacted with the prepolymer (A) at 0 to 140 ° C. to obtain a polyester modified with a urea bond. When the polyisocyanate (3) is reacted and when the prepolymer (A) and the amines (B) are reacted, a solvent can be used as necessary. Usable solvents include aromatic solvents (toluene, xylene, etc.); ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.); esters (ethyl acetate, etc.); amides (dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, etc.) and ethers And those inert to the isocyanate (3), such as tetrahydrofuran (such as tetrahydrofuran). When the polyester (ii) not modified with a urea bond is used in combination, a polyester (ii) that is not modified is produced in the same manner as the polyester having a hydroxyl group, and the reaction of the urea-modified polyester (i) is completed. Dissolve in later solution and mix.

  In addition, the toner used in the present invention can be generally produced by the following method, but is not limited thereto. The toner particles may be formed by reacting a dispersion composed of a prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group in an aqueous medium with amines (B), or using a urea-modified polyester (i) produced in advance. May be. As a method for stably forming a dispersion comprising urea-modified polyester (i) or prepolymer (A) in an aqueous medium, a toner raw material comprising urea-modified polyester (i) or prepolymer (A) in an aqueous medium is used. And a method of dispersing by shearing force. The prepolymer (A) and other toner compositions (hereinafter referred to as toner raw materials), a colorant masterbatch, a release agent, a charge control agent, an unmodified polyester resin, etc. are dispersed in an aqueous medium. It may be mixed at the time of formation, but it is more preferable to mix the toner raw materials in advance and then add and disperse the mixture in the aqueous medium. In the present invention, other toner materials such as a colorant, a release agent, and a charge control agent do not necessarily have to be mixed when forming particles in an aqueous medium, but after the particles are formed. , May be added. For example, after forming particles not containing a colorant, the colorant can be added by a known dyeing method.

  As an aqueous medium used here, 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.

  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. In order to make the particle size of the dispersion 2 to 20 μm, a high-speed shearing type is preferable. 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. Higher temperatures are preferred in that the dispersion made of urea-modified polyester (i) or prepolymer (A) has a low viscosity and is easy to disperse.

  The amount of the aqueous medium used relative to 100 parts of the toner composition containing the urea-modified polyester (i) and the prepolymer (A) 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 composition is poor, and toner particles having a predetermined particle diameter cannot be obtained. If it exceeds 20000 parts by weight, it is not economical. Moreover, a dispersing agent can also be used as needed. The use of a dispersant is preferable in that the particle size distribution becomes sharp and the dispersion is stable.

  In the step of synthesizing the urea-modified polyester (i) from the prepolymer (A), the amine (B) may be added and reacted before the toner composition is dispersed in the aqueous medium, or may be dispersed in the aqueous medium. An amine (B) may be added later to cause a reaction from the particle interface. In this case, urea-modified polyester is preferentially produced on the surface of the manufactured toner, and a concentration gradient can be provided inside the particles.

  As a dispersant for emulsifying and dispersing the oily phase in which the toner composition is dispersed in a liquid containing water, anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters, Amine salt types such as alkylamine salts, aminoalcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, imidazoline, alkyltrimethylammonium salts, dialkyldimethylammonium salts, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salts, pyridinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, benzethonium chloride Nonionic surfactants such as quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactants, fatty acid amide derivatives, polyhydric alcohol derivatives such as alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine and N-al Lou N, amphoteric surfactants such as N-dimethyl ammonium betaine and the like.

  Further, by using a surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group, the effect can be obtained in a very small amount. Preferred anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include fluoroalkyl carboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and metal salts thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonyl glutamate, 31- [omega-fluoroalkyl (C6-C11) Oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-C4) sodium sulfonate, 3- [omega-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-C8) mono-N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonic acid sodium, fluoroalkyl (C11-C20) carboxylic acid and metal salt, Perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid (C7 to C13) and its metal salt, perfluoroalkyl (C4 to C12) sulfonic acid and its metal salt, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- (2hydroxyethyl) -Fluorooctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (C6-C16) ethyl phosphate, etc. Is mentioned. Product names include Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS 1-101 , DS-102 (Made by Taikin Kogyo Co., Ltd.), Mega-Fac F-l0, F-l20, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-ichi 102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (manufactured by Tochem Products), and Fagento F-100, F150 (manufactured by Neos).

  Cationic surfactants include aliphatic primary, secondary or secondary amine acids having a fluoroalkyl group, aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts such as perfluoroalkyl (C6 1 C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salts, benza Luconium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, trade names include Surflon S-21 (Asahi Glass), Florard FC-135 (Sumitomo 3M), Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Industries) Megafac F-150, F-824 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink, Inc.), Xtop EF-32 (manufactured by Tochem Products), and Footgent F1300 (manufactured by Neos).

  Further, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, colloidal silica, hydroxyapatite and the like can be used as an inorganic compound dispersant which is hardly soluble in water.

  Further, 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 or other (meth) acrylic monomer containing a hydroxyl group, For example, β-hydroxyethyl acrylate, β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, β-hydroxypropyl acrylate, β-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl acrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 3-chloro-2-acrylate -Hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid 3-chloro-2 monohydroxypropyl, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate, N-meth Ethers of vinyl alcohol or vinyl alcohol, such as tyrolacrylamide, N-methylolmethacrylamide, etc., for example, vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, or esters of compounds containing vinyl alcohol and a carboxyl group, For example, pinyl acetate, pinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or their methylol compounds, acid chlorides such as acrylic acid chloride, methacrylic acid chloride, pinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole, ethylene imine, etc. Homopolymers or copolymers such as those having a nitrogen atom or a heterocyclic ring thereof, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene Alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ester, etc. Celluloses such as polyoxyethylene, methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and the like can be used.

  In addition, when an acid such as calcium phosphate salt or an alkali-soluble one is used as the dispersion stabilizer, the calcium phosphate salt is removed from the fine particles by a method such as washing with water after dissolving the calcium phosphate salt with an acid such as hydrochloric acid. . It can also be removed by operations such as enzymatic degradation. When a dispersant is used, the dispersant may remain on the surface of the toner particles. However, it is preferable from the charged surface of the toner that the dispersant is washed and removed after the elongation and / or crosslinking reaction.

  Furthermore, in order to lower the viscosity of the toner composition, a solvent in which the urea-modified polyester (i) or the prepolymer (A) is soluble can be used. The use of a solvent is preferable in that the particle size distribution becomes sharp. The solvent is preferably volatile from the viewpoint of easy removal. Examples of the solvent include 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, and aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene are more preferable. The usage-amount of the solvent with respect to 100 parts of prepolymers (A) is 0-300 parts normally, Preferably it is 0-100 parts, More preferably, it is 25-70 parts. When a solvent is used, it is removed by heating under normal pressure or reduced pressure after the elongation and / or crosslinking reaction.

  The elongation and / or crosslinking reaction time is selected depending on the reactivity of the isocyanate group structure of the prepolymer (A) and the amines (B), but is usually 10 minutes to 40 hours, preferably 2 to 24 hours. is there. 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.

  In order to remove the organic solvent from the obtained emulsified dispersion, a method in which the temperature of the entire system is gradually raised to completely evaporate and remove the organic solvent in the droplets can be employed. Alternatively, it is possible to spray the emulsified dispersion in a dry atmosphere to completely remove the water-insoluble organic solvent in the droplets to form toner fine particles, and to evaporate and remove the aqueous dispersant together. As a dry atmosphere in which the emulsified dispersion is sprayed, a gas obtained by heating air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide gas, combustion gas, or the like, in particular, various air currents heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point of the highest boiling solvent used is generally used. Sufficient quality can be obtained with a short treatment such as spray dryer, belt dryer or rotary kiln. When the particle size distribution at the time of emulsification dispersion is wide and washing and drying processes are performed while maintaining the particle size distribution, the particle size distribution can be adjusted by classifying into a desired particle size distribution.

  In the classification operation, the fine particle portion can be removed in the liquid by a cyclone, a decanter, centrifugation, or the like. Of course, the classification operation may be performed after obtaining the powder after drying, but it is preferably performed in a liquid in view of efficiency. The unnecessary fine particles or coarse particles obtained can be returned to the kneading step and used for the formation of particles. At that time, fine particles or coarse particles may be wet. The dispersant used is preferably removed from the obtained dispersion as much as possible, but it is preferable to carry out it simultaneously with the classification operation described above.

  The resulting dried toner powder is mixed with different kinds of particles such as release agent fine particles, charge control fine particles, fluidizing agent fine particles, and colorant fine particles, or mechanical impact force is applied to the mixed powder. As a result, it is possible to prevent the dissociation of the foreign particles from the surface of the composite particle obtained by immobilizing and fusing on the surface.

  Specific means include a method of applying an impact force to the mixture by blades rotating at high speed, a method of injecting and accelerating the mixture into a high-speed air stream, and causing particles or composite particles to collide with an appropriate collision plate, etc. is there. As equipment, Ong mill (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), I-type mill (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.) is modified to reduce the pulverization air pressure, hybridization system (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), kryptron System (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.), automatic mortar, etc.

  As the colorant used in the toner, pigments and dyes conventionally used as toner colorants can be used. Specifically, carbon black, lamp black, iron black, ultramarine, nigrosine dye, Aniline blue, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, Hansa yellow G, rhodamine 6C lake, calco oil blue, chrome yellow, quinacridone red, benzidine yellow, rose bengal and the like can be used alone or in combination.

  Further, if necessary, in order to give the toner particles magnetic properties, magnetic components such as iron oxides such as ferrite, magnetite and maghemite, metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel, or alloys of these with other metals. May be contained alone or in combination in the toner particles. Moreover, these components can also be used / used together as a colorant component.

  The number average diameter of the colorant in the toner used in the present invention is desirably 0.5 μm or less, preferably 0.4 μm or less, more preferably 0.3 μm or less. When the number average diameter of the colorant in the toner is larger than 0.5 μm, the dispersibility of the pigment does not reach a sufficient level, and preferable transparency may not be obtained. A colorant having a fine particle diameter of a number average diameter smaller than 0.1 μm is sufficiently smaller than a half wavelength of visible light, and thus is considered not to adversely affect light reflection and absorption characteristics. Therefore, the colorant particles having a number average diameter of less than 0.1 μm contribute to good color reproducibility and transparency of the OHP sheet having a fixed image. On the other hand, if there are many colorants having a particle size larger than 0.5 μm, the transmission of incident light is hindered or scattered, resulting in the brightness and color of the projected image of the OHP sheet. Tends to decrease. Further, if there are many colorants having a number average diameter larger than 0.5 μm, the colorant is detached from the surface of the toner particles and easily causes various problems such as fogging, drum contamination, and poor cleaning. It is not preferable. In particular, the colorant having a particle size larger than 0.7 μm is preferably 10% by number or less, more preferably 5% by number or less of the total colorant.

  In addition, by mixing the colorant together with a part or all of the binder resin in advance with a wetting liquid added, the binder resin and the colorant are initially sufficiently adhered, In this toner production process, the colorant is dispersed more effectively in the toner particles, the dispersed particle diameter of the colorant is reduced, and particularly good transparency can be obtained. As the binder resin used for kneading in advance, the resins exemplified as the binder resin for toner can be used as they are, but are not limited thereto.

  As a specific method for kneading the mixture of the binder resin and the colorant with the wetting liquid in advance, for example, the mixture obtained by mixing the binder resin, the colorant and the wetting liquid with a blender such as a Henschel mixer. Is kneaded at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the binder resin with a kneader such as a two-roll or three-roll roll to obtain a sample. In addition, as the wetting liquid, a general one can be used in consideration of the solubility of the binder resin and the paintability with the colorant, but in particular, an organic solvent such as acetone, toluene, butanone, or water, It is preferable from the viewpoint of dispersibility of the colorant. Among these, the use of water is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of environmental considerations and maintaining the dispersion stability of the colorant in the subsequent toner production process. According to this production method, not only the particle diameter of the colorant particles contained in the obtained toner is reduced, but also the uniformity of the dispersion state of the particles is increased, so that the color reproducibility of the projected image by OHP is more particularly Get better.

  In addition, as long as the configuration of the present invention is adopted, the toner may contain a release agent typified by wax together with the binder resin and the colorant. Known release agents can be used, such as polyolefin wax (polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, etc.); long chain hydrocarbons (paraffin wax, sasol wax, etc.); carbonyl group-containing wax, etc. .

  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. -Octadecandiol diol 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 these release agents 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.

  In addition, a charge control agent may be contained in the toner as necessary in order to accelerate the toner charge amount and its rise. Here, since a color change occurs when a colored material is used as the charge control agent, a material that is colorless and close to white is preferable. All known charge control agents can be used, such as triphenylmethane dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (including fluorine-modified quaternary ammonium salts), alkyls. Amide, phosphorus simple substance or compound, tungsten simple substance or compound, fluorine-based activator, salicylic acid metal salt, metal salt of salicylic acid derivative, and the like. Specifically, Bontron P-51 of a quaternary ammonium salt, E-82 of an oxynaphthoic acid metal complex, E-84 of a salicylic acid metal complex, E-89 of a phenol condensate (above, Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) Manufactured), TP-302 of quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex, TP-1415 (above, manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), copy charge PSY VP2038 of quaternary ammonium salt, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, Quaternary ammonium salt copy charge NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, boron complex LR-147 (manufactured by Nippon Kalit Ltd), quinacridone, azo pigment, other sulfone Of polymer system having functional group such as acid group, carboxyl group, quaternary ammonium salt Compounds.

  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, or may be added when directly dissolving and dispersing in an organic solvent, or may be fixed after the toner particles are prepared on the toner surface. Also good.

  Further, when the toner composition is dispersed in the aqueous medium during the toner production process, resin fine particles mainly for stabilizing the dispersion may be added. The resin fine particles used may be any resin that can form an aqueous dispersion, and may be a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. For example, vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, polyester resins, Examples thereof include polyamide resin, polyimide resin, silicon resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, urea resin, aniline resin, ionomer resin, and polycarbonate resin. As the resin fine particles, 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. The vinyl resin is a polymer obtained by homopolymerization or copolymerization of a vinyl monomer, such as a styrene- (meth) acrylate resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a (meth) acrylic acid-acrylate polymer, Examples include, but are not limited to, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, styrene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymers, and the like.

Further, inorganic fine particles can be preferably used as an external additive for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the toner particles. The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 μm to 2 μm, and particularly preferably 5 μm to 500 μm. Moreover, it is preferable that the specific surface area by BET method is 20-500 m < ² > / g. The proportion of the inorganic fine particles used is preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight of the toner, and particularly preferably 0.01 to 2.0% by weight. Specific examples of the inorganic fine particles include, for example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, quartz sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth. Examples include soil, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, pengala, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride.

  Other polymer fine particles, such as polystyrene, methacrylic acid ester and acrylic acid ester copolymer obtained by soap-free emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization, and dispersion polymerization, polycondensation systems such as silicone, benzoguanamine, and nylon, thermosetting resins 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. .

  In addition, examples of the cleaning property improver for removing the developer after transfer remaining on the photosensitive member and the intermediate transfer medium include fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, and stearic acid, such as polymethyl methacrylate fine particles, polystyrene. Examples thereof include fine polymer particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization of fine particles and the like. The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution and a volume average particle size of 0.01 to 1 μm.

  By using these toners, a high-quality toner image having excellent development stability can be formed as described above. However, the toner that is not transferred to the transfer medium such as paper or the intermediate transfer medium by the transfer device and remains on the photoreceptor is difficult to remove by the cleaning device due to its fineness and good rolling property. May pass by. In order to completely remove the toner from the photoreceptor, it is necessary to strongly press a toner removing member such as a cleaning blade against the image carrier. Such a load not only shortens the life of the photoreceptor and the cleaning device, but also uses extra energy. When the load on the photoconductor is reduced, the removal of the toner on the photoconductor and the small-diameter carrier becomes insufficient, which damages the surface of the image carrier when passing through the cleaning device, and improves the performance of the image forming apparatus. It becomes a factor to fluctuate.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has an excellent tolerance for fluctuations in the surface state of the photoreceptor 1, in particular, the presence of a low resistance portion, and highly suppresses fluctuations in charging performance of the photoreceptor 1. Due to the configuration, when used in combination with the toner having the above configuration, an extremely high quality image can be stably obtained over a long period of time.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be applied not only to the use of the toner having a configuration suitable for obtaining a high quality image as described above, but also to an irregular shaped toner by a pulverization method, and the life of the apparatus. Needless to say, it will be greatly extended. As a material constituting such a pulverized toner, those usually used as an electrophotographic toner can be applied without particular limitation.

  Examples of typical binder resins used for toners by the pulverization method include styrene such as polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyltoluene, and the like, and homopolymers thereof; styrene / p-chlorostyrene copolymer Polymer, styrene / propylene copolymer, styrene / vinyl toluene copolymer, styrene / vinyl naphthalene 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, Styrene / acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene / vinyl methyl ketone Styrene copolymers such as polymers, styrene / butadiene copolymers, styrene / isoprene copolymers, styrene / maleic acid copolymers; polymethyl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polymethacrylic acid Acrylic acid ester homopolymers such as butyl and their copolymers; polyvinyl derivatives such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl acetate; polyester polymers, polyurethane polymers, polyamide polymers, polyimide polymers, polyols A polymer, an epoxy polymer, a terpene polymer, an aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, an aromatic petroleum resin and the like can be mentioned, and these can be used alone or in combination, but are not particularly limited thereto. Among these, at least one selected from styrene-acrylic copolymer resins, polyester resins, and polyol resins is more preferable from the viewpoint of electrical characteristics, cost, and the like. Furthermore, the use of a polyester-based resin and / or a polyol-based resin is particularly preferable as having good fixing characteristics.

  In the toner by the pulverization method, together with these resin components, the colorant component, wax component, charge control component and the like as described above are premixed if necessary, and then kneaded at a temperature close to the melting temperature of the resin component, and then cooled. Thereafter, a toner may be prepared through a pulverization and classification step, and the above-mentioned external additive components may be appropriately added and mixed as necessary.

Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described. First, a protective agent block according to the blending conditions and molding method shown in Table 1 below is used for an image forming unit for black (hereinafter referred to as a black unit) and an image forming unit for cyan, yellow and magenta (hereinafter referred to as a color unit). (Comparative Examples 1 to 10, Examples 1 to 4). The protective agent block was supplied from the position of the protective layer forming unit 7 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in the image forming unit of imgio MP C4500 manufactured by Ricoh. Then, a continuous paper passing test of 10,000 sheets of A4 size, 5% image area original was conducted to evaluate the cleaning performance (toner slipping), charging roller contamination, and photoconductor protection. The evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

From the results in Table 2, the following was confirmed.
[Comparative Example 1]
Since boron nitride is not added to the protective agent in the black color unit, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are poor.
[Comparative Example 2]
Since a protective agent other than zinc stearate was used in the black color unit, the photoconductor protection was slightly worse than in Comparative Example 1.
[Comparative Example 3]
Since a plurality of fatty acid metal salts having different carbon numbers are used as the protective agent in the black color unit, the cleaning property is worse than that in Comparative Example 1.
[Comparative Example 4]
In the black unit, since boron nitride is not added to the protective agent, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are poor. Since the color unit has boron nitride added to the protective agent and is melt-molded, cleaning performance and contamination of the charging member can be suppressed over a long period of time.
[Comparative Example 5]
In the black unit, since boron nitride is not added to the protective agent, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are poor. In the color unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent. However, since the compression unit is compression molding, the protective agent decreases with time and the function is deteriorated.
[Comparative Example 6]
In the black unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent, but since the amount of boron nitride added is high by melt molding, the protective agent is hard and difficult to supply to the photosensitive member, so the photosensitive member cannot be protected. . In the color unit, since boron nitride is not added to the protective agent, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are poor.
[Comparative Example 7]
In the black unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent, but since the amount of boron nitride added is high by melt molding, the protective agent is hard and difficult to supply to the photosensitive member, so the photosensitive member cannot be protected. . Since the color unit has boron nitride added to the protective agent and is melt-molded, cleaning performance and contamination of the charging member can be suppressed over a long period of time.
[Comparative Example 8]
In the black unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent, but since the amount of boron nitride added is high by melt molding, the protective agent is hard and difficult to supply to the photosensitive member, so the photosensitive member cannot be protected. . In the color unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent, but since the compression unit is compression molding, the function of the image carrier protective agent is reduced with the passage of time.
[Comparative Example 9]
In the black unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent, and since the amount of boron nitride added is large by compression molding, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are very good. Although the consumption is unstable, there is no problem because the capacity of the protective agent can be increased. In the color unit, since boron nitride is not added to the protective agent, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are poor.
[Comparative Example 10]
In the black unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent, and since the amount of boron nitride added is large by compression molding, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are very good. Although the consumption is unstable, there is no problem because the capacity of the protective agent can be increased. In the color unit, boron nitride is added to the body protective agent, but since it is compression molding, the function of the image carrier protective agent is reduced with time.

[Examples 1 to 4]
In the black unit, boron nitride is added to the protective agent, and since the amount of boron nitride added is large by compression molding, the cleaning property and the degree of contamination of the charging member are very good. Although the consumption is unstable, there is no problem because the capacity of the protective agent can be increased. However, in Example 2, since the amount of boron nitride added is small, the degree of contamination of the charging member is a little worse. In Example 4, the amount of boron nitride added is large, so the protective agent becomes somewhat hard, and the photoconductor The protection is a little worse. From these, it can be seen that the addition amount of boron nitride to the compression molded protective agent in the black unit is more preferably about 15 to 35%.
On the other hand, since the color unit has boron nitride added to the protective agent and is melt-molded, cleaning performance and contamination of the charging member can be suppressed over a long period of time. However, in Example 1, since the amount of boron nitride added is small, the degree of contamination of the charging member is slightly worse. In Example 4, since the amount of boron nitride added is large, the protective agent becomes somewhat hard, and the photoconductor The protection is a little worse. From these, it can be seen that the addition amount of boron nitride to the melt-molded protective agent in the color unit is more preferably about 3 to 12%.

  As described above, in the printer as the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, in the black image forming unit 10K that is frequently used, the protective agent block 14K that is a compression-molded image carrier protective agent containing a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride. Is used. As a result, in the image forming unit 10K, since the protective agent block 14 containing a large amount of boron nitride can be used, it is possible to reliably prevent toner from slipping through, charging member contamination, and photoconductor abrasion / filming. It is possible to extend the life of the device. On the other hand, the cyan, yellow, and magenta image forming units 10C, Y, and M, which are used less frequently, use the melt-molded protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M containing a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride. Thereby, in the image forming units 10C, Y, and M, a relatively stable consumption rate can be maintained even with the protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and M having a relatively small content of boron nitride, and the protective agent blocks 14C, Y, and K can be maintained. It is possible to save space by reducing the capacity.

Further, in the printer according to the present embodiment, the black image forming unit 10 </ b> K that is frequently used is disposed at the end portion on the most downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 8. The amount of consumption of the protective agent block 14K by compression molding is unstable, but even if the capacity of the protective agent block 14K increases, there is no problem because it is easy to expand the space of the protective agent block 14K.
Further, the printer according to the present embodiment uses a compression-molded printer in which the content of boron nitride with respect to the fatty acid metal salt is 10% or more and 40% or less in the image forming unit 10K. The protective agent block 14 mainly composed of a compression-molded fatty acid metal salt contains a composition such as boron nitride that only cancels the problem, although its consumption is unstable. If the protective block 14 is compression molded, it can be prevented from becoming too hard even by the addition of a composition such as boron nitride. However, if it exceeds 40%, it becomes hard even in compression molding. The photosensitive member cannot be protected, which is not preferable.
Further, in the printer according to this embodiment, in the image forming units 10C, Y, and M, the content of boron nitride in the fatty acid metal salt is 1% or more and 15% or less, and the protective agent block 14C is melt-molded. , Y, M are used. The protective agent block 14 mainly composed of a melted fatty acid metal salt can supply the protective agent to the photoreceptor relatively stably even if the boron nitride content is relatively small. In the melt-molded protective agent block 14, when the content of the composition such as boron nitride exceeds 12%, the protective agent block becomes too hard, and the photosensitive member cannot be protected.
In the printer according to this embodiment, zinc stearate is used as the fatty acid metal salt of the protective agent block 14. Zinc stearate is superior to other fatty acid metal salts in terms of cleaning properties and photoconductor protection. Of the higher fatty acids, stearic acid is the least expensive, and zinc salts are very stable substances with excellent hydrophobicity.
Further, in the protective layer forming unit 7 of the printer according to the present embodiment, the protective agent is supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 through the application brush 15 that is a supply member. Since the protective agent adheres to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 and forms a film, the protective agent exhibits a protective effect, and is relatively easy to plastically deform. Accordingly, when the protective layer 14 is pressed directly against the surface of the photoreceptor 1 to form the protective layer, not only the supply becomes excessive and the protective layer formation efficiency is not good, but also the protective layer becomes multilayered and electrostatic. Since it may be a factor that impedes light transmission in an exposure process such as when forming a latent image, the type of protective agent that can be used is limited. On the other hand, when the soft protective agent block 14 is used by passing the coating brush 15 between the protective agent block 14 and the photoreceptor 1 as in the protective layer forming unit 7 according to the present embodiment. However, it can be evenly supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 1.
Further, in the protective layer forming unit 7 of the printer according to this embodiment, a uniform protective layer is formed on the photoreceptor 1 by the leveling blade 16 which is a film forming means.
Further, in the printer according to the present embodiment, the cleaning for removing the residue on the photosensitive member 1 downstream of the transfer roller 5 in the photosensitive member moving direction and upstream of the protective layer forming unit 7 in the photosensitive member moving direction. A blade 6 is provided. When the protective layer forming unit 7 is provided with a leveling blade 16 for forming a protective agent into a film, the leveling blade 16 may also serve as a cleaning member. However, in order to more reliably form the protective layer, the cleaning blade 6 is preliminarily formed. It is preferable to remove the residue mainly composed of toner on the photosensitive member 1 so that the residue does not enter the protective layer.
In the printer according to the present embodiment, the outermost layer containing a thermosetting resin is formed on the photoreceptor 1. By preventing deterioration of the photoreceptor 1 due to electrical stress with the above-described protective agent, it is possible to continuously develop the durability against mechanical stress of the photoreceptor 1 including the thermosetting resin over a long period of time. Become. As a result, the durability of the photoreceptor 1 can be increased to a level where it can be used without substantial replacement.
In the printer according to this embodiment, the photosensitive member 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2 disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the photosensitive member 1. Since the discharge region exists in the immediate vicinity of the photoreceptor 1, the electrical stress on the photoreceptor 1 tends to increase, but the photoreceptor 1 can be used without being exposed to the electrical stress by the protective layer described above.
Further, the printer according to the present embodiment includes the charging roller 2 having a power source as voltage applying means for applying a voltage having an AC component. Even if dirt is attached to the charging roller 2, the occurrence of abnormal charging is reduced compared to the case where only the DC component voltage is applied by the contact charging roller method due to the superposition of the AC component. Moreover, although the electrical stress on the surface of the photoconductor 1 tends to increase due to the superposition of alternating current components, the photoconductor 1 can be used without being exposed to the electrical stress by the protective layer described above.
In the printer according to this embodiment, the protective layer forming unit 20 and the cleaning blade 21 are also installed on the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the protective layer containing the fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride is also provided on the intermediate transfer belt 8. May be formed. Thereby, it is possible to improve the cleaning property and durability of the intermediate transfer belt 8.
In the printer according to the present embodiment, spherical toner having a circularity of 0.93 or more and 1.00 or less is used. Even with a spherical toner having a high degree of circularity that causes the quality of the cleaning to be sensitive to changes in the state of the surface of the photosensitive member 1, a stable cleaning performance is maintained over a long period of time by the above-described protective layer. be able to.
Further, in the printer according to the present embodiment, toner having a uniform particle size such that the ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average (D4) to the number average (D1) is 1.00 or more and 1.40 or less. Is used. Even if the toner has a uniform particle size so that the quality of the cleaning is sensitively changed with respect to the state change of the surface of the photoreceptor 1, the above-mentioned protective layer can maintain a stable cleaning performance for a long period of time. Can do.
Further, in the printer according to the present embodiment, at least the photosensitive member 1 and the protective layer forming unit 7 are incorporated in a process cartridge configured to be integrally removable from the apparatus main body. As described above, since the lubricity of the surface of the photoreceptor 1 can be kept high for a long period of time, durability against electrical stress is improved, and the process cartridge replacement interval can be set to be extremely long. Costs can be reduced and the amount of waste can be greatly reduced. In particular, when a layer containing a thermosetting resin is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1, durability against mechanical stress can be continuously developed over a long period of time. Further, as described above, since the protective agent does not substantially contain a metal component, the charging roller 2 disposed with contact or in close proximity does not contaminate the charging roller 2 with a metal oxide or the like. Change can be reduced. Furthermore, this makes it easy to reuse process cartridge components such as the photoreceptor 1 and the charging roller 2 and further reduce the amount of waste.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Charging roller 3 Exposure apparatus 4 Developing apparatus 5 Transfer roller 6 Cleaning blade 7 Protective layer formation unit 8 Intermediate transfer belt 9 Secondary transfer roller 10 Image forming unit

JP 2008-70813 A JP 2006-350240 A

Claims (16)

An image carrier for carrying a toner image; transfer means for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to a transfer medium; and at least a fatty acid metal salt on the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. In the image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of image forming units each provided with a protective layer forming means for forming an image carrier protective layer containing an inorganic additive and different use frequencies of the image forming units,
The protective layer forming means disposed in the frequently used image forming unit uses a compression molded image carrier protective agent, and the protective layer forming means disposed in the less frequently used image forming unit is melt molded. A compression molded image carrier protective agent using the formed image carrier protective agent has a higher content of boron nitride as an inorganic additive than a melt molded image carrier protective agent. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image forming units juxtaposed, wherein the frequently used image forming units are juxtaposed at an end portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the compression-molded image carrier protective agent has a composition content other than the fatty acid metal salt of 10% or more and 40% or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the melt-supported protective agent for increased support has a content of a composition other than the fatty acid metal salt in the range of 1% to 15%. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the fatty acid metal salt is zinc stearate. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
The protective layer forming means supplies the image carrier protective agent to the image carrier while contacting both the image carrier and the image carrier protective agent and scraping the image carrier protective agent. An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer forming unit includes a film forming unit that presses the image carrier protective agent provided on the image carrier to form a film. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
A cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is provided downstream of the transfer unit in the direction of movement of the image carrier and upstream of the protective layer forming unit in the direction of movement of the image carrier. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the image carrier includes an outermost layer containing a thermosetting resin. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image carrier is a photoconductor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.
An image forming apparatus comprising: charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier in contact with or in proximity to the surface of the image carrier. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the charging unit includes a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage having an AC component. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a protective layer forming means for forming an image carrier protective layer containing at least a fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride on the intermediate transfer medium, wherein the transfer medium is an intermediate transfer medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13.
The toner image is formed of toner having a circularity (peripheral length of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter length of the particle projection image) of 0.93 or more and 1.00 or less. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the toner image is formed from toner having a weight average (D4) to number average (D1) ratio (D4 / D1) of 1.00 or more and 1.40 or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15.
An image forming apparatus, wherein at least the image carrier and the protective layer forming means are incorporated in a process cartridge configured to be detachable integrally with the main body of the image forming apparatus.

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