JP6055045B2 - Developing roller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing roller (hereinafter also simply referred to as “roller”), and more particularly to a developing roller used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer or an electrostatic recording apparatus.

  In recent years, with the advancement of electrophotographic technology, there has been an increasing demand for conductive members used in each electrophotographic process. In particular, the developing roller used in the developing process is required to have not only a predetermined electric resistance value but also various characteristics corresponding to the developing mechanism.

  Conventionally, as a developing method when a non-magnetic one-component developer is used as a developer (toner), toner is supplied to an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum holding an electrostatic latent image, and a latent image on the image carrier is obtained. A development method (pressure development method) is known in which a latent image is visualized by adhering toner to the toner. According to this method, since no magnetic material is required, the apparatus can be easily simplified and miniaturized, and the toner can be easily colored. In the pressure development method, development is performed by bringing a developing roller carrying toner into contact with an image carrier holding an electrostatic latent image and attaching the toner to the latent image on the image carrier. The developing roller used in this method needs to be formed of a conductive elastic body.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a developing device using a pressure developing method. In the illustrated developing device, a developing roller 10 is disposed in contact with a photosensitive drum 12 between a toner supply roller 11 for supplying toner and a photosensitive drum 12 holding an electrostatic latent image. As the developing roller 10, the photosensitive drum 12, and the toner supply roller 11 rotate in the directions of the arrows in the drawing, the toner 13 is supplied to the surface of the developing roller 10 by the toner supply roller 11. The supplied toner is adjusted to a uniform thin layer by the stratifying blade 14, and the developing roller 10 rotates in contact with the photosensitive drum 12 in this state, whereby the toner formed in the thin layer is transferred from the developing roller 10 to the photosensitive drum. The latent image is visualized by attaching to the 12 latent images. Note that reference numeral 15 in the drawing denotes a transfer portion, where a toner image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper. Reference numeral 16 denotes a cleaning unit, and toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 after transfer is removed by a cleaning blade 17. Reference numeral 18 denotes a charging roller that contacts the photosensitive drum 12 and charges the photosensitive drum 12.

  In this case, since the developing roller 10 must rotate while securely holding the photosensitive drum 12 in close contact, a conductive agent is usually added to the outer periphery of the shaft made of a highly conductive material such as metal. In order to obtain the desired surface roughness, conductivity, hardness, etc. as a basic structure, a structure in which an elastic layer made of conductive rubber, polymer elastomer, polymer foam, etc., to which conductivity has been imparted by The thing provided with the coating film of one layer or multiple layers is used.

  As an improved technique related to such a developing roller, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a toner carrier formed by forming a semiconductive layer on the outer periphery of a highly conductive shaft in a corona discharger disposed at a distance of 1 mm from the surface. Inspecting the toner carrier for inspecting the absolute value of the surface potential decay rate from 0.1 seconds to 0.2 seconds after applying the charge when the surface is charged by applying a voltage of 8 kV to generate a corona discharge. A method is disclosed. In Patent Document 2, in the intermediate transfer belt used for image formation, the potential charged in the first primary transfer is attenuated to 1/3 or less of the transfer voltage before reaching the position of the next primary transfer. As described above, a technique for adjusting the relative permittivity, surface resistance, and volume resistance is disclosed.

JP 2003-215922 A (Claims etc.) No. 2002-56119 (Claims etc.)

  By the way, in the developing roller, electric charges may accumulate on the surface of the roller with continuous use. As a result, excessive movement of toner from the roller surface onto the photosensitive drum causes ghosting, fogging, and gradation. There has been a problem that defects in the printed image such as deterioration of the property occur. This is due to the slow decay of the surface potential. As shown in FIG. 3A, the surface potential of the developing roller, which should be lowered to the initial value every rotation, is the same as that shown in FIG. It is considered that the surface potential is increased with continuous use without being sufficiently lowered as shown in FIG.

  As described in Patent Document 2, a technique for adjusting the attenuation of the surface potential in the intermediate transfer belt is conventionally known, but a technique for controlling the surface potential of the developing roller has not been found. . Therefore, it has been desired to establish a technique for preventing the occurrence of image defects due to charge accumulation by adjusting the decay rate of the surface potential as desired in the developing roller.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing roller that solves the above-described problems, has a high surface potential decay rate, and does not cause image defects due to charge accumulation.

  As a result of intensive studies, the inventors of the present invention have prescribed the relationship between the volume resistivity of each layer in the developing roller having at least two layers of the elastic layer and the coating layer on the outer periphery of the shaft, and the elasticity on the inner peripheral side. The inventors have found that the above problems can be solved by defining the difference in volume resistivity between the layer and the layer located on the outermost side within a predetermined range, and have completed the present invention.

That is, the present invention is a developing roller comprising a shaft, an elastic layer carried on the outer periphery of the shaft, and at least one coating layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer.
The volume resistivity of each layer of the elastic layer and the coating film layer is smaller in the inner circumferential layer than the outer circumferential layer, and the elastic layer and the coating layer located on the outermost circumferential side The volume resistivity difference is in the range of 2.8 to 4.3 (Log Ωcm),
The volume resistivity change of each layer of the elastic layer and the coating layer when 100 V is applied is 1.0 (log Ωcm) or less,
The relaxation time (τ) of the developing roller is 0.45 s or less.

  In the present invention, each of the elastic layer and the coating layer preferably contains conductive carbon and an aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate. In this case, 100 parts by mass of the resin component constituting each layer On the other hand, it is preferable to contain 0.5 to 3 parts by mass of the conductive carbon and 0.2 to 3 parts by mass of the aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate.

  According to the present invention, with the above configuration, it is possible to realize a developing roller that has a fast surface potential decay rate and that does not cause image defects due to charge accumulation.

It is a longitudinal direction sectional view showing an example of a developing roller of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows one structural example of the image development apparatus using a pressure development method. It is explanatory drawing which shows transition of the surface potential with time passage in the case where (a) decay of the surface potential is fast and (b) where decay of the surface potential is slow. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the measuring method of the resistance rise width in an Example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the developing roller of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the developing roller 10 of the present invention includes a shaft 1, an elastic layer 2 carried on the outer periphery thereof, at least one layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 2, and in the illustrated example, an intermediate coating layer 3. And two coating layers composed of the surface coating layer 4.

  In the present invention, it is important that the volume resistivity of each of the elastic layer 2 and the coating layers 3 and 4 is smaller in the inner peripheral layer than in the outer peripheral layer. That is, in the illustrated example, the relationship of the volume resistivity of the elastic layer 2 <the volume resistivity of the intermediate coating layer 3 <the volume resistivity of the surface coating layer 4 is satisfied. In the case where there are three or more coating layers, similarly to the above, the volume resistivity of the coating layer located on the outermost peripheral side (roller surface)> the volume resistivity of the second layer from the outer peripheral side> the outer peripheral side It is sufficient to satisfy the relationship with the volume resistivity of the third layer.

  In the present invention, the volume resistivity difference between the elastic layer 2 and the outermost layer of the coating layer, that is, the surface coating layer 4 in the illustrated example is 2.8 to 4.3 ( The point of being in the range of (Log Ωcm) is also important. In the present invention, the volume resistivity of each layer of the elastic layer and the coating film layer is smaller in the inner circumferential layer than the outer circumferential layer, and the elastic layer and the coating layer are positioned on the outermost circumferential side. And the difference in volume resistivity between 2.8 and 4.3 (Log Ωcm), it is possible to obtain a developing roller having a fast surface potential decay rate. Therefore, in the developing roller of the present invention, charge accumulation on the roller surface during continuous use can be prevented, and image defects such as ghost, fogging, and deterioration in gradation are not caused. .

  If the difference in volume resistivity between the elastic layer and the outermost layer of the coating layer is less than 2.8 (Log Ωcm), the toner is not sufficiently charged and the density of the printed image is low. If it becomes thinner and exceeds 4.3 (Log Ωcm), the toner will be overcharged and the toner will move more than necessary from the surface of the developing roller to the photosensitive drum, causing image defects such as fogging. The desired effect of the invention cannot be obtained.

  Here, in the developing roller of the present invention, when the time until the initial surface potential becomes 1 / e is defined as the relaxation time (τ), τ is preferably 0.45 s or less. If τ exceeds 0.45 s, charge accumulation on the roller surface cannot be sufficiently suppressed, and image defects may occur during continuous use.

  In the developing roller of the present invention, it is only necessary to satisfy the conditions relating to the volume resistivity and the difference in volume resistivity of each layer, and the desired effect of the present invention can be obtained thereby. It is. The specific configuration of the other rollers and the constituent materials of each layer can be appropriately selected according to a conventional method, and are not particularly limited.

  The shaft 1 is not particularly limited as long as it has good conductivity, and any one can be used. For example, a steel material such as sulfur free-cutting steel plated with nickel or zinc, A metal shaft such as a metal core made of solid metal such as iron, stainless steel, or aluminum, or a metal cylinder hollowed out inside can be used.

  The elastic layer 2 can be formed of rubber, resin, or a foam thereof according to the use of the roller. Specifically, for example, polyurethane, silicone rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, chloroprene. Examples of the rubber composition include rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, polynorbornene rubber, styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, and the like, and foams thereof.

  In the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use polyurethane foam. The raw material for forming such a polyurethane foam is not particularly limited as long as it contains a urethane bond in the resin.

  Examples of the polyol component include polyether polyol obtained by addition polymerization of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, polytetramethylene ether glycol, polyester polyol obtained by condensing an acid component and a glycol component, polyester polyol obtained by ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone, polycarbonate diol, and the like. Can be used.

  Examples of polyether polyols obtained by addition polymerization of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide include water, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, trimethylolpropane, hexanetriol, triethanolamine, diglycerin, pentaerythritol, ethylenediamine, and methylglucotite. , Aromatic diamine, sorbitol, sucrose, phosphoric acid, etc. as starting materials, and those obtained by addition polymerization of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Particularly, water, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, trimethylolpropane. Those starting from hexanetriol are preferred. As for the ratio of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to be added and the microstructure, the ratio of ethylene oxide is preferably 2 to 95% by mass, more preferably 5 to 90% by mass, and ethylene oxide is added to the terminal. preferable. In addition, the arrangement of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide in the molecular chain is preferably random.

  The molecular weight of the polyether polyol is bifunctional when water, propylene glycol, or ethylene glycol is used as a starting material, and preferably has a weight average molecular weight in the range of 300 to 6000, preferably in the range of 400 to 3000. Is more preferable. Further, when glycerin, trimethylolpropane, and hexanetriol are used as starting materials, they are trifunctional, and those having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 900 to 9000 are preferable, and those in the range of 1500 to 6000 are more preferable. Furthermore, a bifunctional polyol and a trifunctional polyol can be appropriately blended and used.

  Polytetramethylene ether glycol can be obtained, for example, by cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran, and those having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 400 to 4000, particularly in the range of 650 to 3000 are preferably used. It is also preferable to blend polytetramethylene ether glycols having different molecular weights. Furthermore, polytetramethylene ether glycol obtained by copolymerizing an alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide can also be used.

  Further, it is also preferable to use a blend of polytetramethylene ether glycol and a polyether polyol obtained by addition polymerization of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. In this case, it is preferable to use such a blend ratio so that the weight ratio is in the range of 95: 5 to 20:80, particularly 90:10 to 50:50.

  In addition to the polyol component, a polymer polyol obtained by modifying the polyol with acrylonitrile, a polyol obtained by adding melamine to the polyol, a diol such as butanediol, a polyol such as trimethylolpropane, or a derivative thereof may be used in combination.

  Moreover, as an isocyanate component which comprises a polyurethane foam, aromatic isocyanate or its derivative (s), aliphatic isocyanate or its derivative (s), alicyclic isocyanate or its derivative (s) is used. Among these, aromatic isocyanate or a derivative thereof is preferable, and tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) or a derivative thereof, diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) or a derivative thereof is particularly preferably used.

  Tolylene diisocyanate or derivatives thereof include crude tolylene diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, a mixture of 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate and 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, these These are urea-modified products, burette-modified products, carbodiimide-modified products, urethane-modified products modified with polyols, and the like. As diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof, for example, diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof obtained by phosgenating diaminodiphenylmethane or a derivative thereof is used. Examples of the derivatives of diaminodiphenylmethane include polynuclear bodies, and pure diphenylmethane diisocyanate obtained from diaminodiphenylmethane, polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate obtained from a polynuclear body of diaminodiphenylmethane, and the like can be used. Regarding the number of functional groups of polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate, a mixture of pure diphenylmethane diisocyanate and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate having various functional groups is usually used, and the average number of functional groups is preferably 2.05 to 4.00, more preferably 2. .50 to 3.50 are used. Derivatives obtained by modifying these diphenylmethane diisocyanates or their derivatives, such as urethane-modified products modified with polyols, dimers formed by uretidione formation, isocyanurate-modified products, carbodiimide / uretonimine-modified products, allophanate-modified products , Urea-modified products, burette-modified products, and the like can also be used. Also, several types of diphenylmethane diisocyanate and its derivatives can be blended and used.

  In addition, the isocyanate may be prepolymerized with a polyol in advance. As a method for this, the polyol and the isocyanate are put in a suitable container and sufficiently stirred, and 30 to 90 ° C, more preferably 40 to 70 ° C, A method of keeping the temperature for 240 hours, more preferably 24 to 72 hours can be mentioned. In this case, the ratio of the amount of polyol and isocyanate is preferably adjusted so that the isocyanate content of the resulting prepolymer is 4 to 30% by mass, more preferably 6 to 15% by mass. If the isocyanate content is less than 4% by mass, the stability of the prepolymer is impaired, and the prepolymer may be cured during storage, making it impossible to use. Further, when the isocyanate content exceeds 30% by mass, the content of isocyanate that has not been prepolymerized increases, and this polyisocyanate undergoes a prepolymerization reaction with a polyol component used in the subsequent polyurethane curing reaction. The effect of using the prepolymer method is diminished because it cures by a reaction mechanism similar to the one-shot process. In the case of using an isocyanate component in which isocyanate is prepolymerized with a polyol in advance, in addition to the above polyol component, diols such as ethylene glycol and butanediol, polyols such as trimethylolpropane and sorbitol, and derivatives thereof Can also be used.

  In polyurethane foam raw materials, in addition to these polyol component and isocyanate component, conductive agent and foaming agent (water, low-boiling substances, gas bodies, etc.), cross-linking agent, surfactant, catalyst, foam stabilizer, as desired. Etc. can be added, and it can be set as the elastic layer as desired by this.

  As the conductive agent, it is preferable to use two kinds of conductive carbon such as ketjen black and acetylene black and aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate in combination. The blending amount is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected as desired. For example, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin component constituting the elastic layer, the conductive carbon is 0.5 to 3 parts by mass, The aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate is preferably blended at 0.2 to 3 parts by mass.

  Catalysts used for the polyurethane foam curing reaction include monoamines such as triethylamine and dimethylcyclohexylamine, diamines such as tetramethylethylenediamine, tetramethylpropanediamine, and tetramethylhexanediamine, pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, pentamethyldipropylenetriamine, tetra Triamines such as methylguanidine, triethylenediamine, dimethylpiperazine, methylethylpiperazine, cyclic amines such as methylmorpholine, dimethylaminoethylmorpholine, dimethylimidazole, dimethylaminoethanol, dimethylaminoethoxyethanol, trimethylaminoethylethanolamine, methylhydroxy Alcohol amines such as ethyl piperazine and hydroxyethyl morpholine Ether amines such as bis (dimethylaminoethyl) ether, ethylene glycol bis (dimethyl) aminopropyl ether, stannous octoate, dibutyltin diacetate, dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin marker peptide, dibutyltin thiocarboxylate, dibutyltin dimaleate And organometallic compounds such as dioctyltin marker peptide, dioctyltin thiocarboxylate, phenylmercury propionate and lead octenoate. These catalysts may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to blend a silicone foam stabilizer and various surfactants during blending of the polyurethane foam in order to stabilize the cells of the foam material. As the silicone foam stabilizer, a dimethylpolysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymer or the like is suitably used, and those composed of a dimethylpolysiloxane moiety having a molecular weight of 350 to 15000 and a polyoxyalkylene moiety having a molecular weight of 200 to 4000 are particularly preferable. . The molecular structure of the polyoxyalkylene moiety is preferably an addition polymer of ethylene oxide or a co-addition polymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, and its molecular terminal is preferably ethylene oxide. Examples of the surfactant include cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, ionic surfactants such as amphoteric, nonionic surfactants such as various polyethers and various polyesters. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The blending amount of the silicone foam stabilizer and various surfactants is preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by mass, and 0.5 to 5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the total amount of the polyol component and the isocyanate component. More preferably.

  As a foaming method of the polyurethane foam raw material in the present invention, conventionally used methods such as a mechanical froth method, a water foaming method, and a foaming agent froth method can be used. In particular, while mixing an inert gas. It is preferable to use a mechanical floss method in which foaming is performed by mechanical stirring. Here, the inert gas used in the mechanical froth method may be an inert gas in the polyurethane reaction, and in addition to inert gases in a narrow sense such as helium, argon, xenon, radon, krypton, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, drying The gas which does not react with urethane foam raw materials, such as air, is mentioned. In the present invention, the molding conditions for the elastic layer made of such polyurethane foam raw material are not particularly limited, and may be according to ordinary conditions.

  In order to adjust the roller physical properties, the coating layer needs to be provided on the elastic layer 2 in at least one layer, preferably two or more layers, more preferably two to three layers. Can do. Specifically, for example, as shown in the figure, two layers of an intermediate coating layer 3 and a surface coating layer 4 can be sequentially provided on the elastic layer 2, and three or more coating layers are provided. In this case, the intermediate coating layer may be two or more layers.

  In the present invention, the coating layer can be formed of various solvent-based paints such as urethane, acrylic, acrylurethane, and fluorine. Particularly, the surface coating layer forming the roller surface is urethane, acrylic. The surface roughness can be adjusted by adding fine particles made of silica or the like. Moreover, also about a coating-film layer, desired conductivity can be provided by containing suitably the ionic conductive agent and electronic conductive agent which were mentioned above as a electrically conductive agent, and a vulcanizing agent and a vulcanization accelerator as needed. It is also possible to add an anti-aging agent or the like as appropriate. The coating layer is coated with a predetermined solvent-based paint on the elastic layer 2 using a known method such as dip coating, spray coating, roll coater coating, etc., dried, and heated and cured as desired. It is possible to form.

  In the present invention, in addition to the elastic layer 2, each layer of the coating layer preferably contains two kinds of conductive agents of conductive carbon and aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate. As a result, the change in volume resistivity of each layer during endurance is reduced, so that the change in the decay rate of the surface potential is suppressed, and the occurrence of image defects during endurance can be prevented. The blending amount is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected as desired. For example, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin component constituting the coating layer, the conductive carbon is 0.5 to 3 parts by mass, Moreover, it is preferable to mix | blend aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate in 0.2-3 mass parts. Moreover, in this invention, it is also preferable that a surface coating film layer contains organic complex lithium salt. Thereby, the electric charge accumulated on the surface can be attenuated without being affected by temperature and humidity. As a compounding quantity of organic complex lithium salt, it can be 0.1-3 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of resin components which comprise a surface layer coating-film layer, for example.

  In the present invention, the thickness of the elastic layer 2 is not particularly limited, but can usually be in the range of 1 to 7 mm. Moreover, the total thickness of a middle layer coating-film layer can be normally made into the range of 10-200 micrometers, and the thickness of a surface layer coating-film layer can be normally made into the range of 5-50 micrometers. In addition, as surface roughness of a surface layer coating-film layer, it is JIS arithmetic average roughness Ra, and can usually be in the range of 2 micrometers or less, especially 0.5-1.5 micrometers.

  In the present invention, the volume resistivity of the coating layer is preferably 7.5 (log Ωcm) or more. If the volume resistivity of the coating layer is less than 7.5 (log Ωcm), the toner is not sufficiently charged and the density of the printed image becomes thin, which is not preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that the change of the volume resistivity at the time of 100V application of each layer of an elastic layer and a coating-film layer is 1.0 (log (omega | ohm) cm) or less. If the change in volume resistivity exceeds 1.0 (log Ωcm), the resistance balance of each layer is lost, which adversely affects the attenuation rate, which is not preferable. Furthermore, the developing roller of the present invention preferably has an initial potential of 70 to 500V.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.
A developing roller having an elastic layer, an intermediate coating layer and a surface coating layer sequentially supported on the outer periphery of a shaft (metal shaft) as shown in FIG. 1 was prepared according to the combination shown in Table 4 below.

<Molding of elastic layer>
100 parts by mass of prepolymerized isocyanate in which conductive carbon (Denka Black) is blended in the number of parts shown in the following table, the number of parts of ionic conductive agent, silicone foam stabilizer 3 parts by mass and tin catalyst 0 shown in the following table. The mixture was mixed with an ether-based polyol containing 1 part by mass, foamed by a mechanical floss method, and poured into a mold on which a metal shaft was set. Thereafter, this mixture was heat-cured at 110 ° C. for 30 minutes to form an elastic layer having a thickness of 6 mm on the outer periphery of the metal shaft. The elastic layer was measured for volume resistivity and resistance increase width.

The resistance increase width was measured as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B in an environment of 23 ° C. and 55% RH using a resistance measuring machine R8340 manufactured by ADVANTEST. That is, the roller 10 is placed on the metal plate 21 as shown in FIG. 5A, a load of 500 g is applied to both ends, and 100 V is applied between the metal shaft 1 and the metal plate 21. and the resistance _{R t = 5} and the resistor _{R t = 600} after 600 seconds after 5 seconds was measured by the resistance measuring device 22. Further, the sheet 20 is placed on a metal plate 21 as shown in FIG. 5B, and a 500 g metal weight 23 is placed thereon, and the metal plate 21 and the metal weight 23 are placed on each other. and applying a 100V between, and the resistor _{R t = 5} and the resistor _{R t = 600} after 600 seconds after 5 seconds was measured by the resistance measuring device 22. From these results, the resistance width was calculated based on the following formula.
Resistance change (resistance width) log Ω · cm = log (R _{t = 600} −R _{t = 5} )

＊１）電気化学工業（株）製
＊２）日本油脂（株）製，脂肪族第四級アンモニウムサルフェート

（Ｒ：脂肪族炭化水素）

* 1) Made by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. * 2) Made by Nippon Oil & Fats Co., Ltd.

(R: aliphatic hydrocarbon)

<Formation of middle layer coating layer>
Next, 100 parts by mass of infinite chain length urethane prepolymer (N5033, manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd.), 6 parts by mass of isocyanurated HDI, and the number of parts of the solvent-dispersed carbon black and ionic conductive agent shown in the following table And 500 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were blended to prepare a paint. This paint was applied onto the elastic layer by dipping and dried at 105 ° C. for 120 minutes to form an intermediate coating layer. In addition, a sheet of 80 mm × 150 mm × 0.2 mm was prepared using this paint, and the volume resistivity and the resistance increase width of the 20 μm thick middle coating layer were measured.

＊３）三菱化学（株）製カーボンブラックＭＡ１００のＭＥＫ分散体
＊４）花王（株）製，脂肪族第四級アンモニウムサルフェート

* 3) MEK dispersion of carbon black MA100 manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation * 4) Aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate manufactured by Kao Corporation

<Formation of surface coating layer>
Next, 100 parts by mass of polytetramethylene glycol, 45 parts by mass of isocyanurated HDI, the number of parts of the solvent-dispersed carbon black and ionic conductive agent shown in the following table, 300 parts by mass of MEK, silica (SS-20, A paint was prepared by blending 15 parts by mass of Tosoh Silica Co., Ltd. and 25 parts by mass of acrylic particles (MBX-8, manufactured by Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.). This paint was applied on the above-mentioned intermediate coating film layer by dipping and dried at 105 ° C. for 120 minutes to form a surface coating film layer having a thickness of 20 μm. Moreover, the sheet of 80 mm x 150 mm x 0.2 mm was produced using this coating material, and the volume resistivity and resistance increase width of the surface coating layer were measured.

＊５）三菱化学（株）製カーボンブラックＭＡ６００のＭＥＫ分散体
＊６）日本カーリット（株）製，有機錯体リチウム塩

* 5) MEK dispersion of carbon black MA600 manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation * 6) Organic complex lithium salt manufactured by Nippon Carlit Co., Ltd.

  About each obtained developing roller, the attenuation | damping behavior of surface potential was measured using the surface potential measuring machine Crt2000 made from QEA. The time from the initial surface potential value to the value of 1 / e was defined as the relaxation time τ.

Further, each of the obtained developing rollers was incorporated into an HP Color Laser Jet 4600, and image evaluation was performed. As a result, the case where no abnormality was observed in fogging, ghost or gradation, was marked with ◯, and the case where abnormality was seen was marked with ×.
The results are also shown in the table below.

  As shown in the above table, each satisfying the conditions of the present invention relating to the magnitude relationship of the volume resistivity of each layer of the elastic layer and the coating layer and the volume resistivity difference between the elastic layer and the surface coating layer In the developing roller of the example, it was confirmed that the surface potential decay rate was faster than the developing roller of each comparative example that did not satisfy such conditions, and the occurrence of image defects due to charge accumulation was prevented. . Further, from the comparison between Example 5 and Reference Examples 1 to 3, when the conductive carbon and the aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate were blended in each layer of the elastic layer and the coating layer, the surface even after the endurance test was conducted. It was found that there was no change in the potential decay rate, and image defects could be prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shaft 2 Elastic layer 3 Middle layer coating layer 4 Surface layer coating layer 10 Developing roller 20 Sheet 21 Metal plate 22 Resistance measuring machine 23 Metal weight

Claims (3)

In a developing roller comprising a shaft, an elastic layer carried on the outer periphery of the shaft, and at least one coating layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer,
The volume resistivity of each layer of the elastic layer and the coating film layer is smaller in the inner circumferential layer than the outer circumferential layer, and the elastic layer and the coating layer located on the outermost circumferential side The volume resistivity difference is in the range of 2.8 to 4.3 (Log Ωcm),
The volume resistivity change of each layer of the elastic layer and the coating layer when 100 V is applied is 1.0 (log Ωcm) or less,
The developing roller having a relaxation time (τ) of the developing roller of 0.45 s or less.   The developing roller according to claim 1, wherein each of the elastic layer and the coating layer contains conductive carbon and aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate.   Each layer of the elastic layer and the coating layer contains conductive carbon and aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate, and the conductive carbon is added in an amount of 0. 0 to 100 parts by mass of the resin component constituting each layer. The developing roller according to claim 2, wherein 5 to 3 parts by mass and 0.2 to 3 parts by mass of the aliphatic quaternary ammonium sulfate are contained.

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