JP6818624B2 - A method for forming an uneven shape on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a method for manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member using this method. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for imparting an uneven shape to the surface of a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member and a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member having an uneven shape.

With respect to an electrophotographic photosensitive member containing an organic photoconducting substance (charge generating substance), a curable resin is contained in the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for the purpose of improving its durability (wear resistance, etc.). There is technology.

However, if the wear resistance of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is improved by this technique, the cleaning performance of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is likely to be affected and image flow is likely to occur. The effects on the cleaning performance are the increase in drive torque caused by the increased frictional force between the highly wear-resistant surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cleaning blade, and the slipping of toner due to the minute vibration of the cleaning blade. And problems such as reversal of the cleaning blade. Further, image flow is a problem caused by deterioration of the material used for the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member due to acid gas such as ozone and nitrogen oxides generated by charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member. .. In addition, a part of the acid gas generated in this way becomes nitric acid due to the adsorption of water, and the surface resistance of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is lowered, so that image flow may occur.

In order to improve these problems, there is a technique of pressing a mold member having an uneven shape on the surface against the electrophotographic photosensitive member to form an uneven shape on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In Patent Document 1, when the uneven shape of the mold member is transferred to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the temperature between the mold member and the support of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is controlled to have high uneven shape reproducibility, and further, the image Techniques for further improving flow and cleaning performance are disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a mold member having an uneven shape on the surface, a metal member, and a mold unit having a cushioning member are used, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member is pressed against the surface of the mold member to photosensitize the uneven shape. Techniques for forming on the surface of the body are disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 4059518 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-238844

When a mold unit composed of a plurality of members is used as in the prior art, the adhesion between the members constituting the mold unit tends to be deteriorated by pressure welding of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. When the mold unit is equipped with a heating means to transfer the uneven shape to the electrophotographic photosensitive member in order to heat the mold member, the presence of an air layer due to the deterioration of the adhesion of the member causes heat transfer from the heat source to the mold member. It becomes a factor to hinder.

When continuously transferring the uneven shape to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the uneven shape should be formed on the next electrophotographic photosensitive member after the temperature of the mold member taken away by the electrophotographic photosensitive member has returned to the original temperature. Therefore, it is desired that the adhesion between the members in the mold unit composed of a plurality of members from the heat source to the mold member is improved and the heat transfer is performed promptly.

Further, it is conceivable that the mold member is deformed by repeatedly pressing the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto the mold member. When the mold member is deformed, an air layer is further formed in the mold unit, the heat transfer from the heat source to the mold member is delayed, and a difference from the initial production tact (or processing time) occurs.

The present invention has been discovered in view of these problems, and by providing a mold unit having excellent heat transfer from a heat source to a mold member in a method of forming an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is an object of the present invention to shorten the production tact and to provide a method for suppressing fluctuations in the production tact over a long period of time.

In the present invention, a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer is pressed against a mold unit having an uneven shape on the outermost surface, and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about an axis to rotate the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the method of forming the concave-convex shape, the mold unit has at least a support member having a heating means, an annular member, a cushioning member, and a mold member having an uneven shape, and the support member and the mold member are via the annular member. The cushioning member is arranged inside the annular member so as to be in contact with at least the mold member and the support member, respectively, and the decompressable space is decompressed to form a cylindrical electrograph. Provided is a method for forming an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which comprises pressing the photoconductor against a mold unit.

According to the present invention, the production tact is shortened and the long-term fluctuation of the production tact is suppressed in the method of forming the uneven shape on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is a figure for demonstrating another example of the surface processing method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member which concerns on this invention which forms an uneven shape on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

In the present invention, a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer is pressed against a mold unit having an uneven shape on the outermost surface, and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about an axis to rotate the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member about the axis. In the method of forming an uneven shape on the surface of the mold unit, the mold unit has at least a support member having a heating means, an annular member, a cushioning member, and a mold member having an uneven shape, and the support member and the mold member are , Indirectly contact via the annular member to form a decompressable space, the cushioning member is arranged in the depressurable space so as to be in contact with at least the mold member and the support member, and the depressurization member is provided. The cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is pressed against the mold unit in a state where the possible space is depressurized, and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about the axis to form an uneven shape on the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member. Regarding the method.

Further, the present invention relates to a method for forming an uneven shape on the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the mold unit has a metal member between the mold member and the cushioning member.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member whose surface has been processed by the method of forming an uneven shape on the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member.

The basic configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). The electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 has a cylindrical shape, and is supported by inserting a cylindrical core member 2 into a central portion thereof. The mold unit 3 is flat and has a mold member 31 having an uneven shape on the surface facing the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, a cushioning member 32, an annular member 33, and a support member 34. Has a heat source such as a heater and a circulation mechanism of a heat medium, and can supply heat to the mold member 31.

The mold member 31 and the support member 34 indirectly contact each other via the annular member 33 to form a space 4 capable of depressurizing. The cushioning member 32 is arranged inside the annular member 33 so as to be in contact with the mold member 31 and the support member 34. FIG. 1C shows a mold unit 3 in which the cushioning member 32 is omitted in order to explain the space 4 capable of depressurizing.

Further, the space 4 capable of depressurizing is decompressed by using a suction pump (not shown) to make the pressure negative with respect to the atmospheric pressure. By doing so, the adhesion between the support member 34, the cushioning member 32, and the mold member 31 is improved by the pressure difference from the atmospheric pressure, so that the heat from the heat source of the support member 34 can be efficiently transferred to the mold member 31. Is possible.

In order to maintain the adhesion of the support member 34, the cushioning member 32, and the mold member 31, it is important to maintain the decompressed state of the decompressable space 4. When the mold member 31 is a relatively thin plate-shaped member, it may be difficult to maintain the decompressed state due to deformation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 due to pressure contact. Therefore, for the purpose of reinforcing the mold member 31, the mold member 31 A metal member 35 may be arranged on the back surface. FIG. 2 shows a configuration when the metal member 35 is used. The metal member 35 is arranged between the mold member 31 and the cushioning member 32.

The detailed requirements required for each member of the mold unit 3 will be described below.
The mold member 31 is a member having a concavo-convex shape and includes a surface on which the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is pressed, and it is necessary to use a material harder than the resin material constituting the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 which is a work piece. There is. The material is preferably mainly a metal, and in particular, an iron-based or stainless-based alloy material, nickel, or the like can be preferably used.

The metal member 35 is a member arranged between the mold member 31 and the cushioning member 32, and is used to reinforce the mold member 31 when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is pressed against the mold member 31. As a material, an iron-based or stainless steel-based alloy is used, and it is particularly preferable to use a spring material having little plastic deformation. A plurality of metal members of the same or different materials may be stacked and used. However, when the mold member 31 uses a member having sufficient strength against the pressure welding, it is possible to omit the member to form the mold unit 3.

The cushioning member 32 is a member used to alleviate the concentration of load pressure in the circumferential direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 when the mold member 31 is pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, and is a member of the mold member 31 and a metal member. The 35 can be curved and supported. As the material, it is mainly a resin member, and it is preferable to use a silicone-based or fluorine-based rubber material. In particular, when performing shape transfer accompanied by heating, it is preferable to use a material having high thermal conductivity. For example, by using a rubber material in which metal particles are dispersed, shape transfer can be performed without impairing thermal conductivity while ensuring flexibility.

The annular member 33 is in contact with the mold member 31 and the support member 34, respectively, to form a space 4 capable of depressurizing. As the material, it is mainly a resin member, and it is preferable to use a silicone-based or fluorine-based rubber material. The annular member 33 does not necessarily have to have an annularly closed structure, and a part of the annular member 33 may be open. In order to make the decompressable space 4 more negative with respect to the atmospheric pressure, it is preferable to have a structure closed in an annular shape.

The support member 34 is a member that serves as a base when each member of the mold unit 3 is integrally fixed. By using this support member 34, each member of the mold unit 3, particularly the cushioning member 32 can be maintained on a flat surface, and the mold unit 3 can be handled stably. The support member 34 has a heat source such as a heater and a circulation mechanism of a heat medium, and can supply heat to the mold member 31.

The suction pump can be appropriately selected as long as it can depressurize the decompressable space 4, such as a diaphragm pump or a rotary pump.

The decompression state is expressed using the degree of vacuum based on atmospheric pressure. In the present invention, the absolute value of the value displayed on the differential pressure gauge 41 installed between the space 4 capable of depressurizing and the suction pump from the suction port 42 is defined as the degree of vacuum, and is expressed as the degree of vacuum of the mold unit 3. The unit of the degree of vacuum is Pa, the atmospheric pressure is 0, and the value is positive in the decompressed state. When the degree of vacuum of the mold unit is 30 kPa or more, the adhesion between the members of the mold unit 3 becomes good, and heat transfer from the support member 34 to the mold member 31 is performed more efficiently.

When the shape is continuously transferred, the mold member 31 is deformed by repeating the pressure welding of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. If the deformation is slight, the airtightness between the mold member 31 and the annular member 33 is maintained, so that the degree of vacuum of the mold unit is maintained and the adhesion between the members is maintained, but the deformation is large and the mold member 31 and the annular member are greatly deformed. When the airtightness of 33 is impaired, the degree of vacuum of the mold unit decreases, and the adhesion between the members is impaired.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a configuration for maintaining the degree of vacuum of the mold unit in addition to the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows a configuration in which the mold unit having the metal member 35 is viewed from another direction. When the distance between the end of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 in contact with the mold member 31 and the end of the metal member 35 in the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is D mm, and the thickness of the mold member 31 is tmm.
D ≤ 4t
If the shape is transferred while maintaining the above relationship, the deformation of the mold member 31 due to the pressure welding of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 can be suppressed. That is, it is preferable to perform shape transfer in a positional relationship in which there is not much deviation between the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the end of the metal member 35 in the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1.

When D is larger than 4t, the mold member 31 is likely to be deformed in the following two ways. When focusing on one end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is outside the end portion of the metal member 35 in the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 by more than 4 tons, the metal member 35 is used. Since the back surface of the mold member 31 is insufficiently supported, the mold member 31 is deformed in the pressurizing direction starting from the end of the metal member 35.

On the other hand, when the axial end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is more than 4t inside the end portion of the metal member 35, the stress difference between the inside and outside of the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 of the mold member 31 is large. As a result, the mold member 31 outside the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is deformed in the direction opposite to the pressurizing direction.

In the present invention, it is possible to improve the adhesion of the support member 34, the cushioning member 32, the metal member 35, and the mold member 31 by maintaining a high degree of vacuum of the mold unit 3, but it is fixed by using screws or the like. May be performed together. FIG. 4 is a method of fixing the metal member 35 to the support member 34 via the spacer 36 for the purpose of facilitating the control of the positional relationship between the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the metal member 35. FIG. 5 shows a method of fixing the mold member 31 to the support member 34 via the spacer 36 in order to suppress the displacement of the mold member 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, these fixing methods may be combined.

When the shape transfer of pressing the mold member having an uneven shape on the surface against the electrophotographic photosensitive member to form the concave-convex shape on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is repeated, the end portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 becomes the mold member 31. May cause scratches on the surface. As the scratches grow, the mold member 31 cracks, which is one of the causes for the mold unit to reach the end of its life.
This is because when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is pressed against the mold unit 3, only the buffer member 32 at the lower part of the region where the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 comes into contact is compressed, and the end portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is the mold member 31. The cause is strong contact with.

FIG. 9 shows a mold unit configuration for suppressing scratches generated on the surface of the mold member 31.
FIG. 9 is characterized in that the mold holding members 7 are provided at both ends of the mold unit. The mold holding member 7 is a member that holds both ends of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 of the mold member 31 in the axial direction and is arranged for the purpose of maintaining contact between the mold member 31 and the annular member 33. The material of the mold holding member 7 is not particularly limited, and an iron-based or stainless steel-based alloy or a resin material can be used.

h1 is the distance between the rotation axis 6 of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the surface of the mold member 31 in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 in the pressing direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1.
h2 is the distance between the rotation axis 6 of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the position of the mold member 31 that is held by the mold holding member 7 in the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member closest to the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
By changing the thickness of the cushioning member 32, the annular member 33, and the metal member 35,
h1 <h2
By configuring the mold unit 3 so as to be, it is possible to suppress scratches generated on the surface of the mold member 31 when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is pressed.
When h1 and h2 when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is pressed against the mold unit 3 are set to h1'and h2', respectively.
h1'≤h2'
By configuring the mold unit 3 so as to be, it is possible to further suppress the scratches generated on the surface of the mold member 31 when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is pressed.

By adopting the configuration of FIG. 9, even when the axial end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is inside the end portion of the metal member 35, the presence of the mold holding member 7 causes the electrophotographic photosensitive member 31 to be electrophotosensitive. The difference in stress between the inside and the outside of the end of the body 1 is reduced, and the deformation of the mold member 31 outside the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 in the direction opposite to the pressurizing direction is suppressed.

<Preparation of cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member>
As a support (conductive support), an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 30 mm and a length of 357.5 mm was used.

Next, 100 parts of zinc oxide particles (specific surface area: 19 m ² / g, powder resistance: 4.7 × 10 ⁶ Ω · cm) as a metal oxide were stirred and mixed with 500 parts of toluene. To this, 0.8 part of a silane coupling agent (compound name: N-2- (aminoethyl) -3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, trade name: KBM602, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added for 6 hours. Stirred. Then, toluene was distilled off under reduced pressure, and the mixture was heated and dried at 140 ° C. for 6 hours to obtain surface-treated zinc oxide particles.

Next, 15 parts of butyral resin (trade name: BM-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 15 parts of blocked isocyanate (trade name: Sumijour 3175, manufactured by Sumitomo Bavarian Urethane Co., Ltd.) were added as a polyol resin to a mixed solution. It was dissolved. The mixed solution is a mixture of 73.5 parts of methyl ethyl ketone and 73.5 parts of 1-butanol.

80.8 parts of the surface-treated zinc oxide particles and 0.4 parts of 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) are added to this solution, and this is added to a glass having a diameter of 0.8 mm. The particles were dispersed in a sand mill using beads in an atmosphere of 23 ± 3 ° C. for 3 hours. After dispersion, 0.01 part of silicone oil (trade name: SH28PA, manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.), crosslinkable polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA) particles as organic resin particles (trade name: TECHPOLYMER SSX-102, Sekisui) 5.6 parts (manufactured by Kaseihin Kogyo Co., Ltd., average primary particle size 2.5 μm) was added and stirred to prepare a coating liquid for an undercoat layer. The coating liquid for the undercoat layer was immersed and coated on the support, and the obtained coating film was dried at 160 ° C. for 40 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a film thickness of 18 μm.

Next, four parts of crystalline hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystals (charge generators) having strong peaks at 7.4 ° and 28.1 ° at Bragg angles of 2θ ± 0.2 ° in CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction, and the following structure. 0.04 part of the compound represented by the formula (A) was added to a solution prepared by dissolving 2 parts of a polyvinyl butyral resin (trade name: Eslek BX-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) in 100 parts of cyclohexanone. This was dispersed for 1 hour in an atmosphere of 23 ± 3 ° C. with a sand mill device using glass beads having a diameter of 1 mm. After dispersion, 100 parts of ethyl acetate was added to prepare a coating liquid for a charge generation layer. The coating liquid for the charge generation layer was immersed and coated on the undercoat layer, and the obtained coating film was dried at 90 ° C. for 10 minutes to form a charge generation layer having a film thickness of 0.20 μm.

Next, 30 parts of the compound represented by the following structural formula (B) (charge transporting substance), 60 parts of the compound represented by the following structural formula (C) (charge transporting substance), and 10 parts of the compound represented by the following structural formula (D). Part, Polycarbonate resin (trade name: Iupilon Z400, manufactured by Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd., bisphenol Z type polycarbonate) 100 parts, polycarbonate represented by the following structural formula (E) (viscosity average molecular weight Mv: 20000) 0.02 A coating liquid for a charge transport layer was prepared by dissolving the parts in a mixed solvent of 600 parts of mixed xylene and 200 parts of dimethoxymethane. The coating liquid for the charge transport layer was immersed and coated on the charge generation layer to form a coating film, and the obtained coating film was dried at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a film thickness of 18 μm. ..

以上のようにして、形状転写前の電子写真感光体を作製した。 Next, 36 parts of the compound represented by the following formula (F) (charge transport substance having an acrylic group which is a chain polymerizable functional group), polytetrafluoroethylene resin fine powder (Lubron L-2, manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) ) 4 parts were mixed with 60 parts of n-propyl alcohol and then dispersed and mixed by an ultrahigh pressure disperser to prepare a coating liquid for a protective layer (coating liquid for a second charge transport layer).
The coating liquid for the protective layer was immersed and coated on the charge transport layer, and the obtained coating film was dried at 50 ° C. for 5 minutes. After drying, the coating film was cured by irradiating the coating film with an electron beam while rotating the cylinder for 1.6 seconds under the conditions of an acceleration voltage of 70 kV and an absorbed dose of 8000 Gy in a nitrogen atmosphere. Then, the heat treatment was carried out in a nitrogen atmosphere under the condition that the coating film became 130 ° C. for 3 minutes. The oxygen concentration from the irradiation of the electron beam to the heat treatment for 3 minutes was 20 ppm. Next, a protective layer (second charge transport layer) having a film thickness of 5 μm was formed by heat treatment in the air for 30 minutes under the condition that the coating film became 100 ° C.

As described above, an electrophotographic photosensitive member before shape transfer was produced.

<Evaluation of temperature recovery of mold unit>
(Example 1)
A mold unit 3 as shown in FIG. 6 was prepared. The mold member 31 was made of a nickel material having a thickness of 0.3 mm.
As the metal member 35, a SUS301 material having a thickness of 2 mm and a length of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 in the axial direction of 358.5 mm was used.

As the cushioning member 32, rubber having a thickness of 8 mm was used. As the material, in order to achieve both flexibility and thermal conductivity, a thermally conductive mirable type silicone rubber (model: XE20-A7016, manufactured by Momentive Performance Materials Japan) was used. Further, chamfered portions 5 as shown in FIG. 7 are provided on both surfaces of the cushioning member 32.

As the support member 34, an electroless nickel plating was used on the surface of an SS400 material having a thickness of 6 mm. The support member 34 is provided with a suction port 42 as shown in FIG.

For the annular member 33, rubber having a thickness of 10 mm was used, and a silicon rubber sheet (RBAM, manufactured by MISUMI) was used in order to achieve both heat resistance and flexibility.

In this state, air in the space 4 that can be depressurized was sucked from the suction port 42 by a diaphragm type dry vacuum pump (model: DA-121D, manufactured by ULVAC KIKO). From the display of the differential pressure gauge 41, the degree of vacuum of the mold unit was 98 kPa.

In this state, the temperature of each heater built in the support member 34 was raised, a temperature measurement point was set on the surface of the mold member 31 on the exposed side, and the heater output was adjusted so that the temperature became 150 ° C. The electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is pressed against the surface of the mold member 31 while applying a load of 1000 N on each side to the core member 2 inserted through the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, and is rotated around the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 to measure the temperature. The shape was transferred to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 so that the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 passed over the top. At the time of shape transfer, the position was controlled so that the center of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the center of the metal member 35 were aligned with each other in the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. The distance (D) between the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the end of the metal member 35 in the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 was 0.5 mm.

The time required for the temperature at the temperature measurement point measured after the shape transfer and before the shape transfer to recover to the temperature before the shape transfer was measured. After the measurement was completed, the shape was transferred to the next electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. In this way, the shape was transferred to the 10 electrophotographic photosensitive members 1, and the average time required for the temperature to recover was taken as the initial temperature recovery property.

Next, after the shape is transferred to 10,000 electrophotographic photosensitive members 1, the shape is transferred to 10 electrophotographic photosensitive members 1 in the same manner as the initial temperature recovery, and the average time required for the temperature to recover is average. The time was defined as the temperature recovery after endurance.
The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 2)
An initial temperature recovery property and a temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the degree of vacuum of the mold unit before shape transfer was set to 32 kPa by using a pressure adjusting mechanism (not shown). The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 3)
The metal member 35 is made of a SUS301 material having a thickness of 2 mm and a length of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 in the axial direction of 361.5 mm, and the metal member 35 at the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. The initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after endurance were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the distance (D) between the ends was 2.0 mm. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 4)
An initial temperature recovery property and a temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the degree of vacuum of the mold unit before shape transfer was set to 20 kPa by using a pressure adjusting mechanism (not shown). The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 5)
An initial temperature recovery property and a temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the degree of vacuum of the mold unit before shape transfer was set to 20 kPa by using a pressure adjusting mechanism (not shown). The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 6)
The metal member 35 is made of a SUS301 material having a thickness of 2 mm and an axial length of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 of 359.9 mm, and the metal member 35 at the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. The initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the distance (D) between the ends was 1.2 mm. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 7)
The metal member 35 was the same as in Example 1 except that the metal member 35 had a thickness of 0.5 mm and was changed to a stack of four, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 8)
The same as in Example 1 except that the C-shaped annular member 33 as shown in FIG. 8 was used, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 9)
The same as in Example 1 except that the cushioning member 32 was changed to a silicone rubber (SR-60, manufactured by Tigers Polymer Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 8 mm, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 10)
The same as in Example 1 except that the mold member 31 was changed to a nickel material having a thickness of 0.6 mm, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 11)
The same as in Example 1 except that the cushioning member 32 was changed to a heat conductive mirable type silicone rubber having a thickness of 12 mm and the thickness of the annular member 33 was changed to that of 14 mm, and the initial temperature recovery and the temperature after durability were obtained. The resilience was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 12)
As shown in FIG. 1, a mold unit 3 having no metal member 35 was used.
The same as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the annular member 33 was changed to 8 mm without using the metal member 35, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 1)
The shape was transferred in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the decompressable space 4 was not decompressed, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 2)
The shape was transferred in the same manner as in Example 9 except that the decompressable space 4 was not decompressed, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 3)
The shape was transferred in the same manner as in Example 12 except that the space 4 capable of decompression was not decompressed, and the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after durability were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

The support member 34 and the built-in heater used in Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are all the same.

As a result of the evaluation, in the example, the adhesion of the members from the support member 34 to the mold member 31 was improved by decompressing the decompressable space 4 with the suction pump, so that the initial temperature recovery and durability of the mold unit 3 were improved. Later temperature recovery was improved. Therefore, production with shortened tact is possible, and long-term fluctuations in tact are suppressed. In the comparative example, since the decompressable space 4 was not decompressed, the result was that it took time to recover the temperature after the shape transfer.

<Evaluation of scratches on the surface of the mold member>
(Example 13)
The mold unit 3 shown in FIG. 9 was prepared. Instead of fixing the metal member with the spacer 36, the thickness of the annular member 33 is changed to 6 mm, and the mold holding member 7 made of SUS304 is screwed to the support member 34 to apply the load applied to both ends of the core member 2. The same as in Example 1 except that the temperature was changed to 5000 N on each side, the initial temperature recovery property and the temperature recovery property after the durability of 10,000 screws were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

The difference between h1 and h2 before the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is brought into contact with the mold member 31 is 4 mm, and the difference between h1'and h2'when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is brought into contact with the mold member 31 is. It was 2 mm.
After the evaluation of the temperature recovery property, the surface roughness of the mold member 31 is measured, and the obtained maximum height (RyJIS) value is evaluated as the degree of damage to the mold member 31 by the end portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. did.

The surface roughness was measured based on the 2001 JIS standard using a surface roughness measuring machine SE700 manufactured by Kosaka Laboratory Co., Ltd. under the following conditions.
Detector: R2 μm, 0.7 mN diamond needle filter: 2CR
Cutoff value: 0.8 mm
Measurement length: 5.0 mm
Feed speed: 0.1 mm / sec Tilt correction: Least squares method The measurement location is selected so as to include the portion of the surface of the mold member 31 where the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is in contact, and the measurement direction is selected. Was the same direction as the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 was brought into contact with the photophotoreceptor 1. The swell curve was removed from the obtained cross-sectional curve to obtain the maximum height (RyJIS). The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 14)
The temperature recovery property of the mold unit and the scratch evaluation on the surface of the mold member were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 13 except that the thickness of the annular member 33 was set to 8 mm. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 15)
The temperature recoverability of the mold unit and the scratch evaluation on the surface of the mold member were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 13 except that the thickness of the annular member 33 was 9 mm. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 16)
The temperature recovery property of the mold unit and the scratch evaluation on the surface of the mold member were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 13 except that the thickness of the annular member 33 was set to 9.8 mm. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 17)
The temperature recoverability of the mold unit and the scratch evaluation on the surface of the mold member were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 13 except that the metal member 35 was not used and the thickness of the annular member 33 was 5 mm. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 18)
The same as in Example 13 except that the member of the metal member 35 was changed to SUS304, the temperature recovery of the mold unit and the scratch evaluation on the surface of the mold member were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 19)
The same as in Example 13 except that the cushioning member 32 was changed to a silicone rubber (SR-60, manufactured by Tigers Polymer Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 8 mm, the temperature recovery of the mold unit was evaluated, and the scratches on the surface of the mold member were evaluated. It was. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 20)
The metal member 35 is made of a SUS301 material having a thickness of 2 mm and a length of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 in the axial direction of 361.5 mm, and the metal member 35 at the end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. The temperature recoverability of the mold unit and the scratches on the surface of the mold member were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 13 except that the distance between the ends was 2.0 mm. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Reference example 1)
The temperature recoverability of the mold unit and the scratch evaluation on the surface of the mold member were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 13 except that the thickness of the annular member 33 was 10 mm. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Reference example 2)
The temperature recovery property of the mold unit and the scratch evaluation on the surface of the mold member were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 17 except that the thickness of the annular member 33 was set to 8 mm. The results are shown in Table 2.

As a result of the evaluation, by setting h2-h1> 0, the force of the end portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 in contact with the mold member 31 when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 was pressed was alleviated, and the occurrence of scratches was suppressed. .. Further, by setting h2'-h1'≥0, the occurrence of scratches was further suppressed.

1 Xerographic photoconductor 2 Core member 3 Type unit 31 Type member 32 Cushioning member 33 Ring member 34 Support member 35 Metal member 36 Spatula 4 Space that can be depressurized 41 Differential pressure gauge 42 Suction port 5 Chamfering part 6 Rotation of electrophotographic photosensitive member Axis 7 type holding member

Claims (7)

A cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer is pressed against a mold unit having an uneven shape on the outermost surface, and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about an axis to have an uneven surface on the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the method of forming the shape
The mold unit has at least a support member having a heating means, an annular member, a cushioning member, and a mold member having an uneven shape.
The support member and the mold member indirectly contact each other via the annular member to form a decompressable space.
The cushioning member is arranged so as to be in contact with at least the mold member and the support member in the decompressable space.
The cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is pressed against the mold unit in a state where the decompressable space is depressurized, and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about an axis to form an uneven shape on the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member. How to form. The method for forming an uneven shape on the surface of a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the mold unit has a metal member between the mold member and the cushioning member. When the distance between the end of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member in contact with the mold member and the end of the metal member in the axial direction of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is D, and the thickness of the mold member is t.
D ≤ 4t
On the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is pressed against the mold unit and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about an axis while maintaining the above relationship. A method of forming an uneven shape. Any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is pressed against the mold unit while the vacuum degree of the mold unit is maintained at 30 kPa or more, and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about an axis. The method for forming an uneven shape on the surface of a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member according to item 1. Both ends of the mold member in the axial direction of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member are held by the mold holding member.
In the pressing direction of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member, the distance between the rotation axis of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member and the surface of the mold member with which the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member abuts is h1, and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is exposed to light. When the distance between the rotation axis of the body and the portion of the mold member held by the mold holding member in the axial direction of the photoconductor, which is closest to the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member, is h2.
h1 <h2
The cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is pressed against the mold unit held flat so as to be such that the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated about an axis, and the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is uneven. The method for forming an uneven shape on the surface of a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shape is formed. The rotation axis of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member of the mold member in the pressing direction of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member when the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member is pressed against the mold unit. The distance to the surface with which the body abuts is h1', which is the closest to the rotating axis of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member and the portion of the mold member held by the mold member in the axial direction of the photoconductor. When the distance from the position is h2',
h1'≤h2'
The method for forming an uneven shape on the surface of a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member whose surface is processed by the method for forming an uneven shape on the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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