JPH04325557A - Transfer material carrier member and image formation apparatus prepared using same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve mechanical strengths, abrasion resistance, etc., and obtain a good image constantly by molding a compsn. contg. a specific copolycarbonate resin and a thermally reversible polyester resin. CONSTITUTION:A compsn. contg. a copolycarbonate resin having structural units of formula I wherein A is a 1-10C linear, branched, or cyclic alkylidene group, an aryl-substd. alkylidene group, an arylenedialkylidene group,-0-,-S-,-CO-,- SO-, or -SO2-; and R1 to R4 are each H, halogen, 1-4C alkyl, or alkenyl 0.1-50wt.% structural units of formula II wherein R5 is 2-6C alkylene or alkylidene; R6 and R7 are each 1-3C alkyl or (substd.) phenyl; and n is 1-200 and a viscosity-average mol. wt. of 10,000-100,000, a thermally reversible polyester resin in an amt. of 1-40wt.% of the total resin component, and another resin, if necessary, is molded to give the title member.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a transfer material carrying member and an image forming apparatus, and in particular to a transfer method for transferring an image formed on an image carrier by an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method to a transfer material. The present invention relates to a material carrying member and an image forming apparatus having the transfer material carrying member. Such image forming devices include black and white, monocolor,
Alternatively, there are full-color electrophotographic copying machines, printers, and various other recording devices.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various types of transfer material carrying members used when transferring an image on an image carrier to a transfer material. For example, charging - image exposure - toner development -
In an electrophotographic apparatus having an image forming means such as transfer and cleaning, a transfer drum and a transfer device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are used as means for transferring a toner image on a photoreceptor to a transfer material (for example, paper). It will be done.

The transfer drum 10 has a support body composed of cylinders 12 and 13 disposed at both ends and a connecting portion 14 that connects these cylinders. The material supporting member 11 is stretched. Further, the connecting portion 14 includes a transfer material gripper 15 that grips the transfer material fed from the paper feeding device. Further, on the inside and outside of the transfer drum 10, a transfer discharger 21, an inner static elimination discharger 23 and outer static elimination dischargers 22 and 24 constituting static elimination means are arranged.

In the transfer process, various mechanical or electrical external forces are applied to the transfer material carrying member 11, such as conveyance of the transfer material, transfer charging, static elimination, and cleaning.
Various properties are required such as durability against these external forces, ie, mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, electrical durability, and excellent lubricity for cleaning members and the like.

Particularly in recent years, in order to achieve even higher image quality, the latent image is made more precise and the reproducibility of the latent image is improved.
So-called small particle diameter toner particles of about 100 yen (m) have come to be used. Therefore, it is necessary to further tighten the conditions for cleaning the toner on the transfer material carrying member.

Conventionally, resin films such as Teflon, polyester, polyvinylidene fluoride, triacetate, and polycarbonate have been used as transfer material supporting members. A transfer material carrying member having lubricity is desired.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer material carrying member that has the above-mentioned characteristics and can always obtain good images, and an image forming apparatus using the transfer material carrying member. be.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the present invention provides a transfer material carrying member that carries a transfer material for transferring an image on an image carrier, wherein the transfer material carrying member has the following formula [I].

000
9]

[5] (wherein A is a linear, branched or cyclic alkylidene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl-substituted alkylidene group, an arylene dialkylidene group, -O-, -S-, -CO-
, -SO- or -SO2-, and R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. ) and the following formula [II]

0010

(In the formula, R5 is an alkylene group or alkylidene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R6 and R7 are an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group, and n is an integer of 1 to 200. A copolymer having a structural unit represented by the formula [II], and in which the structural unit represented by formula [II] accounts for 0.1 to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the copolymer; and The transfer material carrying member is characterized in that it contains a thermoplastic polyester resin, and the content of the polyester resin is 1 to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the resin contained in the transfer material carrying member.

The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus having an image carrier and the above transfer material carrying member.

The copolymer used in the present invention has the following formula [
III]

[0013]

[7] (In the formula, R1 to R4 are the same as above.) Bisphenol having the structure shown by the following formula [IV]

00
14]

It can be obtained by interfacial polymerization of bisphenol having the structure represented by the following formula (wherein R5 to R7 are the same as above) in the presence of phosgene, carbonate, chloroformate, or the like.

In the present invention, the structural unit represented by formula [II] accounts for 0.1 to 50% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the copolymer. Further, n represents an integer of 1 to 200, preferably 5 to 100. Examples of R5 include ethylene, propylene, isopropylene, butylene and pentylene, with ethylene, propylene and isopropylene being particularly preferred.

Specific examples of the bisphenol represented by formula [III] are shown below, but the biphenol used in the present invention is not limited to these. Exemplary compound No.
．．

[0017]

[Outer 9]

[0018]

[Outside 10]

[0019]

[Outer 11]

[0020]

[Outer 12]

[0021]

[Outer 13]

[0022]

[Outside 14]

[0023]

[Outside 15]

[0024]

[Outer 16]

[0025]

[Outer 17]

[0026]

[Outer 18]

[0027]

[Outside 19]

[0028]

[Outside 20]

[0029]

[Outside 21]

[0030]

[Outer 22]

[0031]

[Outside 23]

[0032]

[Outside 24]

[0033]

[Outside 25]

[0034]

[Outside 26]

[0035]

[Outside 27]

[0036]

[Outside 28]

[0037]

[Outside 29]

[0038]

[Outside 30]

[0039]

[Outside 31]

[0040]

[Outside 32]

[0041]

[Outside 33]

[0042]

[Outside 34]

[0043] Among the above-mentioned compounds, particularly exemplified compound No. 3, 8, 16, 19 and 21 are preferred.

Next, specific examples of the polyorganosiloxane used in the present invention will be shown, but the invention is not limited thereto. Exemplary compound no.

[0045]

[Outside 35]

[0046]

[Outside 36]

[0047]

[Outside 37]

[0048]

[Outside 38]

[0049]

[Outside 39]

[0050]

[Outside 40]

[0051] If desired, various additives conventionally known to polycarbonate resins can be blended into the transfer material supporting member of the present invention. suitable. Examples of mold release agents include esters of mono- or polyhydric alcohols of saturated fatty acids, such as stearyl stearate, behenyl behenate, pentaerythritol tetrastearate,
Preferred examples include dipentaerythritol hexaoctoate.

The copolymer of the present invention may contain two or more types of structural units represented by formula [I], or may contain two or more types of structural units represented by formula [II].

It is also possible to copolymerize monomer components other than the structural units represented by formulas [I] and [II].

(Synthesis example) 3.8 kg of sodium hydroxide was dissolved in 45 liters of water, and while keeping it at 20°C, 2.2 kg of sodium hydroxide was dissolved in 45 liters of water.
-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane 7.2Kg
and polydimethylsiloxane with 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl groups at both ends and an average repeating number of siloxane chains n = 40 (X-22-165B manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)
1.3 kg and 8 g of hydrosulfite were dissolved.

32 liters of methylene chloride was added to this solution, and while stirring, 15 liters of pt-butylphenol was added.
8 g was added, and then 3.5 kg of phosgene was blown in over 60 minutes. After blowing in phosgene, the reaction mixture was vigorously stirred to emulsify it, and after emulsification, 8 g of triethylamine was added and stirring was continued for about 1 hour for polymerization.

The polymerization solution is separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, the organic phase is neutralized with phosphoric acid, and then 35 liters of isopropanol is added to precipitate the polymer, and the precipitate is filtered and dried. A copolymer was obtained.

The molecular weight of the copolymer used in the present invention is:
The viscosity may be in any range as long as it provides a suitable film thickness when forming the coating film, but from the viewpoint of the mechanical properties of the coating film, the viscosity average molecular weight is 10.000.
-100.000, particularly 20.000.
The range is preferably from 000 to 40.000.

In the present invention, a thermoplastic polyester resin is contained in order to further improve chemical resistance and solvent resistance.

The thermoplastic polyester resin used in the present invention is a polymer obtained by reacting aromatic dicarboxylic acid or its diester with glycol or alkylene oxide by a known method, and specifically, terephthalic acid or alkylene oxide. Dimethyl terephthalate etc. are the main components of aromatic dicarboxylic acids, and this and ethylene glycol,
Polyethylene terephthalate, polytetramethylene terephthalate, copolymers of cyclohexanedimethanol and terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid obtained by reacting with butanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol or ethylene oxide, copolymers of cyclohexanedimethanol, ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, etc. Examples include copolymers. Such polyester resins may be copolymers or may be used in the form of a mixture of two or more types. The thermoplastic polyester resin used in the present invention contains 6:4 of phenol and tetrachloroethylene.
It is preferable that the intrinsic viscosity (intrinsic viscosity) measured at 30° C. in a solvent mixed at a weight ratio of is 0.6 or more, and particularly preferably 0.7 to 1.5. If it is less than 0.6, the strength may be insufficient.

The content of the thermoplastic polyester resin in the present invention is 1 to 40% by weight, preferably 10 to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the resin contained in the transfer agent carrying member. When the content exceeds 40% by weight, it begins to become brittle, and when the content is less than 1% by weight, chemical resistance and solvent resistance begin to become insufficient.

The transfer agent carrying member of the present invention may further contain another resin.

[0062] The transfer material carrier of the present invention can be formed by molding the copolymer into a resin film by, for example, extrusion molding or injection molding. The resin film may be in the form of a sheet, or may be formed into an endless belt by bonding the ends of the sheet by means such as heat fusion, ultrasonic fusion, or adhesive, and can be formed into the most preferred shape depending on the image forming apparatus used. is good. The thickness of the resin film is 50
Preferably it is from μm to 300 μm, particularly from 70 μm to 200 μm.

The resin film used in the present invention has excellent electrical durability, mechanical strength and durability, and also has excellent lubricity, so it can withstand various external forces such as conveyance of transfer material, transfer charging, static elimination, and cleaning. When used in a receiving transfer material carrying member, it can withstand repeated use, no cleaning defects occur, and good images can always be obtained stably. In particular, even when a so-called small particle diameter toner is used as a developing method, the transfer material carrying member of the present invention has very excellent electrical and mechanical properties, so that good images can be stably obtained.

A specific example of an image forming apparatus having a transfer material carrying member of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The image forming apparatuses shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are both examples of multicolor (full color) image forming apparatuses.

First, a brief explanation will be given with reference to FIG. Figure 3
In the multicolor electrophotographic copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, an image bearing member, that is, a photosensitive drum 33, which is rotatably supported and rotates in the direction of arrow a, is disposed, and an image forming means is disposed on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 33. The image forming means may be any means, but in this example, it includes a primary charger 34 that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 33, a color-separated light image or a light image equivalent thereto, and
The photosensitive drum 33 includes an exposure means 32 formed of, for example, a laser beam exposure device, which forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 33, and a rotary developing device 31 which converts the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 33 into a visible image.

The rotary developing device 31 includes four developing devices 31 each containing four color developers: a yellow developer, a magenta developer, a cyan developer, and a black developer.
It consists of a substantially cylindrical housing that holds these four developing units and is rotatably supported. The rotary developing device 31 transports a desired developing device to a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33 by rotating the casing, develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, and performs full-color development for four colors. It is configured in such a way that it is possible.

The visible image on the photosensitive drum 33, that is,
The toner image is transferred onto a transfer material P carried by a transfer device 10 and conveyed. In this example, the transfer device 10 is a rotatably supported transfer drum.

The process of forming a full-color image using the multicolor electrophotographic copying apparatus having the above-described structure will be briefly described below.

After the photosensitive drum 33 is uniformly charged by the primary charger 34, the exposure means 32 irradiates the photoimage E according to the image information, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 33. . The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image on a photosensitive drum 33 by a rotary developing device 31 using resin-based toner.

On the other hand, the transfer material P is sent to the transfer drum 10 by the registration rollers 36 in synchronization with the image, its tip is gripped by the gripper 15, etc., and is conveyed in the direction of arrow b in the figure.

Next, the transfer agent carrying member 11 of the present invention of the transfer drum 10 is subjected to a corona discharge of opposite polarity to the toner by the transfer discharger 21 from the back surface of the transfer agent carrying member 11 of the present invention in the area in contact with the photosensitive drum 33, so that the photosensitive drum 33 is The toner image is transferred onto the transfer material P.

After the transfer process has been performed the necessary number of times, the transfer material P is removed from the transfer drum 10 by the separation claw 28 while being neutralized by the static elimination dischargers 22, 23, and 24, and transferred to the fixing device by the conveyor belt 38. After being fixed by heat at step 39, it is discharged outside the machine.

On the other hand, after the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 33 is cleaned by a cleaning device 37, the photosensitive drum 33 is subjected to the image forming process again.

Furthermore, the transfer material carrying member 1 of the transfer drum 10
1 surface also includes a cleaning device 35a and a cleaning auxiliary means 35 having a blade or a fur brush, etc.
After being cleaned by the action of b, it is again subjected to the image forming process.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, an insulating member 26, such as a polycarbonate resin plate, is provided on the downstream shield plate of the transfer corona discharger 21 in the rotational direction (direction of arrow b) of the transfer drum 10. It is preferable to provide a configuration in which the amount of transfer corona directed toward the photosensitive drum 33 out of the transfer corona is increased.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the transfer material carrying member 11
An elastic pressing member 27 may be provided that extends from the introduction side toward the downstream side in the moving direction. This pressing member 27 is made of a synthetic resin film made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, etc., preferably having a volume resistivity of 10 10 Ω·cm or more, particularly preferably 10 14 Ω·cm or more, and is used for transfer. It is located throughout the entire area.

Further, the pressing member 27 presses the transfer material carrying member 11 with its own elastic force, and its tip on the transfer material carrying member 11 side is at the position where the transfer material P has finished contacting the drum 33. , or a position corresponding to the position where contact is started, or a position as close as possible.

FIG. 4 shows a specific example of an image forming apparatus using the transfer material carrying member of the present invention in the form of an endless belt.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4 has photosensitive drums 41a to 41d, and a primary charger 42a is arranged around the photosensitive drums 41a to 41d.
~42d, exposure means 43a~43d, developing devices 44a~4
4d, transfer chargers 45a-45d, static eliminators 46a-
46d and 47a to 47d, and photosensitive drum cleaning devices 48a to 48d are arranged, and furthermore, an endless belt-shaped transfer material carrying member 40 of the present invention is arranged below the photosensitive drum so as to pass through these units. A cleaning device 50 for a transfer material carrying member having 49 is arranged.

After the transfer material P' is fed by a paper feed roller, it is conveyed by an endless belt-like transfer material carrying member 40 through a transfer section in which transfer dischargers 45a to 45d are arranged.

[0081]

[Example] 1. 75 parts by weight of the copolymer obtained in the synthesis example and 25 parts by weight of polybutylene terephthalate (manufactured by Polyplastics Co., Ltd., Generac 2002) were mixed into a vented 2
It was pelletized using a axial extruder. The obtained pellets were extruded to form a film with a thickness of 100 μm.

[0082] In order to evaluate the lubricity of this resin film, a surface property tester (HEIDON-14, manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.) was used.
The slipperiness against the urethane blade at a load of 10 g was measured using the following: As a result, the output value of the sensor was 0.32, assuming that the output value of the polyethylene terephthalate film was 1. Note that in this case, the smaller the output value of the sensor, the lower the slip resistance, that is, the higher the lubricity.

The mechanical strength of this resin film was also measured using a tensile tester (manufactured by Imada Seisakusho SV-55). As a result, the tensile strength at break was 624 kg/cm2.

A transfer drum as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was made using the above resin film. That is, as the transfer material carrying member 11, the resin film was stretched between two aluminum cylinders 12 and 13 to create a transfer drum 10. Both ends of the transfer material carrying member 11 are connected to the transfer drum 1.
It was fixed on a connecting part 14 that connects two aluminum cylinders 12 and 13 that constitute 0.

In this example, the diameter of the transfer drum 10 was set to 160 mm, and the moving speed was set to 160 mm/sec. At the same time, the process speed, which is the moving speed of the photosensitive drum 33, etc., was also set to 160 mm/sec. The opening width of the transfer corona discharger 21 is 19 mm, and the distance between the discharge wire 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33 is 10.5 m.
The distance between the discharge wire 25 and the bottom surface of the shield plate of the transfer corona discharger 21 was set to 16 mm.

Further, as the pressing member 27, a polyethylene terephthalate resin film was used.

In this example, a latent image is formed on a negatively charged photosensitive drum 33 in an image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. A toner image was obtained. At this time, the toner
It consists of a resin containing a coloring material and a small amount of additives to improve charge controllability and lubricity, and is charged to a negative polarity by friction with carrier particles in a developing device.

[0088] Thereafter, the toner image was transferred to a transfer material using a transfer device having the above-mentioned configuration. The transfer material was then separated from the transfer drum 10 and fixed on a fixing device.

In this embodiment, the surface of the transfer material carrying member 11 of the transfer drum 10 is cleaned by a cleaning device 35a having a urethane blade and a cleaning auxiliary means 35.
Clean by b.

10 in the multicolor electrophotographic copying apparatus having the above configuration.
A durability test of 000 images was conducted. As a result, the initial image was a good image without transfer unevenness, and even after durability, it was possible to obtain a good image similar to the initial image.

2. Polydimethylsiloxane used in Example 1 (X-22-165B manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.3
Instead of Kg, polydimethylsiloxane (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-22
-165C) A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 1.6 kg was used, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 1.

3. Polydimethylsiloxane used in Example 1 (X-22-165B manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.3
Instead of Kg, both ends are 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)propyl groups and the average number of repeats of the siloxane chain n = 10
A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1.3 kg of polydimethylsiloxane (BY-16-752E, manufactured by Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.) of 0.0 was used, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. .

The results are shown in Table 1.

4. Polydimethylsiloxane used in Example 1 (X-22-165B manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.3
Instead of Kg, both ends are 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)propyl groups and the average number of repeats of the siloxane chain n = 40
A transfer material supporting member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1.5 kg of polydimethylsiloxane (BY-16-752 manufactured by Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.) was used.
Evaluation was made in the same manner as in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 1) A transfer material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a polycarbonate resin (Iupilon S-2000 manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used instead of the copolymerized polycarbonate resin used in Example 1. A supporting member was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 1.

5. Polydimethylsiloxane used in Example 1 (X-22-165B manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.3
Instead of Kg, polydimethylsiloxane (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-22
-2975) 3.0Kg, methylene chloride 3
A copolymerized polycarbonate resin of the present invention was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 5 liters was used. 80 parts by weight of this resin and the polybutylene terephthalate 2 used in Example 1
A film thickness of 120% was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 using 0 parts by weight.
A micrometer resin film was obtained.

The surface lubricity and mechanical strength of this resin film were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0101] The results are shown in Table 1.

[0102] When this resin film was molded into an endless belt shape and the image was evaluated using the image forming apparatus shown in Fig. 4 and the same toner as that used in Example 1, it was found that there was no uneven transfer. I was able to obtain good images.

[0103] Furthermore, an image printing durability test was conducted on 10,000 sheets. As a result, even after the durability test, it was possible to obtain good images similar to those at the initial stage.

6. 2,2-bis(4-
2. instead of 7.2Kg of hydroxyphenyl)propane.
2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane 4.0K
g and 4.4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether 3.2
A transfer material carrying member was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 5, except that Kg was used.

The results are shown in Table 1.

7. Instead of 3.2Kg of 4.4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether used in Example 6, 4.4'-
A transfer material supporting member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 6, except that 3.5 kg of dihydroxydiphenyl sulfide was used, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 5.

The results are shown in Table 1.

8. 2,2-bis(4-
2. instead of 7.2Kg of hydroxyphenyl)propane.
2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane 3.5K
g and 4.4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfoxide 3
．． A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5, except that 0 kg was used, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 5.

The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 2) In place of the copolymerized polycarbonate resin used in Example 5, the following formula

[0111]

A transfer material supporting member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5, except that a polycarbonate resin (weight average molecular weight: 5.0×10 4 ) having the structure shown below was used, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 5.

The results are shown in Table 1.

[0113]

[Table 1]

[0114]

As described above, according to the present invention, stable and good transfer can be performed even after repeated use, and images of high quality can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration example of a transfer drum using a transfer material carrying member of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration example of a transfer device using the transfer material carrying member of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration example of an image forming apparatus using the sheet-like transfer material carrying member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration example of an image forming apparatus using the endless belt-shaped transfer material carrying member of the present invention.

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1. A transfer material carrying member that carries a transfer material for transferring an image on an image carrier, the transfer material carrying member having the following formula [I] (where A is a carbon number of 1 to 10 linear, branched or cyclic alkylidene groups, aryl-substituted alkylidene groups, arylene dialkylidene groups, -O-, -S-, -CO-
, -SO- or -SO2-, and R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. ) and the structural unit represented by the following formula [II] (wherein, R5 is an alkylene group or alkylidene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R6 and R7 are an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a substituted phenyl group, n is an integer from 1 to 200), and the structural unit represented by formula [II] is 0 based on the total weight of the copolymer. .1 to 50% by weight of a copolymer and a thermoplastic polyester resin, and the content of the polyester resin is 1 to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the resin contained in the transfer material supporting member. A transfer material carrying member characterized by: 2. In an image forming apparatus having an image carrier and a transfer material carrying member, the transfer material carrying member has the following formula [I] [(3)] (wherein A is a straight chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, Branched or cyclic alkylidene group, aryl-substituted alkylidene group, arylene dialkylidene group, -O-, -S-, -CO-
, -SO- or -SO2-, and R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen, halogen, an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. ) and the structural unit represented by the following formula [II] (wherein, R5 is an alkylene group or alkylidene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R6 and R7 are an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a substituted phenyl group, n is an integer from 1 to 200), and the structural unit represented by formula [II] is 0 based on the total weight of the copolymer. .1 to 50% by weight of a copolymer and a thermoplastic polyester resin, and the content of the polyester resin is 1 to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the resin contained in the transfer material supporting member. An image forming apparatus characterized by: