JPH06138686A - Electrophotographic device, device unit and facimile uing that electrophotogtraphic sensitive body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electrophotographic sensitive body with which an excellent picture image can be stably obtd. even when the photosensitive body is used for an electrophotographic process having a cleaning means with blades, and to provide an electrophotographic device, device unit and facsimile using this electrophotographic sensitive body. CONSTITUTION:This electrophotographic sensitive body has a photosensitive layer on a cylindrical conductive supporting body. The surface layer of the photosensitive body contains 5.0-70.0wt.% fluorine-contg. org. resin particles to the total weight of the surface layer, and the photosensitive body has >=5.0kg.cm<2> moment of inertia. The electrophotographic device, device unit and facsimile uses this electrophotographic sensitive body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and more particularly to an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a specific surface protective layer and a specific moment of inertia.

The present invention also relates to an electrophotographic apparatus, an apparatus unit and a facsimile having the above electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electrophotographic photosensitive member undergoes repeating steps of charging, exposing, developing, transferring, cleaning and discharging in an image forming process. The electrostatic latent image formed by charging and exposure is developed into a toner image by developing with a fine particle developer called toner. Further, this toner image is transferred to a transfer material such as paper by the transfer means, but not all the toner is transferred, and a part thereof remains on the photoconductor. If this residual toner is not removed, it is impossible to obtain a high-quality image free from stains in the repeated process. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the residual toner. As a cleaning means, a fur brush, a magnetic brush, a blade, or the like is typically used, but blade cleaning is mainly used in terms of cleaning accuracy, device configuration, and the like.

The blade cleaning will be described with reference to a specific example. FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIG.
As shown in the front view and the side view in (A) and (B) respectively, the blade 3 has a support body 2 to which an elastic member 1 made of a material such as a plate-like polyurethane is attached.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4, the surface of the photoconductor 4 is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor 4. Therefore, in order to improve the cleaning accuracy of the toner, it is necessary to increase the contact pressure of the blade 3 on the photoconductor 4. Further, as the contact mode of the blade 3 to the photoconductor 4, there are a forward direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photoconductor as shown in FIG. 3 and a counter direction as shown in FIG. From the viewpoint of cleaning accuracy, the latter contact form in the counter direction is more preferable.

[0005]

However, in such cleaning means using a blade, in order to improve the cleaning accuracy, it is necessary to increase the contact pressure of the blade with respect to the photosensitive member. Causes an increase in the frictional force of. As a result, a large load is applied to the drive motor that rotationally drives the photoconductor, and an error occurs due to the load of the drive motor. In particular, this phenomenon is remarkable when the diameter of the photosensitive member is large or when the cylinder is thick and the moment of inertia is large.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member which can stably obtain an excellent image even when applied to an electrophotographic process having a cleaning means using a blade.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus, an apparatus unit and a facsimile having the above electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[0008]

That is, the present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on a cylindrical conductive support, in which the surface layer of the photosensitive member is 5.0 relative to the total weight of the surface layer. ~
An electrophotographic photosensitive member containing 70.0% by weight of fluorine atom-containing resin particles and having an inertia moment of 5.0 kg · cm ² or more.

When the moment of inertia is 5.0 kg · cm ² or more, the load applied to the photoconductor drive motor becomes large even by itself. When the cylindrical photoreceptor is used at a speed of 0.1 rotations / second or more, the load on the drive motor becomes significant. At this time, when the frictional force between the photoconductor and the cleaning blade is large, the load on the photoconductor drive motor increases, which may cause a drive motor error.

However, according to the present invention, an electrophotographic apparatus using a photoconductor having a moment of inertia of 5.0 kg · cm ² or more and a rotational speed of a cylindrical photoconductor of 0.1 rotation / sec or more. Also, in the electrophotographic photosensitive member provided in the apparatus, by containing fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in an amount of 5.0 to 70.0% by weight in at least the surface layer, the frictional force between the photosensitive member and the cleaning blade is increased. Since the load on the photoconductor drive motor is alleviated, the drive motor error is not caused.

In the case of an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which the surface layer contains fluorine atom resin particles in an amount of less than 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the surface layer, the effect obtained by the inclusion is obtained. Cannot be performed, and still causes a photoconductor drive motor error. On the other hand, when the content is more than 70% by weight, the content is too large, and the sensitivity of the photoconductor itself is deteriorated, so that a good image cannot be obtained. However, it is possible to obtain a good image in an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with the fluorine atom resin fine particles contained in the range of 5.0 to 70.0% by weight.

The fluorine atom resin particles in the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention include polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polydichlorodifluoroethylene, and tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer. Examples include polymer, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, which may be used alone. However, two or more kinds may be used in combination. Further, the molecular weight of these resin particles is such that the weight average molecular weight is from 30,000 to 50.
It is preferably 0,000, and the particle size is 0.01 to 10 μm.
Is preferable, and particularly preferably 0.05 to 2.0 μm.

In the present invention, the fluorine atom-containing resin particles are contained in the surface layer of the photoreceptor, but the surface layer may be a photosensitive layer or a protective layer provided on the photosensitive layer.

The photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention contains at least a charge generating material and a charge transporting material.

Examples of charge generating materials include phthalocyanine pigments, polycyclic quinone pigments, azo pigments, perylene pigments,
Indigo pigments, quinacridone pigments, azurenium salt dyes, squarylium dyes, cyanine dyes, pyrylium dyes, thiopyrylium dyes, xanthene dyes, quinoneimine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, styryl dyes, selenium, selenium-tellurium alloys, amorphous silicon and cadmium sulfide Can be mentioned.

Examples of charge transport materials are pyrene compounds, N-alkylcapazole-compounds, hydrazone compounds, N, N-dialkylaniline compounds, diphenylamine compounds, triphenylamine compounds, triphenylmethane compounds, pyrazoline compounds, styryl. Examples thereof include compounds, stilbene compounds, polynitro compounds and polycyano compounds, and pendant polymers obtained by immobilizing these compounds on a polymer.

In the present invention, the above-mentioned fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles, charge generating material, charge transporting material, etc.
A protective layer, a photosensitive layer and the like are formed by applying a solution dispersed or dissolved in a binder resin having a film forming property and drying the solution. Examples of the binder resin include polyester, polyurethane, polyarylate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, phenol resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, allyl resin, alkyd resin, and polyamide. -Imide, nylon, polysulfone, polyallyl ether, polyacetal and butyral resins.

The photosensitive layer may have a single-layer structure or a laminated structure. In the case of a laminated structure, it is composed of at least a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, and the charging polarity and the toner polarity to be used are different depending on whether the charge generation layer is provided on the conductive support side or the charge transport layer is provided. different.
The film thickness of the charge generation layer is 0.001 to 6 μm, preferably 0.01 to 2 μm. The content of the charge generating material contained in the charge generating layer is preferably 10 to 100% by weight, more preferably 50 to 100% by weight. The thickness of the charge transport layer is 5 to 40 μm, preferably 15
˜30 μm. The content of the charge transport material contained in the charge transport layer is preferably 20 to 80% by weight, more preferably 30 to 70% by weight. The protective layer is always provided on the photosensitive layer as described above, and is composed of at least a high concentration of fluorine atom-containing resin particles and a binder resin.

As a method for producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention, methods such as vapor deposition and coating are used. The coating method can form a wide range of films from thin films to thick films, and can form films of various compositions. Specifically, it is applied by means such as bar coater, knife coater, dip coating, spray coating, beam coating, electrostatic coating, roll coater, attritor and powder coating.

The paint used when applying the protective layer is
It is prepared by dispersing the fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in a binder resin and a solvent. As a method of dispersion, a method such as ball mill, ultrasonic wave, paint shaker, red devil, and sand mill is used. The same dispersion method can be used when the conductive fine powder, the pigment, and the charge generation material are pigments.

The electroconductive support of the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention is a metal or alloy such as iron, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, zinc, titanium, lead, nickel, tin, antimony and indium, or the above. Metal oxides, carbon, conductive polymers, etc. can be used,
The drum is cylindrical or cylindrical in shape. The conductive material may be molded as it is, used as a coating material, deposited, or processed by etching or plasma treatment. In the case of a paint, the above-mentioned metal, alloy, paper, plastic, etc. are also used as a support.

In the present invention, an undercoat layer may be provided between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer to control charge injection at the interface and to function as an adhesive layer. The subbing layer is mainly composed of a binder resin, but may contain the above-mentioned metals or alloys or their oxides, salts, surfactants and the like. Examples of the binder resin forming the undercoat layer are polyester, polyurethane, polyarylate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, phenol resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, Allyl resin, alkyd resin, polyamide-imide, nylon, polysulfone, polyallyl ether, polyacetal, butyral resin and the like can be mentioned. The film thickness is 0.0
5 to 7 μm is preferable, and 0.1 to 2 μm is more preferable.
Is.

Further, the present invention is an electrophotographic apparatus having the above-mentioned electrophotographic photosensitive member and cleaning means, an apparatus unit and a facsimile having the electrophotographic apparatus.

The cleaning means in the present invention preferably has a rubber elastic blade.

Examples of the rubber elastic body used as the cleaning blade include those having rubber elasticity such as polyurethane rubber, silicon rubber, nitrile rubber and chloroprene rubber, but polyurethane is preferable from the viewpoint of abrasion resistance and permanent deformation. Is preferred. Furthermore, in the case of polyurethane rubber, a two-component thermosetting polyurethane rubber material is particularly preferable because it has a small permanent set. As the curing agent, general urethane curing agents such as 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, hydroquinone diethylol ether, bisphenol A, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane can be used.

The rubber elastic blade may be formed of a kind of rubber elastic body, or may be formed by attaching a separately molded rubber elastic body tip to a preformed rubber elastic body.

In the present invention, the contact mode of the blade with the photoconductor may be either forward or counter with respect to the direction of rotation of the photoconductor, but the counter direction is more preferred.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration example of the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 101 denotes a drum type photosensitive member as an image bearing member, which is rotationally driven around the shaft 101a in the arrow direction at a predetermined peripheral speed. The photosensitive member 101 receives uniform charging of a positive or negative predetermined potential on its peripheral surface by a charging means 102 during its rotation process, and then an optical image exposure L (slit exposure, slit exposure,
Laser beam scanning exposure). As a result, electrostatic latent images corresponding to the exposed image are sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor.

The electrostatic latent image is then toner-developed by the developing means 104, and this toner developed image is rotated by the transfer means 105 from a paper feeding portion (not shown) between the photosensitive body 101 and the transfer means 105. The transfer material P is sequentially transferred to the transfer material P that is fed in synchronization with the transfer material P.

The transfer material P which has received the image transfer is separated from the surface of the photoconductor and is introduced into the image fixing means 108 to undergo the image fixing and printed out as a copy.

The surface of the photoconductor 101 after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning unit 106 to remove the residual toner after transfer, and is further discharged by the pre-exposure unit 107 to be repeatedly used for image formation.

As a uniform charging means 102 for the photoconductor 101, a corona charging device is generally widely used. Also, as the transfer device 105, corona charging means is generally widely used.

In the present invention, among the above-mentioned components such as the photoconductor, the charging means and the developing means, a plurality of components are integrally combined to form an apparatus unit, and this unit can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body. You may comprise. For example, the photoconductor 101, the charging unit 102, and the cleaning unit 106 are integrally supported to form one device unit,
It may be detachable by using a guide means such as a rail of the apparatus body.

When the electrophotographic apparatus is used as a copying machine or a printer, the optical image exposure L irradiates the photoconductor with reflected light or transmitted light from the original, or the original is read by a sensor and converted into a signal. According to this signal, the laser beam is scanned, the LED array is driven, or the liquid crystal shutter array is driven to irradiate the photoconductor with light.

When used as a facsimile printer, the optical image exposure L becomes an exposure for printing the received data. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of this case. The controller 111 controls the image reading unit 110 and the printer 119. The entire controller 111 is controlled by the CPU 117. The read data from the image reading unit 110 is transmitted to the partner station via the transmission circuit 113. The data received from the partner station is sent to the printer 11 via the receiving circuit 112.
Sent to 9. The image memory 116 stores predetermined image data. The printer controller 118 controls the printer 119. 114 is a telephone. The image information received from the line 115 (image information from a remote terminal connected via the line) is received by the receiving circuit 112.
After being demodulated by, the decoding process is performed by the CPU 117 and sequentially stored in the image memory 116. When the image information of at least one page is stored in the memory 116, the image information of that page is recorded. The CPU 117 reads out one page of image information from the memory 116 and sends the decoded one page of image information to the printer controller 118. The printer controller 118 is
When the image information of one page is received from the CPU 117, the printer 119 records the image information of the page.
To control. The CPU 117 is the printer 119.
The next page is being received during recording. In this way, the image is received and recorded.

[0037]

【Example】

Example 1 50 parts by weight of conductive titanium oxide powder coated with tin oxide containing 10% antimony oxide, phenol resin 25
Parts by weight, 20 parts by weight of methyl cellosolve, 5 parts by weight of methanol and silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane polyoxyalkylene copolymer, number average molecular weight 3000)
0.002 parts by weight was dispersed for 2 hours with a sand mill using φ1 mm glass beads to prepare a conductive coating. Aluminum Cylinder (Outer Diameter φ180 mm x Length 360
mm, wall thickness 3 mm, moment of inertia: 126.6 kg / c
m ² ), the above coating composition was applied by dip coating and dried at 145 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a conductive layer having a film thickness of 20 μm.

Next, 30 parts by weight of methoxymethylated nylon resin (number average molecular weight 32000) and 10 parts by weight of alcohol-soluble copolymerized nylon resin (number average molecular weight 29000) were added to a mixed solvent of 260 parts by weight of methal and 40 parts by weight of butanol. The dissolved liquid was applied on the conductive layer by a dip coating machine to form an undercoat layer having a film thickness after drying of 1 μm.

Next, a diazo pigment having the following structural formula [1]

[0040]

[Outer 1] 4 parts by weight, benzal resin 2 parts by weight, and tetrahydrofuran 40 parts by weight were dispersed for 60 hours in a sand mill using φ1 mm glass beads, and then diluted with a cyclohexanone / tetrahydrofuran mixed solvent to prepare a charge generation layer coating material.

This coating solution was applied onto the above subbing layer by a dip coating machine to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.1 μm after drying. Next, the following structural formula [2]

[0042]

[Outside 2] 10 parts by weight of the charge transport material and 10 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin (number average molecular weight 20000) are dissolved in a mixed solvent of 20 parts by weight of dichloromethane and 40 parts by weight of monochlorobenzene, and this solution is applied onto the charge generating layer by dip coating. Then, it was dried at 125 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a film thickness of 20 μm.

Next, 12 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin (number average molecular weight 80,000), 6 parts by weight of the above charge transport material,
Polytetrafluoroethylene (average primary particle size 0.3μ
m) 9 parts by weight was dissolved in a mixed solvent of 500 parts by weight of dichloromethane and 700 parts by weight of monochlorobenzene, and this solution was spray-coated on the charge transport layer, first at 80 ° C. for 10 minutes, then at 120 ° C. Dry for 50 minutes and film thickness 6μ
m surface protection layer was formed.

The electrophotographic photoreceptor prepared by the above method is
The photoconductor was incorporated into a copying experiment machine in which a rubber elastic blade was abutted in the counter direction, and the photoreceptor was used in an electrophotographic process at 0.24 rotations / second to repeatedly evaluate images.

Examples 2 and 3 Evaluations were made in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photoconductors were used in the electrophotographic process at 0.12 rotations / second and 1.0 rotations / second.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Examples 4 to 9 An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the addition amount of polytetrafluoroeletin contained in the protective layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was changed to 1 part by weight and 40 parts by weight. The body was created and evaluated.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 10 An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an outer diameter φ80 mm × length 340 mm and wall thickness 2 mm (inertia moment 6.8 kg · cm ² ) on aluminum aluminum cylinder was used. .

The obtained photoreceptor is incorporated into a copying experiment machine in which a rubber elastic blade is in contact with the counter direction,
The photoreceptor was used in an electrophotographic process at 0.24 revolutions / second, and repeated image evaluation was performed.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 11 An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an outer diameter φ80 mm × a length of 360 mm and a wall thickness of 5 mm (inertia moment 16.1 kg · cm ² ) were used on a no aluminum cylinder. .

The obtained photoconductor was incorporated into a copying experiment machine in which a rubber elastic blade was abutted in the counter direction,
The photoreceptor was used in an electrophotographic process at 0.24 revolutions / second, and repeated image evaluation was performed.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 12 An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the outer diameter φ120 mm × length 360 mm and wall thickness 2 mm (inertia moment 25.0 kg · cm ² ) on the aluminum aluminum cylinder was used. evaluated.

The obtained photoconductor was incorporated into a copying experiment in which a rubber elastic blade was abutted in the counter direction, and the photoconductor was used in an electrophotographic process at 0.24 rotations / second to repeatedly evaluate image formation. I did.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Examples 1, 2 and 3 Example 1 except that the addition amount of polytetrafluoroethylene contained in the protective layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was changed to 0, 0.5 and 55 parts by weight. An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Examples 4, 5 and 6 Example 10 except that the addition amount of polytetrafluoroethylene contained in the protective layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was changed to 0 parts by weight, 0.5 parts by weight and 55 parts by weight. An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 7 An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the outer diameter and the length were the same, but the thickness was 1 mm (inertia moment: 3.5 kg.cm ² ), except that a ^dual aluminum cylinder was used. Created and evaluated.

The results are shown in Table 1.

[0064]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, even when the moment of inertia of the photoconductor is 5.0 kg · cm ² or more, by using an electrophotographic photoconductor containing an appropriate amount of fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles on the photoconductor surface, The load on the body rotation drive motor is reduced, and good images can be continued.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, an electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of stably obtaining an excellent image without causing a drive motor error, an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member, A device unit and a facsimile can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view (A) and a side view (B) showing an example of a cleaning blade.

FIG. 2 is a front view (A) and a side view (B) showing an example of a cleaning blade.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a forward contact of a cleaning blade with an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing contact of a cleaning blade with an electrophotographic photosensitive member in a counter direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a block diagram of a facsimile using the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention as a printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 elastic member 2 support 3 electrophotographic photoreceptor 4 cleaning blade 101 drum type photoreceptor 102 corona charging device 103 exposure section 104 developing means 105 transfer means 106 cleaning means 107 pre-exposure means 108 image fixing means L light image exposure P transfer Material 110 Image reading unit 111 Controller 112 Reception circuit 113 Transmission circuit 114 Telephone 115 Line 116 Image memory 117 CPU 118 Printer controller 119 Printer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Noboru Kashimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shoji Amamiya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Within the corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer on a cylindrical conductive support, wherein the surface layer of the photoreceptor contains 5.0 to 70.0% by weight of fluorine atoms based on the total weight of the surface layer. An electrophotographic photoreceptor containing resin particles and having an inertia moment of 5.0 kg · cm ² or more. 2. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, means for developing the formed electrostatic latent image, and transfer the developed image to a transfer material. An electrophotographic apparatus having a cleaning unit and a cleaning unit. 3. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning means has a rubber elastic blade. 4. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the process speed of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is 0.1 rotations / second or more. 5. An apparatus unit which integrally supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, a cleaning means, and at least one means of a charging means and a developing means, and is detachable from an apparatus main body. . 6. The apparatus unit according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning means has a rubber elastic blade. 7. An electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, and a facsimile having a receiving means for receiving image information from a remote terminal.