JPH08166753A - Production of blade for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make it possible to obtain stable adhesive power even at and under a high temp. and high humidity by using a thermosetting phenol based liquid adhesive on a supporting member side and using a thermoplastic polyester urethane based adhesive on a blade member side. CONSTITUTION: This blade body for electrophotographic devices is produced by applying the thermosetting phenol based liquid adhesive 4a on the blade member 3 adhering part on the supporting member 2 and allowing the adhesive to dry and solidify, then applying the thermoplastic polyester urethane based adhesive 4b thereon, thereby adhering blade member. In such a case, the blade member 3 consists preferably of the thermosetting urethane elastomer as the blade has less friction and permanent siraiu by friction with a mating material, such as photoreceptor and is less deformed by pressurization at the time of adhering and by the solvents of the adhesives. The thermosetting urethane elastomer which consists of, for example, an isocyanate compd., high mol.wt. polyol and crosslinking agent and is subjected to thermosetting reaction is more preferable.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a blade body used in a cleaning section, a developing section, a transfer section, etc. of an electrophotographic apparatus capable of maintaining high adhesive strength at room temperature and under high temperature and high humidity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic apparatus has a photoconductor provided with a photoconductive layer on its surface. During operation, the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged, and then the object to be copied is covered. An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing the outer peripheral surface through a copy image, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to paper or the like and fixed. Is.

In this process, the toner remaining on the outer periphery of the photoconductor after transfer, the transfer belt surface, etc. is removed,
Various blade bodies are used to carry a thin layer of toner on the outer periphery of the developing roll and to seal the removed toner so as not to fall off. As shown in FIG. 1, these blade bodies are usually formed of a support member 2, a blade member 3, and an adhesive layer for attaching the blade member to the support member.

In order for the blade body to continue to exhibit stable performance for a long period of time, it is necessary that the contact of the leading edge of the blade body with the mating material such as the surface of the photoconductor is always made appropriate pressure. , Of course, the smoothness of the blade body leading edge is good for this, the mounting of the blade member to the support member is performed with high accuracy without positional deviation,
In addition, the blade member needs to be firmly fixed so as not to be peeled off from the support member or lifted up.

However, a steel plate is usually used for the supporting member,
Since an elastomer is usually used as the blade member, in order to bond both members having different surface polarities, the wettability and the adhesiveness between the adhesive and the two kinds of adherends become a problem, and the choice of the adhesive is the blade body. Performance was affected.

As a method for fixing the blade member to the supporting member, for example, JP-A-61-130975 discloses a method using an adhesive tape, and JP-A-63-2691 discloses.
No. 88 discloses an instant adhesive method, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-54.
JP-A-39-145578 and JP-A-61-145578 disclose a method using a hot-melt adhesive, JP-A-5-2171 discloses a method using a reactive hot-melt adhesive, and JP-A-1-129282 discloses a method using a hot-melt adhesive. A method using a UV adhesive containing a photoinitiator is disclosed.

[0007]

However, the method using an adhesive tape can easily perform high-precision initial fixing, but the adhesion between the supporting member and the blade member is small, and the adhesion at high temperatures is not sufficient. Problem with cleaning properties. The method using the instant adhesive can easily perform high-precision initial fixing as in the case of the adhesive tape, but the adhesive force between the supporting member and the blade member is small, and the adhesive property is not sufficient especially at high temperature, and the cleaning property is high. In addition, there are drawbacks such as inferior impact resistance and durability.

The method using a hot-melt adhesive causes a problem in maintaining the adhesive strength at high temperature due to the temperature-sensitive property peculiar to the adhesive, and when a hot-melt adhesive having excellent heat resistance is used, it is considerably high temperature. In this case, the bonding process must be performed, which causes a problem in the dimensional accuracy of the blade member. Further, the hot melt adhesive has poor vibration damping properties, and has a problem of vibration of the blade member caused by friction between the blade member and the photoconductor and generation of abnormal noise due to the vibration.
In the case of the reactive hot-melt adhesive, the problem of the hot-melt adhesive is solved, but the handling of the adhesive itself becomes complicated and there are drawbacks such as a long time required for the final adhesive strength to be exhibited. When a UV adhesive is used, problems such as swelling of the urethane elastomer blade member occur due to radically reactive monomers contained in the adhesive.

Further, in the blade body bonded as described above, the adhesive strength is remarkably lowered under high temperature and high humidity, and the temperature inside the electrophotographic apparatus is added various functions, and recently the apparatus is downsized. Due to this, the temperature inside the machine tends to rise, and since it is often exposed to high temperature and high humidity due to export etc., troubles such as dimensional change due to blade member falling off and shifting occur during use.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a blade body that retains a high adhesive force at room temperature and under high temperature and high humidity, and can withstand the conditions of downsizing of an electrophotographic apparatus and transportation for export. It is a thing.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems The gist of the present invention is to apply a thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive to a blade member adhesion portion on a supporting member of a blade body for an electrophotographic apparatus, and after drying and solidifying, It is manufactured by applying a thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive and adhering it to a blade member.

The above-mentioned supporting member is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include those made of rigid metal or elastic metal, plastic, ceramic, etc. Usually, untreated steel plate, zinc phosphate treatment Alternatively, a steel plate that has been subjected to a surface treatment such as a chromate treatment, or a steel plate that has been subjected to a plating treatment or the like and degreased with a solvent or the like is used.

The above thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive is
It is not particularly limited as long as it has a large number of hydroxyl groups and polar groups and is liquid at the time of application, and examples thereof include Chemlok 218 and Chemlok 210 manufactured by Road Far East Co., Ltd. If the thermosetting phenolic adhesive is not in a liquid state, wettability becomes insufficient and sufficient adhesive force cannot be exhibited, which is not preferable.

The above thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive is
As it is or after diluting with a solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone, it is applied to the support member with feathers, a sponge roller, or an applicator equipped with them. Drying and solidification after coating is usually carried out by drying at room temperature for about 60 minutes, further solidifying at 150 ° C. for 1 to 2 hours, and baking on a support member.

The thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include Pandex T-5102S manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc. The thermoplastic polyester urethane-based adhesive is melted as it is with an applicator or the like, or a liquid obtained by dissolving it with a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran is used as a feather, a sponge roller, or an applicator equipped with them, and thus the thermosetting property is obtained. Apply over a phenolic liquid adhesive.

The above-mentioned blade member has little friction and permanent distortion due to sliding friction with a mating member such as a photoconductor, and pressure during bonding,
A thermosetting urethane elastomer is preferable because the adhesive is less deformed by the solvent. The thermosetting urethane elastomer is not particularly limited. For example, a thermosetting urethane elastomer which is composed of an isocyanate compound, a high-molecular-weight polyol, and a cross-linking agent and is subjected to a thermosetting reaction is preferable.

Examples of the isocyanate compound include diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), naphthylene diisocyanate (NDI), and tolidine diisocyanate (TDI).
ODI) and the like.

Examples of the high molecular weight polyols include polyester polyol, polycarbonate polyol, polyether polyol, polycarbonate ether polyol and the like. As the crosslinking agent,
Examples include polyhydric alcohols such as butanediol, ethylene glycol, trimethylolpropane, and glycerin.

The blade member is obtained by, for example, cutting a thermosetting urethane elastomer sheet obtained by a centrifugal molding method or a mold molding method into a predetermined size, and washing the sheet if necessary. it can.

The thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive is applied, dried and solidified, and the support member coated with the thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive is adhered to the blade member by using the thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive. It may be carried out immediately after coating (within 30 seconds), or after heating or pressing after cooling or drying.

[0021]

[Function] Generally, the adhesive force is developed in the order of chemical bond, hydrogen bond, and van der Waals force. However, when the reaction-cured blade member is adhered to the supporting member made of metal or the like, the chemical bond cannot be expected. It is important to improve the wettability of the adhesive and the supporting member and the adhesive and the blade member so that hydrogen bond and van der Waals force are sufficiently exerted. The blade body of the present invention improves the wettability between the adhesive and the adherend and the wettability between the adhesives, and exhibits a high adhesive force by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals force.

That is, since the thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive is liquid, it has good wettability with respect to the surface of the supporting member at the time of application, and moreover has a large number of polar groups such as hydroxyl groups and the hydroxyl groups on the surface of the supporting member. , And since it has a high affinity with the polar group of the thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive,
Due to the hydrogen bond and van der Waals force to both, sufficient adhesive force can be exhibited.

Further, since the thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive has a composition similar to that of a blade member made of a thermosetting urethane elastomer and has the same polar group, it has a high affinity and van der Waals force, Adhesive force due to hydrogen bonding is obtained.

Further, between the adhesive layers, van der Waals force and hydrogen bond are generated by both polar groups and hydroxyl groups,
Since both polarities are high, the wettability is also good and high adhesiveness can be obtained. The blade body for an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention can remarkably improve the wettability of each interface and stabilize the adhesive force by combining these.

[0025]

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 A thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive (Chemlock 218 manufactured by Lord Far East Co., Ltd.) was diluted 1: 1 with methyl ethyl ketone and then applied to a support member made of a zinc phosphate-treated steel plate. After drying at room temperature for 60 minutes, 1 at 150 ° C
Heat cured for a period of time. After that, the support member is heated to 140 ° C., and a pelletized thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive (Pandex T-5102S, manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) is heated and melted with a dedicated applicator, and is applied onto the support member. Immediately after the coating, a blade member made of a thermosetting urethane elastomer cut into a predetermined size was pressure-bonded at a pressure of 2 kg / cm ² for 2 minutes and then cooled to obtain a blade body.

Example 2 A blade body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that Chemlock 210 manufactured by Road Far East Co. was used as the thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive.

Example 3 A thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive, which had been dissolved and adjusted in tetrahydrofuran (THF) to a solid content of 50%, was applied, and a blade member was pressure-bonded at room temperature for 6 hours at a pressure of ² kg / cm ^2. A blade body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except for the above.

Example 4 A blade body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 3 except that Chemlock 210 manufactured by Road Far East Co., Ltd. was used as the thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive.

Comparative Example 1 A blade body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive was directly applied to the supporting member without using the thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive.

Comparative Example 2 A blade body was obtained in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive was directly applied to the supporting member without using the thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive.

Comparative Example 3 Polyester Hot Melt (PH-
413) and urethane hot melt (manufactured by Nippon Matai Co., Ltd.,
UH-203) two-layer structure hot melt adhesive (tape shape) is transferred to a supporting member heated at 120 ° C. so that the polyester side is the supporting member side, and a thermosetting urethane elastomer blade member is 2 kg / A blade body was obtained by pressure bonding at cm ² for 2 minutes.

Evaluation Method The blade bodies obtained in Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were left at room temperature or under 50 ° C. × 90% RH for 2 hours, and then, as shown in FIG. 20m pulling speed
A 90 ° peeling load at m / min was applied, and the atmospheric adhesive force was measured. The results are shown in Table 1.

In Table 1, R is a blade member, M is a support member, C is an adhesive, C-R is the peeling at the interface between the adhesive and the blade member, and C-M is the adhesive. The peeling of the interface between the adhesive and the support member, C-C is the peeling of the interface between the adhesives, R
-R represents material destruction of the blade member.

[0035]

[Table 1]

[0036]

The blade body for an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention comprises:
Using thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive on the support member side,
Since the thermoplastic polyester urethane-based adhesive is used on the blade member side, the support member and the adhesive, the adhesive and the adhesive, the affinity between the adhesive and the blade member is high, and the wettability is good, so of course at room temperature, A stable adhesive force can be obtained even under high temperature and high humidity, and the blade member may drop or slip even if the temperature inside the machine rises due to the downsizing of the electrophotographic device, or under the high temperature and high humidity that occurs during export transportation such as by ship. It is possible to provide a blade body that does not change its dimensions due to the above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a blade body for an electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a blade body of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method for evaluating the adhesive force of a blade body of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Blade Body 2 Supporting Member 3 Blade Member 4 Adhesive Layer 4a Thermosetting Phenolic Liquid Adhesive 4b Thermoplastic Polyester Urethane Adhesive 5 Applicator Nozzle

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location C09J 175/06 JFB

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A thermosetting phenolic liquid adhesive is applied to a blade member adhesion portion on a supporting member, dried and solidified, and then a thermoplastic polyester urethane adhesive is applied,
A method for manufacturing a blade body for an electrophotographic apparatus, which comprises adhering to a blade member. 2. The method for manufacturing a blade body for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blade member is a thermosetting urethane elastomer.