JPH08286580A - Cleaning blade for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device which has excellent durability under high temp. conditions and is produced with high position accuracy and high adhesion strength. CONSTITUTION: An adhesive is applied on a supporting member to form an adhesive layer, on which a blade member is mounted to fix the supporting body and the blade member to produce a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device. The adhesive used is a wet-curing type adhesive. After the adhesive is applied on a supporting member, the adhesive is exposed to air for a while to develop tackiness. Then the blade member is mounted on the adhesive layer to be fixed to the supporting member.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, which is excellent in positional accuracy and adhesive strength.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic apparatus, a cleaning blade is used to remove the toner remaining on the outer circumference of a photoconductor. The cleaning blade is usually composed of a supporting member, an adhesive layer formed on the supporting member, and a blade member.

The characteristics required of the cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus are that the cleaning blade stably exhibits cleaning performance for a long period of time.
The cleaning blade has a smooth leading edge so that the cleaning member always comes into uniform contact with the surface of the photoreceptor at an appropriate angle and pressure, the supporting member and the blade member can be fixed with high accuracy, and the positional deviation due to peeling or the like, the supporting member The support member and the blade member are firmly fixed so as not to lift up from the inside, and the heat resistance of 60 ° C. or more is high enough to withstand the rise in the temperature inside the device accompanying the recent downsizing of the electrophotographic device. There are things like that.

As a method for fixing the support member and the blade member, for example, JP-A-61-130975 discloses a method using an adhesive tape, JP-A-63-269188 discloses.
JP-A-61-114 discloses a method using an instant adhesive.
No. 5578, a method using a hot melt adhesive, JP-A-4-186272 and JP-A-5-21.
No. 71 discloses a method using a moisture-curable hot melt adhesive, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1292282/1989 discloses a method using an adhesive which is cured by radiation or heat.
No. 72 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-2172 disclose a method of using an ultraviolet curable adhesive.

However, in the method using the adhesive tape, it is easy to fix the blade member on the supporting member with high accuracy, but the adhesive strength is small, and especially the adhesiveness at high temperature is not sufficient, and the cleaning property is low. There's a problem. The method using an instant adhesive has the same problem of adhesive strength as the method using an adhesive tape, and also causes the blade member to swell and deform, and the impact resistance and durability of the adhesive layer formed on the supporting member. Is inferior.

The method using the hot melt type adhesive can fix the supporting member and the blade member relatively easily.
The adhesive strength is highly dependent on temperature, and is 130 to 180
Since it is necessary to perform pressure bonding at a high temperature of ° C, there is a problem that the dimensional accuracy is lowered due to deformation of the blade member at the time of pressing and distortion due to thermal contraction at the time of cooling. The method using a moisture-curing hot melt adhesive improves the temperature dependence of the adhesive strength, but since pressure bonding in a high temperature molten state is required, the dimensions are the same as the method using a hot melt adhesive. The problem of reduced accuracy remains. In the method of using an adhesive that cures by radiation or heat and the method of using an ultraviolet curable adhesive, since curing of the adhesive is a radical reaction, the curing rate tends to be uneven, and a high temperature of about 50 to 60 ° C. Adhesion strength below is not sufficient, which adversely affects the performance of the cleaning blade.

Further, when a sheet-shaped blade member is molded, a centrifugal molding method or the like is adopted and a release agent is used.
Among them, the silicone-based release agent and the fluorine-based release agent are preferably used because they have good releasability and less mold contamination, but they are molded using the silicon-based release agent and the fluorine-based release agent. When fixing the blade member and the supporting member by the conventional technique, there is a problem that the wettability between the surface of the blade member and the adhesive is poor and sufficient adhesive force cannot be obtained.

[0008]

A method of manufacturing with high positional accuracy by bonding at room temperature is provided, and the obtained cleaning blade for electrophotographic apparatus has durability at high temperature, and It is intended to fix a blade member and a support member, which are molded using a silicone-based or fluorine-based release agent, with high adhesive strength.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is to apply an adhesive on a support member, place a blade member on the formed adhesive layer, and fix the support member and the blade member. In the cleaning blade for electrophotographic apparatus manufactured by, the adhesive is a moisture-curable adhesive, fixing the support member and the blade member, after applying the adhesive on the support member. After the open time is taken and the adhesive develops tack, a blade member is placed on the adhesive layer.

The supporting member is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a rigid metal usually used for a cleaning blade; a metal having elasticity; and a member made of plastic, ceramic or the like. Among them, a steel sheet subjected to surface treatment such as zinc phosphate treatment and chromate treatment; a steel sheet subjected to plating treatment are preferable because they do not change with time such as corrosion.

The blade member is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include those normally used for cleaning blades. However, since they are excellent in abrasion resistance and have high mechanical strength, polyols such as polyester polyols, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc. A thermosetting polyurethane elastomer containing an isocyanate and an alcohol crosslinking agent is preferable.

As the above-mentioned moisture-curable adhesive, a contact adhesive composed of a modified silicone compound is preferable because it exhibits a large tacking force and has good storage stability.

The moisture-curable adhesive is a mixture of a modified silicone adhesive and a silicone adhesive containing a compound containing at least one reactive silicon group in the molecule, and A contact type adhesive agent may be used which comprises at least one of epoxy-silicone combined type adhesive agents comprising a compound containing one or more reactive silicon groups and a compound containing an epoxy group. .

Examples of the compound containing at least one reactive silicon group in the molecule include, for example, JP-A-50-156.
Polyethers having a hydrolyzable silicon group at the terminal, which are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-599-52, JP-A-52-73998, JP-B-58-10418 and JP-A-62-230822; Organosilicone compounds containing at least two or more silicon atoms to which a hydrolyzable group is bonded, as disclosed in JP-A-63-12677, etc .; JP-A-60-228516; JP-A-63-112642, JP-A-1-131127
Examples thereof include a composition comprising an oxyalkylene polymer containing a silicon group and a (meth) acrylate (co) polymer containing a silicon group, which are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1993-242242. Above all, because it has excellent adhesive properties such as tack range,
A composition comprising a silicon group-containing oxyalkylene polymer and a silicon group-containing (meth) acrylate (co) polymer is preferred.

More preferably, an oxyalkylene polymer containing a reactive silicon group, and an alkyl acrylate monoester containing a reactive silicon group and an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms At least one of the body unit and the methacrylic acid alkyl ester monomer unit,
A copolymer comprising a reactive silicon group and at least one of an alkyl acrylate ester monomer unit and an methacrylic acid alkyl ester monomer unit containing an alkyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms It is a curable composition.

The reactive silicon group is not particularly limited as long as it is a silicon-containing functional group that can be crosslinked by forming a siloxane bond. For example, the following general formula (I)
And the like.

[0017]

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In the formula, R ¹ represents a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a triorganosiloxy group. X represents a hydroxyl group or a different or the same type of hydrolyzable group. a represents 0, 1 or 2. b is
Represents 0, 1, 2 or 3. However, when a is 2, b does not become 3. m represents an integer of 0-18.

The above-mentioned reactive silicon group is preferably a compound represented by the following general formula (II) from the viewpoint of economy.

[0020]

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In the formula, R ¹ is the same as above. n is 0, 1
Or represents 2.

The compound containing an epoxy group used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include epoxy resins such as bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and the like. A generally known curing agent for epoxy may be added to the compound containing an epoxy group.

In the present invention, in order to more effectively manufacture the cleaning blade for electrophotographic apparatus, for example,
If necessary, a tackifier such as a vinyl compound such as vinyl chloride (co) polymer, a phenol resin compound, a petroleum resin, a terpene-phenol resin, or a rosin ester resin is added to the moisture-curable adhesive. Good.

A hardening accelerator is added to the moisture-curable adhesive in an amount of 0.1 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the moisture-curable adhesive.
You may mix | blend 10 weight part. The curing accelerator is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include organic tin compounds, acidic phosphoric acid esters, reaction products of acidic phosphoric acid esters and amines, saturated or unsaturated polyvalent carboxylic acids, acid anhydrides thereof, organic titanates. A compound etc. are mentioned.

Examples of the organic tin compound include dibutyltin dilaurate, dioctyltin dimaleate,
Examples thereof include dibutyltin phthalate, stannous octylate, dibutyltin methoxide, dibutyltin diacetylacetate and dibutyltin diversate.

Examples of the organic titanate compound include titanic acid esters such as tetrabutyl titanate, tetraisopropyl titanate and triethanolamine titanate.

If desired, a diluent, a filler, an adhesion-imparting agent, an anti-sagging agent, a coloring agent, an antiseptic agent, etc. may be added to the moisture-curable adhesive. The diluent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include phthalate ester plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate and butylbenzyl phthalate; plasticizers such as epoxidized soybean oil; and reactive diluents.

The filler is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include heavy calcium carbonate, light calcium carbonate, colloidal calcium carbonate, kaolin, talc, silica, titanium oxide, aluminum silicate, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, carbon black and the like. Is mentioned. The adhesion-imparting agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include silane coupling agents such as aminosilane and epoxysilane.

The form of the moisture-curable adhesive is not particularly limited, and may be a one-pack type or a two-pack type. The one-pack type is preferable because it is easy to use.

The present invention can be implemented, for example, as follows. First, the above-mentioned moisture-curable adhesive is mixed as it is for a one-pack type as it is for a two-pack type by a fixed amount, and a roll coater or the like is applied on the supporting member so as to have a uniform thickness of 50 to 200 μm. To apply. Then, taking an open time, after the moisture-curable adhesive is cured by moisture and develops tack, a blade member is placed on the adhesive layer formed at a prescribed position on the supporting member, and the supporting member and the blade are placed. Fix the member.

In the present invention, the moisture-curable adhesive is added in an amount of 30 to 80 in order to accelerate the development of the initial adhesive strength.
After heating to ℃, apply on the support member, then take an open time, after the moisture-curable adhesive cures by moisture and develops tack, the adhesive formed at the specified position on the support member A blade member may be placed on the agent layer to fix the support member and the blade member. With this method, sufficient initial adhesive strength can be obtained without applying heat to the blade member. In addition, this heating can shorten the open time and the working time.

In the present invention, in order to further shorten the working time, after applying the above-mentioned moisture-curable adhesive on the support member, the applied portion is positively humidified to shorten the open time. Good.

In the present invention, before applying the moisture-curable adhesive to the support member, if necessary, the coating surface of the support member may be subjected to a primer treatment in advance.

The above-mentioned primer is not particularly limited as long as it is usually used for metals, and examples thereof include urethane-based, polyester-based, silane-based, polyamide-based and phenol-based resins; silane coupling agents and the like. . The primer may have a thickness of 3 to 10 μm using, for example, an applicator equipped with a brush, a sponge roller and the like.
It may be applied uniformly to a certain extent and dried.

[0035]

The moisture-curable adhesive used in the present invention is a contact-type adhesive, and since a sufficient initial adhesive force can be obtained, there is no need for temporary pressing after adhesion, and immediate and highly accurate positioning is possible. Since the member and the blade member can be fixed to each other, the bonding work becomes simple.

The moisture-curable adhesive used in the present invention is
Since it cures at room temperature, it is not necessary to heat the blade member, and the cleaning blade for electrophotographic apparatus can be manufactured with excellent dimensional accuracy.

The moisture-curable adhesive used in the present invention is
Since it does not contain a solvent, it is hygienic, there is less risk of fire, and it is safe.

In the present invention, after the blade member is placed on the adhesive layer, the moisture-curable adhesive is cured without any special operation after being clamped for an appropriate time. A cleaning blade for a photographic device can be efficiently manufactured.

In the present invention, a mixture of a modified silicone adhesive and a silicone adhesive composed of a compound having at least one reactive silicon group in the molecule is used as the moisture-curable adhesive. As a result, it is possible to obtain a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, in which a blade member formed by using a silicon-based release agent and a fluorine-based release agent, which have been conventionally difficult to bond, is fixed to a support member.

In the cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, the above-mentioned moisture-curable adhesive has a rubber-like elasticity after being hardened, does not melt by heat, and further has a blade member on the adhesive layer. Since it can be cured even after being adhered, it has excellent properties such as heat resistance, impact resistance, and durability.

The curing of the moisture-curable adhesive is due to a crosslinking reaction. Although depending on the amount of the curing accelerator added, the above crosslinking reaction proceeds further when left in the air at room temperature for, for example, 3 hours to 5 days to obtain sufficient adhesive strength and heat resistance for practical use. .

[0042]

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

[0043] according to Synthesis Example 1-5 Synthesis Example 1-5 Sho 63-112642 discloses, was added dropwise a solution prepared by dissolving each charged monomer and azobisisobutyronitrile in xylene, and polymerized,
The (meth) acrylic acid ester type polymer as shown in Table 1 was obtained. In Table 1, * 1 represents acrylic ester S manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. * 2, C ₁₂ manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., C
₁₃ represents mixed alkyl methacrylate. * 3 represents γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. * 4
Represents γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane. * 5 represents azobisisobutyronitrile. * 6
Represents γ-methacryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane. * 7 represents γ-mercaptopropylmethyldimethoxysilane. In Table 1, the number average molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution were measured by GPC.

Synthetic Examples 6 and 7 According to Synthetic Examples 8 and 9 of JP-A-63-112642, polyoxypropylene having an allyl ether introduced at its molecular end is reacted with methyldimethoxysilane using a platinum chloride catalyst. Thus, polyoxypropylene containing a group represented by the following formula (III) at the molecular end was obtained.

[0045]

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Example 1 A supporting member manufactured using a chromate-treated steel plate (manufactured by Shin Nippon Steel Co., Ltd., trade name: Zincoat steel plate) was washed with trichlorethylene, and the adhesive composition shown in Table 2 was applied to the adhesive surface of the supporting member. The thickness of object A is 100μ using a roll coater
It was applied so that it would be m. Next, at the timing when the applied adhesive is cured by reaction and the tack appears, a polyurethane elastomer molded in a mold using a silicone-based release agent at a predetermined position on the adhesive surface of the support member applied with the adhesive. (Hardness JIS A 65 degrees) blade (thickness 2m
m) was pressure-bonded at a pressure of about 1 kg / cm ² and held for 30 seconds, the pressure was released, and the cleaning blade was left at room temperature for 3 days to obtain a cleaning blade.

In Table 2, * 8 represents the polymer of Synthesis Example 6. * 9 represents a composition of the polymer of Synthesis Example 1 and the polymer of Synthesis Example 6. * 10 is the polymer of Synthesis Example 1 and Synthesis Example 7
Represents a composition with the polymer of. * 11 represents a solution of dibutyltin oxide solution and a solution dissolved in equimolar amount of dioctyl phthalate. * 12 represents N-β- (aminoethyl) aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. * 13 represents a product name “Shiragika CCR” (surface-treated calcium carbonate) manufactured by Shiraishi Calcium Co., Ltd.

The adhesive strength and durability of the obtained cleaning blade were examined as follows. (Adhesive strength) Fix the cleaning blade support member,
Hold the tip of the blade with an air chuck and pull it in a direction that makes a 90 ° angle with the support member.
The peel strength was measured at an ambient temperature of ° C. The pulling speed at this time was 30 mm / min.

(Durability) A commercially available dry plain paper electrophotographic copying machine (RIFAX120L, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) was equipped with a cleaning blade, and the image was repeatedly copied at ambient temperatures of 25 ° C. and 40 ° C., and the life of the adhesive strength of the blade was increased. Examine
The image was evaluated by the number of sheets that can be copied in a good state in which black spots or black streaks due to poor cleaning did not occur, and the peeling from the support member, the floating, the positional deviation, etc. were visually confirmed. The results are shown in Table 4.

Example 2 A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the adhesive composition B shown in Table 2 was used as the adhesive. The adhesive strength and durability were examined, and the results are shown in Table 4.

Example 3 A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the adhesive composition C shown in Table 2 was used as the adhesive. The adhesive strength and durability were examined, and the results are shown in Table 4.

Example 4 A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the two-liquid type adhesive composition D shown in Table 3 was used as the adhesive. The adhesive strength and durability were examined, and the results are shown in Table 4. In Table 3, * 14 represents "Cyryl SAT200" (terminal silyl group, main chain structure polypropylene oxide type) manufactured by Kaneka Corporation. * 15 represents "DMP-30" (2,4,6-tris (dimethylaminomethyl) phenol) manufactured by Kayaku Akzo. * 16 is “A-1120” (N-β- (aminoethyl) manufactured by Nippon Unicar Co., Ltd.
-Γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane). *
17 represents bisphenol A diglycidyl ether. * 18 is "Stan SB-6" manufactured by Sansha Machine Gosei Co., Ltd.
5 ". * 19 represents (Super SS manufactured by Maruo Calcium Co., Ltd.).

Example 5 A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a commercially available two-component type EP-001 (manufactured by Cemedine) was used as the adhesive. The adhesive strength and durability were examined, and the results are shown in Table 4.

Example 6 A cleaning blade was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a commercially available one-pack type Super X (made by Cemedine) was used as the adhesive. The adhesive strength and durability were examined, and the results are shown in Table 4.

Comparative Example 1 The same supporting member and blade member as in Example 1 were used, and a double-sided tape (No. 500, manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) was used as an adhesive. This double-sided tape is attached to the adhesive surface of the support member, and a blade is attached from above to the surface of 3 kg / m.
The pressure of ² was maintained for 10 seconds under pressure, and then left at room temperature for 24 hours to obtain a cleaning blade. The adhesive strength and durability of the obtained cleaning blade were examined in the same manner as in Example 1, and the results are shown in Table 4.

Comparative Example 2 The same supporting member and blade member as in Example 1 were used, and a cyanoacrylate instant adhesive (Aron Alpha 401, manufactured by Toagosei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was used as an adhesive. This instant adhesive has a thickness of 20μ on the adhesive surface of the support member.
Immediately after coating so as to have a thickness of m, a blade member was immediately attached, and a pressure of 3 kg / m ² was maintained for 1 minute to obtain a cleaning blade. The adhesive strength and durability of the obtained cleaning blade were examined in the same manner as in Example 1,
The results are shown in Table 4.

Comparative Example 3 The same supporting member and blade member as in Example 1 were used, and a urethane hot melt adhesive (Takemelt XM205L, manufactured by Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd., film-like,
A width of 5 mm, a thickness of 100 μm, and a polyurethane-based base polymer containing no reactive group) were used. This hot melt adhesive is temporarily fixed to the adhesive surface of the supporting member, and a blade member is stuck on the adhesive surface, and 3 kg / m
Hold at a pressure of ² and 3 at 150-160 ℃ by high frequency
After heating for 0 seconds and cooling, a cleaning blade was obtained. The adhesive strength and durability of the obtained cleaning blade were examined in the same manner as in Example 1, and the results are shown in Table 4.

[0058]

[Table 1]

[0059]

[Table 2]

[0060]

[Table 3]

[0061]

[Table 4]

From the results shown in Table 4, the cleaning blades for electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention obtained by the manufacturing methods of Examples 1 to 6 are different from those of Comparative Examples 1 to 3 in the supporting member and the blade member. It can be seen that and are firmly fixed and have excellent durability, especially at high temperatures.

[0063]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION The cleaning blade for electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, having the above-mentioned constitution, is excellent in positional accuracy, adhesive strength, durability at high temperature, etc., and is simple, hygienic and safe. Is what you can get. Further, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, needless to say, the above effects can be obtained even for the developing blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, which is required to have the same function as the cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshiharu Taniguchi 3-2-15 Meiwatsu, Hyogo-ku, Kobe City Bando Kagaku Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, which is manufactured by applying an adhesive on a supporting member, placing a blade member on the formed adhesive layer, and fixing the supporting member and the blade member. In, the adhesive is a moisture-curable adhesive, fixing the support member and the blade member, after applying the adhesive on the support member, take an open time, the adhesive is A cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein a blade member is placed on the adhesive layer after the tack is developed. 2. The cleaning blade for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moisture-curable adhesive is a contact adhesive made of a modified silicone compound. 3. A mixture of a moisture-curable adhesive comprising a modified silicone adhesive and a silicone adhesive comprising a compound containing at least one reactive silicon group in the molecule, and 2. A contact type adhesive comprising at least one epoxy-silicone combined type adhesive comprising a compound containing at least one reactive silicon group and a compound containing an epoxy group. Cleaning blade for electrophotographic devices.