JPH0962016A - Electrophotographic photoreceptor, polishing method for photoreceptor surface, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease wear, to prevent decrease in picture quality and deterioration in sensitivity and to suppress cleaning defects by polishing the surface of a photoreceptor by using an abrasive material which carries dispersion of particles having specified Mohs' hardness. SOLUTION: This electrophotographic photoreceptor contains inorg. fine particles in the outermost surface layer, and the surface of the photoreceptor is polished by using an abrasive material which carries dispersion of particles having >5 Mohs' hardness. As for the inorg. fine particles, for example, oxides such as cerium oxide, chromium oxide and aluminum oxide, sulfates such as calcium sulfate and barium sulfate, silicates such as calcium silicate and magnesium silicate and nitrides such as boron nitride can be used. The photoreceptor 10 is rotated in the direction shown as an arrow in the figure and the surface layer of the photoreceptor 10 contains inorg. fine particles having >5 Mohs' hardness. A polishing film 102 also contains dispersion of inorg. fine particles having >5 Mohs' hardness and is pressed to the photoreceptor 10 under specified pressure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member used in a copying machine, a printer, etc., a surface polishing method and an image forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the electrophotographic image forming method of the Carlson method, after uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor, the charge is erased imagewise by exposure to form an electrostatic latent image,
After developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, the toner image is transferred to paper or the like and then fixed. On the other hand, the photoconductor is cleaned and discharged to remove the toner remaining on the surface, and is repeatedly used for a long time.

Therefore, as an electrophotographic photosensitive member, of course, electrophotographic characteristics such as high charging characteristics and high sensitivity, and small dark decay, as well as printing durability after repeated use, abrasion resistance,
It is also required to have good physical properties such as moisture resistance and resistance to ultraviolet rays during exposure (environmental resistance).

Recently, selenium, zinc oxide, cadmium sulfide, and other inorganic photoconductors are preferred as electrophotographic photoconductors in view of pollution control, and substances exhibiting various functions in accordance with desired characteristics are selected from a wide range. There is a trend to put the organic photoconductor into practical use.

However, since the photosensitive layer is made of an organic substance, the surface hardness of the organic photoconductor is not sufficient, and the organic photoconductor is gradually worn away by being rubbed by a magnetic brush of a developer, a transfer paper, a cleaning blade or the like at the time of use. The surface is likely to be scratched and surface deterioration due to ozone during charging tends to occur.

[0006] In order to solve such a problem, as a layer constitution, as disclosed in JP-A-60-247647, a thin charge generation layer is provided on the side close to the support, and a relatively thin charge generation layer is provided thereon. A thick charge transport layer is applied so that even a slight wear of the charge transport layer on the surface of the photoreceptor does not significantly affect the performance of the photoreceptor. Furthermore, as the binder of the outermost surface layer,
It is also practiced to use a polycarbonate resin having high mechanical strength. However, compared to inorganic photoreceptors, scratch resistance,
The wear resistance is still poor and sufficient performance has not been obtained yet.

It has been proposed to increase the surface strength by including fine particles in the outermost surface layer, but since the fine particles are present on the surface to form an uneven structure, the edge of the cleaning blade is greatly worn or chipped. It was easy to cause poor cleaning. Further, the method of containing organic particles as disclosed in JP-A-5-307267 is not sufficient in effect because the surface strength of the photoreceptor is insufficient.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce image deterioration and sensitivity deterioration due to less wear, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a photoconductor in which cleaning failure is unlikely to occur, a photoconductor surface polishing method, and an image forming method.

[0009]

The object of the present invention can be achieved by adopting any one of the following constitutions.

[1] In an electrophotographic photosensitive member containing inorganic fine particles in the outermost surface layer, the surface of the photosensitive member is polished with an abrasive material in which particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more are dispersed and carried. Photoconductor.

[2] The photoreceptor according to [1], wherein the inorganic fine particles contained on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor are particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more.

[3] The surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member containing inorganic fine particles in the outermost surface layer is polished with an abrasive material in which particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more are dispersed and carried. Polishing method.

[4] An electrophotographic image forming using the photoreceptor according to [1] or [2], wherein at least the steps of charging, image exposure, development, transfer of a toner image onto a transfer material and cleaning are repeated. Method.

As the inorganic fine particles contained in the outermost surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention, hard particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more are preferable because it is necessary to increase the film strength and also have strength itself. It does not adversely affect the performance.

Examples of such inorganic fine particles include oxides such as cerium oxide, chromium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, iron oxide and titanium oxide; calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, sulfuric acid. Sulfates such as aluminum; silicates such as calcium silicate and magnesium silicate; boron nitride,
Chlorides such as titanium nitride; carbides such as silicon carbide, titanium carbide, boron carbide, tungsten carbide and zirconium carbide; borides such as zirconium boride and titanium boride; and the like. Two or more types are used as necessary.

The inorganic fine particles have a volume average particle diameter of 0.05.
It is preferably substantially 2.0 μm, more preferably substantially spherical particles having a major axis / minor axis ratio of less than 2.0.

The volume average particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is 0.05.
If it is less than μm, sufficient mechanical strength of the surface of the photoreceptor cannot be obtained, and the surface area of the particles becomes large. As a result, the amount of adsorbed water increases and the surface of the photoreceptor wears and is damaged in the course of repeated image formation. Photographic performance may deteriorate. Also, 2.0
If it exceeds μm, the surface roughness of the photoconductor becomes large, and the cleaning blade is worn or damaged and the cleaning characteristics are deteriorated.
Cleaning failure is likely to occur, and image blurring is likely to occur.

The inorganic fine particles having a substantially spherical shape have a size (diameter of 1 to 10 m) whose surface shape can be discriminated by an electron microscope.
When magnified to m), the particles are considered to be spherical, with the major axis / minor axis ratio being less than 2.0, rather than having an irregular shape.

The volume average particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is measured by a laser diffraction / scattering type particle size distribution measuring apparatus LA-700 (manufactured by Hikiba Seisakusho).

The inorganic fine particles are preferably hydrophobized with a hydrophobizing agent such as a titanium coupling agent, a silane coupling agent, a polymeric fatty acid or a metal salt thereof.

Examples of the titanium coupling agent include tetrabutyl titanate, tetraoctyl titanate, isopropyl triisostearoyl titanate, isopropyl tridecylbenzene sulfonyl titanate, bis (dioctyl pyrophosphate) oxyacetate titanate and the like. Further, as the silane coupling agent, γ- (2-aminoethyl) aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ- (2-aminoethyl) aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, N-β- (N-vinylbenzylaminoethyl) γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane hydrochloride, hexamethyldisilazane, methyltrimethoxysilane, butyltrimethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, hexyltrimethoxysilane, octyltrimethoxysilane, decyltri Examples thereof include methoxysilane, dodecyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, o-methylphenyltrimethoxysilane and p-methylphenyltrimethoxysilane.

The fatty acids include undecyl acid, lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid,
Long-chain fatty acids such as pentadecanoic acid, stearic acid, heptadecanoic acid, arachidic acid, montanic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid are mentioned, and their metal salts are zinc, iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, sodium, lithium. Salts with metals such as.

These compounds are preferably added in an amount of 1 to 10% by weight with respect to the above-mentioned inorganic fine particles for coating, preferably 3 to 7% by weight. Further, these materials can be used in combination, and the surface of the inorganic fine particles is usually covered with a monomolecular layer or a layer close thereto.

In the present invention, silica particles are particularly preferably used as the inorganic fine particles contained in the outermost surface layer of the photoreceptor, and further silica particles having a small hygroscopicity and a small number of active hydroxyl groups on the surface are preferably used. To be

In the present invention, these inorganic fine particles are contained at least in the outermost surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member together with the binder. The proportion of the inorganic fine particles in the outermost surface layer is usually 1% by weight or more and 200% by weight or less with respect to the binder. Desirably 3
Used in an amount of 100% by weight or more and 100% by weight or less.

The outermost surface layer of the present invention may be a photosensitive layer positioned on the outermost surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, or may be a protective layer laminated thereon.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a polishing apparatus using an abrasive film.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 designates a photosensitive member, which is 10 to 10,000 rp in the direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing.
It is rotating at a speed of m. The surface layer of the photoreceptor 10 contains inorganic fine particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more and a volume average particle diameter of 0.01 to 2 μm dispersed therein. On the other hand, the polishing film 10
2 also contains dispersed inorganic fine particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more, and is pressed against the photoconductor at a pressure of 0.1 to 10 kg / cm ² . If the abrasive film is used for polishing for a predetermined time or longer, it will be clogged and abrasive powder or the like will adhere to the photoconductor. Taken. As a result, the photoreceptor surface has a ten-point average roughness of 0.3 to
It can be roughened to 2.0 μm.

At this time, if the number of rotations of the photosensitive member is less than 10 rpm, the scratches due to the abrasive film may be too deep, resulting in a defective image, and if it is more than 10,000 rpm, clogging may be serious and the polishing effect may be insufficient. There is. Further, the inorganic fine particles dispersedly contained in the polishing film have a Mohs hardness of less than 5 and are too soft to obtain a polishing effect. If the pressing force of the polishing film is less than 0.1 kg / cm ² , the polishing effect is insufficient, and if it is 10 kg / cm ² or more, the scratches may be too deep and caution is required. If the film feed rate is less than 1 mm / min, clogging may occur, which is not preferable. Further, at 100 mm / min, the polishing film is used more than necessary, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

The surface roughness of the photosensitive member is 0.
When the thickness is 3 to 2.0 μm, the friction between the cleaning blade and the photoconductor is small, and cleaning failure does not occur. However, when the thickness is less than 0.3 μm, the friction between the photosensitive member and the cleaning blade does not become small, so that cleaning failure occurs due to abrasion of the blade. Also, 2.0
If the thickness is more than μm, streak-shaped image defects occur.

As the inorganic fine particles contained in and carried by the abrasive according to the present invention, those having the same composition and particle diameter as those contained in the above-mentioned photosensitive layer can be used.

In the present invention, the 10-point average surface roughness (Rz) of the outermost surface layer is measured according to JISB0601 (reference length 0.25 mm). It is measured by a measuring instrument (SE-30H).

The photoreceptor of the present invention is preferably an organic photoreceptor containing an organic charge generating substance (CGM) and a charge transporting substance (CTM). An example of the layer structure of the organic photoreceptor is shown in FIG.

FIG. 2A shows an intermediate layer 2 on the conductive support 1.
Via the charge generation layer (CGL) 3 and the charge transport layer (CT
L) 4 is laminated in this order on the photosensitive layer 6.

Further, FIG. 2B shows a structure in which the protective layer 5 is laminated on the photosensitive layer of FIG. Above (a), (b)
Shows a typical constitution of the organic photoreceptor, and the present invention is not limited to these layer constitutions. For example, the intermediate layer 2 shown in these figures may be omitted if not necessary.

Of the above-mentioned layer constitutions, the most preferable embodiment of the present invention is that a protective layer 5 is further laminated on the photosensitive layer as shown in FIG. 2B, and the inorganic fine particles according to the present invention are contained in the protective layer. It is a thing.

The protective layer, when provided, is composed of at least a resin and the inorganic fine particles of the present invention, but has a layer structure composed of so-called plural charge transport layers in which a charge transport substance (CTM) is contained in the protective layer. Things are more preferable. By including a charge transport material (CTM) in these protective layers, an increase in the residual potential and a decrease in sensitivity due to repeated use of the electrophotographic photoreceptor can be prevented.

Examples of the charge generating substance (CGM) contained in the charge generating layer of the present invention include phthalocyanine pigments and
Polycyclic quinone pigments, azo pigments, perylene pigments, indigo pigments, quinacridone pigments, azurenium pigments, squarylium dyes, cyanine dyes, pyrylium dyes, thiopyrylium dyes, xanthene dyes, triphenylmethane dyes,
Examples of the charge-generating substance (C
GM) is used alone or together with a suitable binder resin to form a layer.

Examples of the charge transport material (CTM) contained in the charge transport layer of the present invention include oxazole derivatives,
Oxadiazole derivative, thiazole derivative, thiadiazole derivative, triazole derivative, imidazole derivative, imidazolone derivative, imidazoline derivative, bisimidazolidine derivative, styryl compound, hydrazone compound, benzidine compound, pyrazoline derivative, stilbene compound, amine derivative, oxazolone derivative, benzo Thiazole derivative, benzimidazole derivative, quinazoline derivative, benzofuran derivative, acridine derivative, phenazine derivative, aminostilbene derivative, poly-N-
Vinylcarbazole, poly-1-vinylpyrene, poly-
9-Vinyl anthracene and the like can be mentioned. These charge transport materials (CTM) are usually layered with a binder.

Among these, particularly preferable charge transporting substances (CTM) include compounds represented by the following general formula.

[0041]

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(In the formula, Ar ₁ , Ar ₂ and Ar ₄ represent a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, and Ar ₃ represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group. A group hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, R ₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, and n is 1 or 2. Ar ₄ and R ₂ may combine with each other to form a ring.)

[0043]

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(In the formula, R ₃ and R ₄ represent a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and they are connected to each other to form a ring. R ₅ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and Ar ₅ represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group. Represents a group hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, and m is 0 or 1.)

[0045]

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(In the formula, Y represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, naphthyl group, pyrinyl group, fluorenyl group, carbazolyl group, diphenyl group and 4,4'-alkylidene diphenyl group, and Ar ₆ and Ar ₇ are It represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, and l represents an integer of 1 to 3.)

[0047]

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(In the formula, Ar ₈ , Ar ₉ , Ar ₁₀ and Ar ₁₁ represent a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, and Ar ₁ , Ar ₂ and Ar ₃ represent As described above.) Of these, specific compound examples preferably used in the photoreceptor of the present invention are shown below.

[0049]

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[0050]

[Chemical 6]

[0051]

[Chemical 7]

[0052]

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[0053]

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[0054]

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The binder resin contained in the charge generation layer (CGL) and charge transport layer (CTL) is a polyester resin, polystyrene resin, methacrylic resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinylidene chloride resin, polycarbonate. Resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, styrene-butadiene resin, vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-maleic anhydride copolymer resin, urethane resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, silicone-alkyd resin, phenol Resin, polysilane resin, polyvinyl carbazole, etc. are mentioned.

The binder resin contained in the uppermost layer of each of the photoreceptors shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) is preferably resistant to mechanical shock and has high abrasion resistance, and does not impair electrophotographic performance. Things are good. Preferred binder resins include polycarbonate resins having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV).

[0057]

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(Wherein R _{1 to} R ₈ are hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups or aryl groups, and Z is 4 to 11).
A saturated or unsaturated carbocyclic residue having 9 carbon atoms, R ₉ is an alkyl or aryl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms. )

[0059]

[Chemical 12]

(In the formula, R ₁₁ to R ₁₈ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.)

[0061]

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(In the formula, R _{21 to} R ₂₈ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, or an aryl group.)

[0063]

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(In the formula, R _{31 to} R ₄₆ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or an aryl group, k and m are positive integers, and k / m Is selected to be 1 to 10.) The polycarbonate resin having the structural unit represented by the general formula is preferably one having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 or more.

Next, as a solvent or a dispersion medium used when forming each of the layers, n-butylamine, diethylamine, ethylenediamine, isopropanolamine,
Triethanolamine, triethylenediamine, N, N
-Dimethylformamide, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, cyclohexanone, benzene, toluene, xylene, chloroform, dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,1 −
Examples thereof include trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethane, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, methanol, ethanol, isopropinal, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and methyl cellosolve. The present invention is not limited to these, but when a ketone solvent is used, the sensitivity and potential change during repeated use are further improved. In addition, these solvents can be used alone or as a mixed solvent of two or more kinds.

In the present invention, the weight ratio of the charge generating substance to the binder resin in the charge generating layer is preferably 1: 5 to 5: 1. The thickness of the charge generation layer is preferably 5 μm or less,
It is particularly preferably 0.05 to 2 μm.

The charge transport layer is formed by dissolving the above charge transport material and the binder resin in a suitable solvent, and coating and drying the solution. The mixing ratio of the charge transport material and the binder resin is preferably 10: 1 to 1:10 by weight.

The thickness of the charge transport layer is 5 to 50 μm,
It is particularly preferably 10 to 40 μm.

Next, as a conductive support for the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention, 1) a metal plate such as an aluminum plate or a stainless plate, 2) a support such as paper or a plastic film,
A thin metal layer such as aluminum, palladium, or gold provided by lamination or vapor deposition. 3) On a support such as paper or plastic film,
Examples thereof include those in which a layer of a conductive compound such as a conductive polymer, indium oxide, or tin oxide is provided by coating or vapor deposition.

The electrophotographic image forming method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
However, the image forming method of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to general electrophotographic apparatuses such as digital copying machines, LED printers, liquid crystal shutter printers, and the like. Moreover, the present invention can be widely applied to recording, printing, facsimile, and other devices to which electrophotographic technology is applied.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes an organic photosensitive drum, which is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow (clockwise), is uniformly charged by a charger 11, and has an analog type image exposure means 12.
Image exposure is performed to form an electrostatic latent image.

In the image exposure means 12, the photosensitive drum 10 is subjected to image exposure obtained by optically scanning an original by an original scanning optical system (not shown) to form the electrostatic latent image.

The electrostatic latent image is magnetically brush-developed by the developing device 13 to form a toner image. Here, the developing device 13
Is filled with a one-component developer composed of a magnetic toner or a two-component developer composed of a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier. After being stirred and mixed by the screws 131 and 132 and the stirring blade 133, the outer periphery of the magnet body 135 is filled. Is attached and conveyed to a sleeve 134 rotating in the direction of the arrow to form a magnetic brush, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the magnetic brush.

After the toner image is easily transferred by the PTL 14, it is transferred by the action of the transfer pole (transfer device) 15 onto the transfer material P conveyed by the timing rollers 17 and 18 at the same timing, and separated. It is separated by (separator) 16.

The transfer material P separated by the separation pole 16 and the separation claw 181 is conveyed by the conveyor belt 19 to the fixing device 20, and the toner image is thermally fixed on the transfer material P. After the transfer, the photoconductor drum 10 is cleaned by a cleaning device (cleaning device) 21, and is neutralized by the pre-charging static elimination lamp PCL22 to prepare for the next image formation.

In the cleaning device 21, transfer residual toner on the photoconductor drum 10 is cleaned by the guide roller 212 and the cleaning blade 211, and the cleaned toner is cleaned by the guide roller 212.
Then, the toner is fed into the unloading screw 214 via the guide plate 213, and is discharged to the external toner receiver by the unloading screw.

As the material of the cleaning blade, an elastic rubber blade made of polyurethane rubber is preferable, and as shown in FIG.

[0078]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In the following, the particle size is represented by a volume average particle size and the surface particles are represented by an average of 10 points.

(1) Preparation of Photoreceptor Photoreceptor 1 Polyamide resin CM-8000 (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) 30
900 g of methanol and 100 ml of 1-butanol
It was put in the mixed solvent of and heated and dissolved at 50 ° C. After cooling to room temperature, use this liquid to obtain an outer diameter of 80 mm and a length of 35.
An intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.3 μm was formed by dip coating on a 5.5 mm aluminum drum.

Then, 5 g of polyvinyl butyral resin S-REC BX-1 (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) was dissolved in 1000 ml of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and further 10 g of the compound "Chemical Formula 15" CGM-1 shown below was mixed, followed by sand milling. Was used for 20 hours for dispersion. Using this solution, a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm was formed on the above intermediate layer by dip coating.

Subsequently, an exemplary compound of CTM, T-31 1
00g and BPZ type polycarbonate resin Panlite TS
-2050 (manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) (150 g) was dissolved in 1000 ml of dichloromethane. Using this solution, a first charge transport layer having a thickness of 20 μm was formed on the charge generation layer by dip coating.

Thereafter, 20 g of the exemplified compound T-31 and BPZ type polycarbonate resin Panlite TS-205 were used.
0 (manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) and 30 g of dichloromethane 1
To a solution dissolved in 000 ml, 10 g of 0.2 μm silica fine particles (Mohs hardness 7.0) was added and dispersed in an ultrasonic bath for 20 minutes. Using this solution, a surface protection layer (second charge transport layer) having a thickness of 3 μm was formed on the charge transport layer by a circular amount regulation type coating machine.

Finally, it was heated and dried at 100 ° C. for 1 hour to prepare a photoreceptor in which an intermediate layer, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a surface protective layer were sequentially laminated.

Further, while rotating this photosensitive member at 500 rpm, an abrasive film containing 0.3 μm alumina fine particles (Mohs hardness 9.0) dispersed therein was pressed at a pressure of 1 kg /.
It was pressed at cm ² to obtain a photoconductor having a surface roughness of 0.5 μm.

[0085]

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Photoreceptor 2 Photoreceptor 1 except that the abrasive film containing 0.3 μm alumina fine particles dispersed therein was replaced with the abrasive film containing 0.5 μm diamond fine particles (Mohs hardness 10.0) dispersed therein. A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in. The surface roughness of the photoconductor was 0.3 μm.

Photoreceptor 3 Except that the abrasive film containing 0.3 μm alumina fine particles dispersed therein was replaced with the abrasive film containing 5.0 μm silicon carbide fine particles (Mohs hardness 9.0) dispersed therein. A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as the body 1. The surface roughness of the photoconductor was 0.8 μm.

Photoreceptor 4 A photoreceptor was prepared in the same manner as the photoreceptor 1, except that the 0.2 μm silica fine particles were changed to 2.0 μm silica fine particles. The surface roughness of the photoconductor was 1.2 μm.

Photosensitive member 5 Photosensitive member 1 except that 0.2 μm silica fine particles were changed to 0.2 μm zirconia fine particles (Mohs hardness 7.5).
A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in. The surface roughness of the photoconductor was 0.4 μm.

Photosensitive member 6 A photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as the photosensitive member 1 except that the 0.2 μm silica fine particles were changed to 0.1 μm silica fine particles. The surface roughness of the photoconductor was 0.3 μm.

Photosensitive member 7 Photosensitive member 1 except that 0.2 μm silica fine particles were changed to 0.5 μm titanium oxide fine particles (Mohs hardness 9.0).
A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in. The surface roughness of the photoconductor was 0.6 μm.

Photosensitive member 8 A photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as the photosensitive member 1 except that the 0.2 μm silica fine particles were changed to 0.5 μm alumina fine particles (Mohs hardness 9.0). The surface roughness of the photoconductor is 0.
It was 5 μm.

Photoreceptor 9 A photoreceptor was prepared in the same manner as the photoreceptor 1 except that fine particles were not added to the photoreceptor. The surface roughness of the photoconductor is 0.1
μm.

Photosensitive member 10 A photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as the photosensitive member 1 except that the surface of the photosensitive member was not polished. The surface roughness of the photoconductor is 0.3 μm
Met.

The ten-point average surface roughness (R
z) is measured according to JIS B0601 (reference length 0.25
mm), specifically, by a surface roughness measuring instrument (SE-30H) of Kosaka Laboratory.

(2) Evaluation test Konica U-BIX41, a copying machine manufactured by Konica Corporation
55, the photoconductors 1 to 10 were sequentially mounted, and the temperature was 6 ° C and the temperature was 6 ° C.
Table 1 shows the results of 100,000 times image-forming tests performed in an atmosphere of 0% RH.

The evaluation was carried out by measuring the surface potential of the photoreceptor (black paper potential, white paper potential) before and after the image output test, the amount of film thickness loss, and the presence or absence of image defects during the test.

The black paper potential and the white paper potential are the following values, and it is preferable that the variations before and after the test are small, and the absolute values of the black paper potential are high and the white paper potential is low.

Black paper potential (Vb): Photoconductor surface potential at the developing position in the portion where the original density is 1.3 White paper potential (Vw): Photoconductor surface potential in the developing position where the original density is 0.0

[0100]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, when the photoconductors 1 to 8 in the present invention are used, all the characteristics are good, but when the photoconductors 9 and 10 other than the present invention are used, at least one of them is obtained. It can be seen that there are problems with the characteristics.

[0102]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photoconductor, a photoconductor surface polishing method and an image forming method using the same, in which deterioration in image quality and sensitivity are less likely to occur due to less wear, and cleaning defects are less likely to occur. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a polishing apparatus for explaining a method for polishing a photoreceptor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a layer structure of a photoconductor according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conductive Support 2 Intermediate Layer 3 Charge Generation Layer (CGL) 4 Charge Transport Layer (CTL) 5 Protective Layer (Second Charge Transport Layer) 11 Charging Device 13 Developing Device 15 Transfer Device 20 Fixing Device 21 Cleaning Device 211 Cleaning Blade

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising an outermost surface layer containing inorganic fine particles, wherein the photosensitive member surface is polished with an abrasive material in which particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more are dispersed and supported. body. 2. The photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic fine particles contained on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member are particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more. 3. A surface polishing of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, characterized in that the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member containing inorganic fine particles in the outermost surface layer is polished with an abrasive material in which particles having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more are dispersed and supported. Method. 4. An electrophotographic image forming method using the photoconductor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least the steps of charging, image exposure, development, transfer of a toner image to a transfer material and cleaning are repeated.