JPH11207623A - Particle dispersed solution stirring device, surface treating method and devide for electrophotographic photosensitive body base material using the same, and electrophotographic photosensitive body treated by the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unifonoly disperse particles in solution. SOLUTION: A particle dispersed solution stirring device U1 is provided with a stirring container 1 having vertical cylindrical walls 2 and 3 for housing particle dispersed solution, a turning flow forming nozzle 7 for jetting out particle dispersed solution in the circumferential directions of the cylindrical walls 2 and 3 so as to form a turning flow in the particle dispersed solution, a stirring nozzle 8 for jetting out the particle dispersed solution in a vertical direction in a middle position between the cylindrical walls 2 and 3 and the center thereof, and a particle dispersed solution circulating device 11 for circulating the particle solution dispersed in the stirring container 1 and jetting out the same from the turning flow forming nozzle 7 and the stirring nozzle 8. A surface treating method and a surface treating device for an electrophotographic photosensitive body base material W use this particle dispersed stirring device U1. Also, an electrophotographic photosensitive body is treated by the surface treating method.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a particle dispersion stirring device for uniformly dispersing particles in a particle dispersion, and a method for surface treatment of a substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member using the particle dispersion stirring device. And a surface treatment apparatus, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member treated by the surface treatment method. The particle dispersion stirring device of the present invention uses a particle dispersion in which an abrasive is dispersed as a honing liquid, and agitates the honing liquid for forming liquid unevenness on a substrate surface by a honing process. used. The particle dispersion stirring device is suitably used when uniform unevenness is formed on the surface of a photoreceptor base material used in an electrophotographic printer, a copying machine, or the like, which uses a laser beam for line scanning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic apparatus of the type in which a laser beam is line-scanned, it is necessary to solve a specific problem that an interference fringe pattern appears in an image formed by using a laser beam. This type of interference fringes occurs because transmitted light that has not been absorbed in the photosensitive layer causes multiple reflections of the laser beam in the photosensitive layer including the substrate, causing interference with the incident light on the photosensitive layer surface. It is attributed to the occurrence. In order to prevent the occurrence of this interference fringe, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-26191 discloses that the surface of a substrate or a photosensitive layer is roughened to impart light scattering properties. Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-41108, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-216261, etc. have proposed wet honing. However, in the honing, when the distribution of the abrasive in the liquid is not uniform, the unevenness (roughness) of the surface of the base material is considered. The distribution may be non-uniform, causing interference fringes on a part of the surface of the substrate, and the photosensitive layer applied to the surface of the substrate may be impaired in uniform film-forming properties, resulting in coating film defects. FIG. 7 is a view showing that unevenness of the surface of the base material after honing varies when the dispersion of the abrasive in the liquid is not uniform. FIG. 8 is a view showing that uniform unevenness is formed on the surface of the substrate after honing when the abrasive is uniformly dispersed.

In recent years, in an electrophotographic apparatus, a contact charging method has been used for a photosensitive drum in order to reduce the amount of generated ozone, reduce costs by not using a high-voltage power supply, and reduce the size of a charger. Became. However, in the photosensitive drum used in this method, when the surface roughness of the base material varies, electric charge leaks due to the concentration of electric charges in the protruding portions of the high-roughness portion, and as a result, black spots and the like appear on a printed image. There is a problem that defects appear. It is known that when the height of the protrusion on the surface of the base material is about 3 μm or more, charge leakage is likely to occur. Further, it is said that the portion having a small roughness is caused by the occurrence of interference fringes on a part of the substrate surface.

By the way, when the above-described substrate roughening treatment is performed, charge leakage is more likely to occur, and an interference fringe pattern may appear in an image. That is, the entire surface of the base material is not averagely roughened by the honing roughening treatment to prevent the occurrence of interference fringes. And the problem of interference fringes appearing on the image. Therefore, in the surface roughening treatment of the substrate of the photosensitive member for the electrophotographic apparatus of the type in which the laser beam is line-scanned, the provision of the uniformly roughened substrate is an important issue.

Conventionally, methods for roughening the surface of a substrate of a photoreceptor include, for example, JP-A-2-87154 and JP-A-2
No. -191963, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-41108,
As described in JP-A-5-216261, there is a wet honing method using an aqueous dispersion of an abrasive. This method can easily and stably roughen the surface in a short time, can accurately obtain a desired roughness, and has a uniform rough surface having extremely few irregularities that cause coating film defects. From the viewpoint of production and the stability of image quality against black spots and interference fringe patterns, it is possible to obtain a roughened surface with roughness, such as anodizing or buffing. It is superior to the processing method.

[0006]

However, in recent years,
As the life requirement for the photoreceptor has increased, it has become clear that roughening of the substrate by the conventional honing method is insufficient. That is, in the conventional method,
In obtaining a uniformly roughened substrate by the collision of the abrasive with the substrate, problems 1 and 2 described below are obtained.
Was found to exist.

(Problem 1) Conventionally, the supply of the abrasive used for honing has a problem in the variation in the supply concentration of the liquid. At present, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron nitride (Japanese Patent Publication No.
No. 8) or aluminum oxide (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 16261), the specific gravity of each material is larger than that of water, and the sedimentation speed is high. Therefore, it is difficult to supply a completely uniformly mixed abrasive.

The honing process is performed by colliding individual abrasives with a substrate. According to this process, when using the same concentration of abrasive, the number of abrasives colliding per unit area of the substrate is the same, so that the substrate has a rough surface having a uniform roughness. can get. On the other hand, when abrasives having non-uniform concentrations are used, the number of abrasives colliding with the base material per unit area differs depending on the collision location, so that the rough surface of the base material as a whole has uneven roughness. Is formed. That is, when honing is performed with an abrasive having a non-uniform concentration, an abnormal uneven portion is formed on the surface of the base material. The surface of the base material whose rough surface has become discontinuous due to the formation of the irregularities loses the ability to follow the coating film due to leveling of the coating film formed thereon, and white spots due to thickening of the coating film in minute parts. Black spots due to spots or thinning, defects such as black spots or charge leaks due to exposure of the base material at the convex portions, or at positions where the unevenness is insufficient than required, An interference fringe pattern may appear.

In order to prevent these problems, it is preferable that the abrasives colliding with the base material have the same concentration. For this reason, it is essential to supply the abrasives at a uniform concentration stably. However, it is difficult to supply an abrasive having a uniform concentration by a conventionally known abrasive supply method. In particular, a simple circulation method by circulating a liquid cannot remove variations in the liquid concentration in a tank. Therefore, the above problem cannot be solved. Therefore, with respect to the abrasive used for the honing method, it is desired to improve the uniformity of the liquid.

(Problem 2) The conventional stirring method generally has an air jet port inside the tank and jets compressed air from the air jet port, and similarly jets liquid from the liquid feeder to the tank bottom. The purpose is to prevent the abrasive from settling at the bottom of the tank by such a method. However, in the conventional method, it is possible to prevent sedimentation of the abrasive, but the liquid state is different between the upper layer and the lower layer in the tank, and it is impossible to uniformly disperse the abrasive in the polishing liquid in the tank. It was possible, and it was difficult to supply a polishing solution having a uniform concentration. Therefore, the number of collisions of the abrasive with respect to a single area of the base material changes due to the change in the concentration of the polishing liquid, and as a result, the roughness and shape of the base material surface change. There is a problem that the prevention is reduced.

In the above description, the problems of the prior art relating to the polishing liquid for the photoreceptor substrate have been described. However, when it is necessary to uniformly disperse the particles in the liquid, the polishing of the photoreceptor substrate is performed. There was a similar problem, not limited to the liquid. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the conventional technology, and has the following problems (O01) to (O03). (O01) To uniformly disperse particles in a liquid. (O02) To prepare a polishing liquid in which the polishing material is uniformly dispersed. (O03) To provide an improved electrophotographic photoreceptor free from image quality defects such as interference fringe patterns and black spots when images are formed by laser light, and image quality defects due to charge leakage due to a contact charging method. .

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems The conventional honing method is as follows.
As described above, since the non-uniformity of the abrasive transfer rate used in each case has caused a problem, as a result of intensive study on a method of supplying an abrasive having a uniform concentration to solve this problem, the tank stirring which is causing the problem Focus on the method,
The present invention has been completed. Next, the present invention devised to solve the problem will be described. Elements of the present invention are indicated by parentheses in the elements of the embodiment in order to facilitate correspondence with the elements of the embodiments described later. Add the items enclosed in. The reason why the present invention is described in correspondence with the reference numerals of the embodiments described below is to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and not to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiments.

(First Invention) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a particle dispersion stirring device of the first invention according to the present invention has the following requirements. (A01) A vertical cylindrical wall (2) ,
3) a stirring vessel (1) having a particle dispersion therein,
(A02) A swirl flow forming nozzle (7) for ejecting the particle dispersion in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall (2, 3) so that a swirl flow is formed in the particle dispersion, (A03) A stirring nozzle (8) for ejecting the particle dispersion liquid in a vertical direction at an intermediate position between the cylindrical wall (2, 3) and the center of the cylindrical wall (2, 3), (A04) the stirring vessel (1) A particle dispersion circulating device (11) for circulating the particle dispersion in the nozzle and ejecting the particles from the swirling flow forming nozzle (7) and the stirring nozzle (8).

[0014] The particle dispersion stirring device (U
In 1), the tip of the stirring nozzle of the stirring nozzle (8) is swirled around the center line of the cylindrical wall (2, 3) from the position of the spout at the tip of the swirling flow forming nozzle (7). It is preferable to arrange at a position rotated within a range of 225 degrees ± 90 degrees in the direction. The stirring vessel (1) of the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) of the first invention has a small-diameter cylindrical wall (2) at a lower portion, a large-diameter cylindrical wall (3) at an upper portion, and the small-diameter cylinder. It is possible to have a configuration having a conical wall (4) connecting the upper end of the wall (2) and the lower end of the large-diameter cylindrical wall (3). In that case, the swirl flow forming nozzle (7)
The particle dispersion is ejected along the inner surface of the small-diameter cylindrical wall (2), and the stirring nozzle (8) ejects the particle dispersion downward toward the conical wall (4). It is preferable to configure so that

(Operation of the First Invention) In the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) according to the first invention of the present invention having the above structure, the stirring vessel (1) having the vertical cylindrical walls (2, 3) is placed in the stirring vessel (1). Contains a particle dispersion. The particle dispersion circulation device (11)
By circulating the particle dispersion in the stirring vessel (1), the swirl flow forming nozzle (7) and the stirring nozzle (8)
Squirt from The nozzle for forming a swirling flow (7) is provided with the cylindrical wall (2, 2) so that a swirling flow is formed in the particle dispersion.
3) Spray the particle dispersion in the circumferential direction of the surface. Thereby, a swirling flow is generated in the particle dispersion liquid in the stirring vessel (1). The stirring nozzle (8) is connected to the cylindrical wall (2, 2).
The particle dispersion is ejected vertically at an intermediate position between 3) and the center of the cylindrical wall (2, 3). By the ejection of the particle dispersion liquid from the stirring nozzle (8), the swirling flow of the particle dispersion liquid is stirred, and the particles are uniformly dispersed.

The particle dispersion stirring device of the first invention (U
In 1), the tip of the stirring nozzle of the stirring nozzle (8) is swung around the center line of the cylindrical wall (2, 3) from the position of the spout at the tip of the swirling flow forming nozzle (7). When it is arranged at a position rotated within a range of 225 degrees ± 90 degrees in the direction, the stirring of the particle dispersion can be performed more favorably, and the particles in the particle dispersion can be uniformly dispersed. The stirring vessel (1) of the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) of the first invention has a small-diameter cylindrical wall (2) at a lower portion and a large-diameter cylindrical wall (3) at an upper portion. A conical wall (4) connecting the upper end of the small-diameter cylindrical wall (2) and the lower end of the large-diameter cylindrical wall (3) is provided, and the swirling flow forming nozzle (7) is provided on the inner surface of the small-diameter cylindrical wall (2). When the particle dispersion is configured to be ejected along the nozzle and the stirring nozzle (8) is configured to eject the particle dispersion downward toward the conical wall (4), Agitation of the particle dispersion can be performed even better.

The above-mentioned particle dispersion stirring device (U1) of the present invention.
When the particle dispersion stirred by the above is a particle dispersion in which an abrasive is dispersed (when the particles are an abrasive), a particle dispersion in which the abrasive is uniformly dispersed can be obtained. When a honing treatment is performed on a substrate using such a particle dispersion, uniform unevenness can be formed on the surface of the substrate. The base material used at that time is aluminum,
Metals such as copper, nickel, iron, zinc and titanium, and drums or sheets made of alloys thereof, and the like,
Examples thereof include those in which a metal such as aluminum and titanium and an alloy thereof are formed into a film by a vacuum evaporation method on the surface of a support obtained by subjecting a support such as plastic or paper to a surface roughening treatment.

The particle dispersion stirring device of the present invention (U1)
The surface treatment method for the base material using the particle dispersion stirred in the above is a wet honing treatment method. Wet honing treatment is a method of suspending a powdered abrasive in a liquid such as water and spraying the substrate at a high speed to roughen the surface.
In this case, the degree of surface treatment roughness is appropriately selected from various conditions such as the pressure and speed of spraying, the amount, concentration, type, shape, size, hardness, specific gravity, and particle size distribution of the abrasive used. Control.

(Second invention) The surface treatment method for a substrate (W) for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the second invention of the present invention is characterized in that the polishing is carried out by the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) of the first invention. The method is characterized in that a honing treatment is carried out by spraying the honing liquid at a high speed onto the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (W) using a particle dispersion in which the material is dispersed as a honing liquid.

(Operation of the Second Invention) In the surface treatment method for a substrate (W) for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the second invention of the present invention having the above configuration, the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) of the first invention is used. )
Since the particle dispersion liquid in which the abrasive material stirred in the above is dispersed is used as the honing liquid, the abrasive material in the particle dispersion liquid is uniformly dispersed. Therefore, when the honing liquid is sprayed at a high speed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (W) to perform honing treatment, uniform unevenness is formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (W). Can be.

(Third Invention) The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the third invention of the present invention is an electrophotographic photoreceptor treated by the surface treatment method for the substrate (W) for an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the second invention. Characterized in that a base material (W) for use is used.

(Effect of the Third Invention) The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the third invention of the present invention having the above-described configuration is treated by the surface treatment method for the substrate (W) for an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the second invention. Since the electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (W) is used, the surface irregularities are uniform.

(Fourth Invention) A surface treatment apparatus for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate according to the fourth invention of the present invention has the following requirements: (B1) a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member; A honing process for accommodating a body for substrate (W) rotatably around its axis and for accommodating a honing gun (22) for spraying a honing liquid onto the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member (W) at a high speed. Tank (15), (B2) substrate rotation support device (17) for rotating the cylindrical electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (W), (B3) the electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (W) and honing A relative movement device for relatively moving the gun (22) in the axial direction; (B4) the honing gun (2);
4. The honing gun (2) using a particle dispersion in which the abrasive material stirred by the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is dispersed as a honing liquid.
Honing liquid supply device (25) to be supplied to 2).

The relative moving device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is configured such that the honing gun (22) is moved with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member base material (W), or for the electrophotographic photosensitive member with respect to the honing gun (22). It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the substrate (W) is moved.

(Function of the Fourth Invention) In the surface treatment apparatus for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate (W) according to the fourth invention of the present invention, the honing tank (15) is rotatable around an axis. A cylindrical electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (W) and a honing gun (22) are accommodated therein. Honing liquid supply device (2
5) The honing gun uses a particle dispersion obtained by dispersing the abrasive stirred by the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in the honing gun (22) as a honing liquid. (22). The honing gun (22) sprays a honing liquid on the surface of the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member (W) at a high speed.
At this time, the substrate rotation support device (17) rotates the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member base (W), and the relative moving device rotates the electrophotographic photosensitive member base (W) and The honing gun (22) is relatively axially moved.

Therefore, the honing liquid can be sprayed at a high speed on the entire surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate (W). A particle dispersion in which an abrasive material stirred by the particle dispersion stirring device (U1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is uniformly dispersed is used as the honing liquid. Uniform unevenness can be formed on the entire surface of the body substrate (W). Therefore, it becomes possible to manufacture an electrophotographic photoreceptor having uniform unevenness on the surface. In such a case, even when charging is performed by a contact charging method using an electrophotographic photosensitive member having uniform unevenness formed on the surface, a charge leak does not occur and an electrophotographic photosensitive member that does not cause image quality defects is manufactured. Can be.

When the electrophotographic photoreceptor is manufactured using the electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate (conductive substrate) (W) roughened (having irregularities) as described above, An undercoat layer is formed if desired. The undercoat layer is formed using a known resin, and is preferably set in a range of 0.05 μm to 10 μm, particularly preferably in a range of 0.1 μm to 2 μm.
When the photosensitive layer has a laminated structure of a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer,
Any of them can be formed on the underlayer. The charge generation layer is formed using a known material such as phthalocyanine, and its thickness is preferably set in the range of 0.05 μm to 1 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 μm. The charge transport layer can be formed of a known material such as polycarbonate with a thickness of 15 to 30 μm.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, specific examples (embodiments) of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a surface treatment apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a particle dispersion stirring device (U1) used in the surface treatment device of FIG. In FIG. 1, the surface treatment device U has a particle dispersion liquid stirring device U1 and a honing treatment device U2. The particle dispersion stirring device U1 has a stirring container 1 for containing a particle dispersion in which particles composed of an abrasive are dispersed. The stirring vessel 1 has a small-diameter cylindrical wall 2 at a lower part of the vessel, a large-diameter cylindrical wall 3 at an upper part, and a conical wall 4 connecting an upper end of the small-diameter cylindrical wall 2 and a lower end of the large-diameter cylindrical wall 3.
A circular bottom wall 5 is provided at the lower end of the small-diameter cylindrical wall 2.

At the lower end of the stirring vessel 1, a swirling flow forming nozzle 7 for ejecting the particle dispersion in a circumferential direction along the inner surface of the small-diameter cylindrical wall 2 to form a swirling flow of the particle dispersion.
Is provided. Further, inside the stirring vessel 1, the stirring nozzle 8 for jetting the particle dispersion liquid downward toward the conical wall 4 to stir the swirling flow is provided.
The stirring nozzle 8 is disposed at an intermediate position between the cylindrical wall and the center of the cylindrical wall, and ejects the particle dispersion liquid vertically downward. In FIG. 2, the swirling flow forming nozzle 7 of the first embodiment is disposed at the position of arrow B1, and the tip of the stirring nozzle 8 is swung around the center line of the cylindrical walls 2, 3. It is disposed at a position rotated by an angle θ (within a range of θ = 225 degrees ± 90 degrees) in the swirling flow direction from the position of the jet port at the tip of the flow forming nozzle 7. In FIG.
The particle dispersion circulating apparatus 11 has a particle dispersion circulation path 12 and a pump 13. The pump 13 sucks the particle dispersion in the stirring vessel 1, and the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 and the The mixture is transferred to the stirring nozzle 8 and jetted into the stirring vessel 1.

The honing treatment unit U2 disposed above the particle dispersion stirring device U1 has a honing treatment tank 15
have. On the bottom wall of the honing tank 15, a processing liquid outlet 15a for returning the honing liquid to the stirring vessel 1 is provided. The processing liquid outlet 15a and the stirring vessel 1 are connected by a processing liquid return pipe 16. A substrate W for an electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotatably supported in the honing tank 15 by a substrate rotation support device 17. The substrate rotation support device 17 includes a substrate lower end support member 18 and a substrate upper end support member 19 having a conical outer surface, a bearing 20, and a motor M1. The substrate lower end support member 18 is rotated by a motor M1, and the substrate upper end support member 19 is rotatably supported by a support member (not shown) via a bearing 20.

In the honing tank 15, a honing gun 22 supported at the lower end of a lifting rod 21 which is raised and lowered by a lifting device (not shown) is supported so as to be able to move up and down. An unillustrated elevating device that raises and lowers the honing gun 22 has a function as a relative moving device that relatively moves the honing gun 22 with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member base material W. The honing gun 22 includes:
The particle dispersion liquid in the stirring vessel 1 is supplied by a honing liquid supply device 25 including a pump 23 and a honing liquid supply pipe 24, and compressed air A is supplied from an air supply source 26. Therefore, while rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate W by the substrate rotation supporting device 17 and moving the lifting rod 21 from above to below, the honing gun 22 removes the particle dispersion liquid (honing liquid). By performing a honing process by spraying the surface of the substrate W for an electrophotographic photosensitive member at a high speed, fine irregularities can be uniformly formed on the surface of the substrate W for an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

The swirling flow forming nozzle 7 of the first embodiment is shown in FIG.
And the stirring nozzle 8 of the first embodiment is a nozzle arranged at the position of arrow C3. A position B2 shown in FIG. 2 indicates an arrangement position of the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 used in an experiment described later, and positions C1, C2 and C4 shown in FIG. The arrangement position of the forming nozzle 7 is shown. The positions indicated by the arrows C1 to C4 are the cylindrical walls 2 and 3 respectively.
Of the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 at the position B1 around the center line
Angle θ (θ = 45) in the swirling direction from the position of the jet port at the tip
Degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees, and 315 degrees ± 9 places
0 °) indicates a rotated position.

(Operation of the First Embodiment) The stirring vessel 1 has a capacity of 200 liters, and a concentration of 27 wt.
% Of a particle dispersion (polishing liquid). The inside of the tank was stirred by sending this particle dispersion to each nozzle via the pump shown in FIG. Further, as the photoreceptor base material W, 0.75 mm thickness × 30 mmφ × 340
mm of aluminum pipe,
The surface was finished to a smooth surface of Ra: 0.03 to 0.04 μm by performing a mirror-cutting process using a diamond tool.

The aluminum pipe is used as a photoreceptor substrate W, and the surface treatment of the photoreceptor substrate W is performed using a particle dispersion liquid (polishing liquid) in a stirring vessel 1 stirred by a surface treatment apparatus U shown in FIG. (Surface roughening treatment) was performed. In the surface treatment, 55.5 kg of an abrasive is suspended in 100 liters of water, and the suspension is sent to the honing gun 22 at a flow rate of 21 liter / min.
０0.2 MPa) to obtain the desired surface roughness (Ra:
(0.1 to 0.5 [mu] m). The honing gun 22 is moved in the axial direction of the substrate at 2000 mm / min.
And rotated.

In the following Comparative Examples 1 to 6, a swirl flow forming nozzle 7 was used.
The experiment was performed under the same conditions except that the arrangement position of the stirring nozzle 8 was different. (Comparative Example 1) The position of the jet port of the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 was B1 in FIG. 2, and the stirring nozzle 8 was not used. (Comparative Example 2) The position of the ejection port of the stirring nozzle 8 is C in FIG.
4 and the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 was not used. (Comparative Example 3) The position of the spout of the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 is B1 in FIG. 2, and the position of the spout of the stirring nozzle 8 is B1 in FIG.
Was C1. (Comparative Example 4) The position of the spout of the swirling flow forming nozzle 7 is B1 in FIG. 2, and the position of the spout of the stirring nozzle 8 is B1 in FIG.
C2. (Comparative Example 5) The positions of the ejection ports of the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 were B1 and B2 in FIG. 2, and the stirring nozzle 8 was not used. (Comparative Example 6) The position of the spout of the swirling flow forming nozzle 7 is B2 in FIG. 2, and the position of the spout of the stirring nozzle 8 is B2 in FIG.
C2.

The tank liquid surface concentration and the liquid surface concentration by stirring in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were examined. Table 1 shows the results.

[0038]

[Table 1]

The abrasives used in the following Examples and Comparative Examples, and the commercial products used for each coating film were as follows.
Abrasive: Aluminum oxide manufactured by Showa Titanium Co., Ltd .: Alnabeads (CB-A30S), and its particle size is 27 μm.

On a roughened substrate, 100 parts of a 50% toluene solution of tributoxyzirconium acetylacetonate (ZC540, manufactured by Matsumoto Kosho Co., Ltd.) as a zirconium compound, and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a silane compound (A1100, manufactured by Nippon Unicar Co., Ltd.) 10 parts, polyvinyl butyral resin (BM-S, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 10 parts and n-butanol 130 parts were mixed, and the obtained coating solution was applied by dip coating.
Heating at 0C for 15 minutes formed a 1.0 μm undercoat layer.

Next, a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine pigment (described in JP-A-5-263007) was added to a 2% solution of polyvinyl butyral resin (trade name: BM-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) in cyclohexanone. Was mixed at a ratio of 2: 1 and then subjected to a dispersion treatment by a sand mill for 3 hours. The obtained dispersion is further treated with n-acetic acid.
Diluted with butyl and dip-coated on the substrate surface, 0.15μ
An m-thick charge generating layer was formed. Next, a solution prepared by dissolving 4 parts of N, N'-diphenyl-N, N'-bis (m-tolyl) benzidine and 6 parts of polycarbonate Z resin in 36 parts of monochlorobenzene was applied onto the charge generating layer by dip coating. ,
After drying at 115 C for 40 minutes, a charge transport layer having a thickness of 24 μm was formed, and this was used as a photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member).

The photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member) obtained above is mounted on a multi-functional printer (Able-3321 manufactured by Fuji Xerox, a contact charging method using a charging roll), and a continuous printing is performed using an image including a halftone density. An output test was performed on up to 4,000 sheets, and each output image was examined. The results are shown in Table 1 above.

In the case of Example 1, there was no difference in liquid concentration between the upper layer and the lower layer in the tank, the concentration was stable in the upper layer, and it was confirmed that the liquid in the tank became uniform. Also, the variation in surface roughness after the substrate surface treatment is small, uniform roughness is obtained on the entire substrate surface, and white spots, black spots, interference fringes, etc., even after an output test of 50,000 images. No image quality defects were found. Also, observing the SEM photograph of the aluminum substrate,
It was confirmed that the substrate had a surface with a uniform roughness.

In Comparative Examples 1, 2, 4, and 5,
The inside of the tank is not sufficiently agitated to the upper layer portion, and the tank delivery varies. However, the local concentration in the tank was relatively stable, and no image quality defect was observed in the image output test. In Comparative Examples 3 and 6, the inside of the tank was not stirred up to the upper layer, the inside of the tank varied in concentration, and stirring was not possible to supply a uniform liquid. Also,
As for the surface roughness of the substrate, the dispersion in the substrate is large and the surface becomes uneven. Therefore, in the image output test, image defects due to electrification leak and interference fringes appeared due to variations in surface roughness.

In the case where stirring is performed using a swirling flow and a downward flow in the stirring vessel 1, the jet port for forming the downward flow is moved from the resent port for forming the swirling flow in the normal direction of 225 degrees in the direction of the swirling flow. When installed, a substrate with the most stable surface roughness and no image quality defects can be obtained. In addition, only the jets forming the downward flow, only the jets forming the swirl flow, the jets forming the downward flow, the swirl flow from the jet forming the swirl flow within 225 degrees ± 90 degrees A base material free from image quality defects can be obtained even in a combination of installation in the normal direction.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a surface treatment apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. In the description of the second embodiment, components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points, but has the same configuration as the first embodiment in other points. 3 and 4, in the second embodiment, two honing treatment tanks 15 are provided, and the two honing treatment tanks 15 and 15 are configured by partitioning an integrally formed container by a partition wall 31. ing. The honing tank 15 and the substrate rotation supporting device 17 are rotated by a motor M2.
2 supported. The substrate upper end support member 19 is configured to be able to move up and down. When the rotating table 32 rotates, it rises once to separate the photosensitive member W, and after rotating the rotating table 32, it descends to hold the photosensitive member W. It is configured as follows. Only one processing liquid return pipe 16 for returning the processing liquid in the honing processing tank 15 to the stirring vessel 1 is provided, and each processing liquid outlet 15a of each of the two honing processing tanks 15 is provided with the processing liquid. It is configured to rotate without contacting the return pipe 16.

With the honing gun 22 raised above the honing tank 15, the motor M2
By rotating the rotary table 32 by rotating the honing processing tanks 15, 15, one of the two honing processing tanks 15 and 15 is alternately turned to the honing processing position (the honing processing tank 15).
(A position where each processing liquid discharge port 15a faces the upper end of the processing liquid return pipe 16). In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the position of the swirling flow forming nozzle 7 is B1 (see FIG. 2), and the position of the stirring nozzle 8 is C3 (θ = 225 degrees,
(See FIG. 2).

(Operation of the Second Embodiment) The Honing Gun 2
In a state where 2 is raised, the rotary table 32 is rotated by the motor M2 to move one of the two tanks, the honing tank 15, to the honing processing position.
In this state, the honing gun 22 is lowered and moved to the honing processing tank 15, and the honing processing is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the particle dispersion treatment liquid in which the abrasive is dispersed in the stirring vessel 1 can be uniformly stirred by the swirl flow forming nozzle 7 and the stirring nozzle 8. As a result, uniform unevenness can be formed on the surface of the photoconductor substrate W.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a surface treatment apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of FIG. In the description of the third embodiment, components corresponding to the components of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in the following points, but has the same configuration as the second embodiment in other points. 5 and 6, in the third embodiment, the center of the bottom wall of the honing tank 15 is constituted by a rotating bottom wall 33. The partition wall 31 is composed of a pair of fixed partition walls 31a, 31a (see FIG. 6) on the outer side and a rotary partition wall 31b on the center. The rotary bottom wall 33 is configured to rotate integrally with the rotary partition wall 31b.

The rotary table 32 and the motor M 2 are supported by a lifting table 34 so as to be able to move up and down. Further, the shafts 18a, 18a of the substrate lower end supporting members 18, 18 rotated by the motors M1, M1 penetrate the rotating bottom wall 33 slidably and rotatably. Therefore, when the rotary table 32 rotates, the rotary bottom wall 33 and the rotary partition wall 31b rotate, and the positions of the motors M1, M1 and the photoconductor substrates W, W rotated by the motors M1, M1 are switched. Have been. In the third embodiment, since the bottom wall portion outside the rotating bottom wall 33 does not rotate, it is integrally connected to the processing liquid return pipe 16 and the processing liquid discharge port 15a. In the third embodiment, instead of the honing gun 22 moving up and down,
The honing process is performed while the photosensitive member base material W is moved up and down by raising and lowering the lifting table 34. In the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the particle dispersion treatment liquid in which the abrasive is dispersed in the stirring vessel 1 can be uniformly stirred by the swirling flow forming nozzle 7 and the stirring nozzle 8. Uniform irregularities can be formed on the surface of the photoconductor substrate W.

[0051]

As described above, the particle dispersion stirring device of the present invention, the surface treatment method for a substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member using the particle dispersion stirring device, the surface treatment device, and the surface treatment method are used. The electrophotographic photoreceptor has the following effects. (E01) The particles can be uniformly dispersed in the liquid. (E02) A polishing liquid in which the polishing material is uniformly dispersed can be produced. (E03) To provide an improved electrophotographic photoreceptor free from image quality defects such as interference fringe patterns and black spots when images are formed by laser light, and image quality defects due to charge leakage due to contact charging. Can be. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention can stably provide good image quality by being used in an electrophotographic copying machine using a laser beam, in particular, a laser beam printer using a contact charging system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a surface treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a particle dispersion stirring device used in the surface treatment device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a surface treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a surface treatment apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing that unevenness of the surface of the base material after honing varies when the dispersion of the abrasive in the liquid is not uniform.

FIG. 8 is a view showing that uniform unevenness is formed on the surface of a substrate after honing when the abrasive is uniformly dispersed.

[Explanation of symbols]

U1: a particle dispersion stirring device, W: a substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member, 1: a stirring container, 2: a small-diameter cylindrical wall, 3: a large-diameter cylindrical wall,
Reference numeral 4 denotes a conical wall, 7 denotes a swirling flow forming nozzle, 8 denotes a stirring nozzle, 11 denotes a particle dispersion liquid circulation device, 15 denotes a honing treatment tank, 22 denotes a honing gun, and 25 denotes a honing liquid supply device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazu Tanaka 1600 Takematsu, Minami Ashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A particle dispersion stirring device having the following requirements, (A01) a stirring container having a vertical cylindrical wall and containing a particle dispersion, (A02) the particle dispersion A nozzle for forming a swirling flow which jets the particle dispersion in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall surface so that a swirling flow is formed in the swirl flow, (A03)
A stirring nozzle for ejecting the particle dispersion vertically at an intermediate position between the cylindrical wall and the center of the cylindrical wall, (A
04) A particle dispersion circulating device that circulates the particle dispersion in the stirring vessel and jets out from the swirl flow forming nozzle and the stirring nozzle. 2. The particle dispersion stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the stirring device has the following requirements: (A05) a nozzle at the tip of the swirling flow forming nozzle around a center line of the cylindrical wall; The stirring nozzle having a stirring nozzle tip disposed at a position rotated within a range of 225 degrees ± 90 degrees in a swirling flow direction from the position. 3. The particle dispersion stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the device has the following requirements: (A06) a small-diameter cylindrical wall is provided at a lower portion, and a large-diameter cylindrical wall is provided at an upper portion. A stirring vessel having a conical wall connecting the upper end of the small-diameter cylindrical wall and the lower end of the large-diameter cylindrical wall, (A07) the swirl flow forming nozzle for jetting the particle dispersion along the inner surface of the small-diameter cylindrical wall, A08) The stirring nozzle for ejecting a particle dispersion liquid downward toward the conical wall. 4. A particle dispersion in which an abrasive is stirred by the particle dispersion stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is used as a honing liquid, and is applied to a surface of a substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member. A method for surface treatment of a substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising spraying the honing liquid at a high speed to perform a honing treatment. 5. An electrophotographic photoreceptor using an electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate that has been treated by the surface treatment method for an electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate according to claim 4. 6. An electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate surface treatment apparatus characterized by having the following requirements: (B1) A cylindrical electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate is rotatably accommodated around its axis. A honing tank containing a honing gun for spraying a honing liquid onto the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member at a high speed, and (B2) a substrate rotating support for rotating the cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member. An apparatus, (B3) a relative moving device for relatively moving the substrate for the electrophotographic photoreceptor and the honing gun in the axial direction, and (B4) the particle dispersion according to any one of claims 1 to 3 to the honing gun. A honing liquid supply device for supplying a particle dispersion in which an abrasive material stirred by a liquid stirring device is dispersed to the honing gun as a honing liquid.