JPH11288115A - Light-transmitting substrate for electrophotographic photoreceptor and its manufacture, electrophotographic photoreceptor using same, and method and apparatus for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce deformation of a substrate even in the case of successively forming images for a long time and to prevent occurrence of clouding in the substrate and blurring of images and to improve storage stability by forming the light-transmitting substrate with a copolymer comprising repeating units derived from a methacrylate monomer having a cyclic group. SOLUTION: The light-transmitting substrate is manufactured with the copolymer made of >=2 kinds of methacrylates, one of them having a cyclic aromatic group, such as phenyl group, and the methacrylate being such as methyl methacrylate. The copolymer may be synthesized from a cross-linkable monomer and a noncross-linkable monomer, thus permitting deformation of the substrate to be extremely reduced even in the case of successively forming images for a long time prevented from clouding of the substrate and blurring of images and improved in storage stability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member used for monochrome and color copiers, monochrome and color printers and the like, a method for producing the same, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member and an image using the same. The present invention relates to a forming method and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus using an electrostatic image developing method such as an electrophotographic method, a type in which an image is exposed from the inside of an electrostatic image forming body has attracted attention. This is because a high quality color image can be obtained at a high speed, and it is considered to be the most excellent configuration at present to satisfy the user need to be compact in order to save office space.

However, when the exposure is performed from the inside of the electrostatic image forming member, a transparent substrate for the electrostatic image forming member having a large diameter capable of accommodating the exposure device therein is required. For example, when glass is used as the material of the substrate, there are problems in productivity, accuracy, lightness, cost, and impact resistance, and it is considered that practical use is difficult.

[0004] Therefore, the applicant of the present invention first disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 2,020,675 proposed a method for producing a transparent and accurate substrate using a synthetic resin that is lightweight, has excellent impact resistance, and is low in cost. However, resins have problems in heat resistance, storage resistance and durability, and methacrylic acid ester resins and the like may be deformed due to heat applied in a drying step when coating a photosensitive layer, or may be stored at high temperature and high humidity. It turned out that there was a problem with sex. However, at present, no specific method for solving this problem has been studied.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has been obtained as a result of studying the development of a substrate for an electrostatic image forming member from the viewpoint of material. .

More specifically, when a photosensitive member is manufactured using a translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which an exposure apparatus is housed, even if an image is continuously formed for a long time, Transformation substrate for electrophotographic photoreceptor with minimal deformation of the substrate, good storability without white turbidity of the substrate, no image blurring and the like, method of manufacturing the same, electrophotographic photoreceptor using the same, image forming method, and It is to provide a device.

[0007]

The object of the present invention is attained by adopting one of the following constitutions.

[1] An electron characterized in that a light-transmitting substrate is formed of a copolymer resin made of two or more methacrylate monomer units, at least one of which has a cyclic group. Transparent substrate for photographic photoreceptors.

[2] The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to [1], wherein the cyclic group is an aromatic group.

[3] The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to [2], wherein the aromatic group is a benzyl group.

[4] The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to [1], wherein the methacrylate monomer unit is methyl methacrylate.

[5] The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to [1], wherein the copolymer resin is synthesized from a monomer having a crosslinking property and a monomer having no crosslinking property.

[6] The translucent substrate is made of two or more methacrylate monomer units, and at least one of the monomer units is formed of a copolymer resin having a cyclic group. A method for producing a translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, comprising:

[7] The method for producing a translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to [6], wherein the translucent substrate is produced by a centrifugal polymerization method.

[8] In an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a light-transmitting substrate provided with a conductive layer and a photosensitive layer, the light-transmitting substrate is made of a copolymer resin made of two or more methacrylate monomer units. Formed, at least one of which
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein one monomer unit has a cyclic group.

[0016]

[9] The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to [8], which is an internal exposure photoreceptor for exposing an image through a light-transmitting substrate.

[10] The surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is uniformly charged, and image exposure and color development are repeated to form a multicolor superimposed image, which is subjected to batch transfer, separation, fixing, and photoreceptor cleaning steps. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a conductive layer and a photosensitive layer provided on a transparent substrate formed of the copolymer resin according to claim 1 is used to transmit through the transparent substrate. An image forming apparatus, comprising: exposing an image; and forming an image by non-contact development.

[11] A step of uniformly charging the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an image exposing step, and a color developing step are repeated to form a multicolor superimposed image, a batch transfer step, a separating step, a fixing step, and a photosensitive step. 2. An image forming method comprising the steps of body cleaning, wherein an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive layer and a photosensitive layer formed on the translucent substrate formed of the copolymer resin according to claim 1 is used. An image forming method, wherein an image is exposed by transmitting light through the substrate and an image is formed by non-contact development.

As described above, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-2020067
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-157, proposes a method for producing a transparent and accurate substrate using a synthetic resin that is lightweight, has excellent impact resistance, and is low in cost.

As the resin, a methyl methacrylate resin or the like is used. However, according to the study of the present inventors, when an organic photosensitive layer or the like is applied during the production of a photoreceptor, heat must be applied for drying, and the base itself is not used. Deforms slightly and reduces dimensional accuracy. It has been found that this causes image blur and density unevenness during image formation. It has also been found that the durability, that is, the storability under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment is lowered, and that the resin becomes cloudy, which causes image blur.

As a result of intensive studies to suppress the deformation of the translucent substrate during heating, the use of a resin formed from a copolymer resin of a methacrylic acid ester having a cyclic group and a methacrylic acid ester as a resin as a base material. ,
The heat resistance can be improved, the deformation due to heat during the production of the photoconductor hardly occurs, and the decrease in dimensional accuracy can be reduced. Furthermore, storage stability was improved without causing cloudiness.

The reason why a remarkable effect like the present invention can be obtained is not clear. Presumably, if the monomer unit contains a moderately bulky substituent, the tendency of random polymerization will increase, not only the transparency will increase, but also the durability will improve and the image will be formed continuously for a long time. Also, the deformation of the substrate is extremely small, and the storage stability is likely to be improved without the white turbidity of the substrate.

The bulky cyclic group is preferably a cycloalkyl group such as cyclohexyl, a heterocyclic group such as furfuryl group, or an aromatic group such as benzyl group or phenyl group.

Specific examples of the methacrylate containing a cyclic group include 4-methylcyclohexyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, furfuryl methacrylate, 1-phenylethyl methacrylate, 1-phenylcyclohexyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, and 1,2-diphenylethyl. Methacrylate,
Examples include diphenylmethyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, 1-naphthyl methacrylate, norbornyl methacrylate, and tricyclodecyl methacrylate.
Specifically, a system of methyl methacrylate-benzyl methacrylate is preferred because of its excellent optical properties.

Esters of methacrylic acid esters, which are another copolymer component, are substituted and unsubstituted alkyl esters having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl and butyl esters. Of these, methyl esters are preferred in terms of mechanical properties and optical properties.

In addition to the methacrylate ester containing a cyclic group and the methacrylate ester as another copolymerization component, a third monomer capable of radical polymerization may be further added. Radical polymerizable monomers include styrene,
α-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, side-chain alkyl-substituted styrene such as p-methylstyrene, nuclear alkyl-substituted styrene such as vinyltoluene, p-chlorostyrene,
o-chlorostyrene, m-chlorostyrene, p-bromostyrene, o-bromostyrene, m-bromostyrene,
2,4-dichlorostyrene, 2,4-dibromostyrene, 4-chloro-α-methylstyrene, 4-bromo-α
-Methylstyrene, 2,4,6-trichlorostyrene,
Halogenated styrenes such as 2,4,6-tribromostyrene, pentachlorostyrene and pentabromostyrene; and aromatic vinyls such as vinyl benzoate, 2-vinylnaphthalene, 4-vinylbiphenyl and 1,1'-diphenylethylene Monomers, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, fumaronitrile, maleonitrile, vinyl cyanide monomers such as α-chloroacrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, amyl methacrylate, hequinyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate , Nonyl methacrylate, Dodecyl methacrylate, Octadecyl methacrylate, Stearyl methacrylate, Octyl methacrylate, Cyc Hexane Nru methacrylate, allyl methacrylate, Jinkuro dicyclopentanyl methacrylate,
Norbornyl methacrylate, adamantyl methacrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, phenokine ethyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, naphthyl methacrylate, butoxyethyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate,
Amyl acrylate, hekinyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, 2-ethylhequinyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, dodenyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, benzyl acrylate, and other alkyl (meth) acrylates, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, etc. (Meth) acrylic acids, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-
Hydroquinpropyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phenokinepropyl (meth) acrylate,
OH such as tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth) acrylate
Group-containing (meth) acrylates, glycidyl (meth)
Epoxy group-containing (meth) acrylates such as acrylates, N-containing (meth) acrylates such as N, N-diethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, butyne triethylene glycol (meth) acrylate, ethoxyquin diethylene glycol (meth) acrylate (Meth) acrylates containing ether groups such as maleic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, dimethylmalate, dibutylmalate, dibenzylmalate, etc., maleic esters, itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, Fumaric acid, fumaric acid ester such as itaconic acid, itaconic acid esters such as benzyl itaconate and dibenzyl itaconate, fumaric acid, dimethyl fumarate, dibutyl fumarate, diisopropyl fumarate, dibenzyl fumarate, and zinc hexyl fumarate , Further vinyl acetate as other monomers, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, N-t-
Butylmaleimide, N-laurylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-phenylmaleimide, N-
N-alkylphenylmaleimides such as o-chlorophenylmaleimide and N-dimethylphenylmaleimide;
-Phenylmaleimides and mixtures thereof are preferably used.

Of all the monomer components, the methacrylic acid ester is preferably 10 to 95 mol%, and more preferably the methacrylic acid ester is methyl acrylate.
What contains mol% is good. The methacrylate having a cyclic group is preferably 5 to 90 mol%, more preferably the methacrylate having a cyclic group is benzyl methacrylate, and preferably 10 to 70 mol%. Third
Is preferably 0 to 50 mol%.

A crosslinkable monomer may be added to further improve heat resistance. Examples of the polyfunctional vinyl compound (crosslinker monomer) that can be used in the present invention include divinylbenzene, metadivinylbenzene, 4,4'-divinylbiphenyl, 3,3'-divinylbiphenyl, and 3,4'-
Divinyl biphenyl, ethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, diethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, 1,4-butanediol di (meth) acrylate, trimethylolpropane tri (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, divinyl phthalate, Examples include diallyl phthalate, divinyl isophthalate, diallyl isophthalate, divinyl terephthalate, diallyl terephthalate, diallyl naphthenate, triallyl isocyanurate, diallyl carbonate, and diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate.

The amount of the crosslinking agent added is 0.0
It is used in the range of 5 to 90% by weight. If it is less than 0.05% by weight, the heat resistance may not be satisfactory. If it is more than 90% by weight, the resin becomes hard but brittle.

In the polymer resin for a substrate used in the present invention, the radical polymerization initiator used is not particularly limited, and the active radical is generated by an active energy ray such as visible light, infrared ray, ultraviolet ray, microwave, electron beam or heat. Whatever occurs is acceptable.

Radical polymerization initiators which generate active radicals by heat include benzoyl peroxide, diisopropylperokine dicarbonate, t-butylperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate, t-butylperoxypivalate, and t-butylperoxypivalate. Oquindiisobutyrate, lauroyl peroxide, t-butylperoxyacetate, t-butylperoxyoctoate, t-butylperoxybenzoate, di-t-butylperoxide, azobisisobutyronitrile and the like.

As a radical polymerization initiator for generating an active radical by an activation energy ray, acetophenone,
Benzophenone, benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, hydroquincyclohexyl phenyl ketone, methylphenyl glioquinate, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide And benzyl dimethyl ketal, and can be used alone or as a mixture when used.

The mixing ratio of the radical polymerization initiator varies depending on the type of the radical polymerization initiator, the type of the vinyl-based monomer, the polymerization curing temperature, and the like. In general, the mixing ratio is based on 100 parts by weight of the copolymerizable vinyl-based monomer. And preferably 0.01 to 8 parts by weight, particularly preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight. If the mixing ratio of the radical polymerization initiator is less than 0.01 parts by weight, it may take a long time for the polymerization and curing, or the polymerization may not be completed. If the amount of the polymerization initiator exceeds 8 parts by weight, the polymer may become brittle or colored.

The centrifugal polymerization method, which is a typical method for producing a cylindrical light-transmitting substrate for an image forming apparatus in the present invention, will be specifically described as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shows an example of the production apparatus. I have.

In the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, C1 is a cylindrical mold and the inner surface is polished to form a highly accurate cylindrical surface. C2 is a heating member for heating from outside the mold C1. C3 is a mold holding member that sandwiches the mold C1 from the left and right.
The liquid inside will not leak. C4 is an inlet for injecting the polymerizable liquid material. C5 is a thermometer for measuring the temperature inside the mold C1. This apparatus has a structure in which the axis of the mold C1 is adjusted to be horizontal, and after the polymerizable liquid material is injected, the apparatus rotates at a high speed. After the molding, the cylindrical substrate is taken out by moving one of the mold holding members C3 in the direction of arrow B.

In the production process shown in FIG. 1, first, a vinyl polymerizable liquid material such as benzyl methacrylate and methacrylate is used, and a polymerization initiator is added to rapidly polymerize the liquid and poured into a cylindrical mold C1. . This is rotated for each mold and is heated appropriately to promote uniform polymerization. After the polymerization is completed, for example, an annealing treatment such as lowering the temperature very slowly is performed, and then cooled to a temperature close to room temperature.The obtained substrate is removed from the mold, cut and, if necessary, subjected to a finishing step to form a cylindrical shape for an image forming apparatus. The base is completed.

The cylindrical substrate obtained by such a manufacturing process has a hardness comparable to that of aluminum, a light transmittance of 80% or more, and an impact resistance of about 15 times that of glass, without internal distortion.

The centrifugal polymerization method of the present invention does not leave dice scratches on the surface of the cylindrical substrate, and particularly the inner surface is a natural one obtained by centrifugal force, as compared with the extrusion method which is a molding method widely used at present. Formed on a surface to form an extremely smooth inner surface such as a glass surface. Further, since the internal stress is small, the image exposure may be distorted even if the image exposure apparatus is used as a cylindrical base for an electrostatic image forming body (photoreceptor) and an image exposure light source is installed therein. And no deterioration in image performance.

Next, the cylindrical substrate of the present invention used for an electrostatic image forming body will be described. The cylindrical substrate of the present invention has a smooth surface, and particularly when a copolymer of methyl methacrylate is used, the transparency is extremely high and the strength is high. It is suitable for an image forming apparatus employing a mechanism for performing exposure from the inside.

A typical example is an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which a conductive layer and a photoconductor photosensitive layer are provided on the surface of a cylindrical light-transmitting substrate. The methods that have been used can be widely used.

That is, the transparent conductive layer may be formed by vapor deposition or sputtering of a metal or metal oxide such as aluminum, SnO ₂ , ITO (indium tin oxide), or conductive fine particles of SnO ₂ , ITO, or alumina. A typical example thereof is the formation of a coating film of a conductive resin using a mixture of a resin and a resin.

An undercoat layer may be provided below the charge generation layer for improving the adhesion of the photosensitive layer, improving the coatability, covering defects on the substrate, and improving the charge injection property from the substrate to the charge generation layer. .
Examples of the material for the undercoat layer include alcohol-soluble polyamide, copolymerized nylon, alkoxymethylated nylon, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, casein, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose, gelatin, and
As described in JP-A-68870, a curable undercoat layer using a metal alkoxide, an organic metal chelate, and a silane coupling agent is used. These are applied so that the film thickness becomes about 0.01 to 5 μm.

In forming the photosensitive layer, an inorganic photoconductor layer may be formed by vapor deposition or the like. However, an organic photoconductor layer, particularly a function-separated type containing both a charge transport material and a charge generation material, may be used. In particular, it is preferable to form by applying an organic photoreceptor of a type in which each is separately laminated. Further, it is desirable to apply an intermediate layer on the transparent conductive layer before forming the photosensitive layer, and these are typically a resin such as polyamide or a curable type comprising an organometallic compound and a silane coupling agent. is there.

The charge generation layer (CGL) is formed by dispersing a charge generation material (CGM) in a binder resin as required. Examples of CGM include metal or metal-free phthalocyanine compounds, azo compounds such as bisazo compounds and trisazo compounds, squarium compounds, azurenium compounds, perylene compounds, indico compounds, quinacridone compounds, polycyclic quinone compounds, cyanine dyes, xanthene dyes, Examples include, but are not limited to, charge transfer complexes comprising poly-N-vinylcarbazole and trinitrofluorenone. These may be used as a mixture of two or more as necessary. However, in order to achieve the object of the present invention at the highest level, titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc), a kind of perylene compound, an imidazole perylene compound or a kind of metal phthalocyanine compound, is preferable.

As the binder resin usable for the charge generation layer, for example, polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyacryl resin, polymethacryl resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, Epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, polyphenol resins, polyester resins, polyalkyd resins, polycarbonate resins, polysilicone resins, polymelamine resins, and copolymer resins containing two or more of the repeating units of these resins, for example, vinyl chloride-acetic acid Vinyl copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride copolymer resin, and high-molecular organic semiconductor such as poly-N-vinyl carbazole,
And the like, but are not limited thereto. Among the above, when the imidazole perylene compound is used as the CGM, a preferred binder is polyvinyl butyral resin, and a preferred binder when using TiOPc is a polysilicone resin and a polyvinyl butyral resin, or a mixture of both. No.

The charge transport layer (CTL) is composed of a charge transport material (CTM) alone or together with a binder resin. Examples of the CTM include carbazole derivatives, oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, thiazole derivatives, thiadiazole derivatives, triazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, imidazolone derivatives, imidazolidine derivatives, bisimidazolidine derivatives, styryl compounds, hydrazone compounds, pyrazoline derivatives, and oxazolone. Derivatives, benzimidazole derivatives, quinazoline derivatives, benzofuran derivatives, acridine derivatives,
Phenazine derivatives, aminostilbene derivatives, triarylamine derivatives, phenylenediamine derivatives, stilbene derivatives, benzidine derivatives, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, poly-1-vinylpyrene, poly-9-vinylanthracene, but are not limited thereto. Not necessarily. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the binder resin usable for the charge transport layer, for example, a polycarbonate resin, a polyacrylate resin, a polyester resin, a polystyrene resin,
Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer resin, polymethacrylate resin, and styrene-methacrylate copolymer resin.

Further, in order to reduce the fatigue deterioration upon repeated use or to improve the durability, each of the layers of the photoreceptor is provided with a conventionally known antioxidant, ultraviolet absorber, electron-accepting substance and surface. An environment-dependent reducing agent such as a modifier and a plasticizer can be added in an appropriate amount as needed.

In order to improve the durability, a non-photosensitive layer such as a protective layer may be provided in addition to the photosensitive layer, if necessary.

Next, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a color image forming apparatus showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the electrophotographic photosensitive member manufactured using the cylindrical light-transmitting substrate of the present invention described above is applied.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a photosensitive member which is a drum-shaped electrostatic image forming member. A transparent conductive layer is formed on the outer periphery of a cylindrical substrate formed of a highly transparent copolymer resin of benzyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate. , An intermediate layer, a function separation type organic photosensitive layer comprising a charge generation layer and a charge transfer layer. 110Y, 110M, 110C and 110K are scorotron-type corona charging devices used in image forming processes of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). A charging action is performed by corona discharge to hold a charge of a predetermined potential to the photosensitive layer, and the photosensitive member 10 is charged.
To give a uniform potential.

12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K are
FL (phosphor emission), EL (electroluminescence), PL (plasma discharge), LED (light emitting diode), and lamp and light shutter function in which light emitting elements arranged in the axial direction of the photoconductor 10 are arranged in a line. (Magneto-optical effect optical shutter array) in which elements with
PLZT (Transmissive piezoelectric element shutter array), LCS
An image of each color read by a separate image reading device using an exposure optical system that is an image exposure device configured as a unit including an exposure element such as a (liquid crystal shutter) and a selfoc lens as an equal-magnification image forming element. The signals are sequentially taken out of the memory and the exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 1
2C and 12K are respectively input as electric signals. The above-mentioned exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 12C and 1
Each 2K is attached to a cylindrical holding member 20 and housed inside the substrate of the photoreceptor 10.

The developing devices 13Y, 13M, 13C and 13K are developing devices using non-contact developing methods for accommodating yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) developers. And a developing sleeve that rotates in the same direction while maintaining a predetermined gap with respect to the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 10.

The developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C and 13K are provided with the above-mentioned corona charging devices 110Y, 110
M, 110C and 110K charging, exposure optical system 1
The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 formed by the image exposure by 2Y, 12M, 12C and 12K is reversely developed in a non-contact state by applying a developing bias voltage.

An original image is read by an image reading device separate from the present device, and an image read by an image sensor or an image edited by a computer is temporarily converted into image signals for each of Y, M, C and K colors. Stored and stored in memory.

At the start of image recording, the photosensitive member 10 is rotated clockwise by the start of the photosensitive member drive motor, and at the same time, the photosensitive member 10 is charged by the charging action of the corona charging device 110Y.
Is started.

After the photoreceptor 10 is applied with an electric potential, the exposure optical system 12Y starts exposure with an electric signal corresponding to a first color signal, that is, an image signal of yellow (Y), and the rotation is carried out by rotating the drum. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow (Y) image of the original image is formed on the photosensitive layer on the surface.

The latent image is reversal-developed by the developing device 13Y in a state where the developer on the developing sleeve is not in contact with the developer, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10.

Next, the photosensitive drum 10 is further provided with a corona charging device 110M on the yellow (Y) toner image.
The exposure is performed by an electric signal corresponding to the second color signal of the exposure optical system 12M, that is, the image signal of magenta (M), and the non-contact reversal development is performed by the developing unit 13M. A magenta (M) toner image is sequentially superimposed on the yellow (Y) toner image.

By the same process, the corona charging device 11
0C, a cyan (C) toner image corresponding to the third color signal by the exposure optical system 12C and the developing device 13C, and a fourth color signal by the corona charging device 110K, the exposure optical system 12K and the developing device 13K. Corresponding black (K) toner images are sequentially superposed, and a color toner image is formed on the peripheral surface within one rotation of the photosensitive drum 10.

These exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 12C
Exposure of the organic photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor drum 10 at the temperature of 12 K and 12 K is performed from the inside of the substrate through the transparent substrate described above. Therefore, the exposure of the image corresponding to the second, third, and fourth color signals is performed without any influence from the previously formed toner image, and the same exposure as the image corresponding to the first color signal is performed. It is possible to form an electrostatic latent image. In order to stabilize the temperature inside the photosensitive drum and prevent the temperature from rising due to the heat generated by the exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K, a material having good heat conductivity is used for the holding member 20.
If the temperature is low, a heater is used, and if the temperature is high, measures such as dissipating heat to the outside through a heat pipe can be taken, so that the temperature can be suppressed to a level that does not cause any trouble.

Thus, the color toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is sent out from the paper feed cassette 15 by the feed roller 15a in the transfer unit 14a, and is sent to the timing roller 16 by the pair of transport rollers 15b and 15c. The sheet is conveyed, and is transferred onto a transfer sheet P, which is a transfer material fed in synchronization with the toner image on the photoconductor 10, by driving the timing roller 16.

The transfer paper P to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the drum peripheral surface by the elimination of the charge in the charge eliminator 14b, and thereafter, the transport driving roller 14c and the driven roller 14d.
The fixing device 17 is moved by the conveying belt 14e stretched between the fixing belts.
The fixing roller 17 in the fixing device 17
a, the toner is heated and pressed between the pressure rollers 17b to fuse and fix the toner on the transfer paper P, and then a pair of fixing exit rollers 17d
Is discharged from the fixing device 17 by the
The sheet is conveyed by 8a and is discharged onto a discharge tray 200 at the top of the apparatus via the discharge roller 18. With the above-described photosensitive drum 10 having the photosensitive layer provided on the cylindrical substrate of the present invention, a clear and extremely good image was obtained.

On the other hand, the photosensitive member 10 from which the transfer paper is separated is cleaned by a cleaning device 19 with a cleaning blade 19a.
The surface of the photoreceptor 10 is rubbed to remove the residual toner and is cleaned, and the formation of the toner image of the original image is continued or temporarily stopped to start the formation of a new toner image of the original image. The waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 19a is removed by the toner conveying screw 19b.
It is discharged to a waste toner container (not shown).

The photosensitive member 10 has a relatively small drum diameter because the exposure optical system is housed in the photosensitive member 10.
The plurality of corona charging devices 110 described above are provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
Y, 110M, 110C and 110K, developing unit 13
Y, 13M, 13C and 13K can be provided, and the volume of the apparatus can be made compact by using a small-diameter drum having an outer diameter of 30 mm to 150 mm.

The color example has been described above, but in the case of monochrome, it is preferable to perform contact development.

The substrate of the present invention is disclosed in JP-A-6-23063.
It is easily understood that the present invention is also applied to a system which does not require corona charging as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4 (1994) -208.

[0068]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

Example 1 (Examples and Comparative Examples) Preparation of Cylindrical Translucent Substrate A mixture of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) monomer and methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in which the compounding ratio was changed as shown in Table 1 was added to a mixture of azobisisobutyronitrile ( AIBN) was added, and the mixture was heated at 50 ° C. for 3 hours to carry out prepolymerization to obtain a syrup-like polymerizable liquid material having a viscosity of about 100 cp. This polymerizable liquid material has an inner diameter of 100 m.
The mixture was poured into a cylindrical mold having a length of 800 mm and a length of 800 mm, and the entire mold was subjected to a heat treatment at 60 ° C. for 9 hours while the mold was rotated and brought into close contact with the inner wall of the mold by centrifugal force. The obtained substrate was annealed at a rate of 0.2 ° C./min to room temperature, and then removed from the mold. The obtained substrate was subjected to edge cutting, and the outer diameter was 100 m as shown in Table 1.
m, a cylindrical substrate having a length of 360 mm, 1-1
1-4 were obtained. One was used for a drum test, and the other was used for photoconductor production.

A coating solution composition for a conductive layer as described below was applied to each of the cylindrical substrates so as to have a dry film thickness of 0.5 μm, and was subjected to a heat treatment at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes.

2. Conductive layer coating solution composition Conductive paint X-101H manufactured by Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. 1000 g Toluene 1000 g The coating solution composition UCL-1 of the intermediate layer (UCL) is formed on the above substrate to a dry film thickness of 0.5 μm as follows. Was applied.

[0072] 3. UCL-1 coating solution composition Copolymer nylon resin (CM-8000, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) 3 g Methanol / n-butanol = 10/1 (vol ratio) 1000 ml Coating solution composition for CGL layer as described below on UCL coated above CGL-1 was applied to a dry film thickness of 0.25 μm.

[0073] 4. CGL-1 coating liquid composition Y-type titanyl phthalocyanine (CGM-1) 20 g Silicone resin (KR-5240 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 40 g 2-butanone 1000 g (dispersion of the above coating liquid composition for 10 hours using a sand mill) ) A coating solution composition CTL-1 of a CTL layer as described below was applied to the above-mentioned applied CGL so as to have a dry film thickness of 25 μm, and was subjected to a heat treatment at 90 ° C. for 1 hour. 1-1 to 1-4 were obtained.

[0074] 5. CTL-1 coating solution composition CTM-1 80 g Polycarbonate (Z-200 manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company) 120 g 1,2-dichloroethane 1000 g

[0075]

Embedded image

[0076]

[Table 1]

Example 2 (Examples and Comparative Examples) Preparation of cylindrical substrate Benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) monomer / naphthyl methacrylate (NpMA) monomer / methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer / α-methylstyrene (α-MS
t) In a mixture in which the mixing ratio of the monomers was changed as shown in Table 2,
Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIB) as a polymerization initiator
N) was added thereto, and the mixture was heated at 50 ° C. for 3 hours to perform prepolymerization, thereby obtaining a syrup-like polymerizable liquid material having a viscosity of about 100 cp. This polymerizable liquid material is supplied with an inner diameter of 100 mm and a length of 800
mm, and the entire mold is heated to 60 ° C. and 9 ° C. while rotating the mold and bringing it into close contact with the inner wall of the mold by centrifugal force.
The mixture was subjected to heat treatment for hr to polymerize. The obtained substrate was treated with 0.
After performing an annealing treatment to room temperature at a rate of 2 ° C./min, the mold was taken out of the mold. The obtained substrate was subjected to edge cutting, and the outer diameter was 100 mm and the length was 360 as shown in Table 2.
mm cylindrical substrate, no. 2-1 to 2-5 were obtained, one of which was used for a drum test and the other was used for producing a photoreceptor.

A coating solution composition for a conductive layer as described below was applied to the above-mentioned cylindrical substrate so as to have a dry film thickness of 0.5 μm, and heat-treated at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes.

2. Conductive layer coating solution composition Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. conductive coating material X-101H 1000 g Toluene 1000 g On the above substrate, the coating solution composition UCL-2 of the intermediate layer (UCL) as described below has a dry film thickness of 1.0 μm. Was applied.

[0080] 3. UCL-2 coating solution composition Titanium chelate compound TC-750 (Matsumoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 200 g Silane coupling agent KBM-503 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 130 g 2-propanol 1000 g The coating liquid composition CGL-1 was applied to a dry film thickness of 0.25 μm.

[0081] 4. CGL-1 coating liquid composition Y-type titanyl phthalocyanine (CGM-1) 20 g Silicone resin (KR-5240 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 40 g 2-butanone 1000 g (dispersion of the above coating liquid composition for 10 hours using a sand mill) ) A coating solution composition CTL-1 of a CTL layer as described below was applied to the above-mentioned applied CGL so as to have a dry film thickness of 25 μm, and was subjected to a heat treatment at 90 ° C. for 1 hour. 2-1 to 2-5 were obtained.

[0082] 5. CTL-1 coating liquid composition CTM-1 80 g Polycarbonate (Z-200 manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company) 120 g 1,2-dichloroethane 1000 g Example 3 Benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) monomer / methyl methacrylate (MMA) / divinylbenzene Mix ratio 2
Substrate No. was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the molar ratio was 0/80/10. 3-1 and photoconductor No. 3-1 was produced.

[0083]

[Table 2]

1. Drum test The appearance of the obtained drum was inspected, and the dimensional change after 100 ° C. for 1 hour was measured. In addition, chipping of the drum when the flange was inserted was observed. 0 ° C to + 60 ° C as a forced aging test
A cycle test of 30 RH% to 90 RH% was performed for 30 days, and cloudiness and the like were observed. Table 3 shows the results.

2. Actual Photographic Test An electrophotographic internal exposure type image forming apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. Images were output on 100,000 sheets with 1-1 to 1-4, 2-1 to 2-5, and 3-1 attached. In addition to the image, the drum edge, internal transparency,
Crack resolution and the like were observed. The resolution was evaluated from the number of distinguishable fine lines per 1 mm. Table 3 shows the results.

[0086]

[Table 3]

According to the present invention, by using a copolymer of a methacrylic acid cyclic group-containing ester and a methacrylic acid ester, the drum has good mechanical properties, dimensional stability, optical properties, storage stability, etc., and has good electrophotographic performance. In particular, it can be seen that there is no blurring in the actual photographing of a large number of images, and a stable image can be obtained.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, a light-transmitting substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member having an exposure apparatus housed therein can be used. Transformation substrate for electrophotographic photoreceptor which has very little deformation, does not cause white turbidity of the substrate, has good storage stability, does not cause image blur, and the like, and an electrophotographic photoreceptor using the same, an image forming method, and An image forming apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a process chart of a method of manufacturing a cylindrical substrate for an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 photoconductor (photoconductor drum) 12Y, 12M yellow, magenta exposure optical system (exposure device) 12C, 12K cyan, black exposure optical system (exposure device) 13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K yellow, magenta, cyan, black Developing device (developing device) 110Y, 110M, 110C, 110K yellow,
Magenta, cyan, and black corona charging device 15 Paper cassette 16 Timing roller 17 Fixing device 19 Cleaning device P Transfer paper

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Fumiki Mochizuki Konica Co., Ltd. 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotography, wherein the light-transmitting substrate is formed of a copolymer resin made of two or more methacrylate monomer units, at least one of which has a cyclic group. Transparent substrate for photoreceptor. 2. The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said cyclic group is an aromatic group. 3. The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein said aromatic group is a benzyl group. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the methacrylate monomer unit is methyl methacrylate.
The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the above. 5. The translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein said copolymer resin is synthesized from a monomer having a crosslinking property and a monomer having no crosslinking property. 6. The translucent substrate is made of a copolymer resin in which two or more methacrylate monomer units are formed, at least one of which is a monomer unit having a cyclic group. A method for producing a translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member, characterized by comprising: 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the light-transmitting substrate is produced by a centrifugal polymerization method. 8. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a light-transmitting substrate provided with a conductive layer and a photosensitive layer, wherein the light-transmitting substrate is formed of a copolymer resin made of two or more methacrylic acid ester monomer units. Wherein at least one of the monomer units has a cyclic group. 9. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 8, wherein the photosensitive member is an internal exposure photosensitive member that transmits an image by transmitting through a light-transmitting substrate. 10. The surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member is uniformly charged,
In an image forming apparatus that repeatedly performs image exposure and color development to form a multi-color superimposed image, and collectively transfers, separates, fixes, and forms an image through a photoconductor cleaning process,
An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a conductive layer and a photosensitive layer provided on a light-transmitting substrate formed of the copolymer resin according to claim 1, wherein the image is exposed to light through the light-transmitting substrate, and is not contacted. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by development. 11. A process for uniformly charging the surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an image exposure step, and a color development step to form a multicolor superimposed image, a batch transfer step, a separation step, a fixing step, and a photoreceptor. In an image forming method through each step of cleaning, an electrophotographic photoreceptor formed of the copolymer resin according to claim 1 and having a conductive layer and a photosensitive layer provided on a translucent substrate is used. An image forming method, wherein an image is formed by transmitting and exposing an image, and forming the image by non-contact development.