JPH1165132A - Production of electrophotographic photoreceptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a producing method of an excellent electrophotographic photoreceptor without production of image defects such as white spots and black spots caused by electric leaking and impurities, by preventing mixing of impurities such as metal chips scraped from an electrically conductive base body into a photosensitive layer when a coating liquid containing a photoconductive compd. is applied and dried to form a coating film and by keeping a coating process and a drying process stable in the production of an electrophotographic photoreceptor. SOLUTION: In the producing method of an electrophotographic photoreceptor by applying and drying a coating liquid for the formation of a photosensitive layer on an electrically conductive base body to form a photosensitive layer, a carrying pallet having plural holding members 2 on a base 3 is used to carry the conductive base body 1 for cleaning, coating and drying processes. The conductive base body is held and carried by two or more holding members satisfying the relation of 0.1<=R1/R2<=0.4, where R1 is the curvature of the inner face of the conductive base body and R2 is curvature of the holding member in a part where the inner face of the conductive supporting body is in contact with the holding member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on a conductive support.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a method for manufacturing an organic photosensitive drum employs a method in which a coating solution containing an organic photoconductive pigment is applied on a conductive support, and the formed coating film is dried. . This method has an advantage that continuous production is possible as compared with a vapor deposition method in which a photoconductive material such as Se is heated and evaporated in a vacuum and deposited on a support to produce a photosensitive drum. ing. In particular, by the above-mentioned method, a dispersion of an organic pigment such as a phthalocyanine-based compound or an azo-based compound is applied onto the undercoat layer formed on the conductive support using a coating solution, and dried. To form a charge generation layer,
A binder solution containing a hydrazone-based compound, a pyrazoline-based compound, and the like is further applied thereon and dried to form a charge transport layer, thereby continuously producing a material-separated organic electrophotographic photoreceptor. The method is widely practiced due to its advantages, such as easy material selection and low production costs.

In the above-described method for continuously producing an organic electrophotographic photosensitive member, a metal pallet made of stainless steel or the like having excellent durability and the like is used for transporting a conductive support. However, when inserting the conductive support into the pallet, the conductive support and the pallet rub against each other, so that metal shavings are generated and mixed into the coating liquid,
An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed by using the coating liquid has a problem that an electric leak occurs at a position of the metal shavings and the coating film is destroyed, and as a result, the image quality of the copied image is reduced. It will have an adverse effect.

Further, with respect to a method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photoreceptor using a drying pallet for supporting and drying a cylindrical coated body, a method for manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member by fitting a pallet bottom plate and a cylindrical coated body provided at a substantially right angle on the bottom plate. A positioning pin to be inserted and inserted, and a cross-sectional area (Sk) of a gap formed between the positioning pin and an inner surface of the fitted cylindrical coating body is determined by an inner surface of the cylindrical coating body. Of the cross-sectional area (Sb) of Sk /
It is known to use a drying pallet characterized by having a relationship of Sb ≧ 0.30 (JP-A-7-33).
No. 3865). However, in this method, the cross-sectional area at the contact portion between the conductive support and the holding member is specified, and the shape is not specified, and various methods are adopted. Even in form,
If it is used, the contact parts will be worn, and after long-term use, it will not be possible to completely prevent the generation of metal shavings, and it will not be possible to stably manufacture electrophotographic photoreceptors due to contamination with impurities. There's a problem.

Further, there is known a method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member by using a transport pallet in which a portion in contact with an inner surface of a conductive support is covered with a resin and has a projection (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8 (1996)). -234453). However, even in this method, the contact portion between the conductive support and the holding member is deteriorated during long-term use, and the resin portion is deteriorated and rubbed with the electrophotographic photosensitive member. As a result, there is a problem that stable production of an electrophotographic photosensitive member cannot be ensured.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to use a photoconductive compound in the production of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. When forming a coating by applying and drying the coating solution containing, while preventing impurities such as metal scraps scraped off from the conductive support into the photosensitive layer, a stable coating step and drying step An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an excellent electrophotographic photoreceptor which does not cause image defects such as white spots and black spots caused by electric leakage and impurities.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor, in which a coating solution containing a photoconductive compound is applied on a conductive support and dried to form a photosensitive layer. The above object is achieved by providing a holding member having a curved surface at a portion where the inner surface of the elastic support and the holding member holding the conductive support of the transport pallet and setting the curvature within a specific range. And found that the present invention was completed.

[0008] That is, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising:
A method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor, in which a coating solution for forming a photosensitive layer is applied and dried to form a photosensitive layer, wherein a plurality of substrates are held on a base when a conductive support is transported for forming the photosensitive layer. The ratio (R1) between the curvature (R1) of the inner surface of the conductive support and the curvature (R2) of the holding member at the portion where the inner surface of the conductive support and the holding member are in contact with each other using the transfer pallet provided with the
The conductive support is held and transported by two or more holding members whose (1 / R2) is in the range of 0.1 to 0.4.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention, a conventionally known conductive support can be used. In particular, metals such as aluminum, nickel, chromium and stainless steel can be used. preferable. On the conductive support, a coating solution for forming a photosensitive layer is applied and dried to form a photosensitive layer. In the present invention, any known coating solution for forming a photosensitive layer may be used. Any known method can be used for the coating and drying methods. In the present invention,
The photosensitive layer means not only a photoconductive layer but also any layer constituting a photoreceptor, such as an undercoat layer, an intermediate layer, and a surface protective layer.

In the present invention, when a photosensitive layer is formed on a conductive support, the conductive support is washed, coated with a coating solution, and conveyed to each processing step for drying. At this time, a transport pallet holding the conductive support is used. The transport pallet used has a plurality of holding members standing upright on the upper surface of the base.
Usually, it is formed of metals such as aluminum and stainless steel. The holding member preferably has a length of at least 10 mm and a length shorter by 10 mm than the length of the conductive support. The material of this holding member may be the same as that of the transport pallet base, or may be made of another material. In the present invention, the tip of the holding member is preferably tapered on the side that comes into contact with the conductive support.

In the present invention, the transport pallet is
When a plurality of holding members are inserted and supported inside the conductive support, the ratio (R1 / R1 / R1) of the curvature R1 of the inner surface of the conductive support and the curvature R2 of the holding member in a portion where the conductive support and the holding member come into contact with each other. It is necessary to use those having R2) in the range of 0.1 to 0.4. In a portion where the conductive support and the holding member of the transport pallet are in contact with each other, if the curvature ratio is less than 0.1, impurities scraped from the conductive support in the contact portion may be mixed, and , 0.4, it becomes difficult or impossible to insert the holding member into the conductive support.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example showing a state in which a conductive support is held on a transport pallet used in the method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention. A member 2 is provided, and a cylindrical conductive support 1 is held by the holding members.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing another example of a state in which a conductive support is held on a transport pallet used in the method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the present invention. Each of the four cylindrical conductive supports 1 has 4
3 shows a state in which the holding members 2 are held.

FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between the curvature of the conductive support and the curvature of the holding member.
Shows an example where the curvature ratio is in the range of 0.1 to 0.4. In the case of this figure, a state where the conductive support is held by eight holding members 2 is shown. FIG. 3B shows an example in which the curvature ratio is out of the range of 0.1 to 0.4. When the curvature ratio is larger than the above range, two curves are used. In order for the conductive member to be held by the holding member, the holding members must be arranged one on top of the other, so that this drawing shows that holding is not possible in practice.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a case where the tip of the holding member is tapered in the present invention. The tip 2a of the holding member 2 provided on the base 3 is tapered on the side in contact with the conductive support. It is preferable to use a transport pallet having such a holding member because the conductive support can be more smoothly fitted and inserted.

[0016]

Next, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to examples. Example 1 Height 60 mm and radius 6 mm (curvature: 166.67)
16 with four cylindrical stainless steel holding members
The outer diameter of the holding member of the transport pallet of 0 x 160 mm
0 mmφ (inner diameter 28 mm, curvature: 71.43) x length 3
Insert a 40mm aluminum cylinder (curvature ratio:
71.43 / 166.67 = 0.43) and transported to the coating tank for forming the undercoat layer. The aluminum cylinder was detached from the transport pallet, and 10 parts of a zirconium compound (trade name: Organix ZC540, manufactured by Matsumoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), 1 part of a silane compound (trade name: A1110, manufactured by Nippon Unicar), i-propanol 40 And 25 parts of butanol in a coating liquid at 25 ° C. for 2 minutes, then taken out, inserted into the aluminum cylinder, inserted in the holding member of the transport pallet, held on the transport pallet, and transported to the drying step. Then at 150 ° C for 1
It was dried by heating for 0 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm.

Next, the aluminum cylinder treated as described above is held on a transport pallet in the same manner as described above and transported to a coating tank for forming a charge generation layer, and one part of the chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal is replaced with a polyvinyl butyral resin (trade name). : 1 part of Esrec BM-S, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 100 parts of n-butyl acetate, and dip-coated at 25 ° C. for 2 minutes in a coating solution obtained by dispersing with glass beads for 1 hour using a paint shaker. . Thereafter, the coated aluminum cylinder is taken out, held on a transport pallet in the same manner as described above, and transported to the drying step.
After heating and drying for a minute, a thickness of 0.15
A μm charge generation layer was formed. Further, the aluminum cylinder treated as described above is held on a transport pallet in the same manner as described above and transported to a coating tank for forming a charge transport layer, and 3 parts of a polycarbonate resin (PCZ-300, manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company) and triphenylamine 2 parts of the derivative was dissolved in 20 parts of monochlorobenzene to obtain a coating solution.
Dip coating was performed at 5 ° C. for 3 minutes. Then take it out,
In the same manner as described above, the film is held on a transfer pallet, transferred to a drying step, and dried by heating at 120 ° C. for 1 hour.
m of the charge transport layer was formed.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member produced by the above operation was mounted on a printer for personal computers (trade name: Laser Press 4161 II, manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.), and a printing test was carried out.
There was no occurrence of white spots and black spots due to electrical leakage and impurities, and images of excellent image quality were obtained.

Comparative Example 1 An electrophotographic photosensitive member was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 using a transport pallet provided with a stainless steel holding member having a rectangular column shape without a curved surface. When a printing test was performed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor in the same manner as in Example 1, black spots were generated in the image, and when the surface of the photoreceptor corresponding to the black spot generating portion was observed, metal fragments were recognized. .

Comparative Example 2 The ratio (R1 / R1 / R1) of the curvature R1 of the inner surface of the conductive support to the curvature R2 of the inner surface of the conductive support at the portion where the holding member contacts the inner surface of the conductive support.
Example 1 using a transport pallet with R2) less than 0.1
In the same manner as in the above, an electrophotographic photoreceptor was obtained. That is, as a holding member, an outer diameter of 30 mmφ (inner diameter of 28 mm) is placed on a 160 mm × 160 mm conveying pallet provided with six cylindrical stainless steel holding members having a height of 240 mm and a radius of 1 mm (curvature (R1): 1000). , Curvature (R2): 7
1.4) x A length of 340 mm made of an aluminum conductive support (curvature ratio: 71.4 / 1000 = 0.07) was held, and the same operation as in Example 1 was performed. When a film was formed by the method, there was contamination of the photosensitive layer with impurities scraped off from the conductive support, and a printing test was performed on the obtained electrophotographic photosensitive member in the same manner as in Example 1. A sunspot occurred. Observation of the photoreceptor surface corresponding to the black spot generation portion revealed metal fragments and the like.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3 The ratio (R1 / R1 / R1) of the curvature R1 of the inner surface of the conductive support to the curvature R2 of the inner surface of the conductive support at the portion where the holding member comes into contact with the inner surface of the conductive support.
An electrophotographic photosensitive member was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 using a transport pallet in which R2) was larger than 0.4. That is, as the holding member, a height of 150 mm and a radius of 10 m
m (curvature (R1): 100) on a 160 mm by 160 mm conveyance pallet provided with two cylindrical stainless steel holding members, an outer diameter of 30 mmφ (inner diameter of 28 mm, a curvature of (R)
2): A conductive support (71.4) × length 340 mm made of aluminum (curvature ratio: 71.4 / 100 = 0.7) was held, and the same operation as in Example 1 was performed. When a film was formed by rubbing during the process, impurities were removed from the conductive support in the photosensitive layer, and a printing test was performed on the obtained electrophotographic photosensitive member in the same manner as in Example 1. However, black spots occurred in the image. Observation of the photoreceptor surface corresponding to the black spot generation portion revealed metal fragments and the like.

Example 2 and Comparative Examples 4 to 8 As a conductive support, an outer diameter of 84 mmφ (inner diameter of 82 mm,
An electrophotographic photoreceptor was manufactured using an aluminum cylinder having a curvature of 23.81) × 200 mm in length and using the same coating liquid as in Example 1. At this time, a transport pallet provided with a stainless steel holding member having a radius and a height shown in Table 1 was used to transfer the aluminum cylinder, and the aluminum cylinder was held by the number of holding members shown in Table 1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor was manufactured in the same manner as described above, and the practicality of the electrophotographic photoreceptor was evaluated. Table 1 shows the results. As evaluation criteria, 評 価 means that the image has no black spots and has practicality, and × means that the image has black spots and cannot be used practically.

[0023]

[Table 1]

Examples 3 and 4 and Comparative Examples 9 to 12 As a conductive support, an outer diameter of 30 mmφ (inner diameter of 28 mm,
An electrophotographic photoreceptor was manufactured using an aluminum cylinder having a curvature of 71.43) × 160 mm in length and using the same coating liquid as in Example 1. At that time, for the transfer of the aluminum cylinder, a transfer pallet provided with a stainless steel holding member having a radius and a height shown in Table 2 was used and held by the number of holding members shown in Table 2. An electrophotographic photoreceptor was manufactured in the same manner as described above, and the practicality of the electrophotographic photoreceptor was evaluated. Table 2 shows the results. The evaluation criteria are the same as those in Table 1.

[0025]

[Table 2] In the case of Comparative Example 9, since the curvature ratio is 1 or more,
Retention is not possible.

[0026]

According to the present invention, a process for manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member is achieved by using a transport pallet provided with a holding member having a curved surface ratio in the above-mentioned specific range at a portion which comes into contact with the conductive support inner surface. In this way, it is possible to prevent metal dust from being mixed into the photosensitive layer, and thus it is possible to stably manufacture an electrophotographic photosensitive member having no coating film defects that cause image defects in the photosensitive layer. Therefore, the present invention is suitable for application to a continuous production process of an electrophotographic photosensitive member.
According to the electrophotographic photoreceptor manufactured according to the present invention, since image defects such as white spots and black spots generated from electric leakage and impurities do not occur, it is possible to produce an image having excellent image quality without image defects. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example showing a state in which a conductive support is held on a transport pallet in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another example showing a state in which a conductive support is held on a transport pallet in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between curvatures of a conductive support and a holding member.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the tip of a holding member in the present invention is tapered.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conductive support, 2 ... Holding member, 2a ... Tip part, 3 ...
Base.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor, in which a coating solution for forming a photosensitive layer is applied on a conductive support and dried to form a photosensitive layer, the conductive support is formed for forming the photosensitive layer. At the time of conveyance, a transfer pallet provided with a plurality of holding members on a base is used, and the curvature (R1) of the inner surface of the conductive support and the curvature (R1) of the holding member at a portion where the inner surface of the conductive support contacts the holding member R2) (R1 / R2) is 0.1
Wherein the conductive support is held and transported by two or more holding members in a range of 0.4 to 0.4.