JPS59160162A - Surface treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a surface treating method which permits free selection of the part and area of a recording object, etc. to be subjected to a surface treatment by sticking and fixing pulverous powder on the surface to be treated through a stage for developing an electrostatic image by using a developer contg. the pulverous powder having light transmittability. CONSTITUTION:An electrostatic latent image is formed on a cylindrical body 1 for holding an electrostatic latent image and is developed by the developer 5 coated by a coating means 4 for coating the insulating non-magnetic developer 5 in a hopper 3 which is a developer supplying means by regulating the thickness of the developer layer on a developer supporting means 2. At least the surface of the means 4 to be faced to the means 2 is rugged in order to coat the developer 5 on the mens 2 by regulating the thickness of the developer layer on the means 2. The rugged surface has the effect of loosening the flocculation in the developer while stirring the same and coating the developer on the means 2. Such developing device can be made the same in the form as a developing device contg. a colored developer for recording and in this case it is possible to perform surface treatment after recording by exchanging both.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a surface treatment method using a step of developing an electrostatic image in electrophotography, electrostatic recording, etc. and fixing it on a recording material.

Conventionally, as an electrophotographic method, US Pat.
Many methods are known, as described in Japanese Patent No. 24'748, etc., but in general, a photoconductive substance is used to form an electrical latent image on a photoreceptor by various means. Next, the latent image is developed using toner, and after the toner image is transferred to a transfer material such as paper as required, it is fixed by heating, pressure, bath agent vapor, etc. to obtain a copy.

Furthermore, various developing methods are known in which an electrical latent image is visualized using toner. For example, U.S. Patent No. 2,874.
Magnetic brush method described in No. 063 specification, No. 2,
A large number of development methods are known, such as the cascade development method described in No. 618.552, the powder cloud method, fur brush development method, and liquid development method described in No. 2,221,776. There is.

Toners used in these development methods have conventionally been fine powders in which dyes and pigments are dispersed in natural or synthetic resins. Furthermore, it is also known to use fine developing powders to which third substances are added for various purposes.

The developed toner image is transferred and fixed onto a transfer material such as paper, if necessary. Methods for fixing toner images include a method in which the toner is heated and melted using a heater or a heated roller, and then fused and solidified on the support, a method in which the binder resin of the toner is softened or dissolved with an organic solvent and then fixed on the support, and a method in which the toner is fixed on the support by applying pressure. A method of fixing toner on a support by using a method is known.

Toner materials are selected to suit each fixing method,
Toners used in a particular fusing method generally cannot be used in other fusing methods.

In particular, it is almost impossible to transfer the toner used in the conventionally widely used heat fusion fixing method using a heater to a hot roller constant fixing method, a solvent fixing method, a pressure fixing method, or the like.

Therefore, toners suitable for each fixing method are being researched and developed.

Compared to other conventionally known recording methods, it is also possible to produce images using the electrophotographic method described above.
It is known that it has good resistance to light, humidity, etc., and can withstand quite long storage.

However, depending on the application, a stronger and more stable recorded matter may be required, and in that case, a process such as wrapping the recorded matter in a resin film using another device is required. In this case, a strong film-coated record is obtained, but since the record itself is generally coated over its entire surface, it has a shape that is significantly different from the original recording material, which may cause problems with files, etc. . Furthermore, it goes without saying that whether a separate device is used or a device linked to the electrophotographic device is incorporated, a device with a mechanism different from that of an electrophotographic device is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a surface treatment method that allows the user to freely select the portion and area of a recorded matter to be surface treated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a surface treatment method that hardly changes the properties and form of recording materials.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for developing an electrostatic image using a developer containing light-transmitting fine powder, which provides a simple surface treatment that allows the electrophotographic apparatus itself to be used as is. By attaching and fixing the fine powder to the surface to be treated, it is possible to easily apply the fine powder to any free area or area of the recorded material using a conventional electrophotographic device. can be processed.

The light-transmitting fine powder used in the present invention is generally considered to be equivalent to what is called a toner, and its general composition is mainly composed of tenretsu or synthetic resin as a binder.

As the binder resin of the fine powder of the present invention, monopolymers of styrene and its substituted products such as polystyrene, polyP-chlorostyrene, and polyvinyltoluene, styrene-P-chlorostyrene copolymers, and styrene-propylene copolymers are used. , styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-
Butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-dchlor Methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymer, styrene-vinylethyl ether copolymer, styrene-pyrumethylketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene Copolymers, styrenic copolymers such as styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymers, styrene-maleic acid copolymers, styrene-maleic acid ester copolymers, polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, poly Vinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, epoxy resin, polyvininone butyral, polyamide, polyacrylic resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, phenolic resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic Group petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffin, paraffin wax, etc. can be used alone or in combination.

Since the fine powder of the present invention needs to have light transmittance, generally no coloring material is used, but any suitable pigment or dye may be added to the extent that the light transmittance is not impaired.

Alternatively, it is also possible to create new color effects.

Examples of dyes and pigments include known dyes and pigments such as carbon black, iron black, phthalocyanine blue, ultramarine blue, quinacridone, and benzidine yellow.

It is also possible to add various charge control agents depending on the polarity of the electrostatic image, and it is also possible to add fluidity improvers such as silica and alumina.

Furthermore, the fine powder of the present invention is mixed with carrier particles such as iron powder, glass beads, nickel powder, ferrite powder, etc., as required, and used as a developer for electrical latent images. The developer of the present invention can be applied to various developing methods. For example, magnetic brush development method, cascade development method, JP-A-5
Examples include methods described in Japanese Patent Nos. 4-4214i, 55-18656, and 54-43027, fur brush development methods, powder cloud methods, indare solution development methods, and the like.

In addition, when holding the developer in a developer carrier such as a sleeve, it is possible to use magnetic force, Coulomb force, electrostatic force, image force, mechanical force, etc. (without using a carrier). An example of an embodiment of the electrostatic latent image developing method and developing device in this case is shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical electrostatic latent image holder, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by, for example, a known electrophotographic method such as the Carlson method or the NP method, and the electrostatic latent image is stored in the hopper 3, which is a developer supply means. The insulating non-magnetic developer 5 is applied onto the developer support means 2 by a coating means 4 which controls the thickness of the developer layer and is coated with the developer 5 for development. The developer supporting means 2 is a cylindrical developing roller made of stainless steel. The developing roller may be made of aluminum or other metals. Alternatively, a metal roller coated with resin or the like may be used in order to triboelectrically charge the developer to a desired polarity. Additionally, the developer roller may be made of an electrically conductive non-metallic material. Although not shown in the drawings, spacer rollers made of high-density polyethylene are inserted into the shaft at both ends of the developer supporting means 2. By applying these spacer rollers to both ends of the electrostatic latent image holder 10 and fixing the developing device, the gap between the electrostatic latent image holder 1 and the developer supporting means 2 can be adjusted by coating the developer supporting means 2. The thickness is set and maintained at or above the thickness of the developer layer. This interval is
For example, 100μ to 500μ, preferably 150μ to 30μ
It is 0μ. If this interval is too wide, the electrostatic latent image holder l
The electrostatic force exerted on the developer coated on the developer support means 2 by the upper electrostatic latent image becomes weaker, and the image quality deteriorates, and in particular, it becomes difficult to visualize the mesh lines by developing them. If this distance is too narrow, there is a risk that the developer applied on the developer support means 2 will be compressed and aggregated between the developer support means 2 and the electrostatic latent image holder 1. This is related to the fact that the thickness of the developer layer coated on the developer supporting means 2 is required to be about 50 microns or more, preferably about 80 microns or more, from the viewpoint of the required developer density. Further, the speed at which the developer coated on the developer support means 2 is conveyed to a development area that is a close area between the electrostatic latent image support member 1 and the developer support means 2 is determined by the movement of the electrostatic latent image support member 1. Although development may be carried out at a peripheral speed faster than the circumferential speed, if the speed is increased, the developer tends to scatter from above the developer supporting means 2. This must be taken into account especially when using non-magnetic developers. Further, from the viewpoint of image quality, it is preferable to make the relative speeds almost the same. Reference numeral 6 denotes a developing bias power source, which is capable of applying a voltage between the conductive developer supporting means 2 and the back electrode of the electrostatic latent image holder 1. This developing bias voltage is
This is the developing bias voltage as described in No.-92108.

Examples of the coating means 4 used in Fig. 1 are shown in Fig. 2 (5) and (B).
It was shown to. Reference numeral 4 shown in the figure is a coating means for regulating the layer thickness of the developer layer on the developer support means 2 and applying the developer 5 onto the developer support means 2.

At least the surface of the coating means 4 facing the developer supporting means 2 is uneven. The applicator 4 may have the unevenness or projections 7.9 on its surface made of the same material or member, or may have the unevenness or projections 7.9 made of a different material or a different material.

If this uneven or convex member is composed of another member,
This member does not necessarily need to be bonded to another member provided on the back surface, and these two members may simply be used by superimposing them. FIG. 2 shows an example in which a cylindrical convex portion is provided on the surface of the coating means 4. This convex portion may be a hemispherical convex portion. FIG. 2(B) shows an application means 4 having a structure in which a flexible screen 9 woven from nylon thread is superimposed on a resilient silicone comb plate 8 having a thickness of 2 mm and a hardness of 60 mm as a pressing member. This screen shows an example of 16 openings made of plain woven nylon thread with a wire diameter of 71 μm.
A 1μ screen was used. The weaving method may be twill weave, satin weave, cotton weave, semi-fuzzy weave, etc. The material of this screen may be metal or polymer such as polyester or nylon. However, even when the screen has the same shape, the charging applied to the developer when the developer is applied onto the developer support means 2 is affected by the material. For example, even with the above screen shape, when a nylon screen was used, the surface potential of the developer layer coated on the stainless steel developer supporting means was -70V, but when a polyester screen was used, this value was lower. was -40V. Of course, it goes without saying that charging of the developer also occurs between the developer and the developer supporting means 2 during coating. The unevenness of the surface of the application means 4 facing the developer support means 2 not only maintains a certain distance between the developer support means 2 and the application means 4 for the developer to pass through, but also serves to support the developer. The developer on the means 2 is disturbed by the unevenness to loosen the agglomeration,
In some cases, the applied developer layer may be scraped off once, and the developer may be passed through this gap by relative movement between the application means 4 and the developer support means 2 to apply the developer onto the developer support means 2. are doing. Of course, disturb the developer by these irregularities to loosen the agglomeration and apply it onto the developer supporting means 2, which also effectively contributes to charging the developer.

Such a developing device can have the same form as a developing device containing a colored developer for recording, and in that case, by replacing both, surface treatment can be performed after recording. Furthermore, it is also possible to incorporate the image-forming devices into one electrophotographic device at the same time to perform a continuous process. Of course, only the developer may be replaced.

It is a well-known fact that an electrostatic image can be freely formed on an electrostatic image carrier using a mask or the like to cover the entire surface or a portion of the recording material as required.Fixing is conventional. Known methods such as heat, compression solvent, light, high frequency, etc. can be used as appropriate depending on the thermal properties of the fine powder. .

A feature of the surface treatment method with the above configuration is that it is possible to easily perform surface treatment on a free portion or area of a recorded object, etc., using a conventional electrophotographic apparatus as is.

Above, I have described the basic structure and characteristics of non-invention.
The method of the present invention will be specifically described below based on Examples. However, this does not limit the embodiments of the present invention in any way. Parts in the examples are parts by weight.

[Example 1] A mixture consisting of 100 parts by weight of zinc oxide, 20 parts by weight of styrene-butadiene copolymer, 40 parts by weight of n-butyl methacrylate, 120 parts by weight of toluene, and 4 parts by weight of Rose Bengal 1-thimethanol solution was prepared in a ball mill. 6 hours of minutes worked out.

This was coated on an f 0.05 m thick aluminum plate using a wire bar so that the dry coating thickness was 40 μm, and the solvent was evaporated with hot air to produce a zinc oxide binder-based photoreceptor in the form of a drum. This photoreceptor was subjected to a corona discharge of 16 KV to uniformly charge the entire surface, and then an original image was irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image.

The developer carrier has an outer diameter of 50W according to the configuration shown in FIG.
A cylindrical sleeve made of M stainless steel was used, and the application means 4 was a silicone rubber plate having unevenness. Two sleeve rotary developing devices were prepared.

Next, styrene-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-1-(toool) copolymer was crushed and classified to have an average particle size of 9 μm...A and the above copolymer 100 8 parts of copper phthalocyanine were kneaded, pulverized, and classified to give an average particle size of 9 μm. Facing the electro-latent image, frequency 1200
[Hz], vPP 1200 [■] was applied for development, and then the powder image was transferred while irradiating the back side of the transfer paper with a direct current corona of 7 KV to obtain a copied image. Fixing was performed using a commercially available plain paper copying machine (trade name: Np-L5ooo, manufactured by Canon).

Next, a developing device containing A was placed facing the photoreceptor in a state where the entire surface was uniformly charged, and the same process as above was performed. The resulting recording paper did not seem to have changed at all, but had a good water color. Furthermore, even if the recording surface was strongly rubbed or bent, the blue image did not change at all.

[Example 2] 100 parts of styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer and 2 parts of chromium di-tert-butyrusalicylate complex were kneaded, ground and classified to obtain a fine powder with an average particle size of 8 μm.

10 parts of this fine powder and 100 parts of iron powder carrier were mixed to prepare a developer.

After making a normal copy using a Canon N'P-5000 copying machine, I replaced it with a developing device containing the above developer, passed the entire copy, and performed surface treatment with a uniform latent image on the entire surface. As in Example 1, good results were obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an embodiment of an electrostatic latent image developing method and a developing device when a carrier is not used. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the application means. 1... Electrostatic latent image holder. 2...Developer supporting means. 3...Hopper. 4... Application means 1
．． 5... Insulating non-magnetic developer. Applicant Canon Co., Ltd. 4-speed No. 20

Claims (1)

[Claims] A surface treatment method comprising the steps of developing an electrostatic image using a developer containing light-transmitting fine powder, and then adhering and fixing the fine powder to a surface to be treated.