JP4466486B2 - Electrophotographic photosensitive member, electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  Electrophotographic technology is widely used in copiers, various printers, facsimiles and the like because of its immediacy and high quality images. For electrophotographic photoreceptors (hereinafter referred to simply as “photoreceptors”) as the core of electrophotographic technology, inorganic light such as conventional selenium, arsenic-selenium alloys, cadmium sulfide, and zinc oxide are used as photoconductive materials. In recent years, the use of a photoconductor using an organic photoconductive material having advantages such as a non-polluting, easy film formation and easy manufacture has become the mainstream.

As a layer structure of a photoconductor using an organic photoconductive material (organic photoconductor), a single layer type photoconductor having a single layer type photoconductive layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport material in the same layer. And a laminated photoreceptor having a laminated photosensitive layer in which a charge generation layer and a charge transfer layer are laminated.
Multilayer photoconductors can provide highly sensitive and stable photoconductors by combining highly efficient charge generating materials and charge transfer materials into separate layers and combining them optimally. It is often used because it is easy to adjust.

  On the other hand, the single layer type photoreceptor is slightly inferior to the laminated type photoreceptor in terms of electrical characteristics, and the material selectivity is narrow, but it is possible to increase the resolution by generating charges near the surface of the photoreceptor, and as a result, a thick film is formed. However, since the image is not blurred, the printing durability can be increased by increasing the film thickness. In addition, the single-layer type photosensitive member requires fewer coating steps, is advantageous for interference fringes derived from the conductive substrate (support), and tube defects, and an inexpensive substrate such as a non-cutting tube can be used. It has the advantage of being able to reduce costs.

By the way, in the electrophotographic process at the time of image formation, the photoconductor is repeatedly subjected to actions such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, cleaning, and static elimination, so that the photoconductor is physically, mechanically, chemically, electrically, Various durability and stability are required. However, the durability of organic photoreceptors against mechanical contact with developers, transfer materials, corona discharge products, cleaning blades, and the like is currently inferior to inorganic photoreceptors.
Furthermore, with the recent development of finer developer particles aimed at higher resolution and higher image quality, and the practical use of chemically polymerized toners with high sphericity, there is an increasing demand for easy transferability of toner and high-precision cleaning characteristics. It is coming.

  In order to achieve easy transferability of toner and high-precision cleaning characteristics, it is necessary to reduce the surface energy related to the frictional force and adhesion force on the surface of the photoreceptor. As means for that purpose, for example, use of a silicone leveling agent or a fluorine resin is known. Specifically, a method of adding silicone oil or the like to the surface layer (see, for example, Patent Document 1), a method of dispersing fluorine resin powder in the surface layer (for example, see Patent Document 2), and the like are known. .

JP 11-352707 A JP 2002-40684 A

However, surface modifiers such as those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 that have been conventionally used in order to improve the wear resistance and surface slipperiness (lubricity) of the photosensitive member, The performance was not enough.
For example, the conventional leveling agent is poorly compatible with the coating solution for forming the photosensitive layer, so it moves to the surface during drying of the coating film in the photosensitive layer forming step or during a relatively short period of storage of the coating solution, It tends to segregate on the extreme surface of the surface layer. For this reason, when a leveling agent is used, the surface energy can be effectively reduced initially, but the leveling agent is easily scraped off while the surface of the photoconductor is repeatedly rubbed during image formation or the like. End up. Therefore, the effect of the leveling agent disappeared early, and there was a problem in its sustainability.

  In general, it is known that when a surface modifier is used in the photosensitive layer, the electrical characteristics of the photoreceptor deteriorate. Some conventional surface modifiers significantly reduce the electrical properties of the photoconductor when in use, but for practical use, the photoconductor has high enough electrical properties to withstand practical use. It is hoped that

  Furthermore, when the surface modifier described in Patent Document 2 is used, when the conventional surface modifier is mixed in the photosensitive layer, the surface modifier scatters and reflects light incident on the photosensitive layer, In some cases, faithful latent image formation was prevented. This is particularly significant in recent processes that use dot-like micro latent images such as lasers, LEDs, and liquid crystal shutters controlled by digital signals, and there is a risk that image uniformity will be greatly reduced. .

  On the other hand, as described above, recent toners tend to have smaller particle sizes and lower glass transition temperature in response to higher resolution, higher image quality, and higher speed. However, this means that transfer efficiency is lowered and filming (the toner forms a film on the surface of the photoconductor) easily occurs due to an increase in the adhesion between the toner and the surface of the photoconductor. However, the known surface modification techniques of the photosensitive member have low surface releasability, so that the toner easily transferability and cleaning characteristics are not sufficient, and the reduction in transfer efficiency and filming can be dealt with. I couldn't. For this reason, there is a long-awaited demand for a photoconductor having a higher function surface releasability.

  The present invention was devised in view of the above problems, and is an electrophotographic photoreceptor excellent in electrical characteristics, lubricity, surface releasability, and sustainability, a method for producing the same, and an electrophotographic photosensitive body using the same. An object of the present invention is to manufacture a body cartridge and an image forming apparatus.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the inventor of the present invention, as a result of containing polyolefin particles having a specific range of melt viscosity in the outermost layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, The present inventors have found that it is possible to improve lubricity, surface releasability, and sustainability, thereby completing the present invention.

  That is, the gist of the present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, and the outermost layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a melt viscosity at 140 ° C. of 0.01 Pa · s or more and 0.0. The electrophotographic photosensitive member is characterized by containing particles made of polyolefin having a viscosity of 25 Pa · s or less.

The particles are preferably obtained by cooling a solution in which a polyolefin is dissolved in a solvent. Further, the solvent used in this case is preferably an aromatic hydrocarbon (claim 3).
Further, the photosensitive layer preferably includes a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, and in this case, the outermost layer is preferably the charge transport layer.
The polyolefin is preferably polyethylene (claim 5).

  Another gist of the present invention includes the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an exposure unit that exposes the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electron The electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge is provided with at least one developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photographic photosensitive member.

  Still another gist of the present invention is that the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an exposure unit that exposes the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image, and The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the electrical characteristics, lubricity, surface releasability, and sustainability of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and to provide an excellent electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge and image forming apparatus using the same. Obtainable.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the following descriptions are representative examples of the embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention may be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. it can.

[I. Electrophotographic photoreceptor]
The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention is an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, and has an outermost layer having a melt viscosity at 140 ° C. of 0.01 Pa · s to 0.25 Pa · s. And particles made of polyolefin (hereinafter referred to as “polyolefin particles” as appropriate).

[1. Polyolefin particles]
The polyolefin that is a material of the polyolefin particles of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the melt viscosity at 140 ° C. is 0.01 Pa · s or more and 0.25 Pa · s or less, and any one can be used. .
However, the polyolefin has a melt viscosity at a temperature of 140 ° C. of preferably 0.05 Pa · s or more, more preferably 0.1 Pa · s or more, and preferably 0.2 Pa · s or less. Is desirable. When the melt viscosity is too high, the intermolecular force between the polyolefin molecules is large and the entanglement is large, so that the coating solution is easily separated into layers. Conversely, if the melt viscosity is too low, the effect of improving the lubricity and wear resistance of the photoreceptor may be reduced.

  The melt viscosity at 140 ° C. can be measured by a method according to JIS-K7117-1: 1999 using a Brookfield type rotational viscometer. Conditions other than the measurement temperature can be performed according to JIS-K6862: 1984 and JIS-K1557: 1970. An oil bath with a temperature regulator can be used to adjust the temperature of the measurement sample. In addition, when manufacturing polyolefin particle | grains by the bottom-up system mentioned later, it is desirable that the viscosity before melt | dissolving polyolefin in a solvent falls in the said range.

  Also, in order to prevent the surface modifier from scattering and reflecting the light incident on the photosensitive layer and hindering the formation of a faithful latent image, it is usually easy for a polyolefin to transmit light used for image formation Is preferred. Specifically, it is preferable to use polyolefin having a high light transmittance used for latent image formation during image formation.

  Furthermore, the refractive index of the layer containing polyolefin and the continuous layer portion thereof (that is, the layer portion continuous with the layer containing polyolefin) are preferably close to each other. This is because if the refractive index is greatly different, light scattering may occur at the boundary between the polyolefin-containing layer and the continuous layer portion.

  Specific examples of the polyolefin that is a material of the polyolefin particles of the present invention include homopolymers or copolymers of olefins such as ethylene, propylene, butene, isoprene, pentene, and methylpentene. Among these, polyethylene or polypropylene is preferable, and polyethylene is particularly preferable in consideration of wear resistance, transparency, electrical characteristics, and the like when used for the photoreceptor.

In particular, when polyethylene is used as the polyolefin, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, various modified polyethylenes, or high-molecular-weight polyethylene whose molecular weight has been reduced by thermal decomposition are used as the polyethylene. Can do. However, the modified polyethylene has good solubility in the coating liquid described later, but if the modification rate is high, the effect of reducing the friction coefficient may be reduced, and the electrical characteristics may be deteriorated.
In addition, polyolefin may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and a ratio.

  Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in the manufacturing method of polyolefin, Polyolefin manufactured by arbitrary manufacturing methods can be used. However, when polyethylene is used as the polyolefin, as a method for producing the polyethylene, a method using a metallocene catalyst is more preferable in terms of high transparency.

  However, when the polyolefin particles are produced by the bottom-up method described later, the viscosity average molecular weight of the polyolefin is usually 300 or more, preferably 500 or more, more preferably 1000 or more, and usually 20000 or less, preferably 10,000 or less, more preferably. Is 5000 or less. If the viscosity average molecular weight is too high, the solubility in the above-mentioned solvent is lowered, and there is a possibility that good polyolefin particles cannot be obtained. If the viscosity average molecular weight is too low, the effect of improving the lubricity and wear resistance of the photoreceptor may be reduced.

Further, when polyethylene is used as the polyolefin, the softening temperature of the polyethylene is usually 120 ° C. or lower, preferably 110 ° C. or lower.
Further, polyethylene has a crystallinity of usually 65% or more and usually 75% or less.

Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in the magnitude | size of the polyolefin particle | grains of this invention, The particle | grains of arbitrary magnitude | sizes can be used.
However, the average particle diameter of the polyolefin particles is usually 0.3 μm or more, preferably 1 μm or more, and usually 5 μm or less, preferably 3 μm or less.
The maximum particle size of the polyolefin particles is usually 10 μm or less, preferably 5 μm or less.
Further, the minimum particle size of the polyolefin particles is usually 0.3 μm or more, preferably 1 μm or more.

  Furthermore, there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the content rate of the polyolefin particle in an outermost layer, The content rate is arbitrary. However, the content of the polyolefin particles in the outermost layer is usually 1% by weight or more, preferably 5% by weight or more, and usually 50% by weight or less, preferably 30% by weight or less.

  In particular, when polyethylene is used as the polyolefin, the content of polyethylene particles as polyolefin particles in the outermost layer is usually 1 part by weight or more, preferably 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin of the outermost layer described later. The amount is usually 30 parts by weight or less, preferably 20 parts by weight or less. If the lower limit of this range is not reached, a sufficient slip effect may not be obtained. If the upper limit is exceeded, the residual potential increases, which is not preferable.

[2. Production method of polyolefin particles]
There is no limitation on the method for producing the polyolefin particles, and the particles can be produced by any method as long as particles made of polyolefin having the prescribed melt viscosity are obtained. For example, the particles can be produced by a pulverization method or a bottom-up method. it can.
The pulverization method is a method of pulverizing a raw material polyolefin (hereinafter referred to as “raw material polyolefin” as appropriate) by an arbitrary method such as a ball mill, a sand mill, or an attritor. The bottom-up method is a method in which a raw material polyolefin is once dissolved in a solvent, a polyolefin solution in which the raw material polyolefin is dissolved in a solvent is prepared, and then the polyolefin solution is cooled to precipitate polyolefin particles.

Among the above production methods, the bottom-up method can produce uniform polyolefin particles having a uniform particle diameter. Therefore, when a photoconductor is produced using this, it has good electric characteristics with few traps. A photoreceptor is obtained, which is particularly preferable.
Hereinafter, the bottom-up method, which is a preferred method for producing polyolefin particles, will be described in detail.

In the bottom-up system, polyolefin particles are usually obtained by performing the following steps.
(1) A polyolefin solution is prepared by dissolving a polyolefin in a solvent.
(2) The polyolefin solution is cooled to precipitate the polyolefin to obtain polyolefin particles.

  Here, the step of dissolving the raw material polyolefin in a solvent and cooling the solvent to precipitate the polyolefin particles refers to the step of dissolving the raw material polyolefin in the solvent once to prepare a polyolefin solution and then the solvent temperature (that is, the polyolefin solution There is no limitation on the specific operation contents as long as the temperature can be relatively decreased as compared with the dissolution, and the polyolefin particles as the solute of the polyolefin solution can be precipitated. In other words, if a relative temperature difference is generated between the dissolution and precipitation of the polyolefin, and the polyolefin can be once dissolved in the solvent using this temperature difference, the specific operation content can be obtained. Is optional.

  Specifically, in the dissolution and precipitation, for example, the raw material polyolefin is dissolved in the solvent by heating the solvent so that the solvent temperature is higher than normal temperature, and then the polyolefin solution is returned to normal temperature to precipitate the polyolefin particles. It may be. Further, for example, after the raw material polyolefin is dissolved in a solvent at a normal temperature, the polyolefin solution may be cooled to a normal temperature to precipitate the polyolefin particles. Furthermore, for example, after the solvent is heated so that the solvent temperature becomes higher than the normal temperature to dissolve the raw material polyolefin in the solvent, the polyolefin solution may be cooled to a temperature lower than the normal temperature to precipitate the polyolefin particles.

As a result, polyolefin particles can be obtained as a dispersion uniformly dispersed in a solvent, and the polyolefin particles can be used as a surface modifier for a photoreceptor that does not separate into layers even when allowed to stand. In addition, you may make it perform other operation suitably before each operation of said process (1), (2), during operation, and after operation.
Hereinafter, (1) the step of dissolving the raw material polyolefin in a solvent and (2) the step of precipitating polyolefin particles from the polyolefin solution will be described.

(1) Step of dissolving raw material polyolefin in solvent In the bottom-up method, first, raw material polyolefin is dissolved in a solvent to obtain a polyolefin solution.
Any solvent can be used as long as it can dissolve the raw material polyolefin at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent and can precipitate the polyolefin particles by lowering the temperature after the raw material polyolefin is dissolved. Can be used. In particular, a solvent that does not dissolve polyolefin at a predetermined concentration or higher at a temperature of usually 30 ° C. or lower, preferably 50 ° C. or lower is desirable. Here, the predetermined concentration is a level at which the polyolefin particles can be recovered in a practical amount or more, and usually refers to 100 g / L or less, preferably 30 g / L or less.

As the solvent, an organic solvent is usually used. Specific examples include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and tetralin, halogenated hydrocarbons such as carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, chloroform, and monochlorobenzene, and cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons such as decalin. . Among these, aromatic hydrocarbons and halogen-based hydrocarbons are preferable, toluene is preferable as the aromatic hydrocarbon, and monochlorobenzene is preferable as the halogen-based hydrocarbon. In particular, it is preferable to use an aromatic hydrocarbon, and it is more preferable to use toluene.
Moreover, this solvent may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and a ratio.

  Furthermore, the temperature of the solvent when the raw material polyolefin is dissolved in the solvent is usually 40 ° C. or higher, preferably 60 ° C. or higher, and usually 200 ° C. or lower, preferably 160 ° C. or lower.

(2) Step of precipitating polyolefin particles from polyolefin solution After dissolving the raw material polyolefin in a solvent, the solvent temperature is lowered than when dissolving, and the polyolefin particles are precipitated from the polyolefin solution. The polyolefin particles can be obtained as fine polyolefin particles dispersed in a solvent, and the polyolefin solution becomes a dispersion in which the polyolefin particles are dispersed in the solvent. The raw material polyolefin is usually in a lump state in which molecules are entangled, but once dissolved, the polymer molecules are separated into individual fine particles without being entangled. It is considered that polyolefin particles can be obtained.

At this time, the temperature at the time of precipitation is arbitrary, but it is usually 10 ° C. or higher, preferably 20 ° C. or higher, more preferably 30 ° C. or lower than that at the time of dissolution. The method for lowering the temperature is arbitrary. For example, the polyolefin solution itself may be cooled, or the polyolefin solution may be cooled by introducing a low-temperature solvent.
The cooling rate when the temperature is lowered from the time of dissolution is usually 1 ° C./min or more, preferably 3 ° C./min or more, more preferably 5 ° C./min or more. At this time, it is preferable to introduce a low-temperature solvent into the polyolefin solution because cooling can be performed quickly.
Furthermore, it is preferable to cool with stirring during precipitation.

[II. Electrophotographic photoreceptor]
The photoreceptor of the present invention is obtained by laminating a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, and the outermost layer is formed as a layer containing polyolefin particles. Here, “stacking on the conductive support” includes not only the case of directly stacking on the surface of the conductive support, but also the case of stacking on the conductive support via another arbitrary layer. I will do it. By forming the outermost layer as a layer containing polyolefin particles, the electrical characteristics, lubricity, surface releasability and sustainability of the photoreceptor can be improved.

<Outermost layer>
[1. Configuration of outermost layer]
The outermost layer is a layer facing the outside of the photoconductor, and the outer surface of the outermost layer forms the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor. Usually, the photosensitive layer is the outermost layer in the single-layer type photoreceptor, and the charge generation layer or the charge transport layer is the outermost layer in the laminated type photoreceptor. However, the charge transport layer is preferably the outermost layer in the multilayer photoreceptor. In addition, when a surface layer such as a protective layer described later is formed on the surface of the photosensitive layer, the surface layer is usually the outermost layer.

  This outermost layer contains the polyolefin particles of the present invention. However, the polyolefin particles may be formed in at least a part of the outermost layer, but are preferably contained throughout. Furthermore, the polyolefin particles only need to be formed in at least the outermost layer of the photoreceptor. For example, the polyolefin particles are contained in both the charge transport layer and the charge generation layer described later, so that the polyolefin particles are contained in a plurality of layers. It may be contained.

[2. Method for forming outermost layer]
The outermost layer can be formed by any method. Usually, the polyolefin particles are mixed in a coating solution, and the coating solution is used to form the outermost layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by a coating method. Here, the coating solution contains a material for forming the outermost layer of the photoreceptor to be manufactured in a solvent or dispersion medium. For example, in general, when a charge generation layer is provided as the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, the coating solution contains a charge generation material and a binder resin, and when a charge transport layer is provided as the outermost layer, the coating solution is charged. When a substance and a binder resin are contained and a protective layer is formed as the outermost layer, the coating solution contains a protective material. However, when an image is formed using the produced photoreceptor, the outermost layer is preferably a charge transport layer from the viewpoint of improving the resolution of the formed image. The coating solution will be described in detail later together with the structure of the photoreceptor.

  When mixing polyolefin particle | grains and a coating liquid, the mixing method is arbitrary. For example, when polyolefin particles are produced by the bottom-up method, the obtained polyolefin particles are dispersed in a solvent, that is, the dispersion particles may be mixed with the coating liquid, or the polyolefin particles may be filtered. The polyolefin particles separated from the solvent may be mixed with the coating solution, or the filtered polyolefin particles may be washed with a suitable solvent and then mixed with the coating solution.

However, in order to make the coating solution containing polyolefin particles stable, the viscosity of the coating solution is usually 50 cps or more, preferably 100 cps or more, and usually 600 cps or less, preferably 400 cps or less.
Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in the method at the time of mixing polyolefin particle | grains with a coating liquid, It can mix by arbitrary methods. However, in order to appropriately disperse the polyolefin particles in the coating solution, it is desirable to disperse and mix with a ball mill, an ultrasonic disperser, a paint shaker, an attritor, a sand grinder or the like.

  After preparing a coating solution mixed with polyolefin particles, the outermost layer of the photoreceptor is formed by a coating method using the coating solution. Specifically, the outermost layer is formed by applying a coating liquid mixed with polyolefin particles on the surface of the conductive support having a layer other than the outermost layer formed thereon and drying it.

  There is no restriction | limiting in the coating method of a coating liquid, A well-known coating method can be used arbitrarily. Specific examples include dip coating, spray coating, spinner coating, bead coating, wire bar coating, blade coating, roller coating, air knife coating, curtain coating, etc. A known coating method can also be used.

  Furthermore, the drying method of the coating solution is also arbitrary. For example, after touch-drying at room temperature, it is usually dried in a temperature range of 30 ° C. or higher and usually 200 ° C. or lower for 1 minute to 2 hours with no wind or air blowing. Can be dried. The heating temperature may be constant or the heating may be performed while changing the temperature during drying.

  By the way, for example, when producing polyolefin particles by the bottom-up method, as described above, the polyolefin particles and the coating solution for the outermost layer are separately prepared and mixed, and the solvent for dissolving and precipitating the polyolefin is used. The material of the outermost layer (for example, a charge generating substance, a charge transporting substance, a binder resin, etc. described later) may be mixed in advance. Thereby, the process of mixing the polyolefin particles and the coating liquid for forming the outermost layer can be omitted.

<Conductive support>
The conductive support used in the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention can be formed of any material having conductivity. Specific examples of the conductive support material include, for example, metal materials such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, copper, and nickel; and metal, carbon, conductive powder such as tin oxide and copper powder, and the like. Resin material imparted with conductivity; resin such as polyester with a conductive layer provided on the surface with a conductive material such as aluminum, copper, palladium, tin oxide, indium oxide, nickel, ITO (indium oxide tin oxide alloy), glass The main thing is paper. In addition, a conductive support having a suitable resistance value may be used on the surface of a conductive support formed of a metal material for controlling conductivity, surface properties, etc., or for covering defects. .

In addition, the material of an electroconductive support body may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and ratios.
The form of the conductive support is also arbitrary, and for example, a drum shape, a sheet shape, a belt shape, a roll shape or the like is used.

However, among these, it is preferable to use a metal material such as an aluminum alloy as the conductive support from the viewpoint of performance, material procurement, and cost.
As an example of the conductive support, when an aluminum drum is used, for example, 3000-series, 5000-series, 6000-series, etc. aluminum alloy extruded / pulled tubes or those obtained by cutting them are stipulated by JIS. It is suitable for use as a conductive support.

Further, when a metal material is used as the conductive support, it may be used after anodizing. In addition, when anodizing is performed, it is desirable to perform sealing by a known method.
Further, the surface of the conductive support may be smooth, or may be roughened by using a special cutting method or performing a polishing treatment. Further, it may be roughened by mixing particles having an appropriate particle diameter with the material constituting the conductive support. Furthermore, in order to reduce the cost, it is possible to use the drawing tube as it is without performing the cutting process. As the degree of the surface roughness, the ten-point average roughness Rz is preferably 1.5 μm or less.

<Underlayer>
An undercoat layer may be provided between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer in order to improve adhesion and blocking properties.
Examples of the undercoat layer include inorganic layers such as aluminum anodized film, aluminum oxide, and aluminum hydroxide; organic materials such as polyvinyl alcohol, casein, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, celluloses, gelatin, starch, polyurethane, polyimide, and polyamide. Layers etc. are used.

  Furthermore, when using an organic layer as an undercoat layer, metal oxide powders such as titania, alumina, silica, zirconium oxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, barium titanate, copper, silver Powders such as metal fine powders such as aluminum may be mixed and dispersed in the organic layer. As the powder mixed in these organic layers, titanium oxide and aluminum oxide are preferable among the above examples, and titanium oxide is particularly preferable. In addition, the powder mixed in these organic layers may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and ratios.

  Various particles can be used as the particle size of the powder to be mixed in the organic layer, and above all, the average primary particle size is usually 5 nm or more from the viewpoint of the characteristics of the organic material that is the raw material of the organic layer and the stability of the liquid. Preferably, it is 10 nm or more, usually 100 nm or less, preferably 50 nm or less.

  When the undercoat layer is formed as an organic layer containing metal powder or metal oxide powder, the mixing ratio of the powder mixed in the organic layer is usually in the range of 10 wt% to 500 wt%. It is desirable to do. This is because when the undercoat layer is formed by a coating method, the stability and coating properties of the liquid to be coated are improved.

  Furthermore, although the film thickness of the undercoat layer is arbitrary, from the viewpoint of improving the electrical characteristics, the strong exposure characteristics, the image characteristics, and the repeat characteristics of the photoreceptor, and the applicability during production, it is usually 0.05 μm or more. The thickness is preferably 0.1 μm or more, usually 20 μm or less, preferably 10 μm or less. Moreover, you may mix a well-known antioxidant etc. in an undercoat layer.

  The formation method of the undercoat layer is arbitrary, but when the organic layer is formed as the undercoat layer, the undercoat layer is usually formed by dissolving or dispersing the material of the undercoat layer in an appropriate solvent or dispersion medium. The coating liquid is prepared, and this coating liquid is coated on a conductive support and dried.

<Photosensitive layer>
Next, the photosensitive layer formed on the conductive support (on the undercoat layer when an undercoat layer is provided) will be described.
The photosensitive layer is classified into a single layer type in which the charge generation material and the charge transport material are present in the same layer and dispersed in the binder resin, and a charge generation layer in which the charge generation material is dispersed in the binder resin. And a laminated type composed of two layers of a charge transport layer in which a charge transport material is dispersed in a binder resin. In general, it is known that the charge transport material exhibits the same performance as a charge transfer function regardless of whether it is a single layer type or a multilayer type.

In addition, as the laminated photosensitive layer, a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer are laminated in this order from the conductive support side, and a charge transport layer and a charge generation layer are laminated in this order. There are reverse laminated type photosensitive layers, and any of them can be adopted, but a forward laminated type photosensitive layer capable of exhibiting the most balanced photoconductivity is preferable.
Hereinafter, the multilayer photosensitive layer will be described first, and then the single-layer photosensitive layer will be described.

(Charge generation layer)
The charge generation layer of the multilayer photosensitive layer contains a charge generation material and usually contains a binder resin and other components used as necessary. When the charge generation layer is the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, the charge generation layer also contains the above-described polyolefin particles.
Specifically, such a charge generation layer is prepared by, for example, preparing a coating solution by dissolving or dispersing a charge generation material and a binder resin in a solvent or a dispersion medium. Can be obtained by coating and drying on a conductive support (on an undercoat layer when an undercoat layer is provided), or on a charge transport layer in the case of a reverse lamination type photosensitive layer.

  Any known charge generating substance can be used, and examples thereof include selenium and its alloys, cadmium sulfide, other inorganic photoconductive materials, and organic photoconductive materials such as organic pigments. Of these, organic photoconductive materials are preferred, and organic pigments are particularly preferred. Specific examples of organic pigments include phthalocyanine pigments (phthalocyanine compounds), azo pigments, perylene pigments, quinacridone pigments, polycyclic quinone pigments, indigo pigments, benzimidazole pigments, pyrylium pigments, thiapyrylium pigments, squalene pigments, dithioketo. Examples include pyrrolopyrrole pigments and anthanthrone pigments.

Among the organic pigments exemplified above, the charge generating substance is particularly preferably a phthalocyanine pigment or an azo pigment, more preferably a phthalocyanine pigment, and particularly preferably an oxytitanium phthalocyanine pigment.
The oxytitanium phthalocyanine pigment can be used in various crystal forms as well as in an amorphous form. Among them, oxytitanium phthalocyanine characterized by showing a clear peak at a Bragg angle (2θ ± 0.2 °) of 27.1 ° or 27.3 ° in a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum using CuKα as a radiation source is It has a very high charge generation efficiency, and can be more suitably used as a charge generation material.
In addition, a charge generation material may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and a ratio.

  There is no restriction | limiting in binder resin used for a charge generation layer, Arbitrary resin can be used. Specific examples thereof include polyacrylic acid ester, polymethacrylic acid ester, polyester, polycarbonate, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl acetoacetal, polyvinyl propional, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose ester, cellulose ether, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate copolymer and the like. It is done. In addition, these may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and ratios.

  Among these, a resin containing a hydroxyl group is excellent in dispersion stability of the charge generation material and is suitable for use as a binder resin. Examples of the resin containing a hydroxyl group include polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl acetoacetal, polyvinyl propional, polyvinyl butyral, phenoxy resin, cellulose ester, cellulose ether, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate copolymer, and the like. Among these, polyvinyl acetals are more preferable, and polyvinyl butyral resins are particularly preferably used as the binder resin for the charge generation layer.

Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in particular in the solvent and dispersion medium which melt | dissolve binder resin and are used for preparation of a coating liquid, Arbitrary solvents and dispersion media can be used. Specific examples thereof include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and 2-methoxyethanol, ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane and dimethoxyethane, esters such as methyl formate and ethyl acetate, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone. , Ketones such as cyclohexanone, aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, dichloromethane, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethane, 1 Chlorinated hydrocarbons such as 1,2-dichloropropane and trichloroethylene, nitrogen-containing compounds such as n-butylamine, isopropanolamine, diethylamine, triethanolamine, ethylenediamine and triethylenediamine, Lil, N- methylpyrrolidone, N, N- dimethylformamide, aprotic polar solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and the like. In addition, these may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and ratios.
Furthermore, when the charge generation layer is the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, polyolefin particles are produced in a bottom-up manner, and when the polyolefin particles are added to the coating solution together with the solvent used for producing the polyolefin particles, the polyolefin dissolves and precipitates. The solvent used in the above may be used as a solvent or dispersion medium for the coating solution.

The use ratio of the charge generating material to the binder resin is arbitrary, but is usually 30 parts by weight or more, preferably 40 parts by weight or more, and usually 1000 parts by weight or less, preferably 500 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. More preferably, it is 300 parts by weight or less.
Furthermore, although the film thickness of the charge generation layer is also arbitrary, it is usually 0.1 μm or more, preferably 0.15 μm or more, and usually 2 μm or less, preferably 0.8 μm or less.

  Furthermore, the method for dispersing the charge generation material in the dispersion medium is arbitrary. For example, the charge generation material is dispersed and dissolved in an appropriate dispersion medium by a ball mill, an ultrasonic dispersion device, a paint shaker, an attritor, a sand grinder, or the like. After that, it is preferable to mix with various raw materials. When dispersing, it is effective to reduce the particle size of the charge generating material to a particle size of usually 0.5 μm or less, preferably 0.3 μm or less, more preferably 0.15 μm or less.

In addition, for the purpose of improving the film formability, flexibility, coating property, stain resistance, gas resistance, light resistance, etc., the charge generation layer is provided with an antioxidant such as hindered phenol or hindered amine, or a plasticizer. Further, additives such as an ultraviolet absorber, an electron-withdrawing compound, a leveling agent, and a visible light shading agent may be contained.
Furthermore, there is no restriction | limiting in particular also about the coating method, A well-known coating method can be used arbitrarily. As a specific example, the same coating method as that used when forming the outermost layer can be given.

(Charge transport layer)
The charge transport layer contains a charge transport material and usually contains a binder resin and other components used as necessary. When the charge transport layer is the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, the charge transport layer also contains the above-described polyolefin particles.
Specifically, such a charge transport layer is prepared by, for example, preparing a coating solution by dissolving or dispersing a charge transport material and a binder resin in a solvent or a dispersion medium. It can be obtained by coating and drying on a charge generation layer, or in the case of a reverse lamination type photosensitive layer, on a conductive support (or on an undercoat layer when an undercoat layer is provided). When the charge transport layer is the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, polyolefin particles are mixed in the coating liquid for forming the charge transport layer.
In the case where the photosensitive layer is formed in a laminated type, it is usually preferable that the outermost layer of the photoreceptor is constituted by this charge transport layer.

  As the charge transport material, known materials can be arbitrarily used. For example, polycyclic aromatic compounds such as pyrene and anthracene, heterocyclic compounds such as carbazole, indole, oxazole, thiazole, pyrazoline, oxathiazole, thiadiazole, and triazole Hydrazone compounds such as p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde-N, N-diphenylhydrazone and N-methylcarbazole-3-carbaldehyde-N, N-diphenylhydrazone, 5- (4- (di-p-tolylamino) benzylidene)- Styryl compounds such as 5H-dibenzo (a, d) cycloheptene, triarylamine compounds such as p-tolyltolylamine, benzidine compounds such as N, N, N ′, N′-tetraphenylbenzidine, butadiene compounds, di -(P-ditolylamino Eniru) and triphenylmethane-based compounds such as methane, and the like. Any one of these charge transport materials may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in any combination.

  There is no restriction | limiting in binder resin used for a charge transport layer, Arbitrary resin can be used. Specific examples thereof include vinyl polymers such as polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride, and copolymers thereof, polycarbonate, polyester, polyester carbonate, polysulfone, polyimide, phenoxy, epoxy, silicone resin, and the like. These can also be used by crosslinking with an appropriate curing agent by heat, light or the like. Moreover, these may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and a ratio.

In the charge transport layer, the binder resin is dissolved and the solvent and dispersion medium used for preparing the coating liquid are not particularly limited, and any solvent and dispersion medium can be used. Specific examples thereof are the same as those in the formation of the charge generation layer. In addition, this solvent may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together by arbitrary combinations and a ratio.
Further, when the charge transport layer is the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, when the polyolefin particles are added to the coating solution together with the solvent used for dissolving and precipitating the polyolefin, the solvent used for dissolving and precipitating the polyolefin is changed to the solvent of the coating solution and It may be used as a dispersion medium.

The ratio of the charge transport material to the binder resin is arbitrary, but is usually 30 parts by weight or more, preferably 40 parts by weight or more, and usually 200 parts by weight or less, preferably 150 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. It is.
The thickness of the charge transport layer is also arbitrary, but is usually 10 μm or more, preferably 15 μm or more, and usually 60 μm or less, preferably 45 μm or less.

Similarly to the charge generation layer, the charge transport layer is formed by oxidizing hindered phenol, hindered amine, etc. for the purpose of improving film formability, flexibility, coatability, stain resistance, gas resistance, light resistance, and the like. You may contain additives, such as an inhibitor, a plasticizer, a ultraviolet absorber, an electron-withdrawing compound, a leveling agent, and a visible light shading agent.
Furthermore, there is no restriction | limiting in particular also about the coating method, A well-known coating method can be used arbitrarily. As a specific example, the same coating method as that used when forming the outermost layer can be given.

(Photosensitive layer of single layer type photoreceptor)
In addition to the charge generation material and the charge transport material, the photosensitive layer of the single-layer photoconductor is formed using a binder resin in order to ensure film strength, in the same manner as the charge transport layer of the multilayer photoconductor. Specifically, usually, a charge generation material, a charge transport material, and various binder resins are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or a dispersion medium to prepare a coating solution, and on a conductive support (when an undercoat layer is provided) It can be obtained by coating and drying on the undercoat layer. When this photosensitive layer is the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, polyolefin particles are mixed in the coating solution for forming the photosensitive layer.

  The types of the charge transport material and the binder resin and the use ratios thereof are the same as those described for the charge transport layer of the multilayer photoreceptor. The charge generating material is further dispersed in the charge transport medium comprising these charge transport material and binder resin.

  As the charge generation material, the same materials as those described for the charge generation layer of the multilayer photoreceptor can be used. However, in the case of a photosensitive layer of a single layer type photoreceptor, it is desirable to sufficiently reduce the particle size of the charge generating material. Specifically, the range is usually 1 μm or less, preferably 0.5 μm or less.

Furthermore, if the amount of the charge generating material dispersed in the single-layer type photosensitive layer is too small, sufficient sensitivity cannot be obtained, while if it is too large, there are problems such as a decrease in chargeability and a decrease in sensitivity. The total amount is usually 0.5% by weight or more, preferably 1% by weight or more, and usually 50% by weight or less, preferably 20% by weight or less based on the whole single-layer type photosensitive layer.
The film thickness of the single-layer type photosensitive layer is usually 5 μm or more, preferably 10 μm or more, and usually 50 μm or less, preferably 45 μm or less.

In addition, the photosensitive layer of the single-layer type photoreceptor is hindered for the purpose of improving film forming properties, flexibility, coating properties, contamination resistance, gas resistance, light resistance, etc., as in the case of the multilayer photosensitive layer. Additives such as antioxidants such as phenol and hindered amines, plasticizers, ultraviolet absorbers, electron-withdrawing compounds, leveling agents, visible light shading agents, silicone oils, fluorine-based oils, and other additives may be included. .
Furthermore, there is no restriction | limiting in particular also about the coating method, A well-known coating method can be used arbitrarily. As a specific example, the same coating method as that used when forming the outermost layer can be given.

<Other layers>
In addition to the above-described charge generation layer, charge transport layer, and single layer type photosensitive layer as the outermost layer of the photoreceptor, another layer is formed on the charge generation layer, charge transport layer, and single layer type photosensitive layer. May be provided as a surface layer, and this surface layer may be the outermost layer.
For example, a protective layer may be provided as a surface layer for the purpose of preventing the photosensitive layer from being worn out or preventing or reducing the deterioration of the photosensitive layer due to discharge products generated from a charger or the like.

The protective layer is formed by containing a conductive material in a suitable binder resin, or charge transporting ability such as a triphenylamine skeleton as described in JP-A-9-190004 and JP-A-10-252377. It can form using the copolymer using the compound which has this.
There is no restriction | limiting in the electroconductive material used for a protective layer. For example, aromatic amino compounds such as TPD (N, N′-diphenyl-N, N′-bis- (m-tolyl) benzidine), antimony oxide, indium oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide-antimony oxide, Metal oxides such as aluminum oxide and zinc oxide can be used, but are not limited thereto.

  Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting also about binder resin used for a protective layer, Although arbitrary resins can be used, For example, a polyamide resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, a polyketone resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polyvinyl ketone resin, a polystyrene resin In addition, known resins such as polyacrylamide resin and siloxane resin can be used, and charge transporting ability such as triphenylamine skeleton as described in JP-A-9-190004 and JP-A-10-252377 can be used. A copolymer of the skeleton having the above resin can also be used.

Furthermore, the protective layer is preferably configured so that the electric resistance is usually 10 ⁹ Ω · cm or more and 10 ¹⁴ Ω · cm or less. If the electric resistance is higher than the above range, the residual potential may increase and an image with much fog may be formed. On the other hand, if it is lower than the above range, there is a risk that the image is blurred and the resolution is lowered. Further, it is desirable that the protective layer is configured so as not to substantially prevent transmission of light irradiated for image exposure. The thickness of the protective layer is usually 0.01 μm or more, preferably 0.1 μm or more, and usually 20 μm or less, preferably 10 μm or less.

Each layer constituting these electrophotographic photosensitive members is formed by sequentially applying a coating solution obtained by dissolving or dispersing a substance to be contained in a solvent on a support. Moreover, when it has a protective layer formed on the photosensitive layer, polyolefin particles are mixed in the coating solution for forming the protective layer. Further, the protective layer may be formed as a layer of polyolefin particles fixed with a binder resin, and in that case, the coating solution should contain only the polyolefin particles and the binder resin in a solvent or dispersion medium. You can also.
Furthermore, there is no restriction | limiting in particular also about the coating method, A well-known coating method can be used arbitrarily.

[III. Image forming apparatus]
Next, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention (an image forming apparatus of the present invention) will be described with reference to FIG. However, the embodiment is not limited to the following description, and can be arbitrarily modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, a charging device (charging unit) 2, an exposure device (exposure unit) 3, and a developing device (developing unit) 4. Accordingly, a transfer device 5, a cleaning device 6, and a fixing device 7 are provided.

  The electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is the above-described electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention, but in FIG. 1, as an example, a drum in which the above-described photosensitive layer is formed on the surface of a cylindrical conductive support. The electrophotographic photosensitive member is shown. A charging device 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer device 5, and a cleaning device 6 are arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1.

  The charging device 2 charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and uniformly charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 to a predetermined potential. In FIG. 1, a roller-type charging device (charging roller) is shown as an example of the charging device 2, but other corona charging devices such as corotron and scorotron, and contact-type charging devices such as charging brushes are often used.

  In many cases, the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the charging device 2 are cartridges having both of them (the electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge of the present invention; hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive cartridge” as appropriate), and the main body of the image forming apparatus. Designed to be removable from. For example, when the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 or the charging device 2 deteriorates, the photoreceptor cartridge can be removed from the image forming apparatus main body, and another new photosensitive cartridge can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. ing. Also, in many cases, the toner described later is stored in the toner cartridge and designed to be removable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. When the toner in the used toner cartridge runs out, It can be removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus and another new toner cartridge can be mounted. Further, a cartridge equipped with all of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, the charging device 2, and the toner may be used.

  The type of the exposure apparatus 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can expose the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1. Specific examples include halogen lamps, fluorescent lamps, lasers such as semiconductor lasers and He—Ne lasers, LEDs, and the like. Further, exposure may be performed by a photoreceptor internal exposure method. The light used for the exposure is arbitrary. For example, the exposure may be performed using monochromatic light with a wavelength of 780 nm, monochromatic light with a wavelength slightly shorter than 600 nm to 700 nm, or monochromatic light with a short wavelength of 380 nm to 500 nm. .

  The type of the developing device 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can develop the exposed electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 into a visible image. Specific examples include dry development methods such as cascade development, one-component conductive toner development, and two-component magnetic brush development, and wet development methods. In FIG. 1, the developing device 4 includes a developing tank 41, an agitator 42, a supply roller 43, a developing roller 44, and a regulating member 45, and has a configuration in which toner T is stored inside the developing tank 41. . Further, a replenishing device (not shown) for replenishing the toner T may be attached to the developing device 4 as necessary. The replenishing device is configured to be able to replenish toner T from a container such as a bottle or a cartridge.

  The supply roller 43 is formed from a conductive sponge or the like. The developing roller 44 is made of a metal roll such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, or nickel, or a resin roll obtained by coating such a metal roll with a silicon resin, a urethane resin, a fluorine resin, or the like. The surface of the developing roller 44 may be smoothed or roughened as necessary.

  The developing roller 44 is disposed between the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 and the supply roller 43 and is in contact with the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 and the supply roller 43, respectively. The supply roller 43 and the developing roller 44 are rotated by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown). The supply roller 43 carries the stored toner T and supplies it to the developing roller 44. The developing roller 44 carries the toner T supplied by the supply roller 43 and contacts the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1.

  The restricting member 45 is formed of a resin blade such as silicon resin or urethane resin, a metal blade such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, phosphor bronze, or a blade obtained by coating such a metal blade with resin. The regulating member 45 contacts the developing roller 44 and is pressed against the developing roller 44 side with a predetermined force by a spring or the like (a general blade linear pressure is 5 to 500 g / cm). If necessary, the regulating member 45 may be provided with a function of imparting charging to the toner T by frictional charging with the toner T.

  The agitator 42 is rotated by a rotation driving mechanism, and agitates the toner T and conveys the toner T to the supply roller 43 side. A plurality of agitators 42 may be provided with different blade shapes and sizes.

  The type of the toner T is arbitrary, and besides the pulverized toner, a polymerized toner using a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion polymerization method, or the like can be used. In particular, when a polymerized toner is used, a toner having a small particle diameter of about 4 μm to 8 μm is preferable, and the toner particles can be used in a variety of shapes from a nearly spherical shape to a shape outside a potato-like spherical shape. be able to. The polymerized toner is excellent in charging uniformity and transferability and is suitably used for high image quality.

  The type of the transfer device 5 is not particularly limited, and an apparatus using an arbitrary system such as an electrostatic transfer method such as corona transfer, roller transfer, or belt transfer, a pressure transfer method, or an adhesive transfer method can be used. . Here, it is assumed that the transfer device 5 includes a transfer charger, a transfer roller, a transfer belt, and the like disposed so as to face the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1. The transfer device 5 applies a predetermined voltage value (transfer voltage) having a polarity opposite to the charging potential of the toner T, and transfers the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 to a recording paper (paper, medium) P. Is.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the cleaning apparatus 6, Arbitrary cleaning apparatuses, such as a brush cleaner, a magnetic brush cleaner, an electrostatic brush cleaner, a magnetic roller cleaner, a blade cleaner, can be used. The cleaning device 6 scrapes the residual toner adhering to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 with a cleaning member and collects the residual toner. If there is little or almost no residual toner, the cleaning device 6 may be omitted.

  The fixing device 7 includes an upper fixing member (fixing roller) 71 and a lower fixing member (fixing roller) 72, and a heating device 73 is provided inside the fixing member 71 or 72. FIG. 1 shows an example in which a heating device 73 is provided inside the upper fixing member 71. Each of the upper and lower fixing members 71 and 72 includes a fixing roll in which a metal base tube such as stainless steel or aluminum is coated with silicon rubber, a fixing roll in which Teflon (registered trademark) resin is coated, and a fixing sheet. A member can be used. Further, the fixing members 71 and 72 may be configured to supply a release agent such as silicone oil in order to improve the releasability, or may be configured to forcibly apply pressure to each other by a spring or the like.

When the toner transferred onto the recording paper P passes between the upper fixing member 71 and the lower fixing member 72 heated to a predetermined temperature, the toner is heated to a molten state and cooled after passing through the recording paper P. The toner is fixed on the top.
The type of the fixing device is not particularly limited, and a fixing device of any type such as heat roller fixing, flash fixing, oven fixing, pressure fixing, etc. can be provided including those used here.

  In the electrophotographic apparatus configured as described above, an image is recorded as follows. That is, first, the surface (photosensitive surface) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is charged to a predetermined potential (for example, −600 V) by the charging device 2. At this time, charging may be performed by a DC voltage, or charging may be performed by superimposing an AC voltage on the DC voltage.

  Subsequently, the photosensitive surface of the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is exposed by the exposure device 3 according to the image to be recorded, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive surface. Then, development of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 is performed by the developing device 4.

  The developing device 4 thins the toner T supplied by the supply roller 43 with a regulating member (developing blade) 45 and has a predetermined polarity (here, the same polarity as the charging potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1). Negatively charged) and conveyed while being carried on the developing roller 44 and brought into contact with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1.

When the charged toner T carried on the developing roller 44 contacts the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1, a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1. This toner image is transferred onto the recording paper P by the transfer device 5. Thereafter, the toner remaining on the photosensitive surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 without being transferred is removed by the cleaning device 6.
After the transfer of the toner image onto the recording paper P, the final image is obtained by passing the fixing device 7 and thermally fixing the toner image onto the recording paper P.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the image forming apparatus may have a configuration capable of performing, for example, a static elimination process. The neutralization step is a step of neutralizing the electrophotographic photosensitive member by exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a fluorescent lamp, an LED, or the like is used as the neutralizing device. In addition, the light used in the static elimination process is often light having an exposure energy that is at least three times that of the exposure light.

The image forming apparatus may be further modified. For example, the image forming apparatus may be configured to perform a pre-exposure process, an auxiliary charging process, or the like, or may be configured to perform offset printing. A full-color tandem system configuration using toner may be used.
However, an image forming apparatus using reversal development is particularly effective in the characteristics of the photoreceptor of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge of the present invention has been described by exemplifying the photosensitive member cartridge including the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the charging device 2. However, the electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge of the present invention is electrophotographic. The photosensitive member 1 may be provided with at least one of a charging device (charging unit) 2, an exposure device (exposure unit) 3, and a developing device (developing unit) 4. Specifically, for example, the electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge of the present invention includes all of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, the charging device (charging unit) 2, the exposure device (exposure unit) 3, and the developing device (developing unit) 4. You may comprise as a cartridge.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and can be arbitrarily modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof. . In the following examples, “parts” means “parts by weight” unless otherwise specified.

<Preparation of coating liquid A1>
The melt viscosity at 140 ° C. of polyethylene (A-C617A manufactured by AlliedSignal: raw polyethylene pellets, number average molecular weight of about 1500) was measured with a Brookfield rotary viscometer. As a result, the melt viscosity of this polyethylene was 0.18 Pa · s.

A suspension of this polyethylene (A-C617A manufactured by AlliedSignal) and toluene in a weight ratio of 3: 7 was heated to 80 to 90 ° C. to dissolve the raw polyethylene. As a result, a polyethylene solution in which polyethylene was dissolved in toluene was obtained.
Thereafter, 2.85 times weight of toluene at 25 ° C. was added to toluene in the obtained polyethylene solution, and the polyethylene solution was cooled to precipitate polyethylene particles.

  The resulting toluene dispersion of polyethylene particles contains a charge transport material represented by the following formula (1) and a polycarbonate resin (viscosity average molecular weight of about 30000) represented by the following formula (2), and dissolves silicone oil. The coating solution A1 was prepared by adding to the THF (tetrahydrofuran) / toluene mixed solution with stirring. Finally, the coating liquid A1 is a THF / toluene mixed solution having a solid content concentration of 21% by weight, comprising 100 parts by weight of polycarbonate, 50 parts by weight of a charge transport material, 10 parts by weight of a polyethylene dispersion, and 0.05 parts by weight of silicone oil. (Weight ratio: 80/20). However, in the following formula (2), m: n = 1: 1.

<Preparation of coating liquid A2>
A coating solution A2 was prepared in the same manner as the coating solution A1, except that polyethylene (A-C6 manufactured by AlliedSignal; number average molecular weight of about 2000) was used instead of polyethylene (A-C617A manufactured by AlliedSignal). In addition, the melt viscosity in 140 degreeC of the used polyethylene (A-C6 by AlliedSignal) was 0.375 Pa * s.

<Method for creating coating liquid A3>
A coating solution A3 was prepared in the same manner as the coating solution A1, except that polyethylene (A-C7A manufactured by AlliedSignal; number average molecular weight of about 2200) was used instead of polyethylene (A-C617A manufactured by AlliedSignal). The melt viscosity at 140 ° C. of the used polyethylene (A-C7A manufactured by AlliedSignal) was 0.45 Pa · s.

<Example 1>
(Formation of undercoat layer)
Using a conductive support in which an aluminum vapor-deposited layer (thickness 70 nm) is formed on the surface of a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate resin film (thickness 75 μm), the following undercoat layer dispersion is formed on the vapor-deposited layer of the conductive support. Was coated with a bar coater so that the film thickness after drying was 1.25 μm, and dried to form an undercoat layer.

Dispersion for undercoat layer:
The undercoat layer dispersion was produced as follows. That is, rutile type titanium oxide having an average primary particle size of 40 nm (“TTO55N” manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.) and methyldimethoxysilane (“TSL8117” manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) in an amount of 3% by weight based on the titanium oxide, Mixing methanol / 1-propanol with surface-treated titanium oxide, which was put into a high-speed fluid mixing and kneading machine (“SMG300” manufactured by Kawata Co., Ltd.) and mixed at a rotational peripheral speed of 34.5 m / sec. A dispersion slurry of hydrophobized titanium oxide was obtained by dispersing in a solvent with a ball mill.

  The dispersion slurry, a mixed solution of methanol / 1-propanol / toluene, and ε-caprolactam [compound represented by the following formula (A)] / bis (4-amino-3-methylcyclohexyl) methane [the following formula (B Compound represented by the following formula (C)] / decamethylene dicarboxylic acid [compound represented by the following formula (D)] / octadecamethylene dicarboxylic acid [in the following formula (E) The composition molar ratio of the compound represented] is 75% / 9.5% / 3% / 9.5% / 3% of the copolymerized polyamide pellets with heating and stirring and mixing to dissolve the polyamide pellets. Then, by performing ultrasonic dispersion treatment, the weight ratio of methanol / 1-propanol / toluene is 7/1/2, and the hydrophobized titanium oxide / Contain polymerized polyamide in a weight ratio of 3/1, and a solid concentration of 18.0% of the undercoat layer dispersion.

(Formation of charge generation layer)
150 parts by weight of 4-methyl-4-methoxy-pentanone-2 in 10 parts of oxytitanium phthalocyanine, which shows a maximum diffraction peak at a Bragg angle (2θ ± 0.2 °) of 27.3 ° in X-ray diffraction by CuKα ray In addition, micronization treatment was performed by pulverizing with a sand grind mill for 1 hour. To this, as binder resin, polyvinyl butyral (“Denkabutyral # 6000C” manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.) 5 wt% 1,2-dimethoxyethane solution 100 parts by weight, and phenoxy resin (“PKHH” manufactured by Union Carbide) The coating solution for charge generation layer was prepared by adding 100 parts by weight of a 5% by weight 1,2-dimethoxyethane solution. This charge generation layer coating solution is applied onto the undercoat layer on the conductive support by a bar coater so that the film thickness after drying is 0.4 μm and dried to form a charge generation layer. did.

(Formation of charge transport layer)
Next, a coating liquid A1 containing polyethylene particles is applied onto the charge generation layer as a coating liquid for the charge transport layer with a film applicator so that the film thickness after drying is 20 μm, and dried to charge transport. By forming the layer, a laminated type photoreceptor having a charge transport layer as the outermost layer was produced.

<Comparative Example 1>
A photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the coating liquid A2 was used instead of the coating liquid A1 as the coating liquid for the charge transport layer.

<Comparative example 2>
A photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the coating liquid A3 was used instead of the coating liquid A1 as the coating liquid for the charge transport layer.

<Evaluation of stability of coating solution>
For each of the coating liquids A1 to A3, whether or not the layers were separated in the charge transport layer coating liquid after 30 days was confirmed by visual observation and transmittance. In Table 1, the case where separation was not observed was indicated by ◯, and the case where separation was recognized was indicated by ×.

<Evaluation of photoreceptor>
Each of the photoreceptors manufactured in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 was evaluated by the following method.

(Evaluation of electrical characteristics)
Using an electrophotographic characteristic evaluation device (in accordance with the electrophotographic technology basics and applications, edited by the Electrophotographic Society, Corona, pages 404-405) manufactured according to the Electrophotographic Society measurement standard, the photoreceptor is rotated at a constant rotational speed. Then, an electrical property evaluation test was performed by a cycle of charging, exposure, potential measurement, and static elimination. At that time, the initial surface potential was −700 V, exposure was 780 nm, and charge removal was monochromatic light of 660 nm.

Specifically, the surface potential (VL) at the time of irradiating 1.0 μJ / cm ^{2 of} 780 nm light, the residual potential (Vr) after the neutralizing light irradiation, and the surface potential are halved from −700 V to −350 V. The exposure amount (half exposure amount) required for was measured. In the VL measurement, the time required for the exposure-potential measurement was 100 ms. The measurement environment was 25 ° C. and 50% relative humidity. The half-exposure amount is an index representing sensitivity, and the smaller this value, the better the sensitivity. Moreover, it shows that an electrical property is so favorable that the absolute value of the half exposure amount and the value of VL and Vr is small.

(Evaluation of lubricity)
Using a surface property measuring machine HEIDON-14 manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd., the friction coefficient between the photoconductor and SOFPAD (Asahi Kasei) was measured as an index of lubricity. Further, a friction coefficient in a state after a 600 g weight was placed on a sandpaper and placed on the surface of the photoreceptor and reciprocated 300 times was measured as a friction coefficient after polishing. A smaller initial and polished coefficient of friction indicates better lubricity. Moreover, it shows that sustainability is so good that an initial friction coefficient does not change a lot after polishing.

(Evaluation of surface releasability)
Using an automatic contact angle meter “CA-VP type” manufactured by Kyowa Interface Chemical Co., Ltd., pure water was dropped from an approximately 1 μL glass cylinder onto an electrophotographic photoreceptor in an environment of a temperature of 25 ° C. and a relative humidity of 50%. The contact angle with respect to pure water after 2 seconds was measured, and an average value of 5 times of the measured values was calculated as an index representing the initial surface releasability. In addition, a contact angle in a state after a 600 g weight was placed on a sandpaper and placed on the surface of the photoreceptor and reciprocated 300 times was measured, and the average value of five times of the measured values was used as the surface releasability after polishing. It was calculated as an index representing. The larger the contact angle, the better the surface releasability. Moreover, it shows that surface releasability is so favorable that the average value of an initial contact angle does not change a lot after grinding | polishing.

As can be seen from Table 1, the photoconductor of Example 1 has the same half exposure, VL, Vr, and friction coefficient as the photoconductors of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. The contact angle to water is larger than that of the photosensitive member. In addition, changes in the coefficient of friction and the contact angle between the initial stage and after the polishing are similar to those in Comparative Examples 1 and 2. Therefore, the photoconductor of Example 1 has the same electrical characteristics, lubricity and durability as the photoconductors of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, and more excellent surface separation than the photoconductors of Comparative Examples 1 and 2. It was confirmed to have moldability.
Further, it can be seen from Table 1 that the coating solution A1 used for producing the photoreceptor of Example 1 is excellent in stability. Therefore, it is considered that the use of this coating solution facilitates the production of the photoreceptor.

  The present invention can be carried out in any field requiring an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is suitable for use in, for example, a copying machine, a printer, a printing machine, and the like.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photoconductor (Electrophotographic photoconductor)
2 Charging device (charging roller; charging unit)
3 Exposure equipment (exposure section)
4 Development device (development unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Transfer apparatus 6 Cleaning apparatus 7 Fixing apparatus 41 Developing tank 42 Agitator 43 Supply roller 44 Developing roller 45 Control member 71 Upper fixing member (fixing roller)
72 Lower fixing member (fixing roller)
73 Heating device T Toner P Recording paper (paper, medium)

Claims (7)

An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on a conductive support,
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the outermost layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor contains particles made of polyolefin having a melt viscosity at 140 ° C. of 0.01 Pa · s to 0.25 Pa · s. 2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the particles are obtained by cooling a solution obtained by dissolving polyolefin in a solvent. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein the solvent is an aromatic hydrocarbon. The photosensitive layer comprises a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer,
The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the outermost layer is the charge transport layer. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an exposure unit for exposing the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member An electrophotographic photosensitive member cartridge comprising at least one of the developing units. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
Exposing the charged electrophotographic photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image; and
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Images