JP6907629B2 - Cleaning blades, image forming equipment, and process cartridges - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to cleaning blades, image forming devices, and process cartridges.

Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an image carrier as a member to be cleaned (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "photoreceptor", an "electrophotographic photosensitive member", or an "electrostatic latent image carrier") is used. It is known that unnecessary deposits such as transfer residual toner adhering to the surface after the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper or the intermediate transfer body are removed by a cleaning means.

In order to meet the demand for higher image quality in recent years, an image forming apparatus using a toner having a small particle size and a nearly spherical shape (hereinafter, may be referred to as "polymerized toner") formed by a polymerization method or the like is known. .. Even if the polymerized toner is attempted to be removed from the surface of the image carrier using a cleaning blade, it is difficult to sufficiently remove the polymerized toner, and there is a problem that cleaning defects occur. This is because the polymerized toner having a small particle size and excellent sphericity slips through a slight gap formed between the cleaning blade and the image carrier.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, a technique of making a surface layer at the contact portion of the cleaning blade, a technique of providing an impregnated portion at the contact portion, and a technique of adjusting the radius of curvature of the contact side have been proposed. (See, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5).

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning blade capable of preventing chipping and abnormal noise of a contact portion and maintaining good cleanability for a long period of time.

The cleaning blade of the present invention as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems is
A cleaning blade having an elastic member that comes into contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned and removes residue on the surface of the member to be cleaned.
The elastic member has a base material and a surface layer containing a cured product of the curable composition.
The surface layer is formed in at least a part including the contact side in the contact portion including the contact side where the elastic member comes into contact with the member to be cleaned.
The average thickness of the surface layer at the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less.
The radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side is 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning blade capable of preventing the contact portion from being cut off and making an abnormal noise and maintaining good cleanability for a long period of time.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of a state in which an example of a cleaning blade according to the present invention is in contact with the surface of an image carrier. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cleaning blade according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a cleaning blade according to the present invention. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example of the method for manufacturing a cleaning blade according to the present invention. FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating another example of the method for manufacturing a cleaning blade according to the present invention. FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating another example of the method for manufacturing a cleaning blade according to the present invention. FIG. 3E is a diagram illustrating another example of the method for manufacturing a cleaning blade according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of elastic power. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an image forming unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7A is a schematic view for explaining a method of measuring the average circularity of toner. FIG. 7B is a schematic view for explaining a method of measuring the average circularity of toner. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for measuring the average thickness of the surface layer. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of an observation method in measuring the radius of curvature. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of the results obtained in the measurement of the radius of curvature. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of a measurement location of the wear width of the elastic member. FIG. 12A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the contact portion of the cleaning blade is turned over. FIG. 12B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip surface of the cleaning blade is locally worn. FIG. 12C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the contact portion of the cleaning blade is missing.

(Cleaning blade)
The cleaning blade of the present invention has at least an elastic member and, if necessary, other members.
The cleaning blade is a cleaning blade having the elastic member that comes into contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned and removes residue on the surface of the member to be cleaned.
The elastic member has a base material and a surface layer made of a cured product of a curable composition.
The surface layer is formed in at least a part including the contact side in the contact portion including the contact side where the elastic member comes into contact with the member to be cleaned.
The average thickness of the surface layer at the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less.
The radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side is 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less.

Conventionally, when a polymerized toner having a small particle size and excellent sphericity is used, there is a problem that a slight gap formed between the cleaning blade and the image carrier is slipped through. In order to suppress the slip-through, it is necessary to increase the contact pressure between the image carrier and the cleaning blade to enhance the cleaning ability. However, when the contact pressure of the cleaning blade is increased, as shown in FIG. 12A, the frictional force between the image carrier 123 and the cleaning blade 62 increases, and the cleaning blade 62 is pulled in the moving direction of the image carrier 123. , The tip ridge line portion 62c of the cleaning blade 62 is turned over. When the turned-up cleaning blade 62 is restored to its original state against the turned-up, an abnormal noise may be generated.

Further, when cleaning is continued with the tip ridge portion 62c of the cleaning blade 62 turned up, as shown in FIG. 12B, it is locally localized at a location several μm away from the tip ridge portion 62c of the blade tip surface 62a of the cleaning blade 62. Wear will occur. If cleaning is continued in such a state, this local wear becomes large. Eventually, as shown in FIG. 12C, the tip ridge line portion 62c is missing. If the tip ridge line portion 62c is missing in this way, there is a problem that the toner cannot be cleaned normally and cleaning failure occurs. 62b in FIGS. 12A to 12C is the lower surface of the cleaning blade.

In order to solve the cleaning failure due to the toner slipping through, for example, the following proposals have been made. Japanese Patent No. 3602898 proposes a surface layer made of a resin having a film hardness of pencil hardness B to 6H provided at an abutting portion of an elastic member made of a polyurethane elastomer.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-233818 describes a cleaning in which an ultraviolet curable composition containing silicone is impregnated into an elastic member made of rubber to swell it, and then subjected to an ultraviolet irradiation treatment to cure the ultraviolet curable composition. Blades have been proposed.
In Japanese Patent No. 5532378, at least one selected from an isocyanate compound, a fluorine compound, and a silicone compound is impregnated in a portion including a contact portion of the elastic member, and the surface of the elastic member including the contact portion is impregnated with the elastic member. Cleaning blades with a harder surface layer have been proposed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-58559 proposes a cleaning blade in which a contact portion is reinforced by a reinforcing sheet and a surface layer.

However, with these conventional cleaning blades provided with a surface layer and cleaning blades provided with an impregnated portion, it has been difficult to completely suppress the turning of the tip ridgeline portion. Further, in recent years, there is an increasing need for high speed in an image forming apparatus based on an electrophotographic method, and when the image forming speed is increased, the tip ridge line portion is easily turned over, and the contact portion (hereinafter, also referred to as "tip ridge line portion"). (Called) is missing. Under such severe conditions, the tip ridge line may be chipped due to turning, resulting in poor cleaning or abnormal noise. Further, such a chipping of the tip ridge line portion may occur locally in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade, and in the locally missing portion, toner or the like tends to adhere to the surface of the image carrier corresponding to the missing portion. As a result, abnormal images such as whiteout images may occur.

Further, even with a cleaning blade having a surface layer formed on a portion including a contact portion, it is difficult to increase the film thickness of the contact portion when the surface layer is formed by a method such as spray coating, and the film thickness of the contact portion is thin. The surface layer wears out early. As a result, the base material of the elastic member comes into contact with the image carrier, which causes a problem that the torque with the image carrier increases. When the torque increases, a load is applied to the rotation of the image carrier, and there is a problem that color shift occurs in a tandem method, for example.

The cleaning blade of the present invention can maintain good cleaning performance for a long period of time while suppressing the occurrence of such problems (missing contact portion, abnormal wear, abnormal noise).

An embodiment of the cleaning blade according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a state in which the cleaning blade 62 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 3, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning blade 62. In the cleaning blade 62 shown in the figure, a support member 621, an elastic member 624, a base material 622, and a surface layer 623 are shown, and the base material 622 of the present embodiment has a strip shape. Further, the blade tip surface 62a, the blade lower surface 62b, and the contact portion 62c are shown.

In the present invention, the surface in the longitudinal direction of the base material constituting the elastic member, which faces the downstream side in the traveling direction (rotational direction in the present embodiment) of the member to be cleaned, is referred to as the lower surface of the base material, and the tip of the base material. The surface of the tip facing the upstream side in the rotation direction of the member to be cleaned including the ridge is called the tip surface of the base material.
Further, the surface of the elastic member in the longitudinal direction facing the downstream side in the rotation direction of the member to be cleaned is called the lower surface of the blade, and the tip of the tip facing the upstream side in the rotation direction of the member to be cleaned including the tip ridge of the elastic member. The surface is called the blade tip surface.
In FIG. 1, the surface of the member to be cleaned facing the downstream side B in the traveling direction is the blade lower surface 62b, and the surface of the tip facing the upstream side A of the member to be cleaned is the blade tip surface 62a.
Further, the contact portion that comes into contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned of the elastic member includes the tip ridgeline portion of the elastic member. Further, when the tip ridge line portion is turned over or the linear pressure is high, a part of the blade tip surface can also be a contact portion.

So far, the present inventors have stated that a cleaning blade in which a surface layer containing a curable composition is arranged on the lower surface of a base material suppresses the generation of abnormal noise due to turning over of a contact portion or abnormal wear, and for a long period of time. We have obtained the knowledge that good cleanability can be maintained.
Based on this finding, the present inventors further examined, and found that in the above-mentioned cleaning blade, when the contact side is a right angle or an acute angle, the contact portion is pulled into the member to be cleaned, and the contact portion is turned over and It was found that the contact portion was missing and the cleanability was deteriorated.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-154535 proposes a cleaning blade in which a base material is plasma-treated to adjust the radius of curvature of the contact side. However, the plasma treatment of the base material can only modify the very surface of the base material, and even a slight wear may return the radius of curvature to the original base material.
Therefore, the present inventors have arranged a surface layer containing a curable composition, and adjusted the radius of curvature of the contact side by a method other than plasma treatment, so that the cleaning blade has a constant radius of curvature of the contact side for a longer period of time. We have found that it is possible to maintain the above, and completed the present invention.

In the present invention, the film thickness of the surface layer at the contact portion of the cleaning blade is set to 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less, and the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side is set to 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less to suppress the movement of the tip ridge line portion. By doing so, it is possible to prevent turning over and suppress excessive stick slip. By preventing the tip ridge line from being turned over, it is possible to suppress the chipping of the tip ridge line locally occurring in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade. Further, it is possible to prevent the base material of the elastic member from being exposed due to the thick surface layer even if it is worn due to long-term use, suppress torque increase and squeal, and maintain these functions. As a result, it is possible to reduce curling, achieve both blade wear resistance, and maintain good cleaning performance for a long period of time.
Further, since the base material of the elastic member can be prevented from coming into contact with the image carrier, it is possible to suppress an increase in torque and an increase in the load applied to the rotation of the image carrier, thereby preventing color shift in, for example, a tandem method. can do. The cleaning blade of the present invention is not limited to the tandem method.

If the average thickness of the surface layer at the contact portion exceeds 100 μm, it becomes difficult to maintain the flexibility of the elastic member of the base material, and the image carrier can follow the vibration caused by the axial shake and the minute waviness of the surface of the image carrier. It becomes difficult to deal with the problem and cleaning defects are likely to occur. Further, when the average thickness of the surface layer at the contact portion is less than 10 μm, abnormal noise due to abnormal wear or the like is generated.

A more preferable range of the average thickness of the surface layer of the contact portion is 12 μm or more and 65 μm or less. By setting the average thickness of the surface layer to 12 μm or more and 65 μm or less, the initial contact portion is less likely to be turned over, and even if the wear progresses, the wear can be stopped in the surface layer, and the base material of the elastic member. Since it is possible to suppress the exposure of the surface layer, it is less likely that turning, squeaking, and poor cleaning will occur even after long-term use.

Here, the average thickness of the surface layer of the contact portion can be obtained by the arithmetic mean value obtained by measuring 10 arbitrary points of the surface layer in the contact portion. The thickness is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a method of measuring a cut surface including a surface layer of an abutting portion using a microscope.
Specifically, for example, the thickness of the surface layer at a position of 50 μm to 200 μm from the tip end portion (contact side) of the contact portion is measured. In addition, usually, the measurement is performed at a position excluding both ends 2 cm in the longitudinal direction (direction of the contact side).

If the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side exceeds 40 μm, the pressure on the tip portion required for cleaning is dispersed, and cleaning defects are likely to occur. Further, if it is less than 5 μm, the tip ridge line portion is likely to be turned over, and the contact portion is missing.

A more preferable range of the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side is 10 μm or more and 25 μm or less. By setting the thickness to 10 μm or more and 25 μm or less, the contact portion is less likely to be turned over and the pressure can be applied without being dispersed, so that an abnormal image due to poor cleaning or lack of the contact portion is less likely to occur.

Here, the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side can be obtained by observing the contact side with a microscope and performing a calculation.
Specifically, it can be measured as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the cleaning blade is observed with a laser microscope VK-9510 (manufactured by KEYENCE CORPORATION) at a contact portion from a direction of 45 degrees. The observation positions are any five points except for 2 cm at both ends of the contact side. The radius of curvature is the average of these.
FIG. 10 shows an example of measurement. The example shown in FIG. 10 is an example having a radius of curvature of 2.5 μm, and is obtained by using the formula of radius of curvature = edge width / √2. The edge width refers to a width deviating from a straight line (dotted line in FIG. 10) that originally forms a right angle, as shown in FIG.

<Manufacturing method of cleaning blade>
Conventionally, it is difficult to put a thick film on the contact part with the previous blades manufactured by spraying or dip coating, and even if there is a film of 10 μm in the vicinity of the contact part, the contact part is less than 1 μm to 3 μm. .. Since the surface layer is thin, the base rubber comes into contact with the image carrier, which tends to cause turning.

On the other hand, in the cleaning blade 62 of the present embodiment, for example, a curable composition for forming a surface layer 623 is applied to a base material 622 made of urethane rubber, and then the resin is cured by ultraviolet irradiation or heating. There is. At this time, by polishing with a lapping film sheet or the like so that the radius of curvature at the contact side of the base material rubber becomes an arbitrary value, the contact side of the surface layer coated on the surface including the contact side The radius of curvature in the above can be formed to be 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less. As a result, the tip ridge line is less likely to be turned over, and since the surface layer is formed on the tip ridge line at 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less, it is possible to prevent the base rubber from coming into contact with the image carrier, and even after long-term use. It is less likely to turn over and the tip is less likely to be chipped.

The surface layer is formed by covering the tip ridge of the cleaning blade with a curable composition by spray coating, dip coating, screen printing, or the like.

The surface layer on the lower surface of the blade can be formed by bar coating, spray coating, dip coating, brush coating, screen printing, or the like. The thickness of the surface layer depends on the solid content concentration of the coating liquid, coating conditions (bar coat: gap, spray coating: discharge amount / distance / moving speed, dip coating: pulling speed, etc.), number of coatings, etc. It can be controlled by changing it as appropriate.

A part of the manufacturing method of the cleaning blade of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E. 3A to 3E are views when the elastic member of the cleaning blade is viewed from the side surface. The figure on the left side of FIG. 3A shows the base material 622, the middle figure shows the tip ridge of the base material polished and the radius of curvature adjusted to an arbitrary value, and the figure on the right shows the radius of curvature. It shows a state in which a curable composition is applied and cured as a surface layer on the prepared base material, and an elastic member 624 shown on the right side of FIG. 3A is produced. As a method of polishing the base material, there is a method of pressing the tip ridge portion of the base material against the polishing sheet shown in JP2013-174858. An arbitrary radius of curvature can be obtained by changing the pressing angle.

Further, in FIG. 3B, the figure on the left side shows a state in which the base material 622 is manufactured by using a mold. The figure on the right shows the state in which the curable composition is applied and cured.

Further, FIG. 3C shows a state in which the curable composition is coated and cured on the base material 622, but a thick film can be obtained at the tip ridgeline portion by adjusting the coating conditions.

Further, FIG. 3D shows a state in which the curable composition is applied and cured only on the lower surface of the blade of the base material 622.

Further, FIG. 3E shows a state in which the curable composition is applied and cured only on the blade tip surface of the base material 622.

In the present embodiment, the radius of curvature of the tip ridgeline portion is adjusted at the time of molding the base rubber, the tip ridgeline portion of the base rubber is polished, and the surface layer coating method is devised to obtain a thick film. A cleaning blade having an arbitrary radius of curvature could be produced. Further, a flexible film is preferable for forming a thick film, a durable film is preferable, and a thermosetting or ultraviolet curable resin is preferable.

<Elastic member>
The elastic member has at least a base material and a surface layer, and further has other parts, if necessary.

<< Base material >>
The shape of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a pair of plate surfaces facing each other in the thickness direction of the base material and the plate surfaces orthogonal to the plate surface are described. A shape consisting of two pairs of end faces facing each other in the in-plane direction of the plate surface can be mentioned, and a flat plate shape, a strip shape, a sheet shape, or the like is preferable.

The size of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the size of the member to be cleaned.

The structure of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a single-layer structure made of one kind of material, a two-layer structure made by integrally molding two different kinds of materials, and a number Examples include a multi-layer structure in which different types of materials are integrally molded.
When producing the base material in which two or more layers are laminated, delamination does not occur by continuously injecting raw materials having different mixing ratios into a centrifugal molding die before each layer is completely cured. It is possible to integrally mold as such.

The material of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but urethane rubber is preferable from the viewpoint that high elasticity can be easily obtained.

The hardness of the base material is as described above.

The method for preparing the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a polyurethane prepolymer is prepared using a polyol compound and a polyisocyanate compound, and the polyurethane prepolymer is used. A curing agent and, if necessary, a curing catalyst are added, crosslinked in a predetermined mold, post-crosslinked in a furnace, molded into a sheet by centrifugation, left at room temperature, and aged. It is manufactured by cutting it into a flat plate with the dimensions of.

The polyol compound is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include high molecular weight polyols and low molecular weight polyols.

Examples of the high molecular weight polyol include polyester polyol which is a condensate of alkylene glycol and aliphatic dibasic acid; ethylene adipate ester polyol, butylene adipate ester polyol, hexylene adipate ester polyol, ethylene propylene adipate ester polyol, and ethylene butylene. Polyol-based polyols such as polyester polyols of adipic acid and alkylene glycols such as adipate ester polyols and ethylene neopentylene adipate ester polyols; polycaprolactone-based polyols such as polycaprolactone ester polyols obtained by ring-opening polymerization of caprolactones; Examples thereof include polyether polyols such as oxytetramethylene) glycol and poly (oxypropylene) glycol. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of the low molecular weight polyol include 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, hydroquinone-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) ether, 3,3'-dichloro-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, and 4 , 4'-Diaminodiphenylmethane and other dihydric alcohols; 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane, glycerin, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, 1,1, Examples thereof include trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohols such as 1-tris (hydroxyethoxymethyl) propane, diglycerin and pentaerythritol. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The polyisocyanate compound is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, methylene diphenyldiisocyanate (MDI), tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), xylene diisocyanate (XDI), naphthalene 1, 5 -Diisocyanate (NDI), tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (TMXDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate (H6XDI), dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H12MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), diisocyanate dimerate (DDI), Examples thereof include norbornene diisocyanate (NBDI) and trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate (TMDI). These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The curing catalyst is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include 2-methylimidazole and 1,2-dimethylimidazole.
The content of the curing catalyst is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, and 0.05% by mass or more and 0.3% by mass. % Or less is more preferable.

The JIS-A hardness of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 60 degrees or more, more preferably 65 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less. When the JIS-A hardness is 60 degrees or more, the blade linear pressure is easily obtained, and the area of the contact portion with the image carrier is difficult to expand, so that cleaning failure is less likely to occur.
Here, the JIS-A hardness of the base material can be measured using, for example, a micro rubber hardness tester MD-1 manufactured by Polymer Instruments Co., Ltd.

The elastic modulus of the base material conforming to the JIS K6255 standard is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Here, the elastic modulus of the base material conforms to, for example, JIS K6255 standard, and at 23 ° C., No. 1 manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. It can be measured using a 221 resilience tester.

The average thickness of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.
The average thickness of the base material can be measured using, for example, a micrometer.
Examples of the method of obtaining the average thickness of the base material include a method of selecting an arbitrary plurality of points with respect to the base material and calculating the average thickness of the plurality of points. As the average, the average of the thickness of 5 points is preferable, the average of the thickness of 10 points is more preferable, and the average of the thickness of 20 points is particularly preferable. The average thickness of other members and layers can be calculated in the same manner.

<< Surface layer >>
In the cleaning blade, the tip ridge portion in contact with the image carrier is formed of a surface layer made of a cured product of a curable composition (not a mixed layer with a base material). The surface layer may be formed on the contact portion and the lower surface of the blade, and the surface layer may also be formed on the tip surface. Further, a cured product of the curable composition may be contained inside the base material.

The average thickness of the surface layer is as described above.

The surface layer is preferably a region of 1 mm or more and 7 mm or less from the tip ridgeline portion. When it is 7 mm or less, the flexibility of the elastic member is not further impaired, the followability to the member to be cleaned is improved, and the cleaning property is improved.

The surface layer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but it is more preferable to use a cured product of a curable composition in which the maltens hardness of the cured product is harder than the maltens hardness of the base material. .. By making the surface layer a member having a hardness higher than that of the base material of the elastic member, since it is rigid, it is difficult to be deformed, and it is possible to suppress the turning of the tip ridgeline portion of the cleaning blade.

In this embodiment, each condition has been diligently examined in order to control the film thickness of the surface layer of the contact portion of the cleaning blade. As a result, by changing the surface layer forming method at the contact portion, the flexibility and curing shrinkage of the material, and changing the initiator for the ultraviolet curable resin, the film thickness and the contact with the surface layer of the contact portion are changed. It has become possible to control the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the sides.

The method for forming a surface layer made of a cured product of the curable composition on the abutting portion of the elastic member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a method in which a curable composition is spray-applied to form a surface layer and then cured.

The method for curing the curable composition of the surface layer formed on the contact portion of the cleaning blade is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, for example, by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, heating, or the like. Processing etc. can be mentioned.

The apparatus for irradiating the ultraviolet rays is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, an ultraviolet light source is provided inside the apparatus, and the object to be cured is conveyed by a conveying means such as a conveyor. A device that irradiates ultraviolet rays while irradiating the device can be mentioned.

The light source of the ultraviolet rays is not particularly limited as long as it corresponds to the polymerization initiator, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include lamps and ultraviolet light emitting semiconductor elements.

Examples of the lamp include metal halide lamps, xenon lamps, carbon arc lamps, chemical lamps, low-pressure mercury lamps, high-pressure mercury lamps, and the like, and commercially available products can be used. Examples of the commercially available product include an H valve, a D valve, and a V valve manufactured by Heraeus.

Examples of the ultraviolet light emitting semiconductor element include an ultraviolet light emitting diode and an ultraviolet light emitting semiconductor laser.
The type of ultraviolet rays is not particularly limited as long as it corresponds to the polymerization initiator contained in the curable composition, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm or more and 400 nm or less, far ultraviolet rays, g-rays, h-rays, i-rays, KrF excimer laser light, ArF excimer laser light, electron beams, X-rays, molecular rays, ion beams and the like can be mentioned.

The ultraviolet irradiation conditions are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but the integrated light amount ^{is preferably 500 mJ / cm 2} or more. Further, in order to suppress the decrease in the curing rate due to oxygen inhibition _{, irradiation in an atmosphere of an inert gas (Ar, N 2} , CO _2, etc.) is more preferable.

The elastic power of the cleaning blade after the modification is preferably 60% or more and 90% or less. The elastic power is a characteristic value obtained as follows from the integrated stress at the time of measuring the Martens hardness. The Martens hardness is measured using a microhardness meter while pushing the Vickers indenter with a constant force, for example, for 30 seconds, holding it for 5 seconds, and pulling it out with a constant force for 30 seconds.

Here, assuming that the integrated stress when pushing the Vickers indenter is Wlast and the integrated stress of the test load unloading temple is Welast, the elastic power is a characteristic value defined by the formula of Welast / Wblast × 100 [%]. (See FIG. 4). The higher the elastic power, the less the plastic deformation, that is, the higher the rubber property. If the elastic power is too low, it is in a state closer to glass rather than rubber, and the movement of the abutting portion is suppressed too much, which conversely deteriorates wear resistance.

<<< Curable Composition >>>
The curable composition comprises at least a curable compound.
The curable composition is a material that polymerizes and cures a monomer or oligomer by receiving energy such as light or heat to form a cured product (solid polymer). The energy source differs depending on the type of initiator or stimulus (electron beam) that generates an active species (radical, ion, acid, base, etc.) that initiates polymerization. For example, an ultraviolet curable composition, a thermosetting composition, or an electron. Examples thereof include a linear curing composition.

In the ultraviolet curing composition and the electron beam curing composition, a photopolymerization initiator is used, and by irradiating with ultraviolet rays or an electron beam, a curing reaction classified into one of radical polymerization, cationic polymerization, and anionic polymerization occurs. A cured product is produced by a polymerization reaction such as vinyl polymerization, vinyl copolymerization, ring-opening polymerization, and addition polymerization.

The thermosetting composition starts a curing reaction by heating with a thermosetting initiator, and produces a cured product by a polymerization reaction such as isocyanate, radical polymerization, epoxy ring-opening polymerization, and melamine-based condensation.

The curable composition for producing the cured product produced by such a reaction contains a curable compound. The curable compound is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include acrylic resin, phenol resin, urethane resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin and amino resin. Epoxy resin is preferable because it has less curing shrinkage.

The epoxy resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but a glycidyl ether type epoxy resin is preferable. Further, it is more preferable that an epoxy resin having a bisphenol A type skeleton is contained, and it can be used in combination with bisphenol F type, brominated bisphenol A type, hydrogenated bisphenol A type, novolak type, biphenyl type and the like. ..

When the material containing the bisphenol type epoxy resin is used, the curing shrinkage is small, so that a thick surface layer can be easily produced and a desired film thickness can be obtained. Further, when the material containing the bisphenol type epoxy resin is used, the surface layer becomes hard, the tip ridge of the cleaning blade does not turn over, and the tip surface wear as shown in FIG. 12B does not occur, and the cleaning property is maintained for a long period of time. can.

The (meth) acrylate compound in the acrylic resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but a (meth) acrylate compound having a pentaerythritol structure in the molecule is preferable.

The (meth) acrylate compound having a pentaerythritol structure in the molecule preferably has a functional group equivalent molecular weight of 110 or less and a number of functional groups of 3 to 6, for example, pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate and pentaerythritol tri. Examples thereof include (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol ethoxytetra (meth) acrylate, and dipentaerythritol hexa (meth) acrylate. Among these, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, and dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate are preferable.

When a material having a functional group equivalent molecular weight of 110 or less or a pentaerythritol triacrylate skeleton is used, the surface layer becomes hard and the tip ridge of the cleaning blade is turned over, causing tip surface wear as shown in FIG. 12B. It is possible to maintain the cleanability for a long period of time.

The content of the (meth) acrylate compound having a pentaerythritol structure in the molecule is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. However, the solid content of the curable composition is 20. It is preferably mass% or more and 90 mass% or less, and more preferably 50 mass% or more and 80 mass% or less.

In addition to the (meth) acrylate compound having a pentaerythritol structure in the molecule, the curable composition includes a (meth) acrylate compound having a molecular weight of 100 or more and 1,500 or less, a fluorine-based (meth) acrylate compound, and an intramolecular. Can contain a (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure.
The other (meth) acrylate compound having a molecular weight of 100 or more and 1,500 or less, the fluorine-based (meth) acrylate compound, and the (meth) acrylate compound having an alicyclic structure in the molecule can be appropriately selected. can.

The fluorine-based (meth) acrylate compound preferably has a perfluoropolyether skeleton, and more preferably has a perfluoropolyether skeleton and has two or more functional groups.
The fluorine-based (meth) acrylate compound is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl acrylate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl acrylate, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate, 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate, 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl methacrylate, 2,2,3,4,5,4- Hexafluorobutyl acrylate, 2,2,3,4,5,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylacrylate, 1,1,1,3,3,3 -Hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate, 1H, 1H, 5H-octafluoropentyl acrylate, 1H, 1H, 5H-octafluoropentyl methacrylate, 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl acrylate, 2,2,3 3,3-Pentafluoropropyl methacrylate, 2,2,3,3,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluoroheptyl acrylate, 3,3,4,5,5,5 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-Tridecafluorooctyl acrylate, 3,3,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-Tridecafluorooctyl Methacrylate, 2-[(1', 1', 1'-trifluoro-2'-(trifluoromethyl) -2'-hydroxy) propyl] -3-norbornyl methacrylate, 1,1,1-trifluoro -2- (Trifluoromethyl) -2-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-pentylmethacrylate, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9 , 10,10,10-Heptadecafluorodecylacrylate, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-Heptadecafluoro Decyl methacrylate, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,12-Henikosafluorododecyl acrylate , 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,12-Henikosafluorododecyl methacrylate, 3 , 3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,12,12,12-Henikosa-11- (trifluoromethyl) dodecyl methacrylate And so on. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the fluorine-based (meth) acrylate compound, a commercially available product can be used, and examples of the commercially available product include Optool DAC-HP (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), Megafuck RS-75 (manufactured by DIC Corporation), and the like. Viscort V-3F (Osaka Organic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) and the like can be mentioned.

The content of the fluorine-based (meth) acrylate compound in the curable composition is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but the solid content is 0.1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less. Is preferable.

The other components in the curable composition can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, and examples thereof include a polymerization initiator, a polymerization inhibitor, and a diluent, but it is preferable that the curable composition does not contain resin particles or inorganic particles. ..

The polymerization initiator is not particularly limited as long as it initiates polymerization by light, heat, or the like, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. As the photopolymerization initiator, a photoradical polymerization initiator, a photocationic polymerization initiator, etc. that generate active species such as radicals and cations by light energy to initiate polymerization are preferable, and a photoradical polymerization initiator is more preferable.

Examples of the photoradical polymerization initiator include aromatic ketones, acylphosphine oxide compounds, aromatic onium salt compounds, organic peroxides, thio compounds (thioxanthone compounds, thiophenyl group-containing compounds, etc.), and hexaarylbiimidazole. Examples thereof include compounds, ketooxime ester compounds, borate compounds, azinium compounds, metallocene compounds, active ester compounds, compounds having a carbon halogen bond, alkylamine compounds and the like.

The photoradical polymerization initiator is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, acetophenone, acetophenone benzyl ketal, 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone. , Xantone, fluorenone, benzaldehyde, fluorene, anthraquinone, triphenylamine, carbazole, 3-methylacetophenone, 4-chlorobenzophenone, 4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone, 4,4'-diaminobenzophenone, Michler ketone, benzoinpropyl ether , Benzoyl ethyl ether, benzyl dimethyl ketal, 1- (4-isopropylphenyl) -2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, thioxanthone, Diethylthioxanthone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2-methyl-1- [4- (methylthio) phenyl] -2-morpholino-propan-1-one, bis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)- Phenylphosphine oxide, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, bis- (2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphine oxide, etc. Can be mentioned. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the photoradical polymerization initiator, a commercially available product can be used, and examples of the commercially available product include Irgacure 651, Irgacure 184, DAROCUR 1173, Irgacure 2959, Irgacure 127, Irgacure 907, Irgacure 369, Irgacure 379, and DAROCUR. TPO, Irgacure 819, Irgacure 784, Irgacure OXE 01, Irgacure OXE 02, Irgacure 754 (above, BASF Japan); Speedcure TPO (Lambson); KAYACURE DETX-S (Nippon Kayaku) LR8883, LR8970 (all manufactured by BASF); Yubekrill P36 (manufactured by UCB) and the like can be mentioned. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The content of the polymerization initiator is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less with respect to the curable composition.
When forming a thick film as in the present invention, a photopolymerization initiator having a photobleaching effect with good internal curability is preferable as the photopolymerization initiator, and the photopolymerization initiator is combined with a photopolymerization initiator having good surface curability. It is more preferable to use it. The amount of the photopolymerization initiator is more preferably 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less with respect to the curable composition.

The polymerization inhibitor is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, p-methoxyphenol, cresol, t-butylcatechol, di-t-butylparacresol, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, α-naphthol, 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene, 2,2'- Phenolic compounds such as methylenebis (4-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-butylphenol), 4,4'-thiobis (3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol) P-benzoquinone, anthraquinone, naphthoquinone, phenanthraquinone, p-xylokinone, p-tolucinone, 2,6-dichloroquinone, 2,5-diphenyl-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-diacetoxy-p-benzoquinone, 2 , 5-Dicaprox-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-diasiloxy-p-benzoquinone, hydroquinone, 2,5-di-butylhydroquinone, mono-t-butylhydroquinone, monomethylhydroquinone, 2,5-di-t-amylhydroquinone Quinone compounds such as phenyl-β-naphthylamine, p-benzylaminophenol, di-β-naphthylparaphenylenediamine, dibenzylhydroxylamine, phenylhydroxylamine, diethylhydroxylamine and other amine compounds; dinitrobenzene, trinitrotoluene, picrin Examples thereof include nitro compounds such as acids; oxime compounds such as quinonedioxym and cyclohexanone oxime; and sulfur compounds such as phenothiazine. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The diluent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, hydrocarbon solvents such as toluene and xylene; ester solvents such as ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate; methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diisobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone and the like. Ketone-based solvent; ether-based solvent such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether; alcohol-based solvent such as ethanol, propanol, 1-butanol, isopropyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

<Other parts>
The other members are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include support members.

<< Support member >>
The cleaning blade is preferably composed of, for example, a support member and a flat plate-shaped elastic member having one end connected to the support member and having a free end portion having a predetermined length at the other end.
The cleaning blade is arranged so that, for example, an abutting side, which is one end of the elastic member on the free end side, abuts on the surface of the member to be cleaned along the longitudinal direction.

As long as the support member is a member that supports the elastic member, the shape, size, material, and the like thereof are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
The shape of the support member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a flat plate shape, a strip shape, and a sheet shape.
The size of the support member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the size of the member to be cleaned.
The material of the support member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include metal, plastic and ceramic. Among these, a metal plate is preferable from the viewpoint of strength, and a steel plate such as stainless steel, an aluminum plate, and a phosphor bronze plate are particularly preferable.

<Member to be cleaned>
The shape, structure, size, material, and the like of the member to be cleaned are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include an image carrier.
The shape of the member to be cleaned is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a drum shape, a belt shape, a flat plate shape, and a sheet shape.
The size of the member to be cleaned is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
The material of the member to be cleaned is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include metal, plastic and ceramic.

<Residue>
The residue is not particularly limited as long as it is attached to the surface of the member to be cleaned and is to be removed by the cleaning blade, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples include lubricants, inorganic fine particles, organic fine particles, dust, dust or mixtures thereof. Among these, toner is preferable, and low-temperature fixable toner having a glass transition temperature of 50 ° C. or lower is particularly preferable.

The cleaning blade of the present invention has the characteristics described above and can be widely used in various fields, but is particularly preferably used for the image forming apparatus and process cartridge of the present invention described below.

(Image forming apparatus and image forming method)
The image forming apparatus of the present invention has at least an image carrier, a charging means, an exposure means, a developing means, a transfer means, a fixing means, and a cleaning means, and is appropriately selected as necessary. Has the means of. The charging means and the exposure means may be collectively referred to as an electrostatic latent image forming means.

The image forming method used in the present invention includes at least a charging step, an exposure step, a developing step, a transfer step, a fixing step, and a cleaning step, and further includes other steps appropriately selected as necessary. .. The charging step and the exposure step may be collectively referred to as an electrostatic latent image forming step.

The image forming method used in the present invention can be suitably carried out by the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the charging step can be carried out by the charging means, and the exposure step can be carried out by the exposure means. The developing step can be performed by the developing means, the transfer step can be performed by the transfer means, the fixing step can be performed by the fixing means, and the cleaning step can be performed by the cleaning means. The other steps can be performed by the other means.

<Image carrier>
The material, shape, structure, size, etc. of the image carrier (hereinafter, may be referred to as "electrophotographic photosensitive member" or "photoreceptor") are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones. can do. Examples of the shape of the image carrier include a drum shape and a belt shape. Examples of the material of the image carrier include inorganic photoconductors such as amorphous silicon and selenium, and organic photoconductors (OPC) such as polysilane and phthalopolymethine.

<Charging process and charging means>
The charging step is a step of charging the surface of the image carrier, and is performed by the charging means.
The charging means is not particularly limited as long as it can charge the surface of the image carrier, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a conductive or semi-conductive roller. Examples thereof include a contact charger equipped with a brush, a film, a rubber blade and the like, which is known per se, and a non-contact charger using corona discharge such as a corotron and a scorotron.

<Exposure process and exposure means>
The exposure step is a step of exposing the surface of the charged image carrier, and is performed by the exposure means. The exposure can be performed, for example, by exposing the surface of the image carrier in an image manner using the exposure means.
The optical system in the exposure is roughly classified into an analog optical system and a digital optical system. The analog optical system is an optical system that directly projects a document onto the surface of the image carrier by the optical system, and the digital optical system receives image information as an electric signal and converts the electric signal into an optical signal. This is an optical system that exposes and creates an image carrier.
The exposure means is not particularly limited as long as the charged image carrier can be exposed to form an electrostatic latent image, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a copying optical system. Examples thereof include various exposure devices such as a rod lens array system, a laser optical system, a liquid crystal shutter optical system, and an LED optical system.

<Development process and development means>
The developing step is a step of developing the electrostatic latent image into the toner image, and is performed by the developing means.
The developing means is not particularly limited as long as the electrostatic latent image can be developed into a toner image, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the toner is contained and the electrostatic latent image is accommodated. A developer having at least a developer capable of applying the toner in contact or non-contact is preferably used.
The developing device may be a dry developing method or a wet developing method, or may be a monochromatic developing device or a multi-color developing device. For example, stirring the toner by frictional stirring to charge the toner. A device having a container and a rotatable magnet roller is preferably used.

<Transfer process and transfer means>
The transfer step is a step of transferring the toner image to a recording medium, and is performed by the transfer means.
As the transfer step, for example, an intermediate transfer body is used, the toner image is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to form a composite transfer image, and the composite transfer image is transferred to a recording medium. An embodiment including a secondary transfer step is preferable.
The transfer means is not particularly limited as long as the toner image can be transferred to a recording medium, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. The toner image is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body to form a composite transfer image. It is preferable to have a primary transfer means for transferring the composite transfer image and a secondary transfer means for transferring the composite transfer image to a recording medium.

<Fixing process and fixing means>
The fixing step is a step of fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium, and is performed by the fixing means. When two or more color toners are used, the toners of each color may be fixed each time they are transferred to the recording medium, or the toners of all colors are transferred to the recording medium and fixed in a laminated state. May be good.
The fixing means is not particularly limited as long as the toner image transferred to the recording medium can be fixed, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. A heat fixing method using a known heating and pressurizing means. Can be adopted.
Examples of the heating and pressurizing means include a combination of a heating roller and a pressurizing roller, a combination of a heating roller, a pressurizing roller and an endless belt, and the like. The heating temperature is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 80 ° C. to 200 ° C. If necessary, for example, a known optical fixing device may be used together with the fixing means.

<Cleaning process and cleaning means>
The cleaning step is a step of removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and is performed by the cleaning blade.

The linear pressure applied by the elastic member to the surface of the image carrier is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10 N / m or more and 100 N / m or less, preferably 10 N / m or more. More preferably 50 N / m or less. When the linear pressure is 10 N / m or more and 100 N / m or less, it is difficult for the toner to slip between the abutting portion and the member to be cleaned, and cleaning failure is less likely to occur, and curling of the elastic member is suppressed. It can be made easier.
The linear pressure can be measured, for example, by using a measuring device incorporating a small compression type load cell manufactured by Kyowa Electric Co., Ltd.

<Other processes and other means>
Examples of the other steps include a static elimination step, a recycling step, a control step, and the like.
Examples of the other means include static elimination means, recycling means, control means, and the like.

(Process cartridge)
The process cartridge of the present invention is a device (unit) that is detachably provided on the image forming apparatus. The cleaning blade of the present invention may be fixedly provided to the image forming apparatus, or may be provided to the process cartridge. In this case, the process cartridge has the image carrier and the cleaning blade of the present invention that abuts on the surface of the image carrier to remove residues on the surface of the image carrier, and is more necessary. Correspondingly, it has other means such as the charging means, the exposure means, the developing means, and the transfer means.

Here, an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention in which the cleaning blade of the present invention is used will be described with reference to the drawings.
In each drawing, the same components may be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description may be omitted. Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the following constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be a preferable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 5, the printer 500, which is the image forming apparatus, has four for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (hereinafter, referred to as “Y”, “C”, “M”, and “K”, respectively). It is equipped with two image-forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K. These use Y, C, M, and K toners of different colors as the image forming substance for forming an image, but have the same configuration except for the above.

Above the four image forming units 1, a transfer unit 60 provided with an intermediate transfer belt 14 which is an intermediate transfer body is arranged. The toner images of each color formed on the surfaces of the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K included in the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K, which will be described later, are superimposed and transferred on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14. NS.
Further, an optical writing unit 40 is arranged below the four image forming units 1. The optical writing unit 40, which is a latent image forming means, irradiates the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K with the laser beam L emitted based on the image information. As a result, electrostatic latent images for Y, C, M, and K are formed on the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K. The optical writing unit 40 deflects the laser beam L emitted from the light source by the polygon mirror 41 rotationally driven by the motor, and the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K pass through a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors. Is to irradiate. Instead of such a configuration, one that performs optical scanning by an LED array can also be adopted.

Below the optical writing unit 40, the first paper feed cassette 151 and the second paper feed cassette 152 are arranged so as to overlap each other in the vertical direction. In these paper cassettes, a plurality of transfer papers P, which are recording media, are housed in a stack of paper bundles, and the top transfer paper P contains the first paper feed roller 151a and the first paper feed roller 151a. (Ii) The paper feed rollers 152a are in contact with each other. When the first paper feed roller 151a is rotationally driven counterclockwise in the drawing by a drive means (not shown), the top transfer paper P in the first paper feed cassette 151 is in the vertical direction on the right side of the cassette in the drawing. It is discharged toward the paper feed path 153 arranged so as to extend to the paper feed path 153. Further, when the second paper feed roller 152a is rotationally driven counterclockwise in FIG. 5 by a drive means (not shown), the top transfer paper P in the second paper feed cassette 152 is directed toward the paper feed path 153. Is discharged.

A plurality of transport roller pairs 154 are arranged in the paper feed path 153. The transfer paper P fed into the paper feed path 153 is conveyed in the paper feed path 153 from the lower side to the upper side in FIG. 5 while being sandwiched between the rollers of the transfer rollers 154.
A resist roller pair 55 is arranged at the downstream end of the paper feed path 153 in the transport direction. The resist roller pair 55 temporarily stops the rotation of both rollers as soon as the transfer paper P sent from the transport roller pair 154 is sandwiched between the rollers. Then, the transfer paper P is sent out toward the secondary transfer nip, which will be described later, at an appropriate timing.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of one of the four image forming units 1.
As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming unit 1 includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 3 as an image carrier. Although the photoconductor 3 has a drum-like shape, it may have a sheet-like shape or an endless belt-like shape.
A charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a primary transfer roller 7, a cleaning device 6, a lubricant applying device 10, a static elimination lamp (not shown), and the like are arranged around the photoconductor 3. The charging roller 4 is a charging member included in the charging device as the charging means, and the developing device 5 is a developing means for forming a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 3 into a toner image. The primary transfer roller 7 is a primary transfer member provided in the primary transfer device as a primary transfer means for transferring the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 14. The cleaning device 6 is a cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the photoconductor 3 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 14. The lubricant application device 10 is a lubricant application means for applying a lubricant on the surface of the photoconductor 3 after the cleaning device 6 has cleaned it. The static elimination lamp (not shown) is a static elimination means for statically eliminating the surface potential of the photoconductor 3 after cleaning.

The charging roller 4 is arranged on the photoconductor 3 at a predetermined distance in a non-contact manner, and charges the photoconductor 3 to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential. The surface of the photoconductor 3 uniformly charged by the charging roller 4 is irradiated with laser light L from the optical writing unit 40, which is a latent image forming means, based on the image information to form an electrostatic latent image.
The developing apparatus 5 has a developing roller 51 as a developing agent carrier. A development bias is applied to the developing roller 51 from a power source (not shown). Inside the casing of the developing apparatus 5, a supply screw 52 and a stirring screw 53 for stirring the developer contained in the casing while being conveyed in opposite directions are provided. In addition, a doctor 54 for regulating the developer carried on the developing roller 51 is also provided. The toner in the developer, which is stirred and conveyed by the two screws of the supply screw 52 and the stirring screw 53, is charged to a predetermined polarity. Then, the developer is pumped onto the surface of the developing roller 51, and the pumped developer is regulated by the doctor 54, and the toner adheres to the latent image on the photoconductor 3 in the developing region facing the photoconductor 3. ..

The cleaning device 6 has a fur brush 101, a cleaning blade 62, and the like. The cleaning blade 62 is in contact with the photoconductor 3 in the counter direction with respect to the surface movement direction of the photoconductor 3. The cleaning blade 62 is the cleaning blade of the present invention.
The lubricant coating device 10 includes a solid lubricant 103, a lubricant pressure spring 103a, and the like, and uses a fur brush 101 as a coating brush for applying the solid lubricant 103 onto the photoconductor 3. The solid lubricant 103 is held by the bracket 103b and is pressurized to the fur brush 101 side by the lubricant pressure spring 103a. Then, the solid lubricant 103 is scraped by the fur brush 101 that rotates in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 3, and the lubricant is applied onto the photoconductor 3. By applying a lubricant to the photoconductor, the friction coefficient on the surface of the photoconductor 3 is maintained at 0.2 or less during non-image formation.

In FIG. 6, a non-contact proximity arrangement method in which the charging roller 4 is placed close to the photoconductor 3 is adopted, but the charging device includes a corotron, a scorotron, and a solid state charger. A known configuration can be used. Among these charging methods, a contact charging method or a non-contact close placement method is particularly desirable, and has merits such as high charging efficiency, low ozone generation amount, and miniaturization of the apparatus.

The light source of the laser beam L of the optical writing unit 40 and the light source such as the static elimination lamp are not particularly limited, and a general light emitting material can be used. Specific examples thereof include fluorescent lamps, tungsten lamps, halogen lamps, mercury lamps, sodium lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), semiconductor lasers (LD), and electroluminescence (EL).
Further, in order to irradiate only light in a desired wavelength range, various filters such as a sharp cut filter, a bandpass filter, a near infrared cut filter, a dichroic filter, an interference filter, and a color temperature conversion filter can also be used.
Of these light sources, light emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers are well used because they have high irradiation energy and long wavelength light of 600 nm to 800 nm.

The transfer unit 60, which is a transfer means, includes a belt cleaning unit 162, a first bracket 63, a second bracket 64, and the like, in addition to the intermediate transfer belt 14. It also includes four primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, 7M, 7K, a secondary transfer backup roller 66, a drive roller 67, an auxiliary roller 68, a tension roller 69, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 14 is endlessly moved counterclockwise in the drawing by the rotational drive of the drive roller 67 while being stretched on these eight roller members. The four primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 14 that can be moved endlessly between the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K to form a primary transfer nip, respectively. There is. Then, a transfer bias having the opposite polarity (for example, plus) to the toner is applied to the back surface (loop inner peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 14. The intermediate transfer belt 14 is on the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K on its front surface in the process of sequentially passing through the primary transfer nips for Y, C, M, and K as it moves endlessly. The Y, C, M, and K toner images are superimposed and primary transferred. As a result, a four-color superimposed toner image (hereinafter, referred to as “four-color toner image”) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 14.

The secondary transfer backup roller 66 forms a secondary transfer nip by sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 14 with the secondary transfer roller 70 arranged on the outer side of the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 14. The resist roller pair 55 described above sends out the transfer paper P sandwiched between the rollers toward the secondary transfer nip at a timing capable of synchronizing with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 14. The four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 14 is affected by the secondary transfer electric field formed between the secondary transfer roller 70 to which the secondary transfer bias is applied and the secondary transfer backup roller 66 and the nip pressure. , The secondary transfer is collectively transferred to the transfer paper P in the secondary transfer nip. Then, in combination with the white color of the transfer paper P, a full-color toner image is obtained.

The transfer residual toner that has not been transferred to the transfer paper P adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 14 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. It is cleaned by the belt cleaning unit 162. In the belt cleaning unit 162, the belt cleaning blade 162a is brought into contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14, thereby scraping and removing the transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 14.

The first bracket 63 of the transfer unit 60 swings at a predetermined rotation angle about the rotation axis of the auxiliary roller 68 as the drive of a solenoid (not shown) is turned on and off. When forming a monochrome image, the printer 500 rotates the first bracket 63 slightly counterclockwise in the drawing by driving the above-mentioned solenoid. This rotation causes the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, and 7M to revolve counterclockwise around the rotation axis of the auxiliary roller 68, thereby separating the intermediate transfer belt 14 from the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, and 3M. Then, of the four image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K, only the image forming unit 1K for K is driven to form a monochrome image. As a result, it is possible to prevent the image-forming units 1 for Y, C, and M from being unnecessarily driven when forming a monochrome image, and to avoid wear of each member constituting the image-forming unit 1.

A fixing unit 80 is arranged above the secondary transfer nip in the drawing. The fixing unit 80 includes a pressure heating roller 81 including a heat generating source such as a halogen lamp, and a fixing belt unit 82. The fixing belt unit 82 includes a fixing belt 84 which is a fixing member, a heating roller 83 including a heat generating source such as a halogen lamp, a tension roller 85, a drive roller 86, a temperature sensor (not shown), and the like. Then, the endless fixing belt 84 is endlessly moved in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing while being stretched by the heating roller 83, the tension roller 85, and the drive roller 86. In the process of this endless movement, the fixing belt 84 is heated from the back surface side by the heating roller 83. A pressure heating roller 81, which is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the drawing, is in contact with the portion where the fixing belt 84, which is heated in this way, is hung on the heating roller 83 from the front surface side. As a result, a fixing nip is formed in which the pressure heating roller 81 and the fixing belt 84 come into contact with each other.

A temperature sensor (not shown) is arranged on the outside of the loop of the fixing belt 84 so as to face the front surface of the fixing belt 84 via a predetermined gap, and the fixing belt 84 immediately before entering the fixing nip. Detects the surface temperature. This detection result is sent to a fixed power supply circuit (not shown). The fixing power supply circuit controls on / off of power supply to the heat generation source included in the heating roller 83 and the heat generation source included in the pressurized heating roller 81 based on the detection result by the temperature sensor.

The transfer paper P that has passed through the secondary transfer nip described above is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14 and then sent into the fixing unit 80. Then, in the process of being conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in the drawing while being sandwiched between the fixing nips in the fixing unit 80, the full-color toner image is fixed to the transfer paper P by being heated and pressed by the fixing belt 84. NS.
The transfer paper P thus fixed is discharged to the outside of the machine after passing between the paper ejection rollers and the rollers 87. A stack portion 88 is formed on the upper surface of the housing of the printer 500 main body, and the transfer paper P discharged to the outside of the machine by the paper discharge roller pair 87 is sequentially stacked on the stack portion 88.

Four toner cartridges 100Y, 100C, 100M, and 100K for accommodating Y, C, M, and K toners are arranged above the transfer unit 60. The Y, C, M, and K toners in these toner cartridges are appropriately supplied to the developing devices 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5K of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K. The toner cartridges 100Y, 100C, 100M, and 100K can be attached to and detached from the printer body independently of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K.

Next, the image forming operation in the printer 500 will be described.
When a print execution signal is received from an operation unit (not shown) or the like, a predetermined voltage or current is sequentially applied to the charging roller 4 and the developing roller 51 at predetermined timings. Similarly, a predetermined voltage or current is sequentially applied to a light source such as the optical writing unit 40 and the static elimination lamp at a predetermined timing. Further, in synchronization with this, the photoconductor 3 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by a photoconductor drive motor (not shown) as a driving means.

When the photoconductor 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, the surface of the photoconductor 3 is first uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging roller 4. Then, the laser beam L corresponding to the image information is irradiated onto the photoconductor 3 from the optical writing unit 40, and the portion of the surface of the photoconductor 3 irradiated with the laser beam L is statically eliminated to form an electrostatic latent image. ..
The surface of the photoconductor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is rubbed by a magnetic brush of a developer formed on the developing roller 51 at a portion facing the developing device 5. At this time, the negatively charged toner on the developing roller 51 is moved to the electrostatic latent image side by a predetermined development bias applied to the developing roller 51, and is made into a toner image (development). A similar image-forming process is executed in each image-forming unit 1, and toner images of each color are formed on the surfaces of the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K of each image-forming unit 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K.
As described above, in the printer 500, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 3 is reverse-developed by the developing device 5 with the negatively charged toner. Here, an example using a non-contact charging roller method of N / P (negative / positive: toner adheres to a place where the potential is low) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The toner images of each color formed on the surfaces of the photoconductors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K are sequentially primary-transferred so as to overlap on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14. As a result, a four-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 14.
The four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 14 is fed from the first paper cassette 151 or the second paper cassette 152, and is fed to the secondary transfer nip via the rollers of the resist roller vs. 55. It is transferred to the transfer paper P to be transferred. At this time, the transfer paper P is temporarily stopped in a state of being sandwiched between the resist roller pairs 55, and is supplied to the secondary transfer nip in synchronization with the tip of the image on the intermediate transfer belt 14. The transfer paper P on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14 and conveyed to the fixing unit 80. Then, when the transfer paper P on which the toner image is transferred passes through the fixing unit 80, the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper P by the action of heat and pressure, and the transfer paper P on which the toner image is fixed is the printer 500. It is discharged to the outside of the device and stacked on the stack unit 88.

On the other hand, on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 on which the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper P by the secondary transfer nip, the transfer residual toner on the surface is removed by the belt cleaning unit 162.
Further, on the surface of the photoconductor 3 on which the toner images of each color were transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 14 by the primary transfer nip, the residual toner after the transfer was removed by the cleaning device 6, and the lubricant was applied by the lubricant applying device 10. After that, the static electricity is removed by the static elimination lamp.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming unit 1 of the printer 500 includes a photoconductor 3, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 6, a lubricant coating device 10, and the like as process means in the frame 2. ing. The image forming unit 1 can be integrally attached to and detached from the printer 500 main body as a process cartridge. In the printer 500, the image forming unit 1 integrally replaces the photoconductor 3 as a process cartridge and the process means. However, the structure may be such that the photoconductor 3, the charging roller 4, the developing device 5, the cleaning device 6, and the lubricant coating device 10 are replaced with new ones.

Next, a toner suitable for the printer 500 to which the present invention is applied will be described.
As the toner used in the printer 500, in order to improve the image quality, it is preferable to use a polymerized toner produced by a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion polymerization method, or a dispersion polymerization method in which the circularity and the particle size are easily reduced. In particular, it is preferable to use a polymerized toner having a circularity of 0.97 or more and a volume average particle size of 5.5 μm or less. By using an image having an average circularity of 0.97 or more and a volume average particle size of 5.5 μm, a higher resolution image can be formed.

The "circularity" here is an average circularity measured by a flow-type particle image analyzer FPIA-2000 (manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.). Specifically, 0.1 to 0.5 ml of a surfactant, preferably alkylbenzenesulfonate, as a dispersant is added to 100 to 150 ml of water in which the impure solid matter has been removed in advance in the container, and a measurement sample (toner) is further added. ) Is added in an amount of about 0.1 to 0.5 g. Then, the suspension in which the toner was dispersed was dispersed in an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes so that the dispersion liquid concentration became 3000 to 1 [10,000 pieces / μl]. And measure the shape and distribution of the toner. Then, based on this measurement result, when the outer peripheral length of the actual toner projection shape shown in FIG. 7A is C1, the projected area thereof is S, and the outer peripheral length of the perfect circle shown in FIG. 7B, which is the same as the projected area S, is C2. C2 / C1 was obtained, and the average value thereof was taken as the circularity.

The volume average particle size can be determined by the Coulter counter method. Specifically, the toner number distribution and volume distribution data measured by the Coulter Multisizer 2e type (manufactured by Coulter Co., Ltd.) are sent to a personal computer via an interface (manufactured by Nikkaki Co., Ltd.) for analysis.
A specific example of the analysis method will be described. A 1% NaCl aqueous solution using primary sodium chloride is prepared as an electrolytic solution. Then, 0.1 to 5 ml of a surfactant, preferably an alkylbenzene sulfonate, is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of this electrolytic aqueous solution. Further, 2 to 20 mg of toner as a test sample is added thereto, and the mixture is dispersed with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes.
Then, 100 to 200 ml of the electrolytic aqueous solution is placed in another beaker, the solution after the dispersion treatment is added to the beaker to a predetermined concentration, and the solution is applied to the Coulter Multisizer 2e type.
An aperture of 100 μm is used, and the particle size of 50,000 toner particles is measured.
The channels are: 2.00 to less than 2.52 μm; 2.52 to less than 3.17 μm; 3.17 to less than 4.00 μm; 4.0 to less than 5.04 μm; 5.04 to less than 6.35 μm; 6 .35 to less than 8.00 μm; 8.00 to less than 10.08 μm; 10.08 to less than 12.70 μm; 12.70 to less than 16.00 μm; 16.0 to less than 20.20 μm; 20.20 to 25. Less than 40 μm; 25.40 to less than 32.00 μm; 13 channels of 32.00 to less than 40.30 μm are used, and toner particles having a particle size of 2.00 μm or more and 32.0 μm or less are targeted.

Then, the volume average particle diameter is calculated based on the relational expression "volume average particle diameter = ΣXfV / ΣfV". However, "X" is the representative diameter in each channel, "V" is the equivalent volume in the representative diameter of each channel, and "f" is the number of particles in each channel.

In such a polymerized toner, even if the cleaning blade 62 tries to remove the conventional pulverized toner in the same manner as when the pulverized toner is removed from the surface of the photoconductor 3, the polymerized toner cannot be sufficiently removed from the surface of the photoconductor 3. Cleaning failure occurs. Further, in recent years, low-temperature fixing toner using a crystalline resin is greatly deformed when it slips through the blade, and is fixed to the ridgeline of the blade or fused to the surface of the photoconductor. Therefore, if the contact pressure of the cleaning blade 62 with the photoconductor 3 is increased to improve the cleaning property, there is a problem that the cleaning blade 62 is worn at an early stage.

Further, the frictional force between the cleaning blade 62 and the photoconductor 3 is increased, and the tip ridge line portion in contact with the photoconductor 3 of the cleaning blade 62 is pulled in the moving direction of the photoconductor 3, and the tip ridge line portion is turned over. It ends up. When the tip ridge of the cleaning blade 62 is turned over, various problems such as abnormal noise, vibration, and lack of the tip ridge occur.
The cleaning blade of the present invention does not cause cleaning defects even with the above-mentioned polymerized toner, and does not cause abnormal noise, vibration, chipping of the tip ridgeline portion, or the like.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

<Base material>
As the base material of the elastic member, urethane rubbers (base materials 1 and 2) (manufactured by Toyo Tires Co., Ltd.) having JIS-A hardness, elastic modulus, and Martens hardness (HM) in Table 1 were prepared. The measurement method is shown below.

<< JIS-A hardness of the base material >> The JIS-A hardness of the lower surface side of the base material of the elastic member was measured according to JIS K6253 using a micro rubber hardness tester MD-1 manufactured by Kogaku Keiki Co., Ltd. (23 ° C).

<< Repulsive modulus of base material >>
The elastic modulus of the base material of the elastic member was 23 ° C., manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd., No. Measurements were made according to JIS K6255 using a 221 resilience tester. The sample used was a stack of sheets having a thickness of 2 mm so as to have a thickness of 4 mm or more.

<< Martens hardness of base material >>
For the Martens hardness (HM) of the base material on the lower surface of the blade of the base material of the elastic member, a Vickers indenter was pushed in with a force of 1.0 mN for 10 seconds using a microhardness meter HM-2000 manufactured by Fischer Instruments. It was held for 5 seconds, pulled out for 10 seconds with a force of 1.0 mN, and measured.

<< Polishing of base material >>
<Polishing of base material>
In order to adjust the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side, the portion to be the contact side of the base material was polished. For the polishing treatment, a precision polishing sheet (wrapping film sheet) manufactured by 3M Co., Ltd. shown below was used. Depending on the polishing sheet used, polishing treatment 1 and polishing treatment 2 were performed.
The polishing sheet was fixed to the cylindrical substrate, and the cylindrical substrate was rotated while the substrate blade was brought into contact with the cylindrical substrate to polish the abutted portion. The polishing amount was set to a predetermined amount depending on the type of polishing sheet and the processing time. At this time, the radius of curvature was adjusted by changing the angle of the base material to be brought into contact with the polishing sheet.
− Polishing process 1-
Polishing sheet: # 8000, particle size 1 [μm]
− Polishing process 2-
Polishing sheet: # 15000, particle size 0.3 [μm]

(Preparation example)
-Preparation of curable composition-
From the compositions shown in Table 2 below, curable compositions 1 to 6 were prepared by a conventional method. The curable compositions 1 and 2 are thermosetting compositions, and the curable compositions 3 to 6 are ultraviolet curable compositions.

In Table 2, MTHPA represents 3-methyl-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, and BDMA represents N, N-dimethylbenzylamine.

Details of the curing materials used in the curable compositions 1 to 6 are shown in Tables 3 and 4 below.

<Example of toner production>
Toner prepared by the following polymerization method (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-92633) was used.

The physical characteristics of the produced toner are as follows.
-Toner matrix particles: average circularity 0.98, volume average particle size 4.9 μm
-Additional agent: 1.5 parts by mass of small particle size silica (manufactured by Clariant, H2000)
Small particle size Titanium oxide 0.5 parts by mass (manufactured by TAYCA, MT-150AI)
Large particle size silica 1.0 part by mass (manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., UFP-30H)
-Toner glass transition temperature: 50 ° C

(Example 1)
<Manufacturing of cleaning blade 1>
Polishing treatment 1 was performed on a strip-shaped base material 1 having a thickness of 1.8 mm, and the curable composition 1 was applied so that a surface layer having a film thickness of 30 μm was formed on the lower surface of the base material 1.
Specifically, the contact portion of the base material 1 was overcoated by spray coating at a spray gun moving speed of 5 mm / s from the tip surface of the base material. Then, after heating in a constant temperature bath of 110 ° C. for 3 hours, heating was carried out in a constant temperature bath of 165 ° C. for 2 hours to cure.

Next, each elastic member having a surface layer formed on the contact portion was fixed to a sheet metal holder (support member) with an adhesive so that it could be mounted on a color multifunction device (imagio MP C4500, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.). As described above, the cleaning blade 1 having a surface layer formed on the contact portion was produced.

Various characteristics of the produced elastic member and cleaning blade were measured as follows. The results are shown in Table 5.

<Average thickness of surface layer>
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a measurement point of the average thickness of the contact portion of the cleaning blade in the embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, the elastic member was sliced in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and the cross section was turned upward and observed with a digital microscope VHX-2000 (manufactured by KEYENCE CORPORATION). The measurement point is the blade contact portion (tip ridgeline portion) of the cross section.
As a method of cutting the elastic member into round slices, the elastic member was cut with a razor perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elastic member so that the thickness of the elastic member in the longitudinal direction was 3 mm. At that time, if a vertical slicer is used, the cross section can be cut more cleanly. The position in the longitudinal direction in which the elastic member was sliced was set to a position excluding the 2 cm portions at both ends. Ten points on the cross section were measured, and the average thickness was obtained from the arithmetic mean value.

<Radius of curvature of the surface layer>
As for the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side of the cleaning blade in the example, the contact portion of the cleaning blade was observed with a laser microscope VK-9510 (manufactured by KEYENCE CORPORATION) from the direction of 45 degrees as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows an example of measurement. The example shown in FIG. 10 is an example having a radius of curvature of 2.5 μm, and is obtained by using the formula of radius of curvature = edge width / √2. The measurement location was the position excluding the 2 cm portions at both ends. The measurement was performed at 5 points, and the average value thereof was taken as the radius of curvature.

<Martens (HM) hardness of surface layer>
After the surface layer was formed, an indentation measurement was performed at a position 100 μm from the contact portion of the surface layer using a micro hardness tester to determine the Martens (HM) hardness. The microhardness meter was an HM-2000 manufactured by Fisher Instruments, Inc., and the Vickers indenter was pushed in for 10 seconds with a force of 1.0 mN, held for 5 seconds, and unloaded for 10 seconds with a force of 1.0 mN.

<Assembly of image forming device>
The produced cleaning blade was attached to a color multifunction device (imagio MP C4500, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) (the printer unit has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 5), and the image forming apparatus of Example 1 was assembled.
The cleaning blade was attached to the image forming apparatus so that the linear pressure was 20 g / cm and the cleaning angle was 79 °. Further, the device is provided with a lubricant coating device on the surface of the photoconductor, and the static friction coefficient of the surface of the photoconductor is maintained at 0.2 or less at the time of non-image formation by applying the lubricant. The method for measuring the coefficient of static friction on the surface of the photoconductor is described in the Euler belt method, for example, in paragraph number [0046] of JP-A-9-166919.

<Image formation conditions>
Using the image forming apparatus, the laboratory environment: 65% RH at 21 ° C., paper passing conditions: 5% image area ratio, 3 prints / job, 50,000 sheets (A4 size horizontal) are output, and the following In this way, after passing 50,000 sheets, various characteristics were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 6.

<Cleanability>
As an evaluation image, a vertical band pattern (with respect to the paper traveling direction) 43 mm width, three charts are output in 20 sheets in A4 size, and the obtained image is visually observed. The cleanability was evaluated. Below, "○" and "△" are acceptable, and "×" is unacceptable.

[Evaluation criteria]
◯: Toner that slipped out due to poor cleaning cannot be visually confirmed on the printing paper or the photoconductor △: Toner that slipped out due to poor cleaning does not exist on the printing paper but can be visually confirmed on the photoconductor ×: Cleaning Defective and slipped toner can be visually confirmed on both the printing paper and the photoconductor.

<Abnormal noise>
As an evaluation of abnormal noise, the presence or absence of abnormal noise was confirmed by the human ear at the time of image output of the cleanability evaluation, and the judgment was made as follows. At this time, even if there was a difference in sound such as high frequency or low frequency, the presence or absence of occurrence as an abnormal sound was evaluated regardless of the sound emitted from the blade.

[Evaluation criteria]
◯: No abnormal noise is generated ×: Abnormal noise is generated

<Missing contact part>
After outputting the above 50,000 sheets, the presence or absence of the contact portion of the elastic member is checked from the tip surface side of the elastic member by a laser microscope VK-9510 (manufactured by KEYENCE) as shown in FIG. Observed. The central portion of the cleaning blade in the longitudinal direction was observed in three visual fields (one visual field is 100 μm square), and the lack of the contact portion was observed. When there is a local omission, the total number of the three visual fields is the number of omissions in the contact portion.

(Example 2)
-Manufacturing of cleaning blade 2-
In the cleaning blade 1 of Example 1, the base material shown in Table 5 below, the curable composition (described as “surface layer forming and curing material” in the table; the same applies hereinafter), the surface layer forming region, and the surface layer. (In the table, it is described as "the film thickness of the surface layer contact portion". The same applies hereinafter), and the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side is changed, but the same procedure as in Example 1 is carried out. The cleaning blade 2 of Example 2 was produced.

(Example 3)
-Manufacturing of cleaning blade 3-
In the cleaning blade 1 of Example 1, coating is performed by changing the base material, the curable composition, the region where the surface layer is formed, the thickness of the surface layer, and the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side shown in Table 5 below. rice field. The curing conditions were different from those of Example 1, and after pre-drying in a constant temperature bath at 80 ° C. for 3 minutes, heating was performed in a constant temperature bath at 80 ° C. for 60 minutes to cure.

(Examples 4 to 8 and Comparative Examples 3 to 9)
-Making cleaning blades 4-8 and 11-17-
In the cleaning blade 1 of Example 1, coating is performed by changing the base material, the curable composition, the region where the surface layer is formed, the thickness of the surface layer, and the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side shown in Table 5 below. rice field. The curing conditions were different from those of Example 1, and ultraviolet exposure was performed using a high-pressure mercury lamp so that the ^{integrated UV irradiation amount was 6,000 mJ / cm 2.} At this time, the ultraviolet exposure (irradiation atmosphere) was performed in a nitrogen atmosphere. Further, at this time, while the high-pressure mercury lamp is located above, the tip ridge of the blade is set upward and irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that the tip ridge is efficiently irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

<Ultraviolet integrated light intensity measurement method>
The integrated ultraviolet light amount at a wavelength of 254 nm was measured using a UV integrated light meter UIT-250 (manufactured by Ushio, Inc.). At this time, the measurement was performed so that the sensor portion of the integrated photometric meter was at the same height as the tip ridge portion of the cleaning blade.

(Comparative Examples 1-2)
-Manufacturing of cleaning blades 9 and 10-
Comparative Example in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the cleaning blade 1 of Example 1 did not form a surface layer and was replaced with the base material shown in Table 5 below and the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side. Cleaning blades 9 and 10 of 1 and 2 were produced.

Each of the produced cleaning blades 2 to 17 is attached to a color multifunction device (imagio MP C4500, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) in the same manner as the cleaning blade 1 of Example 1, and image forming apparatus of Examples 2 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 to 9. Assembled. Further, in the same manner as in Example 1, the cleanability, abnormal noise, and lack of contact portion were evaluated, and the results are shown in Table 6.

In the cleaning blades of Examples 1 to 8, the film thickness of the surface layer of the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less, and the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side is 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less. Due to the suppression of the movement of the contact part, no turning occurred and the contact part did not come off. Since the base rubber is not exposed even when worn, it was found that good cleanability and generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed even after long-term use.

On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, since the surface layer is not formed on the contact portion, the movement of the contact portion of the elastic member cannot be suppressed, and gouging wear occurs, resulting in poor cleaning and abnormal noise. Occurred.
Further, in Comparative Examples 3 to 9, either the film thickness of the surface layer of the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less and the radius of curvature of the contact portion is 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less does not satisfy the numerical range. The contact part was turned over and the contact part was missing. Therefore, poor cleaning and abnormal noise occurred. Further, in Comparative Example 5, the film thickness of the surface layer was thick, and cracks were also observed in the film over time.

Examples of aspects of the present invention are as follows.
<1> A cleaning blade having an elastic member that comes into contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned and removes residue on the surface of the member to be cleaned.
The elastic member has a base material and a surface layer containing a cured product of the curable composition.
The surface layer is formed in at least a part including the contact side in the contact portion including the contact side where the elastic member comes into contact with the member to be cleaned.
The average thickness of the surface layer at the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less.
The cleaning blade is characterized in that the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact side is 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less.
<2> The cleaning blade according to <1>, wherein the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 25 μm or less.
<3> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <2>, wherein the curable composition contains at least one of a thermosetting compound and an ultraviolet curable compound.
<4> The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the surface layer has a maltensity hardness higher than that of the base material.
<5> When the surface of the base material facing the downstream side in the traveling direction of the member to be cleaned is the lower surface of the base material from the contact portion where the elastic member comes into contact with the member to be cleaned.
The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the surface layer formed on the lower surface of the base material is formed in a region of 1 mm or more and 7 mm or less from the contact portion.
<6> An image carrier, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure means for exposing the charged surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and a toner for the electrostatic latent image. At least one of a developing means for developing an image and a transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier to remove residues on the surface of the image carrier. With a cleaning blade,
The process cartridge is characterized in that the cleaning blade is the cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <5>.
<7> An image carrier, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure means for exposing the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and toner for the electrostatic latent image. The developing means for developing an image, the transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium, the fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium, and the surface of the image carrier are brought into contact with each other. It has a cleaning blade that removes residue on the surface of the image carrier,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the cleaning blade is the cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <5>.

The cleaning blade according to any one of <1> to <5>, the process cartridge according to <6>, and the image forming apparatus according to <7> solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. The object of the present invention can be achieved.

1 Image-forming unit 3 Photoconductor 4 Charging roller 5 Developing device 6 Cleaning device 7 Primary transfer roller 14 Intermediate transfer belt 40 Optical writing unit 51 Developing roller 60 Transfer unit 62 Cleaning blade 62a Cleaning blade tip surface 62b Cleaning blade lower surface 62c Cleaning blade Tip edge 123 Image carrier 162 Belt cleaning unit 162a Belt cleaning blade 500 Printer 621 Support member 622 Base material 623 Surface layer 624 Elastic member

Japanese Patent No. 3602898 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-233818 Japanese Patent No. 5532378 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-058359 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-154535

Claims (7)

A cleaning blade having an elastic member that comes into contact with the surface of the member to be cleaned and removes residue on the surface of the member to be cleaned.
The elastic member has a base material and a surface layer containing a cured product of the curable composition.
The surface layer is formed in at least a part including the contact side in the contact portion including the contact side where the elastic member comes into contact with the member to be cleaned.
The average thickness of the surface layer at the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less.
Radius of curvature of the surface layer in the abutment-edge is state, and are more 40μm or less 5 [mu] m,
Cleaning blade Martens hardness of the surface layer, characterized in 6.2 N / mm ² or less der Rukoto. The cleaning blade according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the surface layer at the contact portion is 10 μm or more and 25 μm or less. The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the curable composition contains at least one of a thermosetting compound and an ultraviolet curable compound. The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the surface layer has a maltensity hardness higher than that of the base material. When the surface of the base material facing the downstream side in the traveling direction of the member to be cleaned is defined as the lower surface of the base material from the contact portion where the elastic member comes into contact with the member to be cleaned.
The cleaning blade according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surface layer formed on the lower surface of the base material is formed in a region of 1 mm or more and 7 mm or less from the contact portion. An image carrier, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure means for exposing the surface of the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. A developing means for developing, and at least one of a transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium, and a cleaning blade that comes into contact with the surface of the image carrier and removes residues on the surface of the image carrier. Have,
A process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning blade is the cleaning blade. An image carrier, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure means for exposing the charged image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The developing means, the transfer means for transferring the toner image to the recording medium, the fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium, and the image carrier in contact with the surface of the image carrier. Has a cleaning blade that removes residue on the surface of
An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning blade is the cleaning blade.

Images