JPH0827564B2 - Electrophotographic apparatus and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electrophotographic chargers and more particularly to surface modification of charging grids. In particular, it relates to imparting releasability to the charging grid to prevent toner adhesion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic apparatus, primary charging, formation of an electrostatic latent image by image exposure, development with toner charged to the opposite polarity to the electrostatic image, transfer of a toner image to plain paper,
The process of fixing, removing the residual toner on the drum by the cleaning device, and removing the charge on the drum by the strong exposure is repeated.

In the charging process, the surface of the photoreceptor is uniformly charged by corona discharge by the charger. The charging grid is usually made of stainless steel. Related to the invention
As a known example, a perfluoro group is contained on a transparent substrate.
It forms a coating film of a silicon compound that provides water repellency and stain resistance.
Proposal to be given (JP-A-2-248480), base material
Form a water- and oil-repellent coating film on the surface of 0.1 μm or more
Proposal (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-40254), Charge W
For tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride
Proposal to apply an oil repellent such as nilidene (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-13 / 1982).
5955).

[0004]

When the charging process is repeated in an electrophotographic apparatus using the above charger, toner adheres to the charging grid, and when images are repeatedly formed, image disturbance and black spots appear in the image. There is a problem that the image quality deteriorates. This is because the charging grid has no releasability of toner. Further, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-24
8480, JP-A-60-40254, JP-A
The proposals of Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-135955 are all based on the film thickness.
Since it was thick and was in a polymer state, it was electrified
Toner releasability is exhibited without impairing the grid function
It was difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the conventional drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus having an excellent image quality using a charging grid having an excellent toner releasability and a manufacturing method thereof .

[0006]

To achieve the above object, an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention has an electrophotographic photosensitive member,
Charging, image exposure, development, transfer, in an electrophotographic apparatus for obtaining a copy image by a process comprising the steps of fixing and cleaning, fluorinated alkyl through a siloxane bond to the surface of the charging grid that is used in the charging process chemisorption single thick containing group nanometer level
It is characterized in that a molecular film is provided.

Next, the manufacturing method of the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is as follows.
It has an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging, image exposure light, developing, transferring, constant
Depending on the process including each step of wearing and cleaning,
In a method of manufacturing an electrophotographic apparatus for obtaining a photographed image,
The charging grid used in the charging process is a nitrogen atmosphere.
Chlorosilane-based boundaries containing fluorinated alkyl groups under air
After immersion in a non-aqueous organic solvent for surface-active agents for adsorption treatment,
Then, wash with non-aqueous organic solvent, and then wash with pure water.
The siloxane on the surface of the charging grid.
The thickness containing fluorinated alkyl groups through the bond
Characterized by forming a chemisorption monolayer at the water level
And

[0008]

The charging grid used in the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is a chemisorption containing a fluorinated alkyl group on its surface.
Since the monomolecular film is formed by chemically bonding via a siloxane bond, it has excellent releasability. That is, since the fluorinated alkyl group is present on the surface layer of the chemisorption monomolecular film, the releasability is excellent. Further, since the base portion of the chemisorption monomolecular film is formed by chemically bonding via a siloxane bond, it is possible to obtain a film having excellent durability, and even when charging is repeated, the chemisorption monomolecular film is formed. The film does not peel off easily from the charging grid surface. Further, since the chemisorption monomolecular film of the present invention is an ultrathin film of nanometer or angstrom unit, it does not impair the mechanical strength and other characteristics of the charging grid. In addition, electrified grease
The chemisorption monolayer is formed on the pad.
Therefore, it is possible to form a thin film with a uniform thickness.
Does not affect the dimensional accuracy of the grid.

According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the charging group is
The lid contains a fluorinated alkyl group under a nitrogen atmosphere.
Soak and absorb the chlorosilane-based surfactant in a non-aqueous organic solvent.
After the coating treatment, wash with non-aqueous organic solvent,
After cleaning, wash with pure water and apply
The thickness containing the fluorinated alkyl group through the sun bond
To form a chemisorption monolayer at the level of meter
More efficiently and reasonably you can get the charging grid
It Especially after the adsorption treatment,
Unreacted materials can be removed by washing with a medium.
To, be directed to a molecule by arranging -CF ₃ on the surface of the film
Yes (Figure 1).

[0010]

The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention uses a charging grid in which a monomolecular film 3 containing a fluorinated alkyl group is formed on the surface of a charging grid 1 via a siloxane bond 2.

Stainless steel, for example, is often used as the charging grid material. The chemical adsorption film provided on the surface of the charging grid used in the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is composed of a chlorosilane-based surfactant having a fluorinated alkyl group.

Fluorinated alkyl group (fluoroalkyl group)
Examples of the chlorosilane-based surfactant having C include C
F ₃ (CF ₂ ) ₇ (CH ₂ ) ₂ SiCl ₃ , CF ₃ CH
₂ O (CH ₂ ) ₁₅ SiCl ₃ , CF ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂ Si
(CH ₃ ) ₂ (CH ₂ ) ₁₅ SiCl ₃ , CF ₃ (C
F ₂ ) ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂ Si (CH ₃ ) ₂ (CH ₂ ) ₉ S
iCl ₃ , F (CF ₂ ) ₈ (CH ₂ ) ₂ Si (CH ₃ )
₂ (CH ₂ ) ₉ SiCl ₃ , CF ₃ COO (CH ₂ ) ₁₅
SiCl ₃ , CF ₃ (CF ₂ ) ₅ (CH ₂ ) ₂ SiCl
It began trichlorosilane-based surface active agents such as ₃ or the like, for example, _{CF 3 (CF 2) 7 (} CH 2) 2 SiCl n (CH
₃ ) _3-n , CF ₃ (CF ₂ ) ₇ (CH ₂ ) ₂ SiCl _{n
(C 2 H 5) 3-} n, CF 3 CH 2 O (CH 2) 15 SiC
1 _n (CH ₃ ) _3-n , CF ₃ CH ₂ O (CH ₂ ) ₁₅ Si
Cl _n (C ₂ H ₅ ) _3-n , CF ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂ Si (C
_{H 3) 2 (CH 2)} 15 SiCl n (CH 3) 3-n, F
(CF ₂ ) ₄ (CH ₂ ) ₂ Si (CH ₃ ) ₂ (CH ₂ )
₉ SiCl _n (C ₂ H ₅ ) _3-n , F (CF ₂ ) ₈ (CH
₂ ) ₂ Si (CH ₃ ) ₂ (CH ₂ ) ₉ SiCl _n (CH
₃ ) _3-n , CF ₃ COO (CH ₂ ) ₁₅ SiCl _n (CH
₃ ) _3-n , CF ₃ (CF ₂ ) ₅ (CH ₂ ) ₂ SiCl _n
(CH ₃ ) _3-n (where _{n in the} formula is 1 or 2) monochlorosilane- or dichlorosilane-based surfactants substituted with lower alkyl groups.

Among these, particularly, the chlorosilyl bond other than the chlorosilyl bond bonded to the hydrophilic group of the trichlorosilane-based surfactant forms an intermolecular bond with the adjacent chlorosilane group and the siloxane bond, so that a stronger chemical adsorption film is obtained. Becomes Trichlorosilane-based chemical adsorbent from reasons this is a material of the preferred chemical adsorption film. Also, CF
₃ (CF ₂ ) _n CH ₂ CH ₂ SiCl ₃ (where n in the formula
Is an integer, and about 3 to 25 is the easiest to handle), but it is preferable because the chemical adsorption and the functionality such as lubricity are balanced.

Further, if a vinyl group (C = C) or an acetylinyl group (ethynyl group) is incorporated in the fluorinated alkyl chain portion, crosslinking can be achieved by electron beam irradiation of about 5 megarads after formation of the chemisorption film. It is also possible to improve the hardness of the chemical adsorption film itself. The chlorosilane-based surfactant to be used in the present invention is not only linear as described above, but also has a branched shape or a shape in which a fluorinated alkyl group or a hydrocarbon group is substituted on the terminal silicon (for example, R, R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are represented by general formulas R ₂ SiCl ₂ , R ₃ SiCl and R ¹ with fluoroalkyl groups or hydrocarbon groups.
R ² SiCl ₂ or R ¹ R ² R ³ SiCl, etc.) may be used, but a linear chain is generally preferable in order to increase the adsorption density.

Further, for example, SiCl ₄ ,
SiHCl ₃ , SiH ₂ Cl ₂ , Cl (SiCl ₂ O)
_n SiCl ₃ (where n is a natural number), SiCl _m (C
H ₃ ) _4-m , SiCl _m (C ₂ H ₅ ) _4-m (where m
Is an integer of 1 to 3), HSiCl _r (CH ₃ ) _3-r , HS
When a substance containing a plurality of chlorosilyl bonds such as iCl _r (C ₂ H ₅ ) _3-r (where l is 1 or 2) is chemically adsorbed and then reacted with water, the chlorosilyl bond on the surface becomes hydrophilic. The surface of the charging grid becomes hydrophilic, replacing the silanol bond. Among these substances containing a plurality of chlorosilyl groups, tetrachlorosilane (SiCl ₄ ) is preferable because it has a high reactivity and a small molecular weight and can give a silanol bond at a higher density. On this inner layer film, a chlorosilane-based surfactant containing a fluorinated alkyl group can be chemically adsorbed, and the chemisorption monomolecular film thus obtained has a higher density, so that the function of releasability is better. To be enhanced.

The method of forming a chemisorption film containing a fluorinated alkyl group through a siloxane bond on the surface of the charging grid used in the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention comprises immersing the charging grid in a non-aqueous organic solvent. And a step of chemically adsorbing a chlorosilane-based surfactant on the surface to form a chemisorption film containing a fluoroalkyl group through a siloxane bond.

The non-aqueous solvent used in the method for forming a chemisorption film containing a fluorinated alkyl group via a siloxane bond on the surface of the charging grid of the present invention does not have active hydrogen that reacts with the chlorosilane-based surfactant. Any organic solvent may be used. Examples thereof include 1,1-dichloro, 1-fluoroethane, 1,1-dichloro, 2,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,1-dichloro, 2,2,3,3,3.
-Pentafluoropropane, 1,3-dichloro, 1,
Fluorine-based solvents such as 1,2,2,3-heptafluoropropane, trifluoroalkylamine, perfluorofuran and its fluorinated alkyl derivatives, for example, hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane, octane, hexadecane and cyclohexane, for example dibutyl ether. , An ether solvent such as dibenzyl ether, or an ester solvent such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate or amyl acetate is preferable.

Further, chemisorption monomolecular film formed on the charging grid surface for use in an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, functions thoroughly with only one layer monomolecular chemically adsorbed film is exhibited. To form a monomolecular film , after chemisorbing a substance containing multiple chlorosilane-based surfactants or chlorosilyl groups,
It is sufficient to wash with a non-aqueous solvent without contacting with water, and it can be easily performed without any special process. In addition, it goes without saying that a monomolecular film may be accumulated in the chemisorption film.
As described above, when the chemisorption film forms a monomolecular film, the group exhibiting the imparted functionality is oriented and the density is improved, so that a higher function can be exhibited.

The present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples. Example 1 A stainless steel tungsten grid having a diameter of 50 μm and a length of 360 mm was immersed in a 10 ⁻² mol / liter cyclohexane solution of heptadecafluorodecyltrichlorosilane at room temperature for 120 minutes in a nitrogen atmosphere, and then unreacted heptadeca. Fluorodecyltrichlorosilane was washed with cyclohexane and then with pure water to form a chemisorption monomolecular film via a siloxane bond containing a fluoroalkyl group on the surface of the charging grid.

Example 2 The same stainless steel grid as in Example 1 was first mixed with 1 wt%.
In a tetrachlorosilane solution [solvent: tri (n-nonafluorobutyl) amine] under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 60 minutes, and then unreacted tetrachlorosilane is washed with tri (n-nonafluorobutyl) amine. Then, using a sample that was washed with pure water and dried, heptadecafluorodecyltrichlorosilane was used as a chlorosilane-based surfactant containing a fluoroalkyl group, and the concentration was 10 ^-2 mo.
It was immersed in a l / l tri (n-nonafluorobutyl) amine solution in a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 120 minutes, and then unreacted heptadecafluorodecyltrichlorosilane was washed with a tri (n-nonafluorobutyl) amine solvent. After that, it was washed with pure water to form a chemisorption monomolecular film via a siloxane bond containing a fluoroalkyl group on the charging grid.

Example 3 The same experiment as in Example 1 was performed except that heptadecafluorodecyltrichlorosilane was replaced with 9- (heptadecafluorodecyldimethylsilyl) nonyltrichlorosilane.

Comparative Example 1 A comparative example was one in which the surface of the charging grid of Example 1 was not treated. The charging grids of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1 were attached to the charging section of a commercially available electrophotographic apparatus, and the temperature was set to 25 ° C for 5
Corona charging at 5% RH, image exposure, development with toner,
Transfer, fixing, and cleaning were repeated 10,000 times to produce an image. Table 1 shows the evaluation results of the quality of the image obtained after 10,000 times.

[0023]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, in the electrophotographic apparatus using the charging grid of the comparative example, the image quality was deteriorated when it was repeatedly and continuously used, but in the electrophotographic apparatus using the charging grid of the present invention, it was repeatedly and continuously used. No deterioration in image quality was observed when used.

[0025]

As described above, the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is
The surface of the charging grid is fluorinated via siloxane bonds.
Chemisorption with nanometer-level thickness containing rukyi group
Compared with the conventional one, by providing the attachment monolayer ,
The toner releasability is remarkably excellent. As a result, high quality images can be obtained by <br/> used sequentially. In addition, the product of the present invention
According to the manufacturing method, the charging grid is
Of chlorosilane-based surfactants containing alkylated alkyl groups
After soaking in a water-based organic solvent and adsorption,
Wash with organic solvent and then with pure water
Alkyfluoride is attached to the surface of the grid through siloxane bonds.
-Based chemisorption unit containing nano-groups
By forming a molecular film, charging can be performed efficiently and reasonably.
You can get the lid. Especially after adsorption treatment,
After washing with a non-aqueous organic solvent,
To remove the Applied Physics, side by side -CF ₃ on the surface of the film
The molecules can be oriented. As described above, the present invention has great industrial value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual sectional view in which a surface of a charging grid used in an electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is enlarged to a molecular level.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Charged grid 2 Siloxane bond 3 Chemisorption monolayer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
Development, transfer, in an electrophotographic apparatus for obtaining a copy image by a process comprising the steps of fixing and cleaning, containing a fluoroalkyl group via a siloxane bond to the surface of the charging grid that is used in the charging process
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a chemisorption monomolecular film having a thickness of nanometer level . 2. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging, image exposure,
Professional development including development, transfer, fixing and cleaning
Manufacture of electrophotographic devices to obtain duplicate images by process
In the method, the charging grease used in the charging process.
Under a nitrogen atmosphere, the head containing a fluoroalkyl group is
Adsorption by dipping a lorosilane-based surfactant in a non-aqueous organic solvent
After treatment, wash with non-aqueous organic solvent,
Then, the surface of the charging grid is cleaned by washing with pure water.
Contains fluorinated alkyl groups on the surface through siloxane bonds
Forming a chemisorption monolayer with a nanometer level thickness
A method of manufacturing an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: