JPH0695416A - Electrophotographic device and facsimile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase releasing property of a toner from a photosensitive body, to decrease the amt. of toner remaining after transfer, and to obtain uniform picture image by incorporating a specified amt. of fluorine atom-contg. resin fine particles into at least the surface layer of an electrophotographic sensitive body. CONSTITUTION:The electrophotographic device includes an electrophotographic sensitive body and a developing means using a dry nonmagnetic toner which produces trioelectric charge between 10.0muc/g and <40.0muc/g. At least the surface layer of the electrophotographic sensitive body contains 5.0-70.0wt.% fluorine- contg. resin fine particles. A drum photosensitive body 11 as an image carrier is rotated around the axis in the direction of the arrow in the figure at specified rotation speed. This photosensitive body 11 is uniformly electrified into positive or negative by electrifying means 12 and then exposed to light L to form an image in an exposure part 13 (by slit exposure or laser beam exposure), to successively form electrostatic latent image according to the image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a facsimile provided with the electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic apparatus undergoes a repeating process of charging, exposing, developing, transferring, cleaning and discharging in the image forming process. The electrostatic latent image formed by charging and exposure becomes a toner image by a fine particle developer called toner. Further, this toner image is transferred to a transfer material such as paper in the transfer process.
00% of toner is not transferred, and a part thereof remains on the surface of the photoconductor.

[0003]

In such an electrophotographic apparatus, if a large amount of transfer residual toner is present, the image on the transfer material will have a ghost image, resulting in poor image uniformity. In particular, the dry non-magnetic toner used in full-color copying machines has a problem that the releasability from the photoconductor is poor, the amount of transfer residual toner increases, and the image uniformity deteriorates.

The object of the present invention is to obtain a tribo charge of 10.0 μm.
To provide a device capable of outputting a good toner transfer property, that is, a good image having uniformity, in an electrophotographic device having a developing means using a dry non-magnetic toner having a content of c / g or more and 40.0 μc / g or less. is there.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a triboelectric charge amount of 10.0 μc / g or more 4
In an electrophotographic apparatus having a developing means for developing with a dry non-magnetic toner having a content of 0.0 μc / g or less, the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in an amount of 5.0 to 70 at least in its surface layer. Provided is an electrophotographic apparatus characterized by containing 0.0% by weight, and a facsimile equipped with the electrophotographic apparatus. When the triboelectric charge amount is less than 10.0 μc / g, the toner is largely scattered during development or physical vibration, which not only stains the inside of the apparatus but also stains on the image. On the other hand, if the triboelectric charge amount is larger than 40.0 μc / g, the charge-up of the toner becomes remarkable when the developer is stirred, and for example, in the reversal development system, the phenomenon that the image density does not appear is brought about. On the other hand, the tribo charge amount is 10.0 μc / g or more 4
When it is 0.0 μc / g or less, toner scattering and toner charge-up do not occur, and a good image can be stably obtained.

Here, a method of measuring the triboelectric charge amount will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an apparatus for measuring the triboelectric charge amount of toner. This measuring device includes a suction device 1, a metal measuring container 2 having a 500-mesh conductive screen 3 on the bottom, a metal lid 4 having a plurality of holes, a vacuum gauge 5, an air flow control valve 6, and a suction port. 7, a condenser 8, and an electrometer 9 are provided.

Next, the measuring method will be described. First, the weight ratio of the toner and the carrier whose triboelectric charge is to be measured is 1: 1.
The mixture of 9 or, in the case of the external additive, the mixture of 1:99 was placed in a polyethylene bottle having a volume of 50 to 100 ml, and shaken by hand for about 10 to 40 seconds to obtain the mixture (developer).
About 0.5 to 1.5 g is put in the measuring container 2 and the lid 4 is put on. At this time, the weight of the entire measuring container 2 is weighed, and W ₁ (g)
And Next, the suction device 1 (the portion in contact with the measurement container 2 is made of at least an insulator) sucks through the suction port 7,
Adjust the air flow control valve 6 to adjust the pressure of the vacuum gauge 5 to 250 mmA.
Let q. In this state, suction is performed for an appropriate time, preferably 2 minutes, to remove the toner by suction. The potential of the electrometer 9 at this time is V (volt). Here, the capacitance of the condenser 8 is C (μF). The total weight of the measuring container after suction is weighed to obtain W ₂ (g). The triboelectric charge amount (μc / g) of this toner is calculated by the following formula.

Toner triboelectric charge amount (μc / g) = C × V / (W ₁ −
W ₂ ) (However, the measurement conditions are 23 ° C. and 60% RH.) The carrier used for the measurement is 250 mesh pass, 3
A coated ferrite carrier with 50-mesh-on carrier particles of 70-90% by weight is used.

For the above reason, for example, in a full-color copying machine, the tribo charge amount is 10.0 μc / g or more and 40.
The dry non-magnetic toner of 0 μc / g or less is used for the developing means. Especially when this toner is used, the releasability from the photoconductor is poor, the residual toner remaining on the transfer is increased, and the image uniformity is deteriorated. It was

However, according to the present invention, even in an electrophotographic apparatus having a developing means using the above-mentioned toner, the fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in an amount of 5.0 to 5.0 are provided on at least the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member provided in the apparatus. By containing 70.0% by weight, it is possible to obtain image uniformity.

Fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles are added to the surface layer.
In the case of an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing less than 0% by weight, the effect of inclusion cannot be obtained, and the uniformity of the image is also lacking. On the other hand, when the content is more than 70% by weight, the content is too large, and the sensitivity of the photoconductor itself is deteriorated, and a good image cannot be obtained. However, an excellent image can be obtained in the electrophotographic apparatus equipped with the resin containing the fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in the range of 5.0 to 70.0% by weight.

The fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention are polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polydichlorodifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer One or more selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer and a tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer. It is composed of It is possible to use commercially available fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles as they are. Those having a molecular weight of 30,000 to 5,000,000 can be used, and 0.01
Particles having a particle size of 10 to 10 μm, preferably 0.05 to 2.0 μm can be used.

The photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention contains at least a charge generating material and a charge transporting material.

Examples of charge generating materials include phthalocyanine pigments, polycyclic quinone pigments, azo pigments, perylene pigments,
Indigo pigment, quinacridone pigment, azurenium salt dye, squarylium dye, cyanine dye, pyrylium dye, thiopyrylium dye, xanthene dye, quinoneimine dye, triphenylmethane dye, styryl dye, selenium, selenium-tellurium alloy, amorphous silicon, cadmium sulfide, etc. Can be mentioned.

Examples of charge transport materials include pyrene compounds, N-alkylcarbazole compounds, hydrazone compounds, N, N-dialkylaniline compounds, diphenylamine compounds, triphenylamine compounds, triphenylmethane compounds, pyrazoline compounds, styryl compounds, Examples thereof include stilbene compounds, polynitro compounds, polycyano compounds, and pendant polymers obtained by immobilizing these compounds on a polymer.

In some cases, the protective layer, the photosensitive layer and the like are formed by dispersing and containing the above-mentioned fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles, charge generating material, charge transporting material and the like in a binder resin having film forming properties. Many such binder resins include polyester, polyurethane, polyarylate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, phenol resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, allyl resin, alkyd resin. , Polyamide-imide, nylon, polysulfone, polyallyl ether, polyacetal, butyral resin and the like.

The layer structure of the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention will be described. The conductive support is iron, copper, gold,
Silver, aluminum, zinc, titanium, lead, nickel, tin,
Metals and alloys such as antimony and indium, oxides of the above metals, carbon, conductive polymers, and the like can be used, and they have a drum shape such as a cylindrical shape or a cylindrical shape, a belt shape, or a sheet shape. The conductive material may be molded as it is, used as a coating material, deposited, or processed by etching or plasma treatment. In the case of a paint, the above-mentioned metal, alloy, paper, plastic, etc. are also used as a support.

The photosensitive layer may have a single layer structure or a laminated structure. In the case of a laminated structure, it is composed of at least a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, and the charging polarity and the toner polarity to be used are different depending on whether the charge generation layer is provided on the conductive support side or the charge transport layer is provided. different.
The film thickness of the charge generation layer is 0.001 to 6 μm, preferably 0.01 to 2 μm. The content of the charge generating material contained in the charge generating layer is preferably 10 to 100% by weight, more preferably 50 to 100% by weight. The film thickness of the charge transport layer is obtained by subtracting the film thickness of the charge generation layer from the film thickness of the photosensitive layer. The content of the charge transport material contained in the charge transport layer is 20 to 80% by weight.
Is preferable, and more preferably 30 to 70% by weight. An undercoat layer may be provided between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer. The undercoat layer functions as a charge injection control at the interface and as an adhesive layer. The subbing layer is mainly composed of a binder resin, but may contain the above-mentioned metals or alloys or their oxides, salts, surfactants and the like. Examples of the binder resin forming the undercoat layer are polyester, polyurethane, polyarylate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, phenol resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, Allyl resin,
Examples thereof include alkyd resin, polyamide-imide, nylon, polysulfone, polyallyl ether, polyacetal, butyral resin and the like. The film thickness is 0.05-7 μm
Is preferable, and more preferably 0.1 to 2 μm.

The protective layer is always provided on the photosensitive layer as described above, and is composed of at least a high concentration of fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles and a binder resin.

As a method for producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention, methods such as vapor deposition and coating are used. The coating method can form a wide range of films from thin films to thick films, and can form films of various compositions. Specifically, it is applied by means such as bar coater, knife coater, dip coating, spray coating, beam coating, electrostatic coating, roll coater, attritor, powder coating and the like.

The paint used for applying the protective layer is
It is prepared by dispersing the fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in a binder resin and a solvent. As a method of dispersion, a method such as ball mill, ultrasonic wave, paint shaker, red devil, and sand mill is used. The same dispersion method can be used when the conductive fine powder, the pigment, and the charge generation material are pigments.

The present invention also provides a facsimile having the above-mentioned electrophotographic photosensitive member and developing means using the dry non-magnetic toner, and having receiving means for receiving image information from a remote terminal.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration example of a general transfer type electrophotographic apparatus using an electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the figure, 11 is a drum type photoconductor as an image carrier, and a shaft 11
It is rotationally driven around a at a predetermined peripheral speed in the arrow direction.
The photosensitive member 11 receives uniform charging of a positive or negative predetermined potential on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 11 by the charging means 12 during its rotation process, and then an optical image exposure L is performed by the image exposing means (not shown) at the exposure section 13.
(Slit exposure, laser beam scanning exposure, etc.). As a result, electrostatic latent images corresponding to the exposed image are sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor.

The electrostatic latent image is then toner-developed by the developing means 14, and the toner development is carried out by the transfer means 15 between the photoconductor 11 and the transfer means 15 from the paper feeding portion (not shown). The images are sequentially transferred onto the surface of the transfer material P that is synchronously taken out and fed.

The transfer material P, which has received the image transfer, is separated from the surface of the photoconductor and is introduced into the image fixing means 18, where it is subjected to the image fixing and printed out as a copy.

After the image transfer, the surface of the photoconductor 11 is cleaned by the cleaning means 16 to remove the untransferred toner, and is further discharged by the pre-exposure means 17 to be repeatedly used for image formation.

A corona charging device is generally widely used as the uniform charging means 12 for the photosensitive member 11. Further, as the transfer device 15, corona charging means is generally widely used. The electrophotographic apparatus is configured by integrally combining a plurality of components such as the photoconductor, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit described above as an apparatus unit, and the unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus body. May be. For example, the photoconductor 11 and the cleaning means 16 may be integrated into one device unit, and may be detachably configured by using guide means such as a rail of the device body. At this time, the apparatus unit may be configured with a charging unit and / or a developing unit.

When the electrophotographic apparatus is used as a copying machine or a printer, the light image exposure L is reflected light or transmitted light from a document, or the document is read out and converted into a signal, and a laser beam scans the LED array according to this signal. Drive or liquid crystal shutter array drive.

When used as a printer for a facsimile, the optical image exposure L becomes an exposure for printing received data. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of this case. The controller 21 controls the image reading unit 20 and the printer 29. Controller 2
The whole of 1 is controlled by the CPU 27. The read data from the image reading unit 20 is transmitted to the partner station via the transmission circuit 23. The data received from the partner station is sent to the printer 29 through the receiving circuit 22. The image memory 26 stores predetermined image data. The printer controller 28 controls the printer 29. 24 is a telephone. The image information received from the line 25 (image information from a remote terminal connected via the line) is demodulated by the receiving circuit 22, then decoded by the CPU 27, and sequentially stored in the image memory 26. . When the image information of at least one page is stored in the memory 26, the image information of that page is recorded. CPU
27 reads out one page of image information from the memory 26 and sends the decoded one page of image information to the printer-controller 28. When the printer controller 28 receives the image information of one page from the CPU 27, the printer controller 28 controls the printer 29 to record the image information of the page. The CPU 27 is a printer 29.
The next page is being received during recording. In this way, the image is received and recorded.

The electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention can be used not only in electrophotographic copying machines and facsimiles but also in a wide range of electrophotographic application fields such as laser beam printers, CRT printers, LED printers, liquid crystal printers and laser plate making.

Examples of the present invention will be shown below. In the examples, all parts are parts by weight.

[0033]

【Example】

(Example 1) Nylon (M-4000, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.)
10 parts, 100 parts methanol and 9 parts isopropanol
After mixing and dissolving 0 parts, outer diameter 80 mm, wall thickness 1.5 m
It was applied by dipping onto an aluminum cylinder having a length of m and a length of 363 mm and dried at 90 ° C. for 20 minutes to form a 2.0 μm undercoat layer.

Next, a trisazo pigment 10 having the following structural formula
Department,

[0035]

[Chemical 1] Polycarbonate (Bisphenol A type, Mn2000
0) 5 parts and 600 parts of cyclohexanone were dispersed by a sand mill to prepare a charge generation layer coating material. This coating material was applied onto the undercoat layer by dip coating and dried at 120 ° C. for 20 minutes to form a charge generation layer of 0.15 μm.

Next, a biphenyl compound 20 having the following structural formula
Department,

[0037]

[Chemical 2] Polycarbonate (Bisphenol Z type, Mn2000
0) 20 parts and 800 parts of chlorobenzene were dispersed by a ball mill to prepare a charge transport layer coating material. This paint is applied to the charge generation layer by dip coating and dried at 130 ° C for 90 minutes to
An 8 μm charge transport layer was formed.

Next, 1 part of polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles (Lubrone L-5, manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), 6 parts of the above-mentioned biphenyl compound, 12 parts of polycarbonate (bisphenol Z type, Mn80000) and 1000 parts of dichloromethane were sand milled. The dispersion was dispersed to prepare a coating material for the protective layer. This coating is spray applied onto the charge transport layer and 1
It was dried at 20 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a protective layer of 6.0 μm, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared.

Next, a developer was prepared by the following method.

100 parts of a polyester resin having a glass transition temperature of 58 ° C., 2 parts of a charge control agent, 3 parts of a release agent, and C.I. I. After premixing 4 parts of Solvent Red 52, melt kneading with an extruder and cooling,
It was finely pulverized with a jet mill pulverizer and classified to obtain a magenta non-magnetic toner having an average particle diameter of 8.0 μm. A two-component developer was prepared by mixing 6 parts of this non-magnetic toner with 100 parts of a magnetic ferrite powder carrier resin-coated with vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and styrene-methyl methacrylate. The triboelectric charge amount of this toner was 12.0 μc / g.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developer prepared by the above method were incorporated into a color laser copier 1 (CLC-1), a copying machine manufactured by Canon Inc., and repeatedly evaluated for image formation.

(Embodiments 2 and 3) In Embodiment 1, the toner triboelectric charge amounts are 25.0 μc / g and 37.0, respectively.
A developer and an electrophotographic photoreceptor were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the addition amounts of the polyester resin and the charge control agent were changed so as to be μc / g. Then, they were incorporated into the copying machine CLC-1 and evaluated.

(Examples 4 to 6) In Examples 1, 2 and 3, except that the addition amount of polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles contained in the protective layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was changed to 9 parts. Electrophotographic photoreceptors and developers were prepared in the same manner as 2 and 3. And copy them into the copier CLC
It evaluated by incorporating into -1.

(Examples 7-9) Examples 1, 2 and 3 were repeated except that the addition amount of the polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles contained in the protective layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was changed to 40 parts. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developer were prepared in the same manner as in &. And copy them into the copier CLC
It evaluated by incorporating into -1.

(Comparative Examples 1, 2 and 3) Comparative Examples 1, 2 and 3 were carried out except that the addition amount of the polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles contained in the protective layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was 0.5 parts. Electrophotographic photoreceptors and developers were prepared in the same manner as in Examples 1, 2 and 3. Then, they were incorporated into the copying machine CLC-1 and evaluated.

(Comparative Examples 4, 5, 6) Example 1 except that the addition amount of the polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles contained in the protective layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was 55 parts in Examples 1, 2, and 3. , 2 and 3, electrophotographic photoreceptors and developers were prepared. And copy them into the copying machine C
It was incorporated into LC-1 and evaluated.

(Comparative Examples 7 and 8) In Example 4, the toner triboelectric charge amounts are 8.0 μc / g and 45.0, respectively.
A developer and an electrophotographic photosensitive member were prepared in the same manner as in Example 4, except that the addition amounts of the polyester resin and the charge control agent were changed so as to be μc / g. Then, they were incorporated into the copying machine CLC-1 and evaluated.

[0048]

[Table 1] As shown in Table 1, by using an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer of the photosensitive member appropriately containing fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles, the transferability of the toner from the photosensitive member is improved and the uniformity is improved. You can get a good image.

[0049]

As described above, the tribo charge amount 1
In the electrophotographic apparatus having the developing means using the dry non-magnetic toner having a content of 0.0 μc / g or more and 40.0 μc / g or less, there is a problem that the transfer residual toner is large and the image uniformity is poor. According to the present invention, by containing 5.0 to 70.0 wt% of fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles in at least the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the releasability of the toner from the photosensitive member is increased, and the transfer is improved. The residual toner is reduced, and it is possible to obtain a good image having uniformity.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an apparatus for measuring a triboelectric charge amount of toner.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the configuration of an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile equipped with an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Suction Machine 2 Measuring Container 3 Conductive Screen 4 Lid 5 Vacuum Meter 6 Air Volume Control Valve 7 Suction Port 8 Condenser 9 Electrometer 11 Drum Type Photoreceptor 12 Corona Charging Device 13 Exposure Section 14 Developing Means 15 Transfer Means 16 Cleaning Means 17 Previous Exposure unit 18 Image fixing unit L Optical image exposure P Transfer material 20 Image reading unit 21 Controller 22 Reception circuit 23 Transmission circuit 24 Telephone 25 Line 26 Image memory 27 CPU 28 Printer controller 29 Printer

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Masaaki Yamagami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tatsuya Ikezue 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Noboru Kashimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, and triboelectric charge amount 1
In an electrophotographic apparatus having a developing means for developing with a dry non-magnetic toner having a content of 0.0 μc / g or more and 40.0 μc / g or less, in the electrophotographic photosensitive member, at least the surface layer thereof contains fluorine atom-containing resin fine particles. 5.0 to 70.
An electrophotographic apparatus containing 0% by weight. 2. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
And a facsimile having a receiving means for receiving image information from a remote terminal.