JP2002328564A - Endless belt - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An endless belt capable of forming a high-quality image without generating endless belt meandering even in a state where image forming speed is fast, that is, under a condition where endless belt linear speed is fast. Provided are an endless belt traveling device and an image forming apparatus using the same. SOLUTION: In an endless belt in which a band-shaped elastic body is fixed to an inner surface of both side edges by an adhesive layer, a ten-point average roughness (R) of a cross-sectional curve of an interface of the elastic body on the endless belt base side is provided.
z) is an endless belt having a thickness of 3 to 16 μm.
The endless belt is a photosensitive member, and is an image forming apparatus using the traveling device by inserting a plurality of rollers into a traveling device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endless belt, an endless photosensitive member, a belt traveling device and an image forming apparatus using the same, and a process cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, since high-precision reproducibility of image information has been demanded, higher definition and higher-resolution image formation have been strongly demanded. In addition, needs for colorization, high-speed image formation, miniaturization of image forming apparatuses, and high durability are also increasing.

In particular, in the case of photoreceptors, it is conceivable to reduce the load on the photoreceptor by increasing the peripheral length of the photoreceptor in response to demands for higher speed and higher durability of image formation. In the photoreceptor used for the support, increasing the circumference of the photoreceptor leads to an increase in the diameter of the photoreceptor, which is in conflict with the demand for downsizing the image forming apparatus. The endless belt photoreceptor can be freely changed in shape by inserting a plurality of rollers into the photoreceptor, and the degree of freedom in arranging the photoreceptor in the image forming apparatus is increased. Can contribute to.

In general, an endless belt photoreceptor has a structure in which a photosensitive layer is provided on a conductive polymer film or metal film substrate. In particular, an endless belt photoreceptor using a metal film substrate has a thermal layer. The endless belt photoconductor is not deformed even if the peripheral speed of the endless belt photoconductor is increased in order to speed up image formation because the endless belt expands and contracts little and the shape retention against tension is high. And high quality image formation is possible.

[0005] Usually, the endless belt runs in the image forming apparatus by inserting a plurality of rollers inside the endless belt and rotating the rollers. Due to the problem of uniformity, the endless belt is meandered in the width direction.

[0006] If the endless belt meanders violently, the endless belt falls off the driving roller, and is damaged. Even if the endless belt does not fall or break,
Meandering greatly reduces the quality of the formed image,
In particular, in color image formation, while more accurate image formation is required, when a single image is formed by combining a plurality of image formations, color misregistration and image unevenness tend to be conspicuous and significantly degrade image quality. Cause.

To prevent meandering of the endless belt,
An endless belt is disclosed in which a guide such as a hot-melt adhesive is directly adhered to both inner edges of the endless belt to provide a non-stop guide (for example, JP-A-59-23).
No. 0950). However, the hot-melt adhesive has a disadvantage that the hot-melt adhesive easily deforms during cooling after being melted and applied to the endless belt, and as a result, meandering tends to occur.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-190280 discloses an endless belt having a flexible material having a specific rubber hardness and thickness attached to both inner edges of the endless belt to serve as a non-stop guide. . This endless belt has excellent performance with almost no deformation of the belt even with running over time. However, if the linear speed of the endless belt is increased due to a demand for an increase in the speed of image formation, deformation, peeling, or deformation of the endless belt may occur, resulting in a reduction in image quality. Often. Particularly in an image forming apparatus in which a written image has a high resolution, the tendency is large, and in a color image forming apparatus, color misregistration is likely to occur together, so that the image quality is often further deteriorated.

JP-A-2000-1237, JP-A-20
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 00-289823 discloses an endless belt which serves as a non-stop guide by bonding a reinforcing tape to which an elastomeric guide is adhered to both inner edges of the endless belt using an adhesive. The non-stop guide of the endless belt hardly comes off from the endless belt due to an external force due to the presence of the reinforcing tape. However, since the adhesive strength between the reinforcing tape and the adhesive is inferior, the adhesive layer is deformed or displaced, and the linearity of the detent guides fixed to both inner edges of the endless belt tends to be reduced. As a result, Image quality may be degraded.

[0010] JP-A-2000-131998 discloses that
Forming fine irregularities on one side of an endless belt non-stop guide made of a polymer flexible film as a substrate, and using the surface with the fine irregularities as an adhesive surface, bonding the endless belt to the non-stop guide It is disclosed to improve the performance and prevent meandering of the endless belt. However, an endless belt using a polymer flexible film as a base is inferior in shape retention with respect to tension, so that the peripheral speed of the endless belt cannot be too high.
An endless belt using a metal film for the base can be used at a high peripheral speed, and the demand is high. Therefore, not only the uneven guide is provided with fine unevenness but also the size of the unevenness. It is extremely important to define Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-131998 discloses that the arithmetic average roughness Ra is 0.3 μm or more as the size of unevenness. Ra is a suitable parameter for expressing the surface irregularities when the cross-sectional curve is composed of waves of approximately the same amplitude, but the surface of the roughened detent guide usually has various amplitudes, Many waves of many wavelengths are superimposed. However, Ra is almost completely canceled out except for a wave having a large amplitude, and thus is not appropriate as a parameter for expressing the size of fine irregularities. Therefore,
Even if the range of fine irregularities is defined by Ra, meandering may occur due to a decrease in the adhesiveness between the detent guide and the base, or the endless belt may fall off from the driving roller and damage the endless belt. In many cases, especially when the linear speed of the endless belt is increased to increase the speed of image formation by using a metal film for the base, the image quality is severely deteriorated.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, high-quality images can be formed without a meandering of the endless belt even in a state where the image forming speed is high, that is, under the condition that the endless belt has a high linear velocity. An endless belt, an endless belt traveling device, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have found that in an image forming apparatus using an endless belt, the quality of image formation is degraded under the condition that the image forming speed is high, that is, the linear speed of the endless belt is high. The cause of the endless belt was investigated in detail. As a result, it is necessary to provide a non-stop guide on the inner surface of both side edges of the endless belt in order to prevent the endless belt from meandering. Is important, especially when an elastic body is used for the non-stop guide, and when a force is applied to the non-stop guide, the elastic body is slightly deformed to absorb the force, and when the force is released. Since it is necessary for the elastic body to return to its original state, it has been found that it is important to have a specific rubber hardness. However, in order to realize high-resolution image formation, The linear speed of the endless belt is limited. If you further increase the linear speed of the endless belt,
When investigating the cause of the deterioration of image quality, the elastic body of the non-stop guide was fixed to the endless belt base with an adhesive, and the adhesion between the elastic body and the adhesive greatly affected the image quality. I found out. Further, even if the surface roughness of the interface between the elastic body and the endless guide substrate side is within a specific range, a large force is likely to be applied to the non-stop guide and the linear speed of the endless belt is high, there is no meandering, and high quality image formation is possible. This led to the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides an endless belt in which a band-shaped elastic body is fixed to the inner surface of both side edges by an adhesive layer.
An endless belt characterized in that a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of a cross-sectional curve of an interface between the elastic body and the endless belt substrate side is 3 to 16 μm. Rz is a parameter that is most commonly used as a parameter representing the degree of roughness of the cross-sectional curve of the interface of the elastic body composed of a plurality of waves on the endless belt base side, and the elastic endless belt base of the present invention. The most appropriate parameter is the number of waves per unit length constituting the side interface.

The ten-point average roughness (Rz) of the cross-sectional curve of the endless belt-side interface of the elastic member, which is the guide for stopping the endless belt of the present invention, is 3 to 16 μm, preferably 4 to 16 μm.
When the thickness is 15 μm, and more preferably 6 to 14 μm, the effective surface area of the interface between the elastic body and the endless belt is increased, and the adhesion between the elastic body and the adhesive layer is significantly improved by an anchor effect. Even under the condition of high speed, meandering hardly occurs, and a high-resolution image can be formed. If the Rz of the cross-sectional curve at the interface of the elastic body on the endless belt side is less than 3 μm, the adhesiveness between the non-stop guide and the adhesive layer becomes weak, and when the linear speed of the endless belt is high, meandering is likely to occur, resulting in a high-resolution image. It becomes difficult to form. When the Rz of the cross-sectional curve at the interface of the elastic body on the endless belt side exceeds 16 μm, the adhesion between the elastic body and the adhesive layer is extremely favorable, but there are places where the adhesion between the base of the endless guide and the adhesive layer is weak. And meandering is likely to occur, resulting in reduced image quality.

The material of the elastic body serving as the guide for stopping the endless belt of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has appropriate rubber elasticity and does not deteriorate due to the environment in the image forming apparatus. However, rubber such as synthetic rubber such as polyurethane rubber, neoprene rubber, urethane rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, and silicone rubber or a mixture of one or more of natural rubber can be exemplified. Urethane rubber which has low stability against abrasion, low abrasion resistance and excellent ozone resistance is most preferred.

The elastic body, which is the guide for stopping the endless belt of the present invention, has an Rz of 3 to 3 at the endless belt side interface.
Methods for controlling the thickness to 16 μm include a method of mechanically and chemically processing the surface of the elastic body or the precursor of the elastic body, and placing the elastic body or the precursor in a mold having an appropriate surface roughness, followed by molding and crosslinking. To produce an elastic body, a method of mixing a filler with an elastic body or a precursor, or a combination of these methods.

Among these methods, from the viewpoint of reproducibility, machining with an abrasive, a polishing machine or the like, and mixing of fillers such as carbon bodies, calcium silicate, calcium carbonate, and glass fibers are preferable. In particular, the addition of a filler is preferable because it can improve the mechanical properties (rubber hardness, 300% modulus, structural strength, etc.) of the elastic body in addition to controlling the surface roughness of the elastic body. The inclusion of a carbon body such as black is particularly preferable from both aspects of controlling the surface roughness and improving the mechanical properties.Because the frictional force with the drive roller can be reduced by the lubrication effect of the carbon body, it is added from the drive roller. The force is small, and meandering of the endless guide hardly occurs, which is very preferable. The content of the filler is not particularly limited, but is 1 to 1 of the total weight of the elastic body.
50%, preferably 3 to 40%, particularly preferably 5 to 3
It is good to be 0%.

The precursor of the above-mentioned elastic body can be made into an elastic body having rubber elasticity by a crosslinking reaction after providing an appropriate surface roughness by the above method.

The rubber hardness (JISA) of the elastic body, which is the guide for stopping the endless belt of the present invention, is 50 to 90;
Preferably it is 55-85, More preferably, it is 60-80. If the rubber hardness of the elastic body is less than 50, the elastic body itself is too soft and the deformation of the elastic body itself with respect to an external force is increased, which is unfavorable because it tends to cause meandering. When the rubber hardness of the elastic body exceeds 90, the resilience of the elastic body is increased in a portion where the endless belt is bent by the drive roller, so that the endless belt base and the adhesive layer are easily separated or the endless belt base is easily deformed. Meandering is likely to occur.

In the endless belt of the present invention, the above-mentioned elastic body is fixed to the inner surface of both side edges via an adhesive layer. The thickness of the adhesive layer is 5 to 100 μm, preferably 10 to 80 μm,
More preferably, it is 20 to 70 μm. If the thickness of the adhesive layer is less than 5 μm, the roughness of the interface of the elastic body on the endless belt base side cannot be ignored compared to the thickness of the adhesive layer, so that the interface of the adhesive layer on the endless belt side becomes rough,
As a result, meandering tends to occur, which is not preferable. If the thickness of the adhesive layer is more than 100 μm, the adhesive layer is likely to be broken by external stress, which is not preferable because meandering is likely to occur.

The material used for the adhesive layer of the endless belt of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has sufficient adhesiveness to the endless substrate and its elasticity and does not deteriorate due to the environment in the image forming apparatus. Although not a thing, for example, acrylic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone,
A thermosetting adhesive can be exemplified, and among them, an acrylic adhesive is preferable from the viewpoint of adhesiveness. Further, for example, by applying a reaction-curable polyurethane primer or the like to the surface of the elastic body or mixing it into an adhesive to form an adhesive layer, the adhesion between the elastic body and the adhesive layer is perfect, which is very preferable.

The substrate or endless belt of the endless belt of the present invention may be a sheet-shaped member joined or a tube-shaped member, but may be a tube-shaped member. Since the substrate has no seam to the base or the endless belt, any portion of the endless belt can be used for image formation. Further, since the mechanical characteristics of the endless belt are also improved, the speed of image formation can be increased, the size of the endless belt traveling device can be reduced, and the reliability of the endless belt traveling device can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the vicinity of the guide for stopping the endless belt photosensitive member of the present invention. The adhesive layer is composed of a primer and an adhesive. In the figure, a primer is provided between the elastic body and the adhesive. However, the primer is not required if the adhesive between the elastic stopper and the adhesive is sufficient.

As shown in FIG. 2, by inserting a plurality of drive rollers into the endless belt of the present invention and rotating the drive rollers, an endless belt traveling device capable of traveling can be manufactured. In FIG. 2, three drive rollers are used. However, the number of drive rollers depends on the tension of the endless belt, the size of the endless belt traveling device,
Any number may be used as long as the shape can be a desired one.

The endless belt of the present invention can be used for a photoreceptor, an intermediate transfer belt, a fixing belt, a conveyance belt, and the like. In any state, the endless belt has a high linear velocity, for example, the endless belt has a linear velocity of 80 mm / sec or more. ,
Preferably, the endless belt does not meander even at 120 mm / sec or more, more preferably 150 mm / sec to 300 mm / sec, and high-resolution, high-quality image formation is possible.

The endless belt of the present invention is particularly effective when applied to a photosensitive member. Since the life of the photoconductor is determined by the number of times image formation on the photoconductor is repeated, it is effective to increase the surface area of the photoconductor in order to extend the life of the photoconductor. For this reason, the diameter of the drum is increased in a normal drum, but it is difficult to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus if a photosensitive member having a large diameter is used.
On the other hand, the endless belt photoreceptor can be freely changed in shape by inserting a plurality of rollers into the photoreceptor, and the degree of freedom in disposing the photoreceptor in the image forming apparatus is increased. Even if the size of the image forming apparatus becomes large, it is possible to contribute to downsizing of the image forming apparatus.

When the endless belt of the present invention is used as a photoreceptor, the endless belt photoreceptor is formed of an endless belt-like substrate and a photosensitive layer, and an intermediate layer can be provided between the substrate and the photosensitive layer. Further, a protective layer can be provided on the photosensitive layer.

The substrate of the endless belt photoreceptor of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has sufficient mechanical strength and conductivity. Aluminum, nickel, chromium, nichrome Metal or alloys such as copper, gold, silver, platinum, tin oxide, metal oxides such as indium oxide laminated on a resin film such as polyester, polyimide or aluminum, nickel, chromium, nichrome, copper, gold, A metal film or an alloy film of silver, platinum or the like can be exemplified. In particular, a metal foil is preferable in terms of durability, and among these, nickel is a main component in terms of workability, mechanical properties, chemical stability, and economy. Is preferred. In particular, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
-36016, JP-A-3-219259, JP-A-63-163-
127250, and a nickel seamless belt produced by electroforming plating disclosed in JP-A-63-127249 has no seams, and therefore, the image can be freely formed on the photosensitive member without limiting the place where the image is formed. Since formation is possible, the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced, and the speed of image formation can be improved, which is preferable. When the linear velocity of the photoreceptor is used at 80 mm / sec or more, the Vickers hardness of the nickel seamless belt is 400 to 650,
Preferably 450-600, and the purity of nickel is 98
% Or more, and preferably 99% or more, from the viewpoint of durability of the photoreceptor. When the Vickers hardness of the nickel seamless belt is less than 400, the restoring force of the photosensitive member against arc deformation near the driving roller is small, so that an abnormal image of a streak-like image is easily generated, and the Vickers hardness is 6
If it exceeds 50, the photoreceptor is hard, and the deformation itself is difficult, so that the load on the driving roller increases,
Both ends of the photoconductor are easily deformed permanently, which is not preferable. If the purity of nickel is less than 98%, the mechanical strength and chemical stability of the nickel seamless belt tend to decrease, and abnormal images such as streaks and spots tend to occur.

The endless belt photoreceptor of the present invention basically comprises a substrate and a photosensitive layer, and an undercoat layer can be provided between the substrate and the photosensitive layer. As the photosensitive layer, any of a laminated type in which a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer are sequentially laminated or a single layer type in which a charge generating agent and a charge transporting agent are mixed and used can be used. Further, a protective layer can be provided.

The undercoat layer is provided for the purpose of improving adhesiveness, preventing moiré, etc., improving coatability of the upper layer, reducing residual potential, and the like. The undercoat layer generally contains a resin as a main component. However, considering that the photosensitive layer on the undercoat layer is applied using a solvent, the resin should be a resin having high resistance to dissolution in a general organic solvent. Is desirable. Such resins include polyvinyl alcohol, casein, water-soluble resins such as sodium polyacrylate, copolymerized nylon, alcohol-soluble resins such as methoxymethylated nylon, polyurethane, melamine resin, alkyd-melamine resin, epoxy resin, and the like. Curable resins that form a three-dimensional network structure are exemplified. Also, titanium oxide, silica,
Fine powders such as metal oxides exemplified by alumina, zirconium oxide, tin oxide and indium oxide, or metal sulfides and metal nitrides may be added. These undercoat layers can be formed using an appropriate solvent and a coating method.

Further, as the undercoat layer of the present invention, a metal oxide layer formed by using a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, a chromium coupling agent, or the like by, for example, a sol-gel method is also useful.

In addition, the undercoat layer of the present invention may be provided with aluminum oxide or aluminum hydroxide by anodic oxidation, an organic substance such as polyparaxylylene (parylene), SnO ₂ , TiO ₂ , ITO, or the like. It can also preferably used that is provided an inorganic material such as CeO ₂ by a vacuum thin layer manufacturing method. The thickness of the undercoat layer is suitably from 0.1 to 5 μm.

The charge generation layer is a layer containing a charge generation substance as a main component, and a binder resin may be used as needed. As the charge generation substance, an inorganic material and an organic material can be used.

Examples of the inorganic material include crystalline selenium, amorphous selenium, selenium-tellurium, selenium-tellurium-halogen, selenium-arsenic compound and the like.

On the other hand, as the organic material, a known material can be used. For example, metal phthalocyanine, phthalocyanine pigments such as metal-free phthalocyanine, azulhenium salt pigment, methine squaric acid pigment, azo pigment having a carbazole skeleton, azo pigment having a triphenylamine skeleton, azo pigment having a diphenylamine skeleton, dibenzothiophene skeleton Azo pigment having a fluorenone skeleton, azo pigment having an oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigment having a bisstillene skeleton, azo pigment having a distyryl oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigment having a distyryl carbazole skeleton, perylene Pigments, anthraquinone or polycyclic quinone pigments, quinone imine pigments, diphenylmethane and triphenylmethane pigments, benzoquinone and naphthoquinone pigments, cyanine and azomethine pigments, Goido based pigments, bisbenzimidazole pigments.
These charge generating substances can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more kinds.

The binder resin used as needed in the charge generation layer includes polyamide, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyketone, polycarbonate, silicone resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl ketone, polystyrene, poly-N- Vinyl carbazole, polyacrylamide and the like are used. These binder resins can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

Further, a charge transport material may be added as required. Further, in addition to the binder resin described above, a polymer charge transport material is preferably used as the binder resin for the charge generation layer.

As a method for forming the charge generation layer, a vacuum thin film preparation method and a casting method from a solution dispersion system are mainly mentioned.

The former method includes a vacuum deposition method, a glow discharge polymerization method, an ion plating method, a sputtering method,
Reactive sputtering, CVD, or the like is used, and the above-described inorganic and organic materials can be formed favorably.

In order to form the charge generating layer by the casting method, a ball mill using the above-mentioned inorganic or organic charge generating material together with a binder resin, if necessary, using a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, dioxane, dichloroethane or butanone. It can be formed by dispersing with an attritor, a sand mill or the like, diluting the dispersion liquid appropriately and applying. The coating can be performed using a dip coating method, a spray coating method, a bead coating method, or the like.

The thickness of the charge generation layer provided as described above is suitably about 0.01 to 5 μm, and preferably 0.05 to 2 μm.

The charge transport layer is a layer intended to hold the charged charges and to move the charges generated and separated in the charge generating layer by exposure to combine with the held charges. Further, the charge transport layer may contain an adsorbent. High electrical resistance is required to achieve the purpose of retaining the charged charge, and in order to achieve the purpose of obtaining a high surface potential with the retained charged charge, the dielectric constant is small and the charge mobility is good. Is required.

The charge transport layer for satisfying these requirements comprises a charge transport substance, a binder resin and an adsorbent. They can be formed by dissolving or dispersing them in a suitable solvent, applying the resulting mixture, and drying. As the solvent, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, toluene, dichloromethane, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethane, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone or the like is used.

If necessary, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a leveling agent and the like can be added in an appropriate amount in addition to the charge transporting substance and the binder resin.

The charge transport material includes a hole transport material and an electron transport material. Examples of the electron transporting substance include chloranil, bromanil, tetracyanoethylene,
Tetracyanoquinodimethane, 2,4,7-trinitro-
9-fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9
Fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitroxanthone, 2,4,8-trinitrothioxanthone, 2,
Electron accepting substances such as 6,8-trinitro-4H-indeno [1,2-b] thiophen-4one and 1,3,7-trinitrodibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide are exemplified. These electron transport materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

Examples of the hole transporting material include the following electron donating materials, which are preferably used. For example, oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, triphenylamine derivatives, 9-
(P-diethylaminostyrylanthracene), 1,1
-Bis- (4-dibenzylaminophenyl) propane,
Styryl anthracene, styryl pyrazoline, phenylhydrazone, α-phenylstilbene derivative, thiazole derivative, triazole derivative, phenazine derivative,
Examples include acridine derivatives, benzofuran derivatives, benzimidazole derivatives, and thiophene derivatives. These hole transport materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

The polymer charge transport layer material has the following structure. (A) Polymer having a carbazole ring For example, poly-N-vinylcarbazole,
No. 82056, JP-A-54-9632, JP-A-54-11737, JP-A-4-175337, JP-A-4-183719, JP-A-6-23
Compounds described in JP-A-4841 are exemplified.

(B) Polymer having a hydrazone structure For example, JP-A-57-78402, JP-A-61-78402
JP-A-20953, JP-A-61-296358,
JP-A-1-134456, JP-A-1-17916
No. 4, JP-A-3-180851, JP-A-3-180851
180852, JP-A-3-50555, JP-A-5-310904, JP-A-6-234840
And the like.

(C) Polysilylene polymer For example, JP-A-63-285552,
88461, JP-A-4-264130, JP-A-4-264131, JP-A-4-264132
JP, JP-A-4-264133, JP-A-4-4-2
Compounds described in JP-A-89867 are exemplified.

(D) Polymer having triarylamine structure For example, N, N-bis (4-methylphenyl) -4-aminopolystyrene, JP-A-1-134457, JP-A-2-282264, Kaihei 2-304456
JP, JP-A-4-133065, JP-A-4-13-1
Compounds described in JP-A-33066, JP-A-5-40350, and JP-A-5-202135 are exemplified.

(E) Other polymers For example, a formaldehyde condensation polymer of nitropyrene, JP-A-51-73888, JP-A-56-15074
9, JP-A-6-234836 and JP-A-6-34836.
Compounds described in JP-A-234837 are exemplified.

The polymer having an electron donating group used in the present invention includes not only the above-mentioned polymer but also a copolymer of a known monomer, a block polymer, a graft polymer, a star polymer, For example, it is also possible to use a crosslinked polymer having an electron donating group as disclosed in JP-A-3-109406.

The following compounds are exemplified as polycarbonates, polyurethanes, polyesters, and polyethers having a triarylamine structure, which are more useful as the polymer charge transporting material used in the present invention.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 64-1728, 64-13061 and 64-19049
JP, JP-A-4-11627, JP-A-4-22
5014, JP-A-4-230767, JP-A-4-320420, JP-A-5-232727, JP-A-7-56374, JP-A-9-127
713, JP-A-9-222740, JP-A-9-265197, JP-A-9-212877, JP-A-9-309495, and the like.

The binder resin that can be used in combination with the charge transport layer includes polycarbonate (bisphenol A type, bisphenol Z type), polyester, methacrylic resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, polystyrene, phenolic resin, and epoxy resin. Polyurethane, polyvinylidene chloride, alkyd resin, silicone resin, polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, phenoxy resin and the like are used. These binders can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

As the photoreceptor belt, bisphenol A type polycarbonate is preferable because of cracks in the photosensitive layer.

The thickness of the charge transport layer is suitably about 5 to 100 μm.

As the antioxidant, for example, the following are used. As a monophenolic compound, 2,6-
Di-tert-butyl-p-cresol, butylated hydroxyanisole, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-ethylphenol, stearyl-β- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-
4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxynisole and the like.

As bisphenol compounds, 2,2 ′
-Methylene-bis- (4-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis- (4-ethyl-
6-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-thiobis-
(3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 4,4 ′
-Butylidenebis- (3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol) and the like.

As the high molecular weight phenolic compound, 1,
1,3-tris- (2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-
t-butylphenyl) butane, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-
(Hydroxybenzyl) benzene, tetrakis- [methylene-3- (3 ′, 5′-di-tert-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] methane, bis [3,3 ′
-Bis (4'-hydroxy-3'-t-butylphenyl)
Butyric acid] glycol esters, tocophenols and the like.

As paraphenylenediamines, N-phenyl-N'-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N'-di-sec-butyl-p-phenylenediamine, N-phenyl-N-sec-butyl-p -Phenylenediamine, N, N'-di-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine, N, N'-dimethyl-N, N'-di-
t-butyl-p-phenylenediamine and the like.

As hydroquinones, 2,5-di-t
-Octylhydroquinone, 2,6-didodecylhydroquinone, 2-dodecylhydroquinone, 2-dodecyl-5-chlorohydroquinone, 2-t-octyl-5-
Methylhydroquinone, 2- (2-octadecenyl)-
5-methylhydroquinone and the like.

As the organic sulfur compounds, dilauryl-
3,3'-thiodipropionate, distearyl-3,
3'-thiodipropionate, ditetradecyl-3,3 '
-Thiodipropionate and the like.

Examples of the organic phosphorus compounds include triphenylphosphine, tri (nonylphenyl) phosphine, tri (dinonylphenyl) phosphine, tricresylphosphine, and tri (2,4-dibutylphenoxy) phosphine.

As the plasticizer, those used as plasticizers for general resins such as dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate can be used as they are, and the amount of the plasticizer is 0 to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. The degree is appropriate.

A leveling agent may be added to the charge transport layer. As the leveling agent, silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil and methyl phenyl silicone oil, and polymers or oligomers having a perfluoroalkyl group in a side chain are used, and the amount used is based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. 0 to 1 part by weight is suitable.

The protective layer is a layer in which fine particles of metal or metal oxide are dispersed in a binder resin. As the binder resin, a resin which is transparent to visible light and infrared light and has excellent electric insulation, mechanical strength and adhesiveness is desirable. Examples of the binder resin for the protective layer include ABS resin, ACS resin, olefin-vinyl monomer copolymer, chlorinated polyether, allyl resin, phenol resin, polyacetal, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyacrylate, polyallyl sulfone, polybutylene, and polybutylene. Terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, acrylic resin, polymethylbenten, polypropylene, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polystyrene,
Examples include resins such as AS resin, butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, and epoxy resin. Examples of the metal oxide include titanium oxide, tin oxide, potassium titanate, TiO, TiN, zinc oxide, indium oxide, and antimony oxide. For the purpose of improving abrasion resistance, a fluorine resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, a silicone resin, or a dispersion of an inorganic material such as aluminum oxide or titanium oxide in these resins may be added to the protective layer. Can be. As a method for forming the protective layer, a normal coating method is employed. The thickness of the protective layer is suitably about 0.1 to 10 μm.

When the endless belt of the present invention is used as an intermediate transfer belt, the intermediate transfer belt is made of a metal or alloy belt such as aluminum, iron, copper or stainless steel, carbon or metal particles dispersed as a conductive support. Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NB) on conductive resin belt
R), styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, chloroprene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, acrylic rubber, fluorine rubber, urethane rubber, etc. as a conductive material such as carbon (Ketjen black), Elastic layer with volume resistivity controlled by dispersing graphite, carbon fiber, metal powder, conductive metal oxide, organic metal oxide, organic metal compound, organic metal salt, conductive polymer, etc., PFA, FEP, etc. As a type formed from a surface release layer coated with a fluororesin, and as a base material,
Polyethylene (high density, medium density, low density, linear low density), propylene ethylene block or random copolymer, rubber or latex component such as ethylene propylene copolymer rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene Styrene block copolymer or its hydrogenated derivative, polybutadiene, polyisobutylene, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyacetal, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyphenylene ether, modified polyphenylene ether, polyimide, liquid crystalline polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polysulfone, polyether Sulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polybisamide triazole,
Polybutylene terephthalate, polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone, acrylic, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene Perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluoro rubber, alkyl acrylate copolymer, polyester ester copolymer, polyether ester copolymer, polyether amide copolymer, olefin copolymer, polyurethane Copolymer, or a mixture thereof, in particular, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polychlorotrifluoro. A type in which a conductive filler is added to a fluororesin or fluororubber such as ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkylvinyl ether copolymer, or polytetrafluoroethylene to adjust the electric resistance is used. .

The resistance value of the intermediate transfer belt is 10 ⁶ Ω · cm.
10 to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm (when 1 kV is applied) is preferable.

In an intermediate transfer belt having an elastic layer and a release layer, the thickness of the elastic layer is preferably 0.5 to 5 mm in terms of formation of a transfer nip, color shift due to rotation, material cost, and the like. Is preferably made thin to transmit the flexibility of the lower elastic layer to the surface of the photoreceptor, specifically, 50 to 200 μm.

Further, zinc stearate is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt to improve the image transfer property to the transfer paper, and the friction coefficient of the belt surface is made lower than that of the transfer paper, so that the transfer property of the toner image is improved. The coefficient of friction of the transfer paper is usually about 0.35 to 0.7, though it depends on the kind of the paper. On the other hand, the coefficient of friction of the intermediate transfer belt is reduced to 0.1 by coating zinc stearate on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. 15-0.3
Can be maintained.

When the endless belt of the present invention is used as a transfer paper transport belt, metals and alloys such as aluminum, iron, copper and stainless steel, conductive resin belts in which carbon and metal particles are dispersed, and metals such as nickel and stainless steel A belt can be used. Further, the transfer paper transport belt is configured to apply a voltage, and the transfer paper is electrostatically attracted to the transfer paper transport belt, so that occurrence of disturbance of the toner image, lateral displacement of the transfer paper, wrinkles, and the like can be reduced.

When the endless belt of the present invention is used for a fixing belt, a heat-resistant resin film such as polyimide, polyamide, or polyester, a metal film, or the like can be used.

Next, the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. In FIG. 3, a photosensitive member 1 is provided with an endless belt-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member manufactured according to the present invention. The endless belt-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member is driven and driven by three driven, driven, and tension rollers. The driven roller and the tension roller may also be used, and the photoconductor may be supported and driven by two drive rollers. The length of each roller in contact with the back surface of the endless photoconductor is longer than the width of the image forming area and equal to or less than the width of the endless belt-shaped photoconductor.

As the charging charger 2 and the transfer charger 7, known means such as a corotron, a scorotron, a solid state charger (solid state charger), and a charging roller are used.

As another transfer means, a method may be used in which an intermediate transfer belt is used, a toner image on a photoreceptor is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, and a secondary transfer transfer is performed on paper. Also,
The toner images of different colors may be superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt and then secondary-transferred onto paper.

Light sources such as the image exposure unit 3 and the neutralizing lamp 10 include a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a sodium lamp, and a light emitting diode (LE).
D), semiconductor lasers (LD), electroluminescence (EL), and other general light-emitting materials can be used. Then, in order to irradiate only light in a desired wavelength range, various filters such as a sharp cut filter, a band pass filter, a near infrared cut filter, a dichroic filter, an interference filter, and a color temperature conversion filter can be used.

Such a light source irradiates the photoreceptor with light by providing a transfer step, a charge removal step, a cleaning step, or a pre-exposure step using light irradiation in addition to the step shown in FIG. .

The toner developed on the photoreceptor 1 by the developing unit 4 is transferred to a transfer sheet, but not all of the toner is transferred, and toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1 is generated. Such toner is removed from the photoconductor by cleaning 9. The cleaning may be performed only by the cleaning blade, or may be performed only by the cleaning brush or in combination with the blade.

When a positive (negative) charge is applied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and image exposure is performed, a positive (negative) electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member. If this is developed with toner of negative (positive) polarity (electrostatic detection fine particles), a positive image can be obtained, and if it is developed with toner of positive (negative) polarity, a negative image can be obtained.

A known method is applied to the developing means, and a known method is also used for the charge removing means.

The above-described electrophotographic process is an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and other embodiments are of course possible.

On the other hand, the light irradiation step includes image exposure, pre-cleaning exposure, and charge elimination exposure. However, in addition to this, a pre-transfer exposure, a pre-exposure of image exposure, and other known light irradiation steps are provided. Light irradiation can also be performed on the body.

The image forming means as described above may be fixedly incorporated in a copying apparatus, a facsimile, or a printer, or may be incorporated in the apparatus in the form of a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a photoconductor, and further includes a charging unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, a transferring unit, a cleaning unit, and a discharging unit.
Devices (parts).

FIG. 4 shows a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration will be described below. FIG.
In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible belt-shaped photosensitive member serving as a belt-shaped image carrier, and the photosensitive member 1 is provided between rotating rollers 22 and 23, and is driven by rotating the rotating roller 22 in FIG. It is transported in the direction of arrow A (clockwise). In the figure, reference numeral 24 denotes a charging charger as charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the endless belt photoreceptor 1, and reference numeral 25 denotes a laser writing system unit as electrostatic image exposure means. In the figure, 26
Is a color developing device in which four developing units having yellow, magenta, cyan and black developers (toners) are integrally formed.

Further, in the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes an intermediate transfer belt as an intermediate transfer member.
1 and 32, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow B (counterclockwise) in the figure by the rotation of the rotating roller 31. The photosensitive member 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 are in contact with each other by the rotating roller 23 of the photosensitive member 1. The intermediate transfer belt 3 at the contact portion
On the 0 side, a conductive bias roller 33 is in contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 30 under predetermined conditions. The charging charger 24 does not contact and damage the surface of the endless belt photoreceptor unlike the contact type charging roller, and is particularly advantageous in a color image forming apparatus.

Next, an image forming operation of the color image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 will be described.
In FIG. 4, a belt-shaped photosensitive member (latent image carrier) 1 is uniformly charged by a charging charger 24, and then is charged by a laser optical device (laser writing system unit) 25.
Scanning exposure is performed based on the image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Here, the image information to be exposed is monochromatic image information obtained by decomposing a desired full-color image into color information of yellow, cyan, and magenta. Based on this information, a laser beam L generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown) is used. , And scanning and optical path adjustment by an optical device not shown.

The thus formed electrostatic latent image is subjected to single-color development using a one-component non-magnetic toner of a predetermined yellow, cyan, magenta, or black color at a laser exposure portion by a color developing device 26 of a rotary reversal developing system. The respective color images are sequentially formed on the photoreceptor 1. By using a one-component non-magnetic toner, it is possible to obtain a color image having excellent uniformity of density in a gradation solid portion of a highlight image.

Further, each single-color image formed on the photosensitive member 1 rotating in the direction of arrow A in the figure is placed on the intermediate transfer belt 30 rotating in the direction of arrow B in FIG. , Cyan, magenta, and black are sequentially superimposed and transferred by a predetermined transfer bias applied to the bias roller 33. Here, the length of the intermediate transfer belt is twice the size of the photoreceptor belt, and a specific position of the intermediate transfer belt is strictly controlled so as to always contact the same position on the photoreceptor. Further, a bar-shaped zinc stearate (not shown) is applied to the intermediate transfer belt.

The yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 30 are supplied from a paper supply table (paper supply cassette) 37 to a paper supply roller 38, a pair of conveyance port rollers 39a and 39b, and a pair of registration rollers 40a. , 40b
Are collectively transferred by the transfer roller 34 onto the transfer paper 37a conveyed to the transfer section through the transfer roller 37. After the transfer, the transfer paper 37a
Is fixed by a fixing device 80 to complete a full-color image, and the print image is discharged to a discharge stack 82 via a pair of discharge rollers 81a and 81b.

In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a cleaning device including a cleaning blade 35a which is always in contact with the photosensitive member 1 and cleans toner on the photosensitive member 1, and a waste toner collecting container. Reference numeral 36 denotes an intermediate transfer belt 30. The cleaning blade 36a of the cleaning device 36 is held at a position separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 30 during the image forming operation, and the intermediate transfer is performed after the formed image is transferred onto the transfer paper 37a. Belt 30
Contacted to the surface.

The photosensitive member 1, the charging charger 24, the intermediate transfer belt 30, and the cleaning devices 35 and 36 are integrally formed as a process cartridge 51, and the waste toner collecting container 35c is exchangeably incorporated into the process cartridge 51. It is. The case exterior portion of the process cartridge 51 on the side of the registration roller 40b also has a function as a paper conveyance guide. By taking the form of a process cartridge, the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced, and attachment and detachment as an electrophotographic unit can be simplified.

The waste toner scraped off from the intermediate transfer belt 30 by the cleaning blade 36a is transferred to an auger 36b provided in the cleaning device 36.
As a result, the toner is conveyed to the front of the drawing, and further conveyed to the waste toner collecting container 35c by a conveyance unit (not shown) provided on the front side of the process cartridge 51. By exchanging the process cartridge 51 when a predetermined amount or more of waste toner is stored in the waste toner collecting container 35c, the life of the process cartridge 51 can be extended.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described together with comparative examples. Example 1 One surface of a urethane rubber sheet having a thickness of 0.7 mm and a rubber hardness of 72.5 was subjected to surface processing with a grinder. The surface of the surface treated urethane rubber sheet is measured with a surface roughness meter Surfcom 1400
When Rz was measured by A, Rz was 4.8 μm. A reaction-curable polyurethane primer was applied as a primer to the surface-treated surface of the urethane rubber sheet so that the film thickness after drying was about 5 μm. Further, a pressure-sensitive adhesive obtained by adding 5% by weight of a curing agent to an acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied so that the thickness after drying becomes about 30 μm.
Dried at 0 ° C to 100 ° C for 5 minutes. Further, a release paper was stuck on the adhesive, and the release paper was punched together with a punching machine having a Thomson blade so as to have a width of 4 mm to prepare a non-stop guide.

A mixture having the following composition was placed in a ball mill pot and ball-milled for 72 hours using φ10 mm alumina balls. Titanium oxide (CR-60: manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo) 50.0 parts by weight Alkyd resin (Becolite M6401-50 manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals) 15.0 parts by weight Melamine resin (Super Beckamine L-121-60 Dainippon Ink) 10.0 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone (manufactured by Kanto Chemical) 31.7 parts by weight

105.0 parts by weight of cyclohexanone (manufactured by Kanto Kagaku) was added to the milling solution, and ball milling was further performed for 2 hours to prepare an undercoat layer coating solution. A nickel seamless belt having a circumference of 290.3 mm and a thickness of 30 μm (Vickers hardness 480 to 510, purity 9)
(9.2% or more), and dried at 135 ° C. for 25 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a thickness of 6.5 μm.

Subsequently, 1.5 parts by weight of the following charge-generating substance of Chemical Formula I (manufactured by Ricoh), 1.5 parts by weight of the charge-generating substance of Chemical Formula II (manufactured by Ricoh), and 1.0 part of polyvinyl butyral resin (Eslec BLS; A mixture composed of 80.0 parts by weight of Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and cyclohexanone (Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd.) was placed in a ball mill pot and ball-milled using a 10 mm agate ball. Then, 78.4 parts by weight of cyclohexanone and 237.6 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone were further added. In addition, a charge generation layer coating solution was prepared. This coating solution is applied on the undercoat layer by spray coating, and then dried at 130 ° C. for 20 minutes.
A 2 μm charge generation layer was formed.

Next, a charge transport layer coating solution having the following composition was prepared, and this coating solution was spray-coated on the charge generating layer by spray immersion coating, dried at 140 ° C. for 30 minutes, and dried to a thickness of 2
A 5 μm charge transport layer was formed.

Charge transport substance (Formula III) (Ricoh) 7 parts by weight Polycarbonate resin (C-1400, Teijin Chemicals) 10 parts by weight Silicone oil (KF-50, Shin-Etsu Chemical) 0.002 parts by weight Tetrahydrofuran (Kanto Chemical) 841.5 parts by weight Cyclohexanone (Kanto Chemical) 841.5 parts by weight 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (Tokyo Kasei) 0.04 parts by weight did.

[0099]

Embedded image

The non-stop guide was attached and fixed to the inner surface of both side edges 5 mm from the end of the photosensitive body while peeling off release paper. In addition, the attachment start part and the end part of the stop guide were provided with a 45 ° oblique cut, and the gap between the attachment start part and the end part was about 1 mm.

The produced photoreceptor was heated to a linear speed of 96 mm.
/ Sec, and mounted on an image forming apparatus (IPSiO Color 5000 (manufactured by Ricoh)) having a writing image resolution of 600 dpi, and formed a 1 cm square grid-like color image. The images were evaluated for the tenth, 2,000th, 5,000th, 10,000th, and 30,000th prints. No color shift was felt at the 30,000th print.

Example 2 A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the surface processing condition of one surface of the urethane rubber sheet was adjusted and Rz was set to 8.9 μm. The same image forming test as in Example 1 was performed by mounting the produced photoreceptor on the forming apparatus. No color misregistration was felt at 30,000th image formation.

Example 3 A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that one surface of the urethane rubber sheet was adjusted for surface processing conditions and Rz was set to 3.4 μm. An image forming test was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except for using the same. Image formation 3
No color shift was felt at all on the 0000th sheet.

Example 4 An image forming apparatus was manufactured and an image forming test was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the image forming apparatus was modified and the resolution of the written image was changed to 1200 dpi.
No color misregistration was felt at 30,000th image formation.

Comparative Example 1 A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4, except that one surface of the urethane rubber was not subjected to surface treatment and a urethane rubber having an Rz of 2.7 μm on the surface of the urethane rubber was used. The same image forming test as in Example 4 was performed. No color shift was felt at all up to the 5000th sheet of image formation,
On the 10000th sheet of image formation, a color shift clearly occurs,
The image became unnatural.

Example 5 0.7 m in thickness in which carbon black was mixed at 10% by weight
m, Rz of the urethane rubber sheet having a rubber hardness of 69.8 was measured, and was found to be 4.3 μm. Except for using this urethane rubber sheet, a non-stop guide was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4, and a photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4 except for using this non-stop guide, and image formation was performed in the same manner as in Example 4. The test was performed. No color shift was felt at all up to the 30,000th sheet of image formation.

Example 6 A non-stop guide was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the surface of the urethane rubber sheet used in Example 5 was surface-processed with a grinder to make Rz 6.8 μm. A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4 except that a stopper guide was used, and the same image forming test as in Example 4 was performed. No color shift was felt at all up to the 30,000th sheet of image formation.

Example 7 0.7 mm thick containing 5% by weight of carbon black,
When the Rz of the urethane rubber sheet having a rubber hardness of 47.3 was measured, Rz was 3.4 μm. Except for using this urethane rubber sheet, a non-stop guide was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4, and a photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4 except for using this non-stop guide, and image formation was performed in the same manner as in Example 4. The test was performed. No color shift was felt at all up to the 10000th image formation, but a slight color shift occurred at the 10000th image formation, and the image was somewhat unnatural.

Example 8 An image forming test was performed in the same manner as in Example 6, except that the image forming apparatus was modified so that the linear speed of the photosensitive member was 160 mm / sec. No color shift was felt at all up to the 30,000th sheet of image formation.

Comparative Example 2 In Example 7, a non-stop guide was prepared in the same manner as in Example 6 except that polyurethane rubber having a rubber hardness of 95.7 was subjected to a surface treatment and Rz was set to 16.8 μm. A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 6 except that a guide was used, and the same image forming test as in Example 6 was performed. A color shift occurred from the tenth sheet of the image formation, and the photoconductor came off the drive roller on the 79th sheet of the image formation, so that it was impossible to continue the image formation.

Example 9 and Comparative Example 3 Rz and Ra were measured for a surface-treated polyurethane having a thickness of 0.7 mm and a rubber hardness of 68.0, and for a polyurethane not having the surface-treated polyurethane. A non-stop guide was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a primer and an adhesive were laminated on the surface where Rz and Ra were measured. Here, the non-stop guide having the surface processed is Example 9 and the non-stop guide having no surface processed is Comparative Example 3. A photoconductor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that these guides were used, and the same image forming test as in Example 4 was performed. The results are shown in the table below. Although Ra is the same in Example 9 and Comparative Example 3, the difference is clear in Rz, and the results of the image forming test are also clearly different.

[0112]

[Table 1]

[0113]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the adhesion between the elastic body serving as the non-stop guide and the adhesive layer is remarkably improved, and the meandering of the endless belt hardly occurs, an endless belt capable of forming high-quality images is provided. Can be provided.

According to the second to fourth aspects, the surface roughness of the endless interface of the elastic body serving as the non-stop guide can be made appropriate, so that the adhesion between the elastic body and the adhesive layer is significantly improved. Since the meandering of the endless belt hardly occurs, it is possible to provide an endless belt capable of forming a high-quality image.

According to the fifth aspect, since the elastic body serving as the non-stop guide is completely fixed and the endless belt hardly meanders, it is possible to provide an endless belt capable of forming high-quality images.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless belt capable of forming a high quality image because the elastic body serving as a detent guide can absorb the stress caused by the driving roller and does not meander the endless belt. it can.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects, a highly durable endless belt can be provided with almost no meandering.

According to the ninth aspect, it is possible to provide a photoreceptor capable of forming a high quality image with almost no meandering.

According to the tenth aspect, it is possible to provide an endless belt traveling device that hardly generates meandering and can form a high-quality image.

According to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to provide a photoreceptor traveling apparatus that hardly generates meandering and can form a high-quality image.

According to the twelfth aspect, it is possible to provide a photosensitive member traveling device capable of forming a high quality image and having a high image forming speed.

According to the thirteenth aspect, an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high quality image can be provided.

According to the fourteenth aspect, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high quality image.

According to the fifteenth aspect, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high quality image without color shift.

According to the sixteenth aspect, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high-resolution and high-quality image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cross section near a detent guide of an endless belt photoconductor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an endless belt traveling device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electrophotographic process and an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a color image forming apparatus using the endless belt of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoreceptor 2 Charger 3 Image exposure part 4 Developing part 7 Transfer charger 9 Cleaning 10 Static elimination lamp 22, 23, 31, 32 Rotating roller 24 Charger 25 Laser writing system unit 26 Color developing device 30 Intermediate transfer belt 33 Bias roller 34 transfer roller 35, 36 cleaning device 35a, 36a cleaning blade 35c waste toner collecting container 36b auger 37 paper feed table 37a transfer paper 38 paper feed roller 39a, 39b transport roller pair 40a, 40b registration roller pair 51 process cartridge 80 fixing device 81a , 81b Discharge roller pair 82 Discharge stack section

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Shinji 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Hideo Nakamori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Akihiro Sugino 1-36 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H030 BB02 BB71 2H035 CA05 CB06 CF00 2H068 AA55 FB13

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An endless belt in which a band-shaped elastic body is fixed to an inner surface of both side edges by an adhesive layer, a ten-point average roughness (R) of a cross-sectional curve of an interface of the elastic body on the endless belt base side.
z) is 3-16 micrometers, The endless belt characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body contains a filler. 3. An endless belt, wherein the filler according to claim 2 is a carbon body. 4. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the elastic body at the endless belt side interface is machined. 5. An endless belt, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer according to claim 1 is 5 to 100 μm. 6. An endless belt, wherein the elastic body according to any one of claims 1 to 5 has a rubber hardness of 50 to 90. 7. The endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the base of the endless belt is mainly composed of nickel. 8. The endless belt according to claim 7, wherein the base of the endless belt is nickel foil having a Vickers hardness of 400 to 650 and a purity of 98% or more. 9. An endless belt photoconductor, wherein the endless belt according to claim 1 is a photoconductor. 10. An endless belt traveling device, wherein a plurality of rollers are inserted into the endless belt according to claim 1, and the endless belt travels by rotation of the rollers. 11. A photoconductor traveling device according to claim 10, wherein the endless belt traveling device is a photoconductor. 12. The photoconductor traveling device according to claim 11, wherein the linear velocity of the photoconductor is 80 mm / sec or more. 13. An image forming apparatus using the endless belt traveling device according to claim 10. 14. An image forming apparatus using the photoconductor traveling device according to claim 11. 15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image forming apparatus is capable of forming a color image. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the resolution of writing light on the photosensitive member is 600.
An image forming apparatus characterized by being at least dpi. 17. A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus comprising at least a photoconductor, wherein the photoconductor is the endless belt photoconductor according to claim 9.