JP2006030955A - Image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and transfer cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove toner remaining on a toner image carrier, and to supply a lubricant on the surface of the toner image carrier after the toner image is transferred to a transfer material. In the image forming apparatus having the means, a lubricant is applied to the toner image carrier so that the image quality can be maintained.
SOLUTION: The charging means is a contact or proximity type charging roller, and the consumption amount of the lubricant with respect to the lubricant application area (hereinafter referred to as lubricant consumption amount) is the gap between the charging roller 17 and the photosensitive member 21. The upper limit value of the lubricant consumption is determined according to the width (charging gap).
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a copying machine having a lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant for protecting a surface and improving lubricity to an image carrier that carries a toner image and conveys the toner image by moving the surface of the toner image. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile and a printer, and a process cartridge and a transfer cartridge used therefor.

Conventionally, in an image forming process in electrophotography, a photosensitive member is first charged using a charging device, and a laser beam modulated based on image data is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by electrostatically adhering toner by a developing device arranged to face the photoconductor. The toner image on the photosensitive member is then transferred by a transfer device, and finally transferred onto a transfer sheet such as paper or OHP via an intermediate transfer member. The transfer sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is then fixed by passing through a fixing device, and then discharged outside the main body. After the transfer, residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member and the intermediate transfer member is removed by a cleaning device.
The transfer varies depending on applications and specifications, such as a direct transfer from a photoconductor to a transfer sheet and a transfer to a sheet after being transferred by an intermediate transfer device. In recent color machines, the so-called quadruple tandem intermediate transfer belt system in which four photoconductor units are arranged in parallel and opposed to a stretched belt is becoming mainstream because of its good speed and image quality. In addition, in terms of improving image quality, the number of models that employ polymerized toners from conventional pulverized toners has increased.
In general, many of the parts used in the image forming process have a shorter lifespan than the main parts, and the lifespan of A4 paper vertical paper reaches 10,000 to several hundreds of thousands. It becomes exchange. Also, the image forming means employing polymerized toner is difficult to clean and it is difficult to maintain its function for a long time. Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 show a configuration in which a lubricant is applied to a toner image carrier such as a photosensitive member or an intermediate transfer member. As a result, the wear of the photosensitive member, the intermediate transfer member, and the cleaning member in contact with them can be reduced, the life of the components can be extended, and the cleaning property can be improved.

JP 2002-244485 A JP 2002-268494 A JP 2000-75752 A

  By applying a lubricant to a toner image carrier such as a photoreceptor or an intermediate transfer body, deterioration of the photoreceptor, intermediate transfer body, and cleaning member due to wear is reduced, and a margin for a cleaning function is also improved. However, if an excessive amount of lubricant is applied to the surface of the photoconductor, the charging roller is accelerated, and charging unevenness occurs, resulting in density unevenness on the image. In addition, if an excessive amount of lubricant is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member, a toner image flows with the lubricant, which tends to cause a transfer failure called insect erosion, and if a transfer failure occurs, the image quality deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus for applying a lubricant to a toner image carrier so that image quality can be maintained. It is to provide a process cartridge and a transfer cartridge to be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device that charges the surface of the latent image carrier, and a developer that is carried on the developer carrier. A developing device that transports the toner image to a developing area facing the latent image carrier and develops the latent image on the latent image carrier to form a toner image; and a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image to a transfer material; A latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after the transfer, and a position upstream of the position charged by the charging device after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the latent image carrier cleaning means, the charging device is connected to the latent image carrier. The latent image in contact with each other or close at a distance of 20 [μm] or less. A charging roller for uniformly charging the holder, which is not provided with a charging cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the charging roller, and that the amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application area) , Referred to as a lubricant application amount) is 0.5 [mg / m ² ] or less.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device that charges the surface of the latent image carrier, and a developer carried on the developer carrier. A developing device that transports the toner image to a developing region facing the toner image and develops the latent image on the latent image carrier to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image to a transfer material, and the latent image after the transfer. Latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the image carrier, and cleaning the latent image carrier upstream of the position charged by the charging device after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the means, the charging device is 20 [μm] relative to the latent image carrier. The latent image carrier is placed close to each other at a distance of 40 [μm] or less. A charging roller that is charged in the same manner, and does not include a charging cleaning member that cleans the surface of the charging roller, and the amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as lubricant application). Is called 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device that charges the surface of the latent image carrier, and a developer carried on the developer carrier. A developing device that transports the toner image to a developing region facing the toner image and develops the latent image on the latent image carrier to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image to a transfer material, and the latent image after the transfer. Latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the image carrier, and cleaning the latent image carrier upstream of the position charged by the charging device after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the means, the charging device is 40 [μm] relative to the latent image carrier. The latent image carrier is placed close to each other at a distance of 70 [μm] or less. A charging roller that is charged in the same manner, and does not include a charging cleaning member that cleans the surface of the charging roller, and the amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as lubricant application). Is called 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device that charges the surface of the latent image carrier, and a developer carried on the developer carrier. A developing device that transports the toner image to a developing region facing the toner image and develops the latent image on the latent image carrier to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image to a transfer material, and the latent image after the transfer. Latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the image carrier, and cleaning the latent image carrier upstream of the position charged by the charging device after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus having lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the means, the charging device is in contact with the latent image carrier, or 20 [ μm], and the latent image carrier is charged uniformly at a distance of less than An electric roller comprising a charge cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the charge roller, and the amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount). Is 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device that charges the surface of the latent image carrier, a developer carried on the developer carrier, and the latent image carrier. A developing device that transports the toner image to a developing region facing the toner image and develops the latent image on the latent image carrier to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image to a transfer material, and the latent image after the transfer. Latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the image carrier, and cleaning the latent image carrier upstream of the position charged by the charging device after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the means, the charging device is 20 [μm] relative to the latent image carrier. The latent image carrier is placed close to each other at a distance of 40 [μm] or less. A charging roller that charges the surface of the charging roller, and includes a charging cleaning member that cleans the surface of the charging roller. The amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as lubricant application amount). Is 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device that charges the surface of the latent image carrier, and a developer carried on the developer carrier. A developing device that transports the toner image to a developing region facing the toner image and develops the latent image on the latent image carrier to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image to a transfer material, and the latent image after the transfer. Latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the image carrier, and cleaning the latent image carrier upstream of the position charged by the charging device after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. In the image forming apparatus having the lubricant supplying means for supplying the lubricant onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the means, the charging device is 40 [μm] from the latent image carrier. The latent image carrier is uniformly placed close to each other at a distance of 70 [μm] or less. A charging roller for charging, comprising a charging cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the charging roller, wherein the amount of lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as lubricant application amount and Is) 2.0 [mg / m ² ] or less.
The invention of claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the lubricant coating amount is 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. It is what.
The invention according to claim 8 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the lubricant comprises a fatty acid salt metal having a lamellar crystal structure. It is.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth aspect, the lubricant supplying means is a lubricant supplied from a lubricant accommodating portion. Is applied onto the surface of the latent image carrier by rotation of the lubricant application brush, and the lubricant application brush rotates in a follow-up direction with respect to the surface movement direction of the latent image carrier. It is characterized by.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect, a linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush and the surface of the latent image carrier is approximately 1: 1. .
The invention of claim 11 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the volume average particle size is 3.0 [μm] or more, 8 And a toner having a ratio of the volume average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (volume average particle diameter / number average particle diameter) in the range of 1.00 to 1.40. It is characterized by.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth or eleventh aspects, the average circularity is 0.93 or more and 1.00. A toner having the following range is used.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth aspect, The toner is characterized in that the coefficient SF-1 is 100 or more and 180 or less, and the toner has a shape coefficient SF-2 indicating the ratio of the unevenness of the toner shape in the range of 100 or more and 180 or less.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth or thirteenth image forming device, When the major axis of the toner is r1, the minor axis is r2, and the thickness is r3, r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3, 0.5 ≦ r2 / r1 ≦ 1.0, 0.7 ≦ r3 /R2≦1.0 is satisfied.
The invention of claim 15 is the image forming apparatus of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the toner is at least A toner composition containing a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is crosslinked and / or extended in the presence of resin fine particles in an aqueous medium. is there.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, at least a latent image carrier that carries a latent image and a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant onto the latent image carrier are integrally supported and attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. In a process cartridge which is free, the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15. It is characterized by being.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device that charges the surface of the latent image carrier, and a developer carried on the developer carrier. A developing device that transports the toner image to a developing area opposite to the toner image and develops the latent image on the latent image carrier to form a toner image, and the toner image after the development is primarily transferred to the transfer material in the next process. An intermediate transfer member, and a lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant from the lubricant container onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member after the secondary transfer of the toner image and before the primary transfer of the next image. In the image forming apparatus, the amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the surface of the intermediate transfer member (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount) is 0.8 [mg / m ² ] or less. It is what.
The invention according to claim 18 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the lubricant coating amount is 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more.
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, the lubricant is made of a fatty acid salt metal having a lamellar crystal structure.
According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventeenth, eighteenth or nineteenth aspect, the lubricant supplying means rotates the lubricant supplied from the lubricant containing portion by rotating the lubricant applying brush. The lubricant is applied on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and the lubricant application brush rotates in the follower direction with respect to the surface movement direction of the intermediate transfer member.
According to a twenty-first aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus of the twentieth aspect, a linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush and the intermediate transfer surface is approximately 1: 1.
The invention according to claim 22 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21, wherein the volume average particle size is 3.0 [μm] or more and 8.0 [μm] or less, and the volume average A toner having a ratio of a particle diameter to a number average particle diameter (volume average particle diameter / number average particle diameter) in a range of 1.00 to 1.40 is used.
According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twenty-first, or twenty-second aspect, the toner having an average circularity in the range of 0.93 or more and 1.00 or less is used. It is a feature.
According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two or twenty-third aspect, the shape factor SF-1 indicating the ratio of the roundness of the toner shape is 100 or more and 180 or less. The toner has a shape factor SF-2 indicating the ratio of the unevenness of the toner shape in the range of 100 or more and 180 or less.
According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three or twenty-fourth embodiment, the outer shape of the toner used is substantially spherical, Where r1 is the minor axis, r2 is the minor axis, and r3 is the thickness, r1≥r2≥r3, 0.5≤r2 / r1≤1.0, 0.7≤r3 / r2≤1.0 It is characterized by this.
According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth, the toner is a polyester pre-polymer having at least a functional group containing a nitrogen atom. A toner composition containing a polymer, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is crosslinked and / or extended in an aqueous medium in the presence of resin fine particles.
According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image formed by the image forming means is primarily transferred, and the transferred toner image is secondarily transferred to a transfer material, and a lubricant on the intermediate transfer body. A transfer cartridge that integrally supports a lubricant supply device for supplying the toner and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is defined in claims 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26 image forming apparatuses.

  In the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge, and the transfer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 27, the charging roller is smeared when the toner image carrier is a photosensitive member due to an excessive amount of lubricant applied, and the toner image carrier is an intermediate transfer. It is within a range that can reduce the occurrence of transfer failure in the case of a body.

  According to the first to twenty-seventh aspects, there is an excellent effect that the image quality can be maintained by reducing the occurrence of charging roller contamination and transfer failure.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color laser printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) as an image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to the first embodiment. In this printer, four image forming units of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are arranged side by side to constitute a tandem image forming unit. In the tandem image forming unit, image forming units 101Y, 101C, 101M, and 101K, which are individual toner image forming units, are arranged in order from the left in the drawing. Here, the suffixes Y, C, M, and K of the respective symbols indicate members for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. In the tandem image forming unit, the individual image forming units 101Y, 101C, M, and K are arranged around the drum-shaped photoconductors 21Y, 21C, 21M, and 21K as latent image carriers, and the charging device and the developing device 10Y. , C, M, K, etc. Also provided is a photoreceptor lubricant application device as a lubricant supply means for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor and applying a lubricant. At the top of the printer, toner bottles 2Y, C, M, and K filled with toners of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are arranged. Each color developing device 10Y, C, M, and K is replenished with a predetermined replenishment amount from the toner bottles 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K by a conveyance path (not shown).
Further, a polymerized toner is used as the toner contained in each toner bottle. Polymerized toner has high circularity and low manufacturing cost. The toner used here has a circularity of 0.96 or more and less than 1.00. When the circularity is large, the void ratio in the toner layer is small. As a result, it becomes possible to perform development more faithfully with the latent image as compared with the pulverized toner, and a high-quality image can be formed and output.

  Further, an optical writing unit 9 as a latent image forming unit is provided below the tandem image forming unit. The optical writing unit 9 includes a light source, a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like, and is configured to irradiate the surface of each photoconductor 21 while scanning with laser light based on image data. .

  Further, an intermediate transfer belt 1 in the form of an endless belt is provided as an intermediate transfer member immediately above the tandem image forming unit. The intermediate transfer belt 1 is wound around support rollers 1a and 1b, and a drive motor (not shown) serving as a drive source is connected to a rotation shaft of the drive roller 1a among the support rollers. When this drive motor is driven, the intermediate transfer belt 1 rotates counterclockwise in the figure and the followable support roller 1b rotates. Inside the intermediate transfer belt 10, primary transfer devices 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K that primarily transfer the toner images formed on the photoreceptors 21Y, 21C, 21M, and 21K onto the intermediate transfer belt 1 are provided.

  Further, a secondary transfer roller 5 as a secondary transfer device is provided downstream of the primary transfer devices 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K in the driving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 1. A support roller 1b is disposed on the opposite side of the secondary transfer roller 5 and the intermediate transfer belt 1, and functions as a pressing member. Also provided are a paper feed cassette 8 for containing a transfer paper S as a transfer material, a paper feed roller 7, a registration roller 6, and the like. Further, a fixing device 4 for fixing an image on the recording medium S and a paper discharge roller 3 are provided downstream of the secondary transfer roller 5 with respect to the traveling direction of the recording medium S to which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer roller 5. I have.

  Next, the operation of the printer will be described. The photoconductors 21Y, C, M, and K are rotated by the individual image forming units, and the photoconductors 21Y, C, M, and K are first rotated by the charging devices 17Y, C, M, and K as the photoconductors 21Y, C, M, and K are rotated. The surfaces of M and K are charged uniformly. Next, the image data is irradiated with writing light by a laser from the optical writing unit 9 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptors 21Y, 21C, 21M, 21B. Thereafter, toner is attached by the developing devices 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K, and the electrostatic latent images are visualized to form yellow, cyan, magenta, and black on the photoreceptors 21Y, 21C, 21M, and 21K, respectively. A monochromatic image is formed. Further, the driving roller 1a is rotationally driven by a driving motor (not shown), the other driven roller 1b and the secondary transfer roller 5 are driven to rotate, the intermediate transfer belt 1 is rotated and conveyed, and the visible image is transferred to the primary transfer device. 11Y, C, M, and K are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 1. As a result, a composite color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 1. The surface of the photoreceptors 21Y, 21C, 21M, and 21K after image transfer is coated with a lubricant by a photoreceptor lubricant coating device to remove residual toner and prepare for image formation again.

  In accordance with the timing of image formation, the leading edge of the recording medium S is fed from the paper feed cassette 8 by the paper feed roller 7 and conveyed to the registration roller 6 and temporarily stops. Then, the sheet is conveyed between the secondary transfer roller 5 and the intermediate transfer belt 1 while taking timing with the image forming operation. Here, the intermediate transfer belt 1 and the secondary transfer counter roller 5 form a so-called secondary transfer nip across the recording medium S, and the secondary transfer roller 5 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 to the recording medium S. Secondary transfer on top.

  The recording medium S after the image transfer is sent to the fixing device 4, where the fixing device 4 applies heat and pressure to fix the transferred image, and is discharged outside the apparatus. On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt 1 after the image transfer is coated with a lubricant on the intermediate transfer belt 1 after the image is transferred by the intermediate transfer body lubricant applying device 45 to remove residual residual toner, and a tandem image forming unit. To prepare for image formation again.

The toner image forming portions 101Y, 101C, 101M, and 101K for each color are integrally formed to be detachable process cartridges that can be attached to and detached from the main body for each color. These integral process cartridges can be pulled out to the front side of the printer main body along a guide rail (not shown) fixed to the printer main body. Further, the toner image forming unit can be loaded at a predetermined position by pushing the process cartridge into the back of the printer main body.
Further, the intermediate transfer belt 1 forms a transfer cartridge together with the primary transfer devices 11Y, 11C, 11M, 11K, the intermediate transfer body lubricant application device, and the like, and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. It has a configuration.

  Here, the process cartridges of the respective toner image forming units 101Y, 101C, M, and K perform the same configuration and operation. Therefore, the subscripts Y, C, M, and K are omitted below, and the process cartridge of the toner image forming unit will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a process cartridge of the toner image forming unit 101. In FIG. 2, a charging roller 17 as a charging device, a developing device 10, and a photoconductor lubricant application device 35 are sequentially arranged around a photoconductor 21 that rotates clockwise in the drawing. As described above, in the printer of this embodiment, the charging roller 17 is disposed vertically below the photoreceptor 21. The photoreceptor cleaning device also includes a lubricant application brush 36, a cleaning blade 33, and a waste toner conveying coil 34 that discharges waste toner scraped off from the photoreceptor 21 to the outside of the process cartridge.

The lubricant container 37 is provided with a solid lubricant 37a in which zinc stearate (made by Nippon Range), which is a fatty acid salt metal having a lamellar crystal structure, is formed with 8 [mm] × 8 [mm] × 360 [mm]. . Further, an urging member 37b for urging the solid lubricant 37a to the lubricant application brush 36 is provided. And it stuck with the double-sided tape (product made from Sumitomo 3M) which is easy to absorb a vibration to the chromium-free steel plate of 0.6 [mm] thickness so that it may not bend by unexpected impacts.
When zinc stearate is used as the lubricant, the lubricant applied on the photoreceptor 21 is stretched to form a laminar crystal structure in which the overlapping layers are slippery, and the lubricity of the surface of the photoreceptor 21 is improved. Therefore, it is suitable.
As the lubricant application brush 36, a SUS shaft having a diameter of 6 and a conductive acrylic brush (manufactured by Ashiya) formed to have a diameter of 12 is used. The lubricant application brush 36 contacts the photosensitive member with a biting amount of 1 [mm], power is transmitted from a driving source (not shown) to the rotation shaft, and the linear velocity ratio is 1: 1 with respect to the surface of the photosensitive member 21. It is driven to rotate in the turning direction. The cleaning blade uses a urethane sheet (manufactured by Toyo Rubber Co., Ltd.) molded to a thickness of 2.0 [mm], and uses a hot-melt adhesive to a 1.6 [mm] thick chromium-free steel sheet to protrude 7 It installed so that it might become [mm]. The solid lubricant 37a is urged against the lubricant application brush 36 with a load of 0.3528 N, and the amount of lubricant applied per unit area is 0.19 to 0.32 [mg depending on the image area ratio. / M ² ], the lubricant was applied. As the charging roller 17, an NBR roller (made by Hokushin Kogyo Co., Ltd.) of about φ11 [mm] was used, and a seal having a thickness of 50 μm was wound around both ends of the roller as a gap holding member for keeping a gap with the photoreceptor 21. . Further, in consideration of wear resistance, the photosensitive member 21 was a highly durable photosensitive member provided with a high-hardness fine particle filler-containing layer on the surface.

Next, the intermediate transfer belt 1 and the intermediate transfer member lubricant application device 45 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the intermediate transfer member lubricant application device 45. In the intermediate transfer belt lubricant application device 45 of the intermediate transfer belt 1, a lubricant application brush 46 includes a lubricant application brush 46 that applies a lubricant to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 1, a lubricant container 47, and a cleaning blade. 43 are arranged as shown in the figure. The lubricant container 47 includes a solid lubricant 47 a and a biasing member 47 b that biases the solid lubricant 47 a toward the lubricant application brush 46. The cleaning blade 43 is for removing residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 1. Since the support roller 1a is disposed at a position facing the cleaning blade 43, the belt does not bend due to the pressure contact force of the blade.
As the solid lubricant 37a, zinc stearate (manufactured by Nippon Resin Co., Ltd.) was used in the same manner as the photoreceptor lubricant coating device 35 for cost reduction. Similarly to the photoreceptor lubricant applicator 35, a conductive acrylic brush (manufactured by Ashiya) was formed on the lubricant applicator 46 so as to have a diameter of 14 mm. Then, the belt is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 1 so that the amount of biting into the belt is 1 [mm], and is driven to rotate so that the linear velocity ratio with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 1 is 1: 1. Also, the cleaning blade uses a urethane sheet (made by Toyo Rubber) in the same manner as the photoconductor lubricant application device 35, and the protrusion amount is 10 [mm] to a 1.6 [mm] chromium-free steel plate. Was installed. The solid lubricant 47a was urged against the lubricant application brush 46 with a load of 0.3528 [N] to apply the lubricant.
When an image is formed by the image forming apparatus provided with the photoreceptor lubricant coating device 35 and the intermediate transfer body lubricant coating device as described above, a good image can be obtained without causing image defects such as density unevenness and insect erosion. I was able to.
In this embodiment, the spherical toner having a small particle diameter with high resolution and good transfer property is described by the polymerization method. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, conventional mechanical pulverization classification is possible. It may be created by law.

表１ではブラシへの荷重の大きさが同じでも画像面積率が高いほうが潤滑剤の塗布量は多くなっている。これは、画像面積率が高いと転写残トナーが多くなり、潤滑剤塗布ブラシ３６に付着するトナーの量が多くなる。潤滑剤塗布ブラシ３６に付着したトナーはブラシ先端部と共に固形潤滑剤３７ａを摺擦するのでブラシに付着したトナーが多くなると潤滑剤の塗布量も多くなる。このように、画像面積率が高くなると、潤滑剤の塗布量が多くなる。 [Experiment 1]
The load applied to the lubricant application brush 35 of the solid lubricant 37a in FIG. 2 was changed to change the lubricant application amount, to obtain the friction coefficient μ of the surface of the photoreceptor 21, and to evaluate the formed image.
The experimental conditions are as follows.
Image forming device: Imagio Neo C385 remodeled machine chart: Belt chart (image area 100% 0% 50% 0% 25% from the front side)
Job interval: 1 to 1
Number of sheets passed: 10,000 sheets Brush linear speed (photosensitive member ratio): 1: 1
Charging system: charging roller contact AC charging system toner: polymerization toner environment: laboratory conditions Lubricant application amount per 1000 image formations when the image area ratio and the load on the brush in Experiment 1 were changed [mg / K sheets] are shown in Table 1 and FIG.

In Table 1, even when the load applied to the brush is the same, the amount of lubricant applied increases as the image area ratio increases. This is because if the image area ratio is high, the amount of toner remaining after transfer increases, and the amount of toner adhering to the lubricant application brush 36 increases. Since the toner adhering to the lubricant application brush 36 slides on the solid lubricant 37a together with the tip of the brush, the amount of applied lubricant increases as the amount of toner adhering to the brush increases. Thus, when the image area ratio increases, the amount of lubricant applied increases.

表１から表２への変換は、１０００枚あたりの潤滑剤消費量［ｍｇ／ｋ枚］から、１０００枚画像形成当たりの感光体ドラムの走行距離３２０［ｍ／ｋ枚］と潤滑剤の塗布領域幅０．３４［ｍ］とを除することにより求まる。
以後、潤滑剤の塗布量の単位としては、［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］を用いる。
各画像面積率および各荷重における、感光体２１表面の摩擦係数μを計測した値を表３および図６に示す。

Next, the unit of the applied amount of the lubricant is changed from the unit [mg / k] of the applied amount per 1000 sheet image formation to the unit of applied amount [mg / m ² ] per unit area of the region where the lubricant of the photosensitive member is applied. Those converted into are shown in FIG.

Conversion from Table 1 to Table 2 shows that the lubricant consumption per 1000 sheets [mg / k sheets], the travel distance 320 [m / k sheets] of the photosensitive drum per 1000 sheet image formation, and the lubricant application It is obtained by dividing the region width 0.34 [m].
Hereinafter, [mg / m ² ] is used as a unit of the application amount of the lubricant.
Table 3 and FIG. 6 show values obtained by measuring the friction coefficient μ of the surface of the photoreceptor 21 at each image area ratio and each load.

表４、図７より、どの画像面積率においても、感光体表面の摩擦係数の値に限らず、潤滑剤塗布量が０．１〜１．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］の範囲内では良好な画像を得ることができた。
０．１［ｍｇ／ｍ²］未満の塗布量では感光体膜摩耗や（おそらくトナーによる）フィルミングが発生した。また、感光体やクリーニングの部材寿命も短くなった。また、実験室条件で上述のランニングを行った後、３５［℃］、９０［％］の高温高湿環境に装置を持っていき、手差しによる画像形成を行ったところ画像が白く抜ける異常画像が発生した。一方、０．１［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以上の塗布量では、部材寿命を維持することができ、さらに、トナーフィルミング等の不具合も発生しなかった。
１．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］より多い塗布量では、帯電ローラの汚れが激しく、記録媒体Ｓ表面上に通紙方向にスジが発生した。また、実験室条件で上述のランニングを行った後、８［℃］、１０［％］の低温低湿環境に装置を持っていき、手差しによる画像形成を行ったところ通紙方向に濃いスジが発生した。一方、１．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以下の塗布量では、記録媒体Ｓ表面上に許容範囲を越えるスジなどの汚れが発生しなかった。
このことから、感光体表面に潤滑剤を塗布するもので良好な画像を得るためには、感光体表面上の摩擦係数μよりも、潤滑剤の塗布量が重要であることがわかる。 Next, the coefficient of friction μ on the surface of the photoconductor in each combination of the image area ratio [%] and the lubricant application amount [mg / m ² ] obtained from Table 2 and FIG. 5 and Table 3 and FIG. Evaluation of the image quality is shown in Table 4 and FIG.

From Table 4 and FIG. 7, in any image area ratio, not only the value of the coefficient of friction on the surface of the photoconductor but also the lubricant application amount is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 [mg / m ² ]. I was able to get an image.
When the coating amount was less than 0.1 [mg / m ² ], photoconductor film abrasion and filming (possibly due to toner) occurred. In addition, the life of the photosensitive member and the cleaning member is shortened. Also, after running as described above under laboratory conditions, the apparatus was brought into a high-temperature and high-humidity environment of 35 [° C.] and 90 [%]. Occurred. On the other hand, when the coating amount was 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more, the life of the member could be maintained, and further problems such as toner filming did not occur.
When the coating amount was greater than 1.0 [mg / m ² ], the charging roller was heavily soiled, and streaks were generated on the surface of the recording medium S in the sheet passing direction. After running as described above under laboratory conditions, the device was brought to a low-temperature and low-humidity environment of 8 [° C] and 10 [%], and when image formation was performed manually, dark streaks were generated in the paper passing direction. did. On the other hand, when the coating amount was 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less, the surface of the recording medium S was not contaminated with streaks or the like exceeding the allowable range.
This shows that the amount of lubricant applied is more important than the coefficient of friction μ on the surface of the photoreceptor in order to obtain a good image by applying the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor.

[Experiment 2]
Next, the linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush and the photoconductor was changed under three conditions, and after running, the coefficient of friction μ on the surface of the photoconductor was measured.
The experimental conditions are as follows.
Machine: Imagio Neo C385 remodeling machine chart: 5% chart Job interval: 1 to 100
Number of sheets passed: 100 sheets Lubricant application amount: about 0.5 [mg / m ² ]
Charging system: charging roller contact AC charging system toner: polymerized toner Line ratio is 1: 1 constant speed, 1: 1.6 brush linear speed increased, 1: -1 brush FIG. 8 shows three conditions and results obtained by reversing the linear velocity.
From FIG. 8, it was found that 1: 1 is suitable for the linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush and the photosensitive member because the constant speed has the smallest variation in μ and the average value of μ is the lowest.

Next, charging roller contamination that occurs when the lubricant application amount is excessive will be described.
When applying the lubricant, the lubricant application brush scrapes off the solid lubricant and applies the powdered lubricant to the surface of the image carrier. A part of the applied lubricant is spread on the surface of the image carrier by the lubricant application brush, but most of the applied lubricant remains on the surface in a powder state. Thereafter, the powdery lubricant is stretched and adhered to the surface of the image carrier by the cleaning blade and passes through the blade. However, when the amount of lubricant applied becomes excessive, excess lubricant is generated, and such a lubricant has low adhesion even when it passes through the blade. By the way, when a lubricant is applied to the image carrier, the cleaning performance by the blade is improved, and it becomes difficult to depend on the environment and the image area ratio, but a very small amount of toner, a toner additive, and a lubricant that do not become a defective image. The number of omissions increases. Such a problem occurs remarkably in a low temperature and low humidity environment.
Furthermore, if you continue to apply more toner than is necessary, you will have to increase the amount of lubricant in long-life cartridges, which will lead to an increase in the size of the unit. It will be retrograde.
As described above, when the amount of the lubricant applied becomes excessive, the lubricant with weak slipping through and adhesion is accelerated and the surface of the charging roller installed downstream of the cleaning blade is soiled. When the surface of the charging roller becomes dirty, charging failure occurs and a streak-like defective image is generated in the sheet passing direction. The amount of these lubricants with weak slipping and adhesion is almost within the range of contact conditions (linear pressure 0.539 [N / cm] to 1.029 [N / cm]) of a general cleaning blade. Regardless, it is most effective to regulate the amount of lubricant applied. Further, the upper limit of the amount of lubricant applied can be improved by mounting a charging roller cleaner as a charging cleaning member or by widening the gap of the charging roller.

[Experiment 3]
The charging roller gap width is changed from 0 to 80 [μm], and the lubricant application amount is changed from 0.05 to 2.5 [mg / m ² ] in each gap width. Dirt was evaluated. The experimental conditions are as follows.
Machine: Imagio Neo C385 remodeling machine Chart: 5% chart Job interval: 1 to 100
Number of sheets passed: 10,000 sheets Lubricant application amount: 0.05 to 2.5 [mg / m ² ]
Brush speed (photoreceptor ratio): 1 to 1
Toner: Polymerized toner Environment: Air temperature 10 [° C], Humidity 15 [%]
The evaluation criteria for the charging roller contamination were measured with 938 manufactured by X-Rite, and ID 1.1 was used as a border. It was also visually determined that a streak-like defective image was generated.

この結果から、以下のことが分かった。
帯電ギャップが０［μｍ］（接触型帯電）以上、２０［μｍ］以下の範囲では塗布量が０．５［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以下のとき、帯電ローラ汚れは許容範囲内となる。
帯電ギャップが２０［μｍ］より大きく、４０［μｍ］以下の範囲では塗布量が１．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以下のとき、帯電ローラ汚れは許容範囲内となる。
帯電ギャップが４０［μｍ］より大きく、７０［μｍ］以下の範囲では塗布量が１．５［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以下のとき、帯電ローラ汚れは許容範囲内となる。
ところで、表１についての記載で述べたように固形潤滑剤３７ａを潤滑剤塗布ブラシ３６に対して同じ荷重で付勢したとしても、画像面積率が大きくなれば、感光体２１に塗布される塗布量は多くなる。よって、固形潤滑剤３７ａを潤滑剤塗布ブラシ３６に対して付勢する荷重を規定することにより、塗布量を所望の範囲内とするときは、使用しうるすべての画像面積率において塗布量が上述の範囲内となるように、付勢する荷重を規定する。 The results of this experiment are shown in Table 5. Since the gap width between the charging roller and the photoconductor is different at both ends and the center in the axial direction, the charging roller gap is an average value of the gap width. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the charging gap and the gap is ± about 20 [μm]. Further, when the charging gap was 80 [μm], abnormal discharge occurred and it was impossible to use.

From this result, the following was found.
When the charging gap is 0 [μm] (contact type charging) or more and 20 [μm] or less, the charging roller contamination is within the allowable range when the coating amount is 0.5 [mg / m ² ] or less.
In the range where the charging gap is larger than 20 [μm] and 40 [μm] or less, when the coating amount is 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less, the charging roller contamination is within the allowable range.
In the range where the charging gap is larger than 40 [μm] and 70 [μm] or less, when the coating amount is 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less, the charging roller contamination is within the allowable range.
By the way, as described in the description of Table 1, even if the solid lubricant 37a is urged against the lubricant application brush 36 with the same load, if the image area ratio is increased, the application applied to the photoreceptor 21 is performed. The amount increases. Therefore, when the amount of application is within a desired range by defining the load for urging the solid lubricant 37a against the lubricant application brush 36, the application amount is the above for all usable image area ratios. The urging load is specified so that it falls within the range of.

By the way, in the first embodiment, a seal having a thickness of 50 [μm] is wound around the both ends of the charging roller as a gap holding member to provide a charging gap, and the solid lubricant 37 a is 0.3528 [N] to the lubricant brush 36. ] With a load of]. Since both ends in the axial direction have the widest gap between the charging roller and the photoconductor, the average value of the gap between the charging roller and the photoconductor in Embodiment 1, that is, the charging gap is 30 [μm] to 40 [μm]. Range. When the load of the solid lubricant on the brush is 0.3528 [N], the variation range of the coating amount due to the change in the image area ratio is 0.19 to 0.32 [mg / m ² ] (see Table 2). It is.
The upper limit value of the lubricant coating amount when the charging gap is in the above range is 1.0 [mg / m ² ] (see Table 5), and the variation range of the coating amount of Embodiment 1 is larger than this upper limit value. small. Therefore, it was confirmed that the configuration of Embodiment 1 can apply the lubricant within a range that does not deteriorate the image quality.

表６より、１．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以上の塗布量では微小白抜け画像（所謂虫食い）が発生した。また、塗布量が０．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以上、０．１未満の範囲では、ブレード摩耗が激しく、５０００枚終了時にはクリーニング不良が発生した。
実験４の結果より、中間転写ベルト１の塗布量が０．１［ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２］以上、０．８［ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２］以下の範囲では、潤滑剤の塗布量に起因する画像不良が発生しないことが分かった。 [Experiment 4]
Next, the image quality was evaluated by changing the amount of lubricant applied to the intermediate transfer belt 1.
The experimental conditions are shown below.
Machine: Imagio Neo C385 remodeling machine Chart: Ricoh standard chart Job interval: 1 to 100
Number of sheets to be passed: 5000 sheets Brush linear speed (intermediate transfer belt ratio): 1: 1
Toner: Polymerized toner The evaluation of white spots was ranked 3 to 5, and rank 3 was judged as NG. Further, Table 6 shows the result when the image defect due to the toner filming due to the cleaning defect is indicated as x, and the image defect is not indicated as ◯.
Rank 5: No white spots Rank 4: Can be confirmed slightly.
Rank 3: Clearly confirmed.

From Table 6, a fine white spot image (so-called insect eater) was generated at an application amount of 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or more. In addition, when the coating amount was 0.0 [mg / m ² ] or more and less than 0.1, blade abrasion was severe, and cleaning failure occurred at the end of 5000 sheets.
From the result of Experiment 4, when the application amount of the intermediate transfer belt 1 is in the range of 0.1 [mg / cm ² ] or more and 0.8 [mg / cm ² ] or less, image defects due to the application amount of the lubricant are not observed. It turns out that it does not occur.

  In the first embodiment, the lubricant application brush 36 is transmitted with power from a drive source (not shown) to the rotation shaft and is driven to rotate in the rotational direction with respect to the photosensitive member 21, but is not limited thereto. For example, a roller member made of a material having a high friction coefficient such as rubber is provided at both ends of the rotating shaft so as to be in contact with the photoreceptor 21. Then, the lubricant application brush 36 may be rotated to follow the rotation of the photoconductor 21 to apply the lubricant.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the upper limit value of the lubricant application amount from the photoconductor lubricant application device 35 to the photoconductor 21 according to the charging gap which is the width of the gap between the charging roller 17 and the photoconductor 21. Therefore, the charging roller contamination caused by the excessive amount of lubricant applied can be reduced, and the image quality can be maintained. Further, when the lubricant application amount is 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more, the increase in the wear coefficient of the photoconductor due to the insufficient application amount can be reduced, and the member life of the photoconductor 21 and the cleaning blade 33 is reduced. Can be maintained.
In particular, when the charging gap is 0 [μm] (contact) or more and 20 [μm] or less, the coating amount is 0.5 [mg / m ² ] or less and 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. The image quality can be maintained while maintaining the lifetime.
When the charging gap is larger than 20 [μm] and equal to or smaller than 40 [μm], the service life of the member can be increased with a coating amount of 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less and 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. Image quality can also be maintained while maintaining.
Furthermore, when the charging gap is larger than 40 [μm] and is equal to or smaller than 70 [μm], the service life of the member can be increased with a coating amount of 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less and 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. Image quality can also be maintained while maintaining.
In addition, by using zinc stearate as the solid lubricant 37a, a layer structure called a lamellar crystal structure is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 21, and this layer structure is weakly connected to each other and easily slips. It is suitable for improving the lubricity of the surface of the body 21. Furthermore, zinc stearate is easy to mold on a solid when the lubricant is contained.
Also, the lubricant can be efficiently applied onto the photoreceptor 21 by being driven to rotate in the follower direction using the lubricant application brush 36 as the lubricant application supply member.
In addition, by setting the linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush 36 and the photosensitive member 21 to 1: 1, the application efficiency of the lubricant is improved, and the coefficient of friction on the surface of the photosensitive member is higher than when the values of the linear velocity ratios are different. A suitable value is obtained.
Further, by using a polymerized toner as a toner for forming a toner image, it becomes possible to perform development more faithfully with a latent image than when a pulverized toner is used, and a high-quality image can be formed and output. It becomes like this.
If the amount of lubricant applied from the intermediate transfer body lubricant application device 45 to the intermediate transfer belt 1 is 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more, the intermediate transfer belt 1 is worn due to the insufficient amount of application. The life of the intermediate transfer belt 1 and the cleaning blade 43 can be maintained. By setting the lubricant application amount to 0.8 [mg / m ² ] or less, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of transfer failure due to excessive lubricant application amount and maintain image quality.
In addition, by using zinc stearate as the solid lubricant 47a, a layer structure called a lamellar crystal structure is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 1, and the layer structure is weakly connected to each other and is slippery. This is suitable for improving the lubricity of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 1. Furthermore, zinc stearate is easy to mold on a solid when the lubricant is contained.
In addition, the lubricant can be efficiently applied onto the intermediate transfer belt 1 by being driven to rotate in the follower direction using the lubricant application brush 46 as the lubricant application supply member.
By setting the linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush 46 and the intermediate transfer belt 1 to 1: 1, the application efficiency of the lubricant is improved, and the friction coefficient on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 1 is higher than when the values of the linear velocity ratios are different. Is a suitable value.

By the way, in Embodiment 1, the application | coating of a lubricant uses the brush-shaped thing, However, if application | coating of a lubricant is possible, it will not restrict to this. For example, a roller shape such as urethane foam may be used.
Moreover, although the application quantity of a lubricant is adjusted by the magnitude | size of the load which urges | biases a solid lubricant with respect to a lubricant application brush, it is not restricted to this. For example, the application amount may be adjusted according to the rotation speed of the lubricant application brush. In this case, the linear velocity ratio with the photosensitive member is not 1: 1, and the friction coefficient μ on the surface of the photosensitive member is different from the most preferable value. Therefore, the linear velocity ratio is adjusted within a range where no malfunction occurs. To.

[Embodiment 2]
In order to widen the allowable range of the lubricant application amount, a charging cleaning member for removing the lubricant adhering to the charging roller may be provided. Hereinafter, as a second embodiment, a configuration including a charging cleaner roller 18 as a charging cleaning member that cleans the surface of the charging roller 17 by rotating around the surface of the charging roller 17 will be described. The basic configuration of the color printer according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is different in that a charging cleaner roller 18 is provided and the amount of lubricant applied is increased. Description of points common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and differences will be described.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a process cartridge of the toner image forming unit 101 including the charging cleaner roller 18. The charging cleaner roller 18 is in contact with the surface so as to be rotatable around the surface below the charging roller 17. Examples of the charging cleaner roller 18 include a roller shape formed of melanin foamed resin and a surface layer formed of conductive triacetate. The present invention is not limited to this as long as the force attracting the lubricant is larger than that of the charging roller.
The differences from the first embodiment are as follows.
A charging cleaner roller 18 for cleaning the charging roller was provided.
The solid lubricant 37a was urged against the lubricant application brush 36 with a load of 1.7248 [N] to apply the lubricant.
The image area ratio was set to 50 [%].
In the configuration of the first embodiment, as is clear from the results of Experiment 1, the solid lubricant 37a is urged against the lubricant application brush 36 with a load of 1.7248N. When image formation was performed at an image area ratio of 50 [%] (application amount 1.02: see Table 2), the charging roller was heavily soiled and dark streaks were generated in the paper passing direction. On the other hand, when the charging cleaner roller 18 is provided as in the second embodiment, no deterioration in image quality due to contamination of the charging roller was observed even under the above-described conditions.
From this, it was found that providing the charging cleaner roller 18 provides a margin for the upper limit of the amount of lubricant applied.

この結果から、以下のことが分かった。
帯電ギャップが０［μｍ］（接触型帯電）以上、２０［μｍ］以下の範囲では塗布量が１．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以下のとき、帯電ローラ汚れは許容範囲内となる。
帯電ギャップが２０［μｍ］より大きく、４０［μｍ］以下の範囲では塗布量が１．５［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以下のとき、帯電ローラ汚れは許容範囲内となる。
帯電ギャップが４０［μｍ］より大きく、７０［μｍ］以下の範囲では塗布量が２．０［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］以下のとき、帯電ローラ汚れは許容範囲内となる。
ここで、実施形態２の構成は、実施形態１と同様に、帯電ギャップが３０［μｍ］〜４０［μｍ］の範囲であり、そのときの潤滑剤の塗布量の上限は１．５［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］である。よって、塗布量１．０２［ｍｇ／ｍ^２］である実施形態２のときは、画像品質を維持することができるのことが確認できる。 Next, in the configuration in which the charging cleaner roller 18 is provided, the gap width of the charging roller is changed from 0 to 80 [μm], and the lubricant application amount is 0.05 to 2.5 [mg / mg] in each gap width. m ² ] and charging roller contamination was evaluated under each condition. The experimental conditions are the same as in Experiment 3 except for the transition provided with the charging cleaner roller 18.
The results of this experiment are shown in Table 7. As in Experiment 3, when the charging gap was 80 [μm], abnormal discharge occurred and it was impossible to use.

From this result, the following was found.
When the charging gap is 0 [μm] (contact type charging) or more and 20 [μm] or less, the charging roller contamination is within the allowable range when the coating amount is 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less.
In the range where the charging gap is larger than 20 [μm] and 40 [μm] or less, the charging roller contamination is within the allowable range when the coating amount is 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less.
In the range where the charging gap is larger than 40 [μm] and 70 [μm] or less, when the coating amount is 2.0 [mg / m ² ] or less, the charging roller contamination is within the allowable range.
Here, in the configuration of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the charging gap is in the range of 30 [μm] to 40 [μm], and the upper limit of the amount of lubricant applied at that time is 1.5 [mg]. / M ² ]. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the image quality can be maintained in the case of Embodiment 2 where the coating amount is 1.02 [mg / m ² ].

As described above, according to the second embodiment, by providing the charging cleaner roller 18 that cleans the surface of the charging roller 17, the upper limit value of the lubricant application amount can be improved.
In particular, when the charging gap is 0 [μm] (contact) or more and 20 [μm] or less, the coating amount is 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less and 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. The image quality can be maintained while maintaining the lifetime.
In addition, when the charging gap is larger than 20 [μm] and 40 [μm] or less, the service life of the member can be increased with a coating amount of 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less and 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. Image quality can also be maintained while maintaining.
Furthermore, when the charging gap is larger than 40 [μm] and is equal to or smaller than 70 [μm], the service life of the member can be increased with a coating amount of 2.0 [mg / m ² ] or less and 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. Image quality can also be maintained while maintaining.

Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3, the range of the amount of lubricant applied is defined in order to improve the cleaning effect on the surface of the photoreceptor. The range is that at least 0.4 [g] or more of lubricant is applied until the rotational driving distance of the photosensitive member reaches 525 [m].
Here, the range of the coating amount is converted into a numerical value that can be easily compared with the coating amount of the present case.
In paragraph No. 0035 of Patent Document 3, “10000 image corresponds to 1250 sheets of A3 size. ˜˜˜3 because the dimension of A3 is 297 × 420 mm.
From this description, it is presumed to be a revolver type A3 full color machine.
The dimension in the longitudinal direction of A3 is 297 [mm]. Assuming that the lubricant bar is 330% [mm] = 0.33 [m] which is 10% longer than that,
0.4 [g] ÷ 525 [m] = 0.762 [mg / m]
762 [mg / m] ÷ 0.33 [m] = 2.3 [mg / m ² ]
Thus, the range of the coating amount of Patent Document 3 is 2.3 [mg / m ² ] or more. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus of the present case has a configuration in which the charging cleaner roller is not provided. When the range is the widest, the range of the lubricant application amount is 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more and 1.5 [mg / mg]. m ² ] or less. And in the case where the range is the widest in the configuration in which the charging cleaner roller is provided, it is 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more and 2.0 [mg / m ² ] or less.
From these, it is understood that the range of the lubricant application amount in this case does not include the range of the lubricant application amount of Patent Document 3.
The range of the lubricant application amount in Patent Document 3 is larger than the upper limit value obtained in any of the first and second embodiments, so that the charging roller cannot be sufficiently prevented from being contaminated. It is impossible to prevent density unevenness on the image due to unevenness.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for higher image quality, and in order to achieve particularly high-definition color image formation, toner particles are being made smaller and spherical. The reproducibility of dots is improved by reducing the particle size, and the developability and transferability can be improved by making the particles spherical. Since it is very difficult to produce such a small particle size and spherical toner by the conventional kneading pulverization method, the polymerization produced by suspension polymerization method, emulsion polymerization method, dispersion polymerization method, etc. Toner is being adopted.
However, when a toner having a spherical shape and a reduced particle size is used, there are some problems in the cleaning on the image carrier performed after the image formation. One of them is that it is difficult to clean the toner having a spherical shape and a small particle size by a generally used blade cleaning method. The cleaning blade removes the toner while rubbing the surface of the image carrier, but the edge of the cleaning blade is deformed by the frictional resistance with the image carrier, so that a small space is formed between the image carrier and the cleaning blade. Occurs. The smaller the particle size of the toner, the easier it is to enter this space. Then, the closer to the spherical the shape of the entering toner is, the smaller the rolling frictional force is. Therefore, the toner starts rolling in the space between the image carrier and the cleaning blade, and passes through the cleaning blade, leading to poor cleaning.
As a measure for preventing such a cleaning failure, for example, a method of increasing the contact pressure of the cleaning blade to the image carrier is taken. As a result, the frictional force with the surface of the image carrier increases, and the cleaning blade is more easily damaged or worn. Further, blade squealing or blade turning caused by irregular vibration of the cleaning blade is likely to occur. Therefore, as described in the first and second embodiments, it has become more important to apply an appropriate amount of lubricant to the surface of the image carrier to reduce the coefficient of friction on the surface of the image carrier.

Next, the toner used in Embodiments 1 and 2 will be described.
In the printers of Embodiments 1 and 2, the toner used in the developing device 10 has a volume average particle size in the range of 3 [μm] to 8 [μm] in order to reproduce minute dots of 600 dpi or more. The particle size distribution (Dv / Dn) represented by the ratio of the particle size (Dv) to the number average particle size (Dn) is preferably in the range of 1.00 to 1.40.

By using a toner having a small particle diameter, the toner can be densely attached to the latent image. However, when the volume average particle size is smaller than 3 [μm], in the two-component developer, the toner is fused to the surface of the magnetic carrier during a long period of stirring in the developing device, and the charging ability of the magnetic carrier is lowered. Further, when used as a one-component developer, toner filming on the developing roller and toner fusion to a member such as a blade for thinning the toner are likely to occur.
On the contrary, when the volume average particle diameter of the toner is larger than 8 [μm], it becomes difficult to obtain a high-resolution and high-quality image and the balance of the toner in the developer is performed. In many cases, the variation in toner particle size becomes large.
Further, by narrowing the particle size distribution, the toner charge amount distribution becomes uniform, a high-quality image with little background fogging can be obtained, and the transfer rate can be increased. In addition, it is not preferable that Dv / Dn exceeds 1.40 because the charge amount distribution becomes wide and the resolving power decreases.

The average particle size and particle size distribution of the toner can be measured using a Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (both manufactured by Coulter).
The toner used in Embodiments 1 and 2 is a Coulter Counter TA-II type, which is connected to an interface (manufactured by Nikka Giken) and a personal computer (PC9801: manufactured by NEC) that outputs number distribution and volume distribution. did.

Further, in the image forming apparatus that can achieve the effect of mounting the cleaning blade 33 of the first embodiment or the cleaning blade 43 of the second embodiment, the toner used in the developing device 10 is circular with an average circularity of 0.93 or more. This is the case when the toner is a high degree.
Toner having a high degree of circularity enters the gap between the image carrier and the cleaning blade in blade-type cleaning, and is easily slipped through. When the contact pressure of the cleaning blade 33 or 43 against the image carrier is increased, the damage to the image carrier increases.
Also, in the method of electrostatically collecting the toner by applying a bias reverse to the charging polarity of the toner to the brush roller, it is difficult to remove the toner from the brush roller. There is a tendency that the toner removing ability is lowered.
However, by using the cleaning blade 33 or 43, the surface of the image carrier can be efficiently cleaned even when the toner having a high average circularity as described above is used.

  The average circularity of the toner is a value obtained by optically detecting particles and dividing by the circumference of an equivalent circle having the same projected area. Specifically, the measurement is performed using a flow type particle image analyzer (FPIA-2000; manufactured by Sysmex Corporation). In a predetermined container, 100 to 150 [mL] of water from which impure solids are removed in advance is added, surfactant 0.1 to 0.5 [mL] is added as a dispersant, and measurement samples 0.1 to 9 are further added. Add about 5 [g]. The suspension in which the sample is dispersed is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the dispersion concentration is set to 3,000 to 10,000 [pieces / μL], and the shape and distribution of the toner are measured.

The toner used in the first and second embodiments preferably has a shape factor SF-1 in the range of 100 to 180 and a shape factor SF-2 in the range of 100 to 180.
FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the toner in order to explain the shape factor SF-1.
The shape factor SF-1 indicates the ratio of the roundness of the toner shape and is represented by the following formula (1). This is a value obtained by dividing the square of the maximum length MXLNG of the shape formed by projecting the toner on a two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100π / 4.
SF-1 = {(MXLNG) ² / AREA} × (100π / 4)... Formula (1)
When the value of SF-1 is 100, the shape of the toner becomes a true sphere, and becomes larger as the value of SF-1 increases.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the toner for explaining the shape factor SF-2.
The shape factor SF-2 indicates the ratio of unevenness in the shape of the toner, and is represented by the following formula (2). A value obtained by dividing the square of the perimeter PERI of the figure formed by projecting the toner onto the two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100 / 4π.
SF-2 = {(PERI) ² / AREA} × (100 / 4π) (2)
When the value of SF-2 is 100, there is no unevenness on the toner surface, and as the value of SF-2 increases, the unevenness of the toner surface becomes more prominent.

When the shape of the toner is close to a spherical shape, the contact between the toner and the toner becomes close to a point contact, so that the adsorption force between the toners becomes weak and the fluidity increases. Further, since the contact between the toner and the image carrier is close to a point contact, the attractive force between the toner and the image carrier is weakened, and the transfer rate is increased. On the other hand, since spherical toner tends to enter the gap between the cleaning blade and the image carrier, the toner shape factor SF-1 or SF-2 should be large to some extent.
Further, when SF-1 and SF-2 are increased, toner is scattered on the image and the image quality is deteriorated. For this reason, it is preferable that SF-1 and SF-2 do not exceed 180.
Specifically, the shape factor is measured by taking a photograph of the toner with a scanning electron microscope (S-800: manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) and introducing it into an image analyzer (LUSEX 3: manufactured by Nireco) for analysis. And calculated.

Examples of the toner suitably used in the printers of Embodiments 1 and 2 include the following. It is obtained by crosslinking and / or extending in a water-based solvent a toner material liquid in which at least a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent are dispersed in an organic solvent. Toner.
In the following, description will be given with examples of toner constituent materials and manufacturing methods.

(Modified polyester)
The toner used in Embodiments 1 and 2 contains modified polyester (i) as a binder resin. The modified polyester (i) refers to a state in which a bonding group other than an ester bond is present in the polyester resin, or resin components having different configurations are bonded to the polyester resin by a covalent bond, an ionic bond, or the like. .
Specifically, the polyester terminal is modified by introducing a functional group such as a carboxylic acid group or an isocyanate group that reacts with a hydroxyl group into the polyester terminal and further reacting with an active hydrogen-containing compound.
Examples of the modified polyester (i) include urea-modified polyester obtained by a reaction between a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group and amines (B). As the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group, a polycondensate of a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) and a polyester having an active hydrogen group, a polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) And those reacted with.
Examples of the active hydrogen group possessed by the polyester include hydroxyl groups (alcoholic hydroxyl groups and phenolic hydroxyl groups), amino groups, carboxyl groups, mercapto groups, and the like. Among these, alcoholic hydroxyl groups are preferred.

The urea-modified polyester is produced as follows.
Examples of the polyhydric alcohol compound (PO) include dihydric alcohol (DIO) and trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (TO). (DIO) alone or a mixture of (DIO) and a small amount of (TO) preferable.
Examples of the dihydric alcohol (DIO) include alkylene glycol (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, etc.); alkylene ether glycol (diethylene glycol) , Triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene ether glycol, etc.); alicyclic diols (1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.); bisphenols (bisphenol A, bisphenol) F, bisphenol S, etc.); alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.) adduct of the above alicyclic diol; Alkylene oxide bisphenol (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.), etc. adducts. Among them, preferred are alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms and alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols, and particularly preferred are alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols and alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms. It is a combined use.
As trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (TO), 3 to 8 or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohol (glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, etc.); trihydric or higher phenols (Trisphenol PA, phenol novolak, cresol novolak, etc.); Examples thereof include alkylene oxide adducts of the above-described trihydric or higher polyphenols.

Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) include divalent carboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC). (DIC) alone and (DIC) with a small amount of (TC) Mixtures are preferred.
Divalent carboxylic acids (DIC) include alkylene dicarboxylic acids (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.); alkenylene dicarboxylic acids (maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc.); aromatic dicarboxylic acids (phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid) And naphthalenedicarboxylic acid). Of these, preferred are alkenylene dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms.
Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC) include aromatic polyvalent carboxylic acids having 9 to 20 carbon atoms (such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid). In addition, as polycarboxylic acid (PC), you may make it react with polyhydric alcohol (PO) using the above-mentioned acid anhydride or lower alkyl ester (Methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, etc.).

The ratio of the polyhydric alcohol (PO) to the polycarboxylic acid (PC) is usually 2/1 to 1/1, preferably as the equivalent ratio [OH] / [COOH] of the hydroxyl group [OH] and the carboxyl group [COOH]. Is 1.5 / 1 to 1/1, more preferably 1.3 / 1 to 1.02 / 1.
Examples of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, etc.); alicyclic polyisocyanates (isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.) ); Aromatic diisocyanates (tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); araliphatic diisocyanates (a, a, a ′, a′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); isocyanates; Those blocked with caprolactam or the like; and combinations of two or more of these.

The ratio of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) is usually 5/1 to 1/1, preferably as an equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group. 4/1 to 1.2 / 1, more preferably 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1.
When [NCO] / [OH] exceeds 5, low-temperature fixability deteriorates. When the molar ratio of [NCO] is less than 1, when a urea-modified polyester is used, the urea content in the ester is lowered and hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

The content of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) component in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 0.5 to 40 [wt%], preferably 1 to 30 [wt%], more preferably 2 to 20 [wt%]. If it is less than 0.5 [wt%], the hot offset resistance is deteriorated, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. On the other hand, if it exceeds 40 [wt%], the low-temperature fixability deteriorates.
The number of isocyanate groups contained per molecule in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 1 or more, preferably 1.5 to 3 on average, more preferably 1.8 to 2 on average. Five. If it is less than 1 per molecule, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester will be low, and the hot offset resistance will deteriorate.

Next, as amines (B) to be reacted with the polyester prepolymer (A), a divalent amine compound (B1), a trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2), an amino alcohol (B3), an amino mercaptan (B4) ), Amino acid (B5), and amino acid block of B1 to B5 (B6).
Examples of the divalent amine compound (B1) include aromatic diamines (phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, etc.); alicyclic diamines (4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dimethyldicyclohexyl). Methane, diamine cyclohexane, isophorone diamine, etc.); and aliphatic diamines (ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, etc.) and the like.
Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. Examples of amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline.
Examples of amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan and aminopropyl mercaptan.
Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid. Examples of the block (B6) obtained by blocking the amino group of B1 to B5 include ketimine compounds and oxazolidine compounds obtained from the amines of B1 to B5 and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.). Among these amines (B), preferred are B1 and a mixture of B1 and a small amount of B2.

The ratio of amines (B) is equivalent to the equivalent ratio [NCO] / [NHx] of isocyanate groups [NCO] in the polyester prepolymer (A) having isocyanate groups and amino groups [NHx] in amines (B). Is usually 1/2 to 2/1, preferably 1.5 / 1 to 1 / 1.5, more preferably 1.2 / 1 to 1 / 1.2.
When [NCO] / [NHx] is more than 2 or less than 1/2, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester is lowered, and the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

  The urea-modified polyester may contain a urethane bond together with a urea bond. The molar ratio of the urea bond content to the urethane bond content is usually 100/0 to 10/90, preferably 80/20 to 20/80, and more preferably 60/40 to 30/70. When the molar ratio of the urea bond is less than 10%, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

The modified polyester (i) contained in the toner used in Embodiments 1 and 2 is produced by a one-shot method or a prepolymer method. The weight average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is usually 10,000 or more, preferably 20,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably 30,000 to 1,000,000. The peak molecular weight at this time is preferably in the range of 1000 to 10,000. If the peak molecular weight is less than 1000, the elongation reaction is difficult and the elasticity of the toner is small, and as a result, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated. On the other hand, when the peak molecular weight exceeds 10,000, problems in production increase in the fixing property reduction, particle formation and pulverization.
The number average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is not particularly limited when the unmodified polyester (ii) described later is used, and may be a number average molecular weight that can be easily obtained to obtain the above-described weight average molecular weight. In the case of the modified polyester (i) alone, the number average molecular weight is usually 20000 or less, preferably 1000 to 10000, and more preferably 2000 to 8000. When it exceeds 20000, the low-temperature fixability and the glossiness when used in a full-color device are deteriorated.

  In the crosslinking and / or extension reaction between the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B) to obtain the modified polyester (i), a reaction terminator is used as necessary to adjust the molecular weight of the resulting urea-modified polyester. be able to. Examples of the reaction terminator include monoamines (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, etc.), and those obtained by blocking them (ketimine compounds). In addition, the molecular weight of the produced | generated polymer can be measured using THF as a solvent using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

(Unmodified polyester)
In Embodiments 1 and 2, not only the above-described modified polyester (i) is used alone, but also the modified polyester (i) and unmodified polyester (ii) can be contained as a binder resin component. By using unmodified polyester (ii) in combination, the low-temperature fixability and the gloss when used in a full-color apparatus are improved, which is preferable to the single use.
Examples of the unmodified polyester (ii) include polycondensates of a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polycarboxylic acid (PC) similar to the polyester component of the modified polyester (i) described above. Is the same as the modified polyester (i).
The unmodified polyester (ii) is not limited to unmodified polyester, but may be modified with a chemical bond other than a urea bond, for example, may be modified with a urethane bond. It is preferable that (i) and (ii) are at least partially compatible with each other in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. Therefore, the polyester component (i) and (ii) preferably have similar compositions. In the case of containing (ii), the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) is usually 5/95 to 80/20, preferably 5/95 to 30/70, more preferably 5/95 to 25/75, Particularly preferred is 7/93 to 20/80.
When the weight ratio of the modified polyester (i) is less than 5%, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability.

The peak molecular weight of unmodified polyester (ii) is usually 1000 to 10000, preferably 2000 to 8000, and more preferably 2000 to 5000. If it is less than 1000, heat-resistant storage stability will deteriorate, and if it exceeds 10,000, low-temperature fixability will deteriorate. The hydroxyl value of the unmodified polyester (ii) is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 to 120, and particularly preferably 20 to 80. If it is less than 5, it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability.
As for the acid value of unmodified polyester (ii), 1-5 are preferable, More preferably, it is 2-4. Since a high acid value wax is used as the wax, the low acid value binder leads to electrification and high volume resistance, so that it is easy to match the toner used for the two-component developer.
The glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin is usually 35 to 70 [° C.], preferably 55 to 65 [° C.]. If it is less than 35 [° C.], the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner is deteriorated, and if it exceeds 70 [° C.], the low-temperature fixability becomes insufficient.
Since the urea-modified polyester is likely to be present on the surface of the obtained toner base particles, the toners of Embodiments 1 and 2 have good heat-resistant storage stability even when the glass transition point is low as compared with known polyester-based toners. Show a trend. The glass transition point (Tg) can be measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).

(Coloring agent)
As the colorant contained in the toner, all known dyes and pigments can be used. Examples of the colorant for black toner include carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black and the like, and a mixture thereof can be used.
As a colorant for yellow toner, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, ocher, chrome lead, titanium yellow, polyazo yellow, oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR , A, RN, R), Pigment Yellow L, Benzidine Yellow (G, GR), Permanent Yellow (NCG), Vulcan Fast Yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, IsoIndia For example, Linon Yellow can be used, and a mixture of these can be used.
Magenta toner colorants include bengara, red lead, lead vermilion, cadmium red, cadmium mercurial red, antimony vermilion, permanent red 4R, para red, phise red, parachlor ortho nitroaniline red, risor fast scarlet. G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carnmin BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Resol Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake, Thioindigo Red B, Thioindigo Maroon, Oil Red, Quinacridone Red, Pyrazolone Red, Polyazo Red, Chrome Vermilion, Benzidine Orange, Perinone Orange, There are oil oranges and the like, and a mixture of these can be used.
Examples of cyan toner colorants include cobalt blue, cerulean blue, alkali blue rake, peacock blue rake, Victoria blue rake, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue, fast sky blue, indanthrene blue (RS, BC), indigo, Ultramarine blue, bitumen, anthraquinone blue, fast violet B, methyl violet lake, cobalt purple, manganese purple, dioxane violet, anthraquinone violet, chrome green, zinc green, chromium oxide, pyridian, emerald green, pigment green B, naphthol green B, green Gold, acid green lake, malachite green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white There are lithopone and the like, may be further a mixture thereof.

  The content of the colorant is usually 1 to 15 [wt%], preferably 3 to 10 [wt%] based on the toner. The colorant can also be used as a master batch combined with a resin. As a binder resin to be kneaded with the production of the master batch or the master batch, a polymer of styrene such as polystyrene, poly-p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyl toluene or the like, or a copolymer of these and a vinyl compound, Polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, fat Aromatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, paraffin waxes and the like can be mentioned, and these can be used alone or in combination.

(Charge control agent)
As the charge control agent contained in the toner, known ones can be used. For example, nigrosine dye, triphenylmethane dye, chromium-containing metal complex dye, molybdate chelate pigment, rhodamine dye, alkoxy amine, quaternary ammonium salt (Including fluorine-modified quaternary ammonium salt), alkylamide, phosphorus alone or compound, tungsten alone or compound, fluorine-based activator, salicylic acid metal salt, metal salt of salicylic acid derivative, and the like.
Specifically, Bontron 03 of a nigrosine dye, Bontron P-51 of a quaternary ammonium salt, Bontron S-34 of a metal-containing azo dye, E-82 of an oxynaphthoic acid metal complex, E-84 of a salicylic acid metal complex , Phenol-condensate E-89 (above, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex TP-302, TP-415 (above, manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt copy Charge PSY VP2038, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge NEG VP2036 of quaternary ammonium salt, copy charge NX VP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex (Nippon Carlit) Manufactured), copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone, azo face , Sulfonate group, carboxyl group, and polymer compounds having a functional group such as quaternary ammonium salts. Of these, substances that control the negative polarity of the toner are particularly preferably used.

  The amount of the charge control agent used is determined by the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of additives used as necessary, and the toner production method including the dispersion method, and is not uniquely limited. Preferably, it is used in the range of 0.1 to 10 [parts by weight] with respect to 100 [parts by weight] of the binder resin. Preferably, the range of 0.2-5 [weight part] is good. When the amount exceeds 10 [parts by weight], the chargeability of the toner is too high, the effect of the charge control agent is reduced, the electrostatic attraction with the developing roller is increased, the flowability of the developer is reduced, and the image density is reduced. Incurs a decline.

(Release agent)
As a release agent, a low melting point wax having a melting point of 50 to 120 [° C.] works more effectively as a release agent in the dispersion with the binder resin between the fixing roller and the toner interface. Effective against high temperature offset without applying a release agent such as oil to the fixing roller. Examples of such a wax component include the following.
Examples of waxes and waxes include plant waxes such as carnauba wax, cotton wax, wood wax, and rice wax, animal waxes such as beeswax and lanolin, mineral waxes such as ozokerite and cercin, and paraffin, microcrystalline, And petroleum waxes such as petrolatum.
In addition to these natural waxes, synthetic hydrocarbon waxes such as Fischer-Tropsch wax and polyethylene wax, and synthetic waxes such as esters, ketones, and ethers can be used.
Furthermore, fatty acid amides such as 12-hydroxystearic acid amide, stearic acid amide, phthalic anhydride imide, chlorinated hydrocarbon, and low molecular weight crystalline polymer resin, poly-n-stearyl methacrylate, poly-n- A crystalline polymer having a long alkyl group in the side chain such as a homopolymer or copolymer of polyacrylate such as lauryl methacrylate (for example, a copolymer of n-stearyl acrylate-ethyl methacrylate, etc.) can also be used. .
The charge control agent and the release agent can be melt-kneaded together with the master batch and the binder resin, and of course, they may be added when dissolved and dispersed in the organic solvent.

(External additive)
Inorganic fine particles are preferably used as an external additive for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the toner particles. The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 × 10 ⁻³ to 2 [μm], and particularly preferably 5 × 10 ^{−3 to} 0.5 [μm]. Moreover, it is preferable that the specific surface area by BET method is 20-500 [m < ² > / g]. The use ratio of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 0.01 to 5.0 [wt%] of the toner, and particularly preferably 0.01 to 2.0 [wt%].

Specific examples of the inorganic fine particles include, for example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, quartz sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth. Examples include soil, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, bengara, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. Among these, as the fluidity imparting agent, it is preferable to use hydrophobic silica fine particles and hydrophobic titanium oxide fine particles in combination. In particular, when stirring and mixing are performed using particles having an average particle diameter of 5 × 10 ⁻² [μm] or less, both electrostatic force and van der Waals force with the toner are remarkably improved. Even by stirring and mixing inside the developing device to obtain a desired charge level, the fluidity-imparting agent is not detached from the toner, and good image quality free from fireflies can be obtained. Further, transfer residual toner can be reduced.

  Titanium oxide fine particles are excellent in environmental stability and image density stability, but have a tendency to deteriorate the charge rise characteristics. Therefore, if the amount of titanium oxide fine particles added is larger than the amount of silica fine particles added, this side effect is affected. It can be considered large. However, when the addition amount of the hydrophobic silica fine particles and the hydrophobic titanium oxide fine particles is in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 [wt%], the charge rising characteristics are not greatly impaired, and the desired charge rising characteristics can be obtained. Stable image quality can be obtained even when copying is repeated.

(Toner production method)
Next, a toner manufacturing method will be described. Here, although a preferable manufacturing method is shown, it is not limited to this.
1) A toner material solution is prepared by dispersing a colorant, unmodified polyester, a polyester prepolymer having an isocyanate group, and a release agent in an organic solvent.
The organic solvent is preferably volatile with a boiling point of less than 100 ° C. from the viewpoint of easy removal after toner base particle formation. Specifically, toluene, xylene, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, chloroform, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethylidene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone and the like can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In particular, aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene and halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride are preferable. The usage-amount of an organic solvent is 0-300 weight part normally with respect to 100 weight part of polyester prepolymers, Preferably it is 0-100 weight part, More preferably, it is 25-70 weight part.

2) The toner material liquid is emulsified in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant and resin fine particles.
The aqueous medium may be water alone or an organic solvent such as alcohol (methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (methyl cellosolve, etc.), lower ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.). It may be included.
The amount of the aqueous medium used relative to 100 parts by weight of the toner material liquid is usually 50 to 2000 parts by weight, preferably 100 to 1000 parts by weight. If the amount is less than 50 parts by weight, the dispersion state of the toner material liquid is poor, and toner particles having a predetermined particle diameter cannot be obtained. If it exceeds 20000 parts by weight, it is not economical. Further, in order to improve the dispersion in the aqueous medium, a dispersant such as a surfactant and resin fine particles is appropriately added.

  Surfactants include alkylbenzene sulfonates, a-olefin sulfonates, anionic surfactants such as phosphate esters, alkylamine salts, amino alcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, amine salt types such as imidazoline, Quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salts, dialkyldimethylammonium salts, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salts, pyridinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, benzethonium chloride, fatty acid amide derivatives, polyhydric alcohols Nonionic surfactants such as derivatives, for example, amphoteric surfactants such as alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine and N-alkyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betaine And the like.

  Further, by using a surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group, the effect can be obtained in a very small amount. Preferred anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include fluoroalkyl carboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and metal salts thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonyl glutamate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkyl (C6-C11 ) Oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-C4) sodium sulfonate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-C8) -N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonic acid sodium, fluoroalkyl (C11-C20) carvone Acids and metal salts, perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids (C7 to C13) and metal salts thereof, perfluoroalkyl (C4 to C12) sulfonic acids and metal salts thereof, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- ( 2-Hydroxyethyl) Perful Olooctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (C6-C16) ethyl phosphate, etc. Can be mentioned.

  Product names include Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS-101. DS-102 (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), Megafac F-110, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink, Inc.), Xtop EF-102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (manufactured by Tochem Products), and Fgentent F-100, F150 (manufactured by Neos).

  Moreover, as the cationic surfactant, aliphatic quaternary ammonium such as aliphatic primary, secondary or secondary amic acid, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt which has a right fluoroalkyl group is used. Salt, benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, trade names include Surflon S-121 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-135 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Industries) Smoke), Megafac F-150, F-824 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-132 (Tochem Products), Footage F-300 (Neos), and the like.

The resin fine particles are added to stabilize the toner base particles formed in the aqueous medium. For this reason, it is preferable to add so that the coverage which exists on the surface of a toner base particle becomes the range of 10-90 [%]. For example, polymethyl methacrylate fine particles 1 [μm] and 3 [μm], polystyrene fine particles 0.5 [μm] and 2 [μm], poly (styrene-acrylonitrile) fine particles 1 [μm], trade name is PB- 200H (manufactured by Kao Corporation), SGP (manufactured by Sokensha), technopolymer SB (manufactured by Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.), SGP-3G (manufactured by Sokensha), micropearl (manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like.
In addition, inorganic compound dispersants such as tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, colloidal silica, and hydroxyapatite can also be used.

As a dispersant that can be used in combination with the above-described resin fine particles and inorganic compound dispersant, the dispersed droplets may be stabilized by a polymer protective colloid. For example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, a-cyanoacrylic acid, a-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid or maleic anhydride and other (meth) acrylic single monomers containing hydroxyl groups There is a mass.
Specifically, acrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, acrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, acrylic acid-γ-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-γ- Hydroxypropyl, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate , Vinyl alcohols such as N-methylol acrylamide and N-methylol methacrylamide. Or ethers with vinyl alcohol, such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, and the like. Further, there are esters of compounds containing vinyl alcohol and a carboxyl group, such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and diacetone acrylamide. Further, these methylol compounds, acid chlorides such as acrylic acid chloride and methacrylic acid chloride, and nitrogen-containing compounds such as vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole and ethyleneimine are available.
Or a homopolymer or copolymer having a heterocyclic ring thereof, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxy Polyoxyethylenes such as ethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ester, celluloses such as methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose can be used.

  The dispersion method is not particularly limited, and known equipment such as a low-speed shear method, a high-speed shear method, a friction method, a high-pressure jet method, and an ultrasonic wave can be applied. Among these, in order to make the particle size of the dispersion 2 [μm] to 20 [μm], the high speed shearing method is preferable. When a high-speed shearing disperser is used, the number of rotations is not particularly limited, but is usually 1000 to 30000 [rpm], preferably 5000 to 20000 [rpm]. The dispersion time is not particularly limited, but in the case of a batch method, it is usually 0.1 to 5 minutes. The temperature during dispersion is usually 0 to 150 [° C.] (under pressure), preferably 40 to 98 [° C.].

  3) At the same time as the preparation of the emulsion, the amines (B) are added to cause a reaction with the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group. This reaction involves molecular chain crosslinking and / or elongation. The reaction time is selected depending on the reactivity between the isocyanate group structure of the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B), but is usually 10 minutes to 40 hours, preferably 2 to 24 hours. The reaction temperature is generally 0 to 150 [° C.], preferably 40 to 98 [° C.]. Moreover, a well-known catalyst can be used as needed. Specific examples include dibutyltin laurate and dioctyltin laurate.

4) After completion of the reaction, the organic solvent is removed from the emulsified dispersion (reactant), washed and dried to obtain toner base particles.
In order to remove the organic solvent, the temperature of the entire system is gradually raised in a laminar stirring state, and after giving strong stirring in a certain temperature range, the solvent base is removed to produce spindle-shaped toner base particles. . Further, when an acid such as calcium phosphate salt or an alkali-soluble material is used as the dispersion stabilizer, the calcium phosphate salt is dissolved from the toner base particles by a method such as dissolving the calcium phosphate salt with an acid such as hydrochloric acid and washing with water. Remove. It can also be removed by operations such as enzymatic degradation.

5) A toner is obtained by implanting a charge control agent into the toner base particles obtained in the above-mentioned steps and then externally adding inorganic fine particles such as silica fine particles and titanium oxide fine particles. The injection of the charge control agent and the external addition of the inorganic fine particles are performed by a known method using a mixer or the like.
By these steps, a toner having a small particle size and a sharp particle size distribution can be easily obtained. Furthermore, by giving strong agitation in the process of removing the organic solvent, the shape between the true spherical shape and the rugby ball shape can be controlled, and the surface morphology is also controlled between the smooth shape and the umeboshi shape. be able to.

Further, the shape of the toner used in the first and second embodiments is substantially spherical, and can be represented by the following shape rule.
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating the shape of the toner used in the first and second embodiments. In FIG. 12A, when a substantially spherical toner is defined by a major axis r1, a minor axis r2, and a thickness r3 (where r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3), the toner has a minor axis and a major axis. The ratio (r2 / r1) (see FIG. 12B) is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 1.0. Furthermore, the ratio of thickness to minor axis (r3 / r2) (see FIG. 12C) is preferably in the range of 0.7 or more and 1.0 or less.
If the ratio of the minor axis to the major axis (r2 / r1) is less than 0.5, the dot reproducibility and transfer efficiency are inferior because of the separation from the true spherical shape, and high-quality image quality cannot be obtained. On the other hand, when the ratio of the thickness to the short axis (r3 / r2) is less than 0.7, it becomes close to a flat shape and a high transfer rate like a spherical toner cannot be obtained. In particular, when the ratio of the thickness to the minor axis (r3 / r2) is 1.0, the rotating body has a major axis as a rotation axis, and the fluidity of the toner can be improved. Note that r1, r2, and r3 were measured with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) while changing the angle of field of view and taking pictures.

The toner produced as described above can also be used as a one-component magnetic toner that does not use a magnetic carrier or a non-magnetic toner. When used in a two-component developer, it may be used by mixing with a magnetic carrier. The magnetic carrier is a ferrite containing a divalent metal such as iron, magnetite, Mn, Zn, or Cu, and preferably has a volume average particle size of 20 [μm] to 100 [μm].
When the average particle diameter is less than 20 [μm], when the image carrier is a photoreceptor, carrier adhesion is likely to occur on the photoreceptor 21 during development. Insufficient charge amount is likely to cause charging failure during continuous use. In addition, Cu ferrite containing Zn is preferable because of high saturation magnetization, but can be appropriately selected according to the process of the image forming apparatus.

  The resin for coating the magnetic carrier is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include silicone resin, styrene-acrylic resin, fluorine-containing resin, and olefin resin. In the manufacturing method, the coating resin may be dissolved in a solvent, sprayed into a fluidized bed and coated on the core, or the resin particles are electrostatically attached to the core particles and then thermally melted for coating. It may be a thing. The thickness of the resin to be coated is 0.05 to 10 [μm], preferably 0.3 to 4 [μm].

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a process cartridge according to the first embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an intermediate transfer member lubricant application device. FIG. The graph of the lubricant application amount [mg / k sheets] for every 1000 image formations when the image area ratio and the load on the brush are changed. The graph which converted the unit of the vertical axis | shaft of FIG. 4 into [mg / m < ² >]. The graph which shows the value which measured the friction coefficient (micro | micron | mu) on the surface of the photoreceptor 21 for each image area ratio and each load. 6 is a graph showing a coefficient of friction (μ) on the surface of a photoreceptor in a combination of each image area ratio [%] and a lubricant application amount [mg / m ² ] and an evaluation of image quality at that time. Change in the coefficient of friction of the photoconductor surface μ due to the difference in the linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush and the photoconductor. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of shape factor SF-1. Explanatory drawing of shape factor SF-2. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a toner shape.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Intermediate transfer belt 2 Toner bottle 3 Waste paper roller 4 Fixing device 5 Secondary transfer roller 6 Registration roller 7 Paper feed roller 8 Paper feed cassette 9 Optical writing unit 10 Developing device 11 Primary transfer device 17 Charging roller 18 Charging cleaner roller 21 Photoconductor 33 Cleaning blade 34 Waste toner conveying coil 35 Photoconductor lubricant application device 36 Lubricant application brush 37 Lubricant container 37a Solid lubricant 37b Lubricant biasing member 43 Cleaning blade 45 Intermediate transfer material lubricant application device 46 Lubricant application brush 47 Lubricant container 47a Solid lubricant 47b Lubricant biasing member

Claims (27)

A latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image;
A charging device for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
A developing device for carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, transporting the developer to a developing region facing the latent image carrying member, developing the latent image on the latent image carrying member, and forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a transfer material;
A latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transfer;
After transferring the toner image to the transfer material, a lubricant is supplied onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the latent image carrier cleaning means upstream of the position charged by the charging device. In an image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means,
The charging device is a charging roller that uniformly charges the latent image carrier in contact with or close to the latent image carrier at a distance of 20 [μm] or less, and for charging the surface of the charging roller. It does not have a cleaning member,
The amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount) is:
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is 0.5 [mg / m ² ] or less. A latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image;
A charging device for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
A developing device for carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, transporting the developer to a developing region facing the latent image carrying member, developing the latent image on the latent image carrying member, and forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a transfer material;
A latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transfer;
After transferring the toner image to the transfer material, a lubricant is supplied onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the latent image carrier cleaning means upstream of the position charged by the charging device. In an image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means,
The charging device is a charging roller that uniformly charges the latent image carrier in proximity to the latent image carrier at a distance greater than 20 [μm] and equal to or less than 40 [μm], and the surface of the charging roller Is not equipped with a charging cleaning member
The amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount) is:
An image forming apparatus characterized by being 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less. A latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image;
A charging device for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
A developing device for carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, transporting the developer to a developing region facing the latent image carrying member, developing the latent image on the latent image carrying member, and forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a transfer material;
A latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transfer;
After transferring the toner image to the transfer material, a lubricant is supplied onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the latent image carrier cleaning means upstream of the position charged by the charging device. In an image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means,
The charging device is a charging roller for uniformly charging the latent image carrier in proximity to the latent image carrier at a distance of greater than 40 [μm] and less than or equal to 70 [μm], the surface of the charging roller There is no charge cleaning member to clean the
The amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount) is:
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less. A latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image;
A charging device for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
A developing device for carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, transporting the developer to a developing region facing the latent image carrying member, developing the latent image on the latent image carrying member, and forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a transfer material;
A latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transfer;
After transferring the toner image to the transfer material, a lubricant is supplied onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the latent image carrier cleaning means upstream of the position charged by the charging device. In an image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means,
The charging device is a charging roller that uniformly charges the latent image carrier in contact with the latent image carrier or close to the latent image carrier at a distance of 20 [μm] or less, and for charging the surface of the charging roller. A cleaning member,
The amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount) is:
An image forming apparatus characterized by being 1.0 [mg / m ² ] or less. A latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image;
A charging device for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
A developing device for carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, transporting the developer to a developing region facing the latent image carrying member, developing the latent image on the latent image carrying member, and forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a transfer material;
A latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transfer;
After transferring the toner image to the transfer material, a lubricant is supplied onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the latent image carrier cleaning means upstream of the position charged by the charging device. In an image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply means,
The charging device is a charging roller that uniformly charges the latent image carrier in proximity to the latent image carrier at a distance greater than 20 [μm] and equal to or less than 40 [μm], the surface of the charging roller A charging cleaning member for cleaning the
The amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount) is:
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is 1.5 [mg / m ² ] or less. A latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image;
A charging device for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
A developing device for carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, transporting the developer to a developing region facing the latent image carrying member, developing the latent image on the latent image carrying member, and forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a transfer material;
A latent image carrier cleaning means for removing residual toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transfer;
Lubrication that supplies a lubricant onto the surface of the latent image carrier before being cleaned by the latent image carrier cleaning means upstream of the position charged by the charging device after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. In an image forming apparatus having an agent supply means,
The charging device is a charging roller that uniformly charges the latent image carrier in proximity to the latent image carrier at a distance greater than 40 [μm] and equal to or less than 70 [μm], the surface of the charging roller A charging cleaning member for cleaning the
The amount of the lubricant applied to the lubricant application area on the latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as the lubricant application amount) is:
An image forming apparatus characterized by being 2.0 [mg / m ² ] or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
The lubricant application amount is
An image forming apparatus characterized by being 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the lubricant comprises a fatty acid salt metal having a lamellar crystal structure. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.
The lubricant supply means applies the lubricant supplied from the lubricant container onto the surface of the latent image carrier when the lubricant application brush rotates,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the lubricant application brush rotates in a follow-up direction with respect to a surface movement direction of the latent image carrier. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9.
An image forming apparatus, wherein a linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush and the surface of the latent image carrier is approximately 1: 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.
The volume average particle diameter is 3.0 [μm] or more and 8.0 [μm] or less, and the ratio of the volume average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (volume average particle diameter / number average particle diameter) is 1.00. An image forming apparatus using the toner in the range of 1.40 or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11.
An image forming apparatus using a toner having an average circularity of 0.93 or more and 1.00 or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
The shape factor SF-1 indicating the ratio of the roundness of the toner shape is 100 or more and 180 or less,
An image forming apparatus using a toner having a shape factor SF-2 indicating a ratio of unevenness of a toner shape in a range of 100 or more and 180 or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13.
When the appearance shape of the toner used is substantially spherical, the major axis of the toner is r1, the minor axis is r2, and the thickness is r3.
r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3,
0.5 ≦ r2 / r1 ≦ 1.0,
An image forming apparatus satisfying a relationship of 0.7 ≦ r3 / r2 ≦ 1.0. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14.
In the toner, a toner composition containing at least a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is crosslinked and / or extended in an aqueous medium in the presence of resin fine particles. An image forming apparatus. In a process cartridge that integrally supports at least a latent image carrier that carries a latent image and a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant onto the latent image carrier, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15. Tridge. A latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image;
A charging device for charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
A developing device for carrying a developer on a developer carrying member, transporting the developer to a developing region facing the latent image carrying member, developing the latent image on the latent image carrying member, and forming a toner image;
An intermediate transfer body on which a toner image after development is primarily transferred and secondarily transferred to a transfer material in the next process;
In an image forming apparatus having a lubricant supply unit for supplying a lubricant from a lubricant container onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body after the toner image is secondarily transferred and before the next image is primarily transferred.
Application amount of the lubricant with respect to the lubricant application area on the surface of the intermediate transfer member (hereinafter referred to as lubricant application amount)
Is 0.8 [mg / m ² ] or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the lubricant coating amount is 0.1 [mg / m ² ] or more. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the lubricant comprises a fatty acid salt metal having a lamellar crystal structure. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, 18 or 19,
The lubricant supply means applies the lubricant supplied from the lubricant container onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member by rotating the lubricant application brush.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the lubricant application brush rotates in a follow-up direction with respect to a surface movement direction of the intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein a linear velocity ratio between the lubricant application brush and the intermediate transfer surface is approximately 1: 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21.
The volume average particle diameter is 3.0 [μm] or more and 8.0 [μm] or less, and the ratio of the volume average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (volume average particle diameter / number average particle diameter) is 1.00. An image forming apparatus using the toner in the range of 1.40 or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22.
An image forming apparatus using a toner having an average circularity of 0.93 or more and 1.00 or less. 24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23.
The shape factor SF-1 indicating the ratio of the roundness of the toner shape is 100 or more and 180 or less,
An image forming apparatus using a toner having a shape factor SF-2 indicating a ratio of unevenness of a toner shape in a range of 100 or more and 180 or less. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24.
When the appearance shape of the toner used is substantially spherical, the major axis of the toner is r1, the minor axis is r2, and the thickness is r3.
r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3,
0.5 ≦ r2 / r1 ≦ 1.0,
An image forming apparatus satisfying a relationship of 0.7 ≦ r3 / r2 ≦ 1.0. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25.
In the toner, a toner composition containing at least a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is crosslinked and / or extended in an aqueous medium in the presence of resin fine particles. An image forming apparatus. An intermediate transfer body that primarily transfers the toner image formed by the image forming means and secondarily transfers the transferred toner image to a transfer material, and a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant onto the intermediate transfer body. In the transfer cartridge that is integrally supported and detachable from the image forming apparatus main body,
A transfer cartridge, wherein the image forming apparatus is the image forming apparatus according to claim 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26.

Images