EP0481747B1 - Method of image formation - Google Patents
Method of image formation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0481747B1 EP0481747B1 EP19910309516 EP91309516A EP0481747B1 EP 0481747 B1 EP0481747 B1 EP 0481747B1 EP 19910309516 EP19910309516 EP 19910309516 EP 91309516 A EP91309516 A EP 91309516A EP 0481747 B1 EP0481747 B1 EP 0481747B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- photoreceptor
- group
- sleeve
- layer
- carrier
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G5/00—Recording members for original recording by exposure, e.g. to light, to heat, to electrons; Manufacture thereof; Selection of materials therefor
- G03G5/02—Charge-receiving layers
- G03G5/04—Photoconductive layers; Charge-generation layers or charge-transporting layers; Additives therefor; Binders therefor
- G03G5/05—Organic bonding materials; Methods for coating a substrate with a photoconductive layer; Inert supplements for use in photoconductive layers
- G03G5/0528—Macromolecular bonding materials
- G03G5/0557—Macromolecular bonding materials obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsatured bonds
- G03G5/0564—Polycarbonates
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G13/00—Electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G13/06—Developing
- G03G13/08—Developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G13/09—Developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/09—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer using magnetic brush
- G03G15/0921—Details concerning the magnetic brush roller structure, e.g. magnet configuration
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G5/00—Recording members for original recording by exposure, e.g. to light, to heat, to electrons; Manufacture thereof; Selection of materials therefor
- G03G5/14—Inert intermediate or cover layers for charge-receiving layers
- G03G5/147—Cover layers
- G03G5/14708—Cover layers comprising organic material
- G03G5/14713—Macromolecular material
- G03G5/14747—Macromolecular material obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- G03G5/14756—Polycarbonates
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of image formation wherein an organic photoelectroconductive photoreceptor is used to form an image at high speed.
- the Carlson method has been commonly used for electrophotographic image formation.
- uniformly charging the surface of photoreceptor is followed by imagewise exposure to form an electrostatic latent image, which is subjected to toner development to form a toner image, which is transferred and fixed onto a transferee to form a final image.
- the photoreceptor after being used for transfer is subjected to surface discharging using a discharger and residual toner removal using a cleaning blade, cleaning brush or another cleaning device, whereby it is prepared for subsequent long-term repeated use.
- the electrophotographic photoreceptor is required to have good physical properties such as printability, wear resistance and moisture resistance in repeated use and to have resistance (environmental endurance) to ozone generated upon corona discharge and to ultraviolet rays generated upon exposure, as well as having good charging properties and electrophotographic properties such as high sensitivity and low dark decay.
- inorganic photoreceptors have been widely used as electrophotographic photoreceptors whose light-sensitive layer is based on an inorganic photoelectroconductive substance such as selenium, zinc oxide or cadmium sulfide.
- a polycarbonate of the bisphenol A type represented by the following formula is well known to have good properties in terms of charging, sensitivity, residual potential and suitability for repeated use,
- the polycarbonate of the bisphenol A type is faulty in that its solution becomes unusable in some 1 to 2 weeks because it is liable to gel due to the high crystallinity of the polymer.
- crystalline polycarbonate is likely to separate and cause bumps on the film surface during coating, which can cause film tailing and reduce the yield, or which allows the uncleaned toner to remain on the photoreceptor after use and results in imaging failure due to poor cleaning.
- the electrophotographic photoreceptor incorporating the polycarbonate of the bisphenol A as a binder resin when repeatedly used for image formation over a long period has problems of damaging of the light-sensitive layer surface due to abrasion by a magnetic brush or a cleaning blade and of gradual wear of the light-sensitive layer.
- the polycarbonate of the bisphenol A type poses problems in storage stability of solutions during preparation of photoreceptors and in the resistance of the photoreceptor surface to mechanical abrasion.
- a number of polycarbonates with different structures have been proposed.
- the developing agent on the sleeve of a developing device is liable to be scattered by centrifugal force, since the sleeve is usually rotated at a peripheral speed higher than that of the photoreceptor. To prevent this, it is necessary to increase the magnetic field intensity to constrain the developing agent on the sleeve.
- the magnetic field intensity on the sleeve is increased, a hard magnetic brush forms on the sleeve, which strongly abrades the photoreceptor surface and deteriorates the photoreceptor.
- the inventors made by way of trial a very large number of organic photoreceptors using one or more of the polycarbonates described in the above-mentioned and other publications as binder resins, and subjected them to repeated runs of testing for a long time with the sample loaded on a high speed testing machine rotating at a peripheral speed of not less than 300 mm/sec.
- the inventors thus discovered a photoreceptor suitable for use in high speed copying machines and developed a method of image formation which makes it possible to obtain high quality images at high speed without being accompanied by developing agent scattering.
- Figures 1 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing the structural configuration of the photoreceptor used in the present invention.
- Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus illustrating the method of image formation of the present invention.
- the reference numerals denote a support 1, a carrier generation layer 2, a carrier transport layer 3, a light-sensitive layer 4, an original 10, reflective mirrors 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, a charger 16, a developing apparatus 17, a main developing magnetic pole 17d, a photoreceptor 20 and a cleaning apparatus 21, respectively.
- the object described above can be accomplished by a method of image formation including a process in which an organic photoelectroconductive photoreceptor being rotated at high speed is subjected to charging and imagewise exposure to form an electrostatic latent image and transporting a developing agent from a sleeve rotating around the periphery of an immobilized magnet having a main developing magnetic pole to develop the electrostatic latent image, wherein said photoreceptor comprises a polycarbonate based on the repeat unit represented by Formulae I or II below contained in at least the uppermost layer constituting the light-sensitive layer configuration, said photoreceptor being rotated at a peripheral speed of at least 300 mm/sec and the magnetic flux density of the main developing magnetic pole on the sleeve exceeding 950 gauss.
- Z represents a group of atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted carbon ring or heterocyclic ring group.
- R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 independently represent a hydrogen atom, methyl group, chlorine atom or bromine atom, and not all the substituents are hydrogen atoms at the same time.
- R 1 to R 8 are as defined in Formula I
- R 9 and R 10 represents a hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
- photocopies are generated at a high speed, for example, 50 copies or more per minute for A4-size landscape position while rotating an organic photoelectroconductive photoreceptor in a drum or belt form (hereinafter simply referred to as organic photoreceptor) at a peripheral speed of not less than 300 mm/sec and preferably, the sleeve of the developing device at a peripheral speed exceeding the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor.
- the magnetic flux density on the sleeve is kept at not less than 950 gauss to prevent the developing agent being transported on the sleeve from scattering.
- a highly durable polycarbonate enduring such high speed copying has been selected as a binder resin to constitute the light-sensitive layer of the organic photoreceptor.
- the organic photoreceptor for the method of image formation of the present invention comprises an electroconductive support and a light-sensitive layer formed thereon which contains a carrier generation material, a carrier transport material, a binder resin, and where necessary, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorbent and other additives, between which an interlayer is provided if necessary.
- the light-sensitive layer may be of a single layer structure having the above-mentioned compositions in common or of a laminated structure having a carrier generation layer based on a carrier generation material and a carrier transport layer based on a carrier transport material.
- Figure 1 shows a photoreceptor with a laminated layer structure comprising an electroconductive support 1, a carrier generation layer 2 formed thereon and a carrier transport layer 3 formed thereon.
- Figure 3 shows a photoreceptor having the same layer structure as the photoreceptor of Figure 1 except that an interlayer 5 is present between the electroconductive support 1 and the carrier generation layer 2.
- Figure 2 shows a photoreceptor with a laminated layer structure which comprises an electroconductive support 1, a carrier transport layer 3 formed thereon, a carrier generation layer formed thereon and a protective layer 8 formed on the carrier generation layer to protect it.
- Figure 4 shows a photoreceptor having the same layer structure as the photoreceptor of Figure 2 except that an interlayer 5 is present.
- Figure 5 shows a photoreceptor with a single layer structure comprising an electroconductive support 1 and a layer containing a carrier generation material 7 and a carrier transport material 6.
- Figure 6 is a photoreceptor having the same layer structure as the photoreceptor of Figure 5 except that an interlayer 5 is present.
- a key to the present invention is the use of a polycarbonate based on the repeat unit represented by Formula 1 as a binder resin in the light-sensitive layer of the photoreceptor used, whereby a highly durable photoreceptor is obtained, which ensures stable obtainment of high quality images over a long period without involving fatigue deterioration of electrophotographic properties due to severe temperature/humidity conditions, ultraviolet rays, ozone and mechanical abrasion during repeated image formation at high speed, a feature of the present invention.
- the polycarbonate represented by Formula 1 has been selected as suiting to the present invention from the group comprising conventional polycarbonates with various structures.
- the central carbon atom in the polycarbonate structure is involved in the formation of a ring by Z, which effectively prevents the molecular chain in the polycarbonate structure from orienting in a particular direction and hence prevents the crystallization and gelation of the polycarbonate.
- Z effectively prevents the molecular chain in the polycarbonate structure from orienting in a particular direction and hence prevents the crystallization and gelation of the polycarbonate.
- the resulting crystal or gel separates on, and protrudes from, the light-sensitive layer surface to cause an imaging failure.
- the light-sensitive layer surface is not liable to have flaws even after abrasion with a magnetic brush or a cleaning blade and a high printability free of characteristic failures such as poor cleaning is obtained.
- the polycarbonate resin of the present invention can easily be synthesized by a conventional method using, for example, a phenol compound represented by the following formula.
- Z represents a group of non-metallic atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted carbon ring or heterocyclic ring group
- R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 independently represent a hydrogen atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom or methyl group. Not all the substituents are hydrogen atoms at the same time.
- R 9 and R 10 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
- R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 independently represent a hydrogen atom, methyl group, chlorine atom or bromine atom. Not all the substituents are hydrogen atoms at the same time.
- An example of the method of producing the polycarbonate resin for the present invention is such that the phenol compound described above is reacted with an aqueous solution of alkali, pyridine or another acid recipient in the presence of an inert solvent such as methylene chloride or 1,2-dichloroethane while introducing phosgene.
- a tertiary amine such as trimethylamine or triethylamine
- a quaternary ammonium compound such as tetrabutylammonium chloride or benzyltributylammonium bromide increases the reaction rate.
- a monohydric phenol such as phenol or p-t-butylphenol may be added as a molecular weight regulator as necessary.
- the catalyst may be present at initiation of the reaction, or may be added after preparing the oligomer before increasing the molecular weight.
- Z forms a 5- or 6-membered carbon ring or heterocyclic ring, including a cyclohexyl ring or a cyclopentyl ring, optionally substituted by a substituent such as an acetyl group or acetylamino group.
- the repeat unit compound for the polycarbonate for the present invention is exemplified as follows.
- (1)-3 and (1)-6 serve as repeat unit structures providing excellent mechanical durability in the polycarbonate.
- the binder resin for the photoreceptor of the present invention may be formulated with another resin, as long as its effect on the polycarbonate of Formula 1 is not interfered with, preferably at mixing ratios of not more than 50 wt%.
- the polycarbonate for the present invention may be a homopolymer of a structural unit (II) represented above but may also be a copolymer with another structural unit A or B with the following structures.
- the mixing ratio of the other structural unit is preferably not more than 50 wt%.
- binder resins which can be used in combination with the homopolymer or copolymer of the polycarbonate include the following.
- binders may be used singly or in a mixture of two or more in combination with the polycarbonate at not more than 50 wt%.
- organic pigments for example, are used as carrier generation materials added to the light-sensitive layer to prepare the photoreceptor of the present invention.
- an organic pigment such as a fluorenone dis-azo pigment, fluorenylidene dis-azo pigment, polycyclic quinone pigment, non-metallic phthalocyanine pigment or oxytitanyl phthalocyanine pigment as a carrier generation material in the photoreceptor for the present invention, with more preference given to the following fluorenone diazo pigment, fluorenylidene dis-azo pigment, polycyclic quinone pigment and X- and ⁇ -type non-metallic phthalocyanines, since they offer remarkable improvements in sensitivity, durability, image quality and other features.
- an organic pigment such as a fluorenone dis-azo pigment, fluorenylidene dis-azo pigment, polycyclic quinone pigment, non-metallic phthalocyanine pigment or oxytitanyl phthalocyanine pigment
- Suitable pigments include the following: wherein X 1 and X 2 independently represent a halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group, nitro group, cyano group, hydroxyl group or substituted or unsubstituted amino group; p and q independently represent 0, 1 or 2; when p and q are 2, X 1 and X 2 may be identical or not;
- A represents a group represented by the following Formula 2-1: wherein Ar represents a fluorinated hydrocarbon group or an aromatic carbon ring group or aromatic heterocyclic ring having a substituent; Z represents a group of non-metallic atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbon ring or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic ring; m and n independently represent 0, 1 or 2; m and n are not 0 at the same time.
- fluorenone dis-azo pigments suitable for use in the present invention are given below, but the invention is not limited by these examples.
- the fluorenone dis-azo pigment represented by Formula 2 useful in the present invention can easily be synthesized by a known method, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent Application No. 304862/1987.
- Fluorenylidene dis-azo pigment useful in the present invention are represented by the following Formula 3.
- A represents wherein Z represents a group of atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbon ring or aromatic heterocyclic ring group
- Y represents a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group or its ester, sulfo group, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl group or sulfamoyl group
- R 1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, amino group, carbamoyl group or carboxyl group or its ester or a cyano group
- Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group
- R 2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group.
- dis-azo pigments of Formula 3 which may be used in the present invention are provided below, but are not to be construed as limitative.
- polycyclic quinone pigments suitable for use in the present invention are represented by the following Formulae 4 to 6 below: wherein X represents a halogen atom, nitro group, cyano group, acyl group or carboxyl group; n represents 0 to 4; m represents 0 to 6.
- polycyclic quinone pigments of Formulae 4 to 6 suitable for use in the present invention are given below, but the invention is not limited by these examples:
- the dibenzopyrenequinone pigment represented by Formula 5 is exemplified by the following compounds.
- the pyranthrone pigment represented by Formula 6 is exemplified by the following compounds.
- polycyclic quinones represented by Formulae 4 to 6 suitable for use in the present invention can easily be synthesized by known methods.
- any non-metallic phthalocyanine and its derivative can be used for the present invention, as long as it is electroconductive.
- Examples thereof include those of the ⁇ -type, ⁇ -type, ⁇ , ⁇ '-type, ⁇ , ⁇ '-type, X-type and crystal configuration described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 103651/1987 and derivatives thereof. It is desirable to use the ⁇ -, X- or K/R-X type.
- Non-metallic phthalocyanines of the X-type are described in U.S. Patent No. 3,357,989.
- Non-metallic phthalocyanines of the ⁇ -type are described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 182639/1983.
- the phthalocyanines of the K/R-X type are characterized in that major peaks appear at 7.7, 9.2, 16.8, 17.5, 22.4 and 28.8° as of Brag angle (2 ⁇ ⁇ 0.2°) with respect to the X-ray from CuK 2 of 1.541 ⁇ with the ratio of the 16.8° peak intensity to the 9.2° peak intensity ranging from 0.8 to 1.0 and the ratio of the 28.8° peak intensity to the 22.4° peak intensity exceeding 0.4, as described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 103651/1987.
- carrier transport materials for the present invention.
- usable carrier transport materials include oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, thiazole derivatives, thiadiazole derivatives, triazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, imidazolone derivatives, imidazolidine derivatives, bisimidazolidine derivatives, styryl compounds, hydrazone compounds, pyrazoline derivatives, amine derivatives, oxazolone derivatives, benzothiazole derivatives, benzimidazole derivatives, quinazoline derivatives, benzofuran derivatives, acridine derivatives, phenazine derivatives, aminostilbene derivatives, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, poly-1-vinylpyrene and poly-9-vinylanthracene.
- the carrier transport material for the present invention is preferably a carrier transport material which is highly capable of transporting the holes which result from light irradiation to the support side and which is suitable for combined use with the organic pigment.
- Such carrier transport materials are exemplified by the styryl compounds represented by the following Formulas 7 and 8. wherein R 11 and R 12 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or aryl group, the substituent being exemplified by an alkyl group, alkoxy group, substituted amino group, hydroxyl group, halogen atom and aryl group.
- Ar 5 and Ar 6 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, the substituent being exemplified by an alkyl group, alkoxy group, substituted amino group, hydroxyl group, halogen atom and aryl group.
- R 13 and R 14 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or hydrogen atom, the substituent being exemplified by an alkyl group, alkoxy group, substituted amino group, hydroxyl group, halogen atom and aryl group.
- R 15 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group
- R 16 represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, alkoxy group, amino group, substituted amino group or hydroxyl group
- R 17 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or heterocyclic group.
- the hydrazone compounds of the following Formulas 9 through 11 can also be used as carrier transport materials.
- R 18 and R 19 independently represent a hydrogen atom or halogen atom
- R 20 and R 21 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group
- Ar 7 represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group.
- Compounds represented by Formula 9 are described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 72148/1982 and other publications.
- R 22 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or heterocyclic group
- R 23 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group or aryl group
- Q represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkyl group, substituted amino group, alkoxy group or cyano group
- S represents 0 or 1.
- the tetraphenylbenzidine compound of Formula 12 can also be used as a carrier transport material.
- R 24 and R 25 independently represent a hydrogen atom or methyl group;
- R 26 represents a hydrogen atom, methyl group, ethyl group or chlorine atom.
- Examples of other useful carrier transport materials include those described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 64244/1982, 15252/1984, 67940/1982, 2285/1980, 195254/1982 and 4148/1981.
- Examples of the dispersant or solvent used to disperse the carrier generation material or dissolve the carrier transport material and binder resin in the formation of the light-sensitive layer of the photoreceptor of the present invention include hydrocarbons such as hexane, benzene, toluene and xylene, halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, methylene bromide, 1,2-dichloroethane, syn-tetrachloroethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, chloroform, bromoform and chlorobenzene, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone, esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, cyclohexanol
- the light-sensitive layer may contain one or more electron recipient substances.
- Examples of electron recipients which can be used for these purposes include succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, dibromomaleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, tetrabromophthalic anhydride, 3-nitrophthalic anhydride, 4-nitrophthalic anhydride, pyromellitic anhydride, mellitic anhydride, tetracyanoethylene, tetracyanoquinodimethane, o-dinitrobenzene, m-dinitrobenzene, 1,3,5-trinitrolbenzene, p-nitrobenzonitrile, picryl chloride, quinone chlorimide, chloranil, bromanil, dichlorodicyanoparabenzoquinone, anthraquinone, dinitroanthraquinone, 2,7-dinitrofluorenone, 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone, 9-fluor
- the light-sensitive layer for the present invention may contain an organic amine to improve the charge generation function of the carrier generation material, with preference given to a secondary amine.
- organic amine to improve the charge generation function of the carrier generation material, with preference given to a secondary amine.
- the photoreceptor for the present invention may contain as necessary an ultraviolet absorbent and other additives to protect the light-sensitive layer and also a color sensitivity correcting dye.
- the protective layer 8 shown in Figure 2 or 4 may contain as necessary a thermoplastic resin at concentrations below 50 for the purpose of improving the processability and physical properties, for example, to prevent cracking and providing flexibility.
- the interlayer 5 shown in Figure 3, 4 or 6 functions as an adhesive layer, blocking layer or another layer, which may comprise polyvinyl alcohol, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride copolymer, casein, N-alkoxymethylated nylon, starch and other substances as well as ordinary binder resins.
- the electroconductive support 1 which constitutes the photoreceptor for the present invention is prepared mainly from the following substances, but these are not to be construed as limitative.
- the light-sensitive layer 4 of the photoreceptor may be of a double layer structure as illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 or of a single layer structure as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. In the case of double layer structure, it depends on the charging polarity, positive or negative, which of the carrier generation layer 2 or carrier transport layer 3 is located on the counterpart layer. To obtain a negatively charged photoreceptor, it is advantageous to locate the carrier transport layer 3 on the carrier generation layer 2. To obtain a positively charged photoreceptor, it is advantageous to locate the carrier generation layer 2 on the carrier transport layer 3. This is because the carrier transport material in the carrier transport layer 3 is highly capable of transporting positive holes.
- a photoreceptor having a light-sensitive layer 4 of a double layer structure described above is prepared by the following methods.
- vapor phase deposition methods such as vacuum deposition, sputtering and CVD and coating methods such as dip coating, spray coating, blade coating and roll coating.
- the thickness of the carrier generation layer 2 thus formed is preferably 0.01 to 5 ⁇ m, more preferably 0.05 to 3 ⁇ m.
- the carrier generation layer 2 is a layer wherein fine particles of carrier generation material typically having a diameter of not more than 1 ⁇ m as a main component is dispersed in a binder resin in a ratio of 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of the binder resin to 1 part by weight of the carrier generation material.
- the carrier generation layer 2 may contain as necessary a carrier transport material at 0 to 1 part by weight.
- the carrier transport layer 3 is a layer wherein a carrier transport material as a main component is compatibly dissolved in a binder resin in a ratio of 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of the binder resin to 1 part by weight of the carrier transport material.
- the light-sensitive layer 4 of the photoreceptor for the present invention may be of a single layer structure.
- the thickness of the light-sensitive layer is 10 to 50 ⁇ m, preferably 15 to 40 ⁇ m, wherein 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of the carrier transport material and 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of the binder resin are contained per 1 part by weight of the carrier generation material.
- the photoreceptor for the present invention offers excellent electrophotographic performance with high durability and little fatigue deterioration when used for high speed repetitive transfer electrophotography.
- the developer used for the present invention is a two-component developer which is excellent in fluidity and frictional chargeability and hence in developability.
- the two-component developer preferably comprises a fine grains of non-magnetic toner and magnetic carrier grains.
- a colorant such as carbon black in a ratio of not more than 20 wt% and, where necessary, a charge control agent in a ratio of not more than 5 wt%, are added to the thermoplastic or thermosetting resin described below, followed by melting, kneading, cooling, pulverization and classification, and if necessary heat treatment to yield insulating grains having a volume resistivity of not less than 10 14 ⁇ -cm and a weight average grain size of 2 to 20 ⁇ m.
- a binder resin monomer containing the colorant and other additives may be polymerized while stirring to yield a spherical toner.
- binder resin to prepare the toner examples include addition polymerization resins such as styrene resin, styrene-acrylic resin, styrene-butadiene resin and acrylic resin, condensation polymerization resins such as polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyamide resin, polysulfonate resin and polyurethane resin, and epoxy resin.
- addition polymerization resins such as styrene resin, styrene-acrylic resin, styrene-butadiene resin and acrylic resin
- condensation polymerization resins such as polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyamide resin, polysulfonate resin and polyurethane resin, and epoxy resin.
- Examples of the monomer used to form an addition polymerization resin include styrenes such as styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene and 3,4-dichlorostyrene, ethylenic unsaturated monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene and isobutylene, halogenated vinyls such as vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl bromide and vinyl fluoride, vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate and vinyl acetate, ⁇ -methylene aliphatic monocarboxylates such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate,
- charge control agents all of the negative charge control agents described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 88743/1984, 88745/1984, 79256/1984, 78362/1984, 228259/1984 and 124344/1984 and all of the positive charge control agents described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 9456/1976, 204851/1984, 204850/1984 and 177571/1984 can be used.
- a low molecular polyolefin such as polypropylene, polyethylene or wax may be added to binder resin at 0 to 5 wt%.
- hydrophobic silica may be externally added to the toner at 0 to 3 wt%.
- the carrier for the two-component developer for the present invention is capable of providing the desired charge for the toner.
- a magnetic material may be used as such, used after being coated with resin etc. or used as fine powder in mixture with resin, with preference given to a coated carrier prepared by coating a resin on the magnetic grain surface.
- the magnetic material examples include substances which magnetize very strongly in the direction of magnetic field, such as iron, cobalt, nickel and other metals, ferrite, magnetite, hematite and other alloys or compounds containing a ferromagnetic element such as iron, cobalt or nickel, and alloys which contain no ferromagnetic substance but which show ferromagnetism upon appropriate heat treatment such as Heusler's alloys containing manganese and copper (manganese-copper-aluminum alloy and manganese-copper-tin alloy) and chromium dioxide.
- substances which magnetize very strongly in the direction of magnetic field such as iron, cobalt, nickel and other metals, ferrite, magnetite, hematite and other alloys or compounds containing a ferromagnetic element such as iron, cobalt or nickel, and alloys which contain no ferromagnetic substance but which show ferromagnetism upon appropriate heat treatment
- the weight average grain diameter d of the carrier is normally 40 to 120 ⁇ m.
- the carrier resistivity is not less than 10 3 ⁇ -cm, preferably not less than 10 13 ⁇ -cm, and still more preferably not less than 10 14 ⁇ -cm for preventing charge injection into the carrier by bias voltage and subsequent adherence of the carrier on the image formation surface and leakage of bias voltage leading to elimination of the latent image charge.
- the specific resistivity of carrier or toner is determined by tapping the subject grains in a container having a cross sectional area of 0.5 cm 2 , then exerting a load of 1 kg/cm 3 on the tapped grains, applying a voltage such that a 10 2 to 10 5 V/cm electric field appears between the loaded grains and the bottom electrode, reading the value for current and making a given calculation.
- the thickness of the carrier or toner grain layer is about 1 mm.
- the carrier for the present invention is preferably made spherical to improve the frictional chargeability between the carrier and the toner as well as to improve the developer fluidity and to make blocking among the carrier grains or between the carrier and the toner unlikely to occur.
- a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin for example, is coated to a thickness of 0.1 to 2 ⁇ m (0.5 to 5 wt% relative to the carrier weight) on magnetic grains previously made spherical for a resin-coated carrier, or dispersed grains prepared by dispersing a fine ferromagnetic power in resin at 30 to 70 wt% may be heated to make them spherical or subjected to spray drying to directly prepare spherical grains.
- the two-component developer contains the carrier and toner in weight ratios of 98:2 to 85:15 and may contain as necessary a fluidizing agent such as hydrophobic silica, colloidal silica or silicon varnish and a cleaning aid such as a metal salt of fatty acid or fluorine surfactant in a ratio of 0.1 to 3 wt% of the toner.
- a fluidizing agent such as hydrophobic silica, colloidal silica or silicon varnish
- a cleaning aid such as a metal salt of fatty acid or fluorine surfactant in a ratio of 0.1 to 3 wt% of the toner.
- FIG. 7 The numerical symbols in Figure 7 denote an original 10 placed on an original table 11, exposure lamps 12 and 13, reflective mirrors 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d and an image forming lens 15, a charger 16, a developing apparatus 17, a sleeve 17a rotating in the direction of the arrow, an immobilized magnet 17b having a main developing magnetic pole 17d, a hopper 17c for supplying the toner T, a stirrer 18 for developer D, a highly durable organic photoreceptor drum 20, a cleaning apparatus 21, a blade 21a housed in the cleaning apparatus 21, a power source 22 to apply a DC bias voltage to the developing sleeve 17a, a paper feed cassette 23, a paper feed roller 24, a resist roller 25, a transfer pole 28, a separation pole 29, a transfer paper transport apparatus 26, a fixation roller 27, a discharge roller 28 and a paper receiving
- the original 10 on the original table 11 is scanned at a speed of X in the direction of the arrow by the exposure system comprising the exposure lamps 12 and 13 and the reflective mirror 14a, from which scanning light is reflected by the V mirrors 14b and 14c running at a speed of X/2 and which reaches the photoreceptor drum 20, pre-charged to 400 to 800 V by the charger 16 and rotating at a peripheral speed of not less than 300 mm/sec in the direction of the arrow, via the image forming lens 15 and the reflective mirror 14d, on which photoreceptor drum imagewise exposure occurs and an electrostatic latent image forms.
- the resulting electrostatic latent image is sled and developed by a magnetic brush developing device 17 containing a single-component developer based on a magnetic toner, or a two-component developer preferably comprising a magnetic carrier and a non-magnetic toner to form a toner image. Then, the developer D in the developing device 17 is thoroughly stirred, mixed and slid and hence charged with the toner T supplied via a toner supplying mechanism such as the hopper 17c by the stirrer 18, after which it is magnetically adsorbed to the sleeve 17a and then transported to the developing zone for developing the electrostatic latent image.
- a toner supplying mechanism such as the hopper 17c by the stirrer 18, after which it is magnetically adsorbed to the sleeve 17a and then transported to the developing zone for developing the electrostatic latent image.
- the peripheral speed of the sleeve 17a is set at 1 to 5 times the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor drum 20 (peripheral speed ratio K); therefore, as the copying speed increases, the peripheral speed of the sleeve 17a increases and carrier scattering becomes more likely to occur.
- the magnetic flux density on the sleeve is at least 950 gauss, preferably not more than 1200 gauss to ensure development free of carrier scattering.
- the iron powder grains mingled in the developer stand up as if they are magnetically attracted and cause abrasive deterioration of the surface of the photoreceptor during repeated image formation even when the photoreceptor has been improved according to the present invention.
- the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor preferably be under 600 mm/sec.
- the peripheral speed ratio K is set at a lower level to avoid an excessive peripheral speed of the sleeve 17a and magnetic flux density on the sleeve as the copying speed increases.
- the peripheral speed ratio K should be not less than 1 to maintain imaging performance, and the magnetic flux density on the sleeve must be not less than 950 gauss to prevent carrier scattering.
- the toner image obtained by development as above is transferred by the transfer pole 28 onto transfer paper transported from the paper feed cassette 23 to the developing zone via the paper feed roller 24 and resist roller 25 in synchronization with image formation and then transferred by the action of the separating pole 29.
- the transfer paper carrying the toner image is transported by the transport means 26 to the fixing device 27, wherein it is fixed, after which it is discharged to the paper receiving tray 29 via the paper discharge roller 28.
- the method of image formation described above makes it possible to stably form a high quality image at high speed.
- a carrier generation material, carrier transport material, carrier generation layer and carrier transport layer are abbreviated CGM, CTM, CGL and CTL, respectively.
- a photoreceptor 2 was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation of inventive photoreceptor 1, except that the polycarbonate was replaced with a polymer comprising a homopolymer of the repeat unit of Exemplified Compound 1-2 and the CTM was Exemplified Compound 7-3.
- An interlayer was formed in the same manner as in Preparation of inventive photoreceptor 1, 20 g of a polycyclic quinone pigment (Exemplified Compound 4-3) as CGM and 10 g of a polycarbonate resin L-1250 (produced by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) as a binder were dissolved in 1,2-dichloroethane (produced by Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd., special grade), followed by 24 hours of milling in a ball mill to yield a CGL coating solution, which was dip-coated on the interlayer to yield a 0.3 ⁇ m thick CGL.
- a polycyclic quinone pigment Exemplified Compound 4-3
- a polycarbonate resin L-1250 produced by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.
- 1,2-dichloroethane produced by Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd., special grade
- a photoreceptor 3 was prepared by CTL lamination in the same manner as in Preparation of inventive photoreceptor 1, except that the CTM was Exemplified Compound 7-5 and the binder resin was replaced with a polycarbonate (molecular weight 20000) comprising a homopolymer of the repeat unit of Exemplified Compound 1-3.
- a polycarbonate molecular weight 20000
- the resulting dispersion was dip-coated on the interlayer described in Preparation of inventive photoreceptor 1 to yield a CGL, followed by CTL formation in the same manner as photoreceptor 2 to yield a photoreceptor 4.
- a photoreceptor (5) was prepared in the same manner as for photoreceptor 1, except that CTL binder was replaced with simple polycarbonate instead of examplified compound (1)-4 unit repeated polymer.
- a comparative photoreceptor 1 was prepared in the same manner as for photoreceptor 1, except that a bisphenol A polycarbonate (Panlite K-1300, produced by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) was used as a CTL binder.
- a bisphenol A polycarbonate Panlite K-1300, produced by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.
- the sensitizing solution was found unstable, poor in retention stability and easily gelable during preparation of the photoreceptor.
- a comparative photoreceptor 2 was prepared in the same manner as for photoreceptor 1, except that a bisphenol Z polycarbonate (produced by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.) was used as a CTL binder.
- Carbon black Mogal L (produced by Cabot) 10 parts by weight
- a polysiloxane having an ammonium salt functional group represented by the following formula was dissolved in xylene to yield a treating solution.
- fine grains of silica Aerosil 200 (produced by Nihon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) were placed in a mixer and sprayed with the polysiloxane in a ratio such that the ratio of the polysiloxane was 5 wt%, after which they were transferred to a flask, followed by removing the solvent xylene while stirring at 200°C for 5 hours to yield inorganic fine grains surface treated with the polysiloxane having an ammonium salt functional group.
- the inorganic fine grains had a primary grain size of 12 m ⁇ and a specific area of 115 m 2 /g as determined by the BET method.
- ferrite grains F-150 produced by Nippon Teppun Kogyo
- a fluorine resin with the following structure to a film thickness of about 1.5 ⁇ m to yield a resin-coated carrier, which had a grain size of 80 ⁇ m.
- inventive photoreceptors 1 through 4 and comparative photoreceptors 1 and 2 were loaded on a version of U-BIX 5000 (produced by Konica Corporation), and the two-component developer was filled in the developing device of the copying machine, and the tests of Table 2 were conducted under the mechanical conditions shown in Table 1. Each test was repeated in 100000 cycles, and the surface potential of the photoreceptor was measured before and after actual imaging.
- the black paper potential Vb in Table 2 is the surface potential of the photoreceptor to an original with a reflective density of 1.3.
- the white paper potential V W is the surface potential of the photoreceptor to an original with a reflex density of 0.
- the residual potential V R is the surface potential of the photoreceptor after discharging. All these values were measured using a voltameter probe placed at the developing device before and after actual imaging.
- Film wear due to friction on the photoreceptor surface was determined by measuring the film thickness of the photoreceptor after 100000 copies were taken and compared with the initial value.
- the image sample was sequentially checked by counting the copies with visible streaks or cleaning failures associated with flaws in the direction of the drum periphery.
- test samples according to the present invention showed little wear deterioration and electrophotographic performance degradation during repeated high speed copying, while the comparative samples showed significant wear deterioration in the photoreceptor.
- the method of image formation of the present invention is effective in stably obtaining high quality images without being accompanied by photoreceptor wear, imaging failure or electrophotographic performance degradation during repeated image formation at high speed.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
- Photoreceptors In Electrophotography (AREA)
Description
Copying speed | 50 copies/min for A4 size, landscape position |
Photoreceptor drum diameter | 100 mm⊘ |
Drum peripheral speed | 333 mm/sec |
Sleeve diameter | 55 mm⊘ |
Sleeve peripheral speed | 666 mm/sec |
Peripheral speed ratio (sleeve/photoreceptor drum) | 2.0 |
Magnetic flux density of main developing magnetic pole | 900 gauss, 1050 gauss, 1300 gauss |
Claims (7)
- A method of electrophotographic image formation comprising:rotating an organic photoelectroconductive photoreceptor, and charging and imagewise exposing the rotating photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor;rotating a sleeve around a fixed static magnet, which sleeve carries a developing agent for developing the electrostatic latent image, wherein
at least the uppermost layer of the photoreceptor comprises a polycarbonate, based on a repeat unit of Formula I or II below; wherein Z represents a group of atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted carbon ring or heterocyclic ring group, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 independently represent a hydrogen atom, methyl group, chlorine atom or bromine atom, and at least one of R1 to R8 is other than a hydrogen atom; wherein R1 to R8 are as defined for Formula I and R9 and R10 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein- the magnetic flux density on the sleeve is not less than 950 gauss; and
- the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor is not less than 300 mm/sec.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the repeat unit is represented by Formula I.
- The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic flux density is not more than 1200 gauss, and-the peripheral speed is not more than 600 mm/sec.
- The method of any preceding claim, wherein two of R1 to R8 comprise methyl groups or chlorine atoms.
- The method of claim 4, wherein the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor is not less than 350 mm/sec.
- The method of any preceding claim, wherein Z completes a cyclohexane group or a cyclopentane group.
- The method of electrophotographic image formation of claim 1, wherein the photoreceptor is a photoreceptor drum, wherein at least the layer furthermost from the axis of the drum comprises a compound chosen from formulae III, IV, V or VI below; and wherein the magnetic flux density at the sleeve is from 950 to 1200 gauss, and the linear speed of the furthest layer is from 350 to 600 mm/sec.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP28091790A JPH04155366A (en) | 1990-10-18 | 1990-10-18 | Image forming method |
JP280916/90 | 1990-10-18 | ||
JP280917/90 | 1990-10-18 | ||
JP28091690A JPH04155365A (en) | 1990-10-18 | 1990-10-18 | Image forming method |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0481747A1 EP0481747A1 (en) | 1992-04-22 |
EP0481747B1 true EP0481747B1 (en) | 1998-01-07 |
Family
ID=26553982
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19910309516 Expired - Lifetime EP0481747B1 (en) | 1990-10-18 | 1991-10-16 | Method of image formation |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0481747B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69128598T2 (en) |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4800412A (en) * | 1985-03-22 | 1989-01-24 | Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha | Apparatus for developing electrostatic latent images |
US4931372A (en) * | 1987-10-30 | 1990-06-05 | Konica Corporation | Polycarbonate-containing photoreceptors containing a hindered phenol compound |
DE3804449A1 (en) * | 1988-02-12 | 1989-08-24 | Konishiroku Photo Ind | Electrophotographic image generation process |
EP0356246B1 (en) * | 1988-08-25 | 1994-02-16 | Konica Corporation | Photoreceptor |
-
1991
- 1991-10-16 EP EP19910309516 patent/EP0481747B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-10-16 DE DE1991628598 patent/DE69128598T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69128598D1 (en) | 1998-02-12 |
DE69128598T2 (en) | 2004-04-15 |
EP0481747A1 (en) | 1992-04-22 |
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