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EP0516419B1 - Appareil de développement et élément de transport de développateur pour cet appareil - Google Patents

Appareil de développement et élément de transport de développateur pour cet appareil Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0516419B1
EP0516419B1 EP92304847A EP92304847A EP0516419B1 EP 0516419 B1 EP0516419 B1 EP 0516419B1 EP 92304847 A EP92304847 A EP 92304847A EP 92304847 A EP92304847 A EP 92304847A EP 0516419 B1 EP0516419 B1 EP 0516419B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sleeve
coating layer
toner
developer
developing
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92304847A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0516419A2 (fr
EP0516419A3 (en
Inventor
Yasuhide C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Goseki
Akira c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Unno
Kenji c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Fujishima
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0516419A2 publication Critical patent/EP0516419A2/fr
Publication of EP0516419A3 publication Critical patent/EP0516419A3/en
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Publication of EP0516419B1 publication Critical patent/EP0516419B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G03G15/0928—Details concerning the magnetic brush roller structure, e.g. magnet configuration relating to the shell, e.g. structure, composition

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer to a developing zone, used with the developing apparatus.
  • a developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member in the form of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for example, with magnetic toner particle of one component developer
  • friction between a developer carrying member in the form of a developing sleeve and magnetic toner particles is used to electrically charge the magnetic toner particles to a polarity opposite from that of the electrostatic image charge on the photosensitive drum and that of the reference potential of the development.
  • the magnetic toner particles are applied on the developing sleeve as a thin layer and are conveyed to a developing zone where the developing sleeve is faced to the photosensitive drum. In the developing zone, the magnetic toner particles are transferred onto the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum surface, and are deposited thereon, thus realising the electrostatic latent image into a toner image.
  • Such a developing apparatus is known.
  • the image formed may have hysteresis of the previous image. This is called "ghost development".
  • the reason for the occurrence of the ghost image is as follows.
  • the toner on the sleeve is not consumed, and therefore, a layer of very fine toner particles overcharged are electrostatically attracted on the surface of the sleeve with strong force.
  • the fine particle toner layer is not easily transferred onto the photosensitive drum, and also prevents the triboelectric charging between the sleeve and fresh toner particles supplied thereto. Accordingly, if the images having large white background areas are continuously formed, and thereafter, a black image is formed, the image density of the black image is low. This is the reason why the ghost development occurs.
  • a developing apparatus in which the occurrence of the ghost development is prevented, is proposed in U.S. Patent No. 4,989,044, in which the sleeve is provided with an outer coating layer having fine graphite particles dispersed in a resin material.
  • the fine graphite particles are effective to discharge the electric charge of the overcharged fine toner particles.
  • it exhibits a high solid state lubricance, and therefore, is effective to weaken the attraction of the fine toner particles to the sleeve. This prevents production of the above-described fine toner particle layer, thus suppressing occurrence of the ghost development.
  • the causes for this phenomenon can be estimated as being that the flowing speed of the toner becomes slower in the end regions of the sleeve than in the middle, because of the resistance from the side wall of the container, and as a result, the contact time between the toner and the sleeve in the end regions of the sleeve becomes longer than in the middle, thereby causing the triboelectric toner charge to be larger at the peripheries than in the middle.
  • the overcharged toner is attracted to the sleeve by the strong electrostatic mirror force, it becomes difficult to be transferred onto the photosensitive drum. Also, it becomes difficult for the fresh toner, which will be delivered onto such a toner layer as the above, to obtain the necessary triboelectric charge for the development.
  • the toner layer at the sleeve peripheries becomes excessively thick, which sometimes generates black spots at the peripheries of the developed image.
  • the present invention provides a developer carrier member (developer carrying member) as defined in claim 1 of the accompanying claims.
  • the invention provides a developing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 of the accompanying claims.
  • Embodiments of the present invention can provide a development apparatus and a developer carrying member therefor, which can reduce the occurrence of the ghost phenomenon which is likely to occur in a low humidity environment where it is easy for the toner to be triboelectrically charged, and can form thereby a developed image with excellent quality not only in the middle of the picture but also at the periphery.
  • Embodiments of the developer carrying member can form a developed image of excellent image quality whether in low humidity or high humidity.
  • the coating layer comprises a resin material in which fine graphite particles are dispersed.
  • This coating layer triboelectrically charges the developer, and its triboelectric charging capacity is larger in the middle regions of the developer carrying member than in the end region in the longitudinal direction.
  • the inclusion of the fine graphite particles in the coating layer of the developer carrying member permits escape of the electric charge of the overcharged fine toner particles.
  • the solid state lubricance of the fine graphite particles mechanically eases the force with which the fine toner particles are held onto the developer carrying member. In this manner, the occurrence of the ghost development phenomenon is suppressed.
  • the triboelectric charge capacity of the above-mentioned coating layer is larger in the middle region than in the end regions with reference to the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, excessive triboelectric charge of the developer towards the ends of said member can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to form a developed image with uniform quality both at the periphery and in the middle.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a graph representing the work function curve measured at the surface of the development sleeve of the development device in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is an explanatory view showing the surface of the development sleeve coated with coat forming resin liquid in Embodiments 1 - 6 of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of the polishing device, in accordance with the present invention, which is used to polish the development sleeve surface.
  • Figure 5 is a sectional view of the development sleeve surface conditions before and after the polishing process using the device in Figure 4.
  • Figure 6 is a plan view showing schematically the polishing device to be used in Embodiments 7 - 18 of the present invention.
  • Figure 7 is an explanatory view of the development sleeve surfaces after the polishing processes in Embodiments 7 - 12 of the present invention.
  • Figure 8 is an explanatory view of the development sleeve surfaces after the polishing process in Embodiments 13 - 18 of the present invention.
  • a developing apparatus which comprises an image bearing member in the form of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 rotatable in a direction indicated by arrow A and is capable of bearing an electrostatic latent image.
  • the photosensitive drum 1 may have a surface insulative layer.
  • the photosensitive drum 1 may be replaced with a photosensitive sheet or belt.
  • the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged to a negative polarity by an unshown developing device, and is exposed to a laser beam modulated in accordance with an image information signal, so that a negative electrostatic latent image is formed.
  • the image information beam may be projected to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by an LED array or the like.
  • the electrostatic latent image is reverse-developed in a developing zone 7 by a developing apparatus D with a magnetic toner triboelectrically charged to a negative polarity.
  • the developing apparatus D comprises a developer carrying member in the form of a developing sleeve 2 in an opening of a developer container 4 containing a one component developer, that is, magnetic toner 5.
  • the developing sleeve 2 is faced to the photosensitive drum 1.
  • the developing sleeve 2 carries the toner 5 in the container 4 and rotates in a direction B. By doing so, the sleeve 2 carries the toner to the developing zone where the sleeve 2 is faced to the photosensitive drum 1.
  • a plurality of magnetic poles of a permanent magnet 3 are stationarily disposed in the sleeve 2.
  • a developer layer thickness regulating member in the form of the doctor blade 6 made of magnetic material is disposed with a predetermined gap from the the developing sleeve 2 so as to regulate the toner layer on the developing sleeve 2 at a predetermined thickness.
  • the magnetic field extending from a magnetic pole N1 is concentrated on the blade 6. In this embodiment, the gap between the doctor blade 6 and the developing sleeve 2 is approximately 50 - 500 ⁇ m.
  • the toner 5 in developer container 4 is electrically charged to a polarity for developing the electrostatic latent image by friction with the surface of the developing sleeve 2, and is carried on the the developing sleeve 2 surface.
  • the layer of the toner 5 thus applied on the the developing sleeve 2 surface is regulated by the magnetic field between magnetic pole N1 of magnet 3 and the doctor blade 6 at a uniform and thin toner layer having a thickness of approximately 30 - 300 ⁇ m.
  • the toner 5 in the form of thin layer 5' is carried into the the developing zone 7, where the toner is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 to develop the electrostatic latent image thereon. More particularly, the toner is deposited to the light potential region of the latent image.
  • the thickness of toner layer 5' is smaller than the minimum gap between the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing sleeve 2 in the developing zone 7 (50 - 500 ⁇ m, for example), and the developing action is what is called a non-contact type developing action.
  • the developing sleeve 2 is supplied with an oscillating bias voltage in the form of a DC biased AC voltage from the voltage source 8. By doing so, an oscillating electric field promotes removal of the toner from the sleeve 2 toward the drum 1, and therefore, a high density image without a foggy background can be produced.
  • the developing sleeve 2 is provided with the surface coating layer 10 of a resin material containing at least crystalline graphite as conductive fine particles, the layer having a thickness of approximately 0.5 - 30 ⁇ m.
  • a base member of the developing sleeve 2 on which the coating layer 10 is applied is in the form of cylinder 9 of aluminum, stainless steel, or the like.
  • fine conductive particles fine crystalline graphite particles or a mixture of fine amorphous carbon particles and crystalline graphite fine particles, are usable.
  • the crystalline graphite usable in this embodiment may be classified into natural graphite and artificial graphite.
  • the artificial graphite may be produced by solidifying pitch coke with tar, sintering it at approximately 1200 °C, putting it in a graphitizing furnace to heat it at 2300 °C approximately to develop the carbon crystal into graphite.
  • the natural graphite has been produced by long term ground heat and pressure application into a complete graphitization.
  • the carbon graphite is a dark gray or black glossy and very soft crystal of carbon showing a high sliding property.
  • the crystalline structure thereof is hexagonal or rhombohedral and is completely laminated.
  • As for its electrical nature there are free electrons in the combination between carbons, so that it is good electrical conductive material.
  • either of the natural or artificial graphite is usable.
  • the preferable average particle size of the graphite is 0.5 - 20 ⁇ m.
  • conductive amorphous carbon is usable as for the fine carbon particles.
  • the conductive amorphous carbon is generally defined as an aggregate of crystals produced by burning or pyrolytically decomposing a compound including hydrocarbon or carbon under poor supply of air.
  • the average particle size of the electrically conductive amorphous carbon used in this embodiment is preferably 10 - 80 ⁇ m, and further preferably 15 - 40 ⁇ m.
  • the usable binder resins in which the fine conductive particles are dispersed include, for example, thermoplastic resins such as styrene resin, vinyl resins, polyether sulfone resins, polycarbonate resins, polyphenylene oxide resins, polyamide resins, fluorine resins, cellulose resins, acrylic resins or the like, and thermo-setting or photo-curing resins such as epoxy resins, polyester resins, alkyd resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, polyurethane resins, urea resins, silicone resins, polyimide resins, or the like.
  • thermoplastic resins such as styrene resin, vinyl resins, polyether sulfone resins, polycarbonate resins, polyphenylene oxide resins, polyamide resins, fluorine resins, cellulose resins, acrylic resins or the like
  • thermo-setting or photo-curing resins such as epoxy resins, polyester resins, alkyd resins, phenol resins, mel
  • the one component developer (toner) usable with the present invention will be described.
  • binder resins known resins are usable. Examples of them include styrene resins and derivatives such as styrene, ⁇ -methylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene; monocarbonic acid and derivatives having a double bond such as acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl, acryloamide; dicarbonic acid and derivatives having a double bond such as maleic acid, butyl maleate, methyl maleate, dimethyl maleate; a polymer or copolymer of
  • the toner may contain pigment, which includes carbon black, nigrosin dye, lamp black, Sudan black SM, fast yellow G, benzidine yellow, pigment yellow, Indofast orange, irgazine red, baranitroanyline red, roluidine resin, carmine FB, permanent bordeaux FRR, pigment orange R, lithol red 2G, lake red C, rhodamine FB, rhodamine B lake, methyl violet B lake, phthalocyanine blue, pigment blue, brilliant green B, phthalocyanine green, oil yellow GG, zapon fast yellow CGG, Kayaset Y 963, Kayaset YG, Sumiplast Yellow GG, Zapon Fast Orange RR, Oil Scarlet, Sumiplast Orange G, Orazole Brown B, Zapon Fast Scarlet CG, Izenspiron Red BEH, Oil Pink OP or the like.
  • pigment which includes carbon black, nigrosin dye, lamp black, Sudan black SM, fast yellow G, benzidine yellow, pigment yellow, Indofast orange,
  • magnetic particles are contained in toner.
  • the magnetic particles include ferromagnetic metal powder such as iron, cobalt, nickel or the like powder and metal alloys or compounds such as magnetite, hematite, ferrite or the like.
  • the content of the magnetic particles is 15 - 70 % approximately by weight on the basis of toner weight.
  • the toner powder may contain various parting materials.
  • the usable parting materials include polyethylene fluoride, fluorine resin, fluorine carbonized oil, silicone oil, low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene and the like.
  • a charge controlling agent may be added. These materials, including the tone binder resin materials, are mixed, kneaded and pulverized through various processes, and the particles having the desirable particle sizes are used as the toner.
  • colloidal silica or the like is added and stirred. Then, it is usable as the toner.
  • the sleeve 2 is coated with the resin layer 10 containing the fine graphite particles in the dispersed state, a part of the electric charge of the fine toner particles overcharged is escaped through the graphite particles.
  • the lubricating nature of the graphite fine particles exposed to the surface of the layer 10 is effective to reduce the deposition force between the fine toner particles and the surface of the sleeve. Therefore, the production of the ghost can be prevented.
  • the fine amorphous carbon particles are dispersed in the layer 10, they are contributable to permit a part of the electric charge of the fine particle toner overcharged to escape.
  • the toner is triboelectrically charged more in the end regions than in the middle in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in the following embodiments, in order to increase the triboelectric toner charging capacity in the middle region of the sleeve than in the end regions, the content ratio of the electrically conductive particles in the coating layer 10 is varied between the middle region and the end regions of the sleeve 2, or the polishing process of the coating layer 10 is varied between the middle region and the end regions of the sleeve 2.
  • the triboelectric toner charging capacity is made smaller in the end regions of the sleeve than in the middle of sleeve, whereby it becomes possible to give the toner on the sleeve a virtually uniform triboelectric charge in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve.
  • the development image involves a low image density portion extending in a direction in which the development action proceeds.
  • the characters are thinned, and in the case of a halftone image or solid black image, the image density is low.
  • the low charge toner particles pass by the friction with the sleeve through a developer layer thickness regulating zone in a thickness equivalent to the normally charged toner particle layer. Therefore, the thickness of the toner layer is uniform on the sleeve.
  • the fading phenomena tends to occur under high temperature and high humidity conditions in which the triboelectric charge of the toner tends to be low.
  • inclination ( ⁇ ) of the work function measurement curve of the coating surface layer is not less than 10 (cps/eV).
  • the inclination ⁇ corresponds to the quantum efficiency, and therefore, to the triboelectric charge application power to the developer. If the inclination ⁇ is not less than 10 (cps/eV), the developer can be provided with sufficient triboelectric charge.
  • the inclination ⁇ also corresponds to the exposure ratio of the graphite fine particles in the coating layer, and therefore, to the degree of the solid lubricance of the coating layer surface. If the inclination ⁇ is not less than 10 (cps/eV), the developer particles can fairly easily slide on the surface of the developer carrying member. Therefore, the developer having the low electric charge is unable to pass under the developer layer regulation member. Therefore, the developer properly charged through triboelectricity are electrostatically deposited on the developer carrying member by the mirror force, so that it can pass under the regulating member.
  • the image density of the developed image can be stabilized even when a large member of images are continuously printed.
  • the surface friction of the development sleeve is reduced, that is, its slipperiness is increased, in the middle region of the sleeve in its longitudinal direction, whereby the friction on the sleeve surface becomes insufficient for the weakly charged toner, in other words, the toner with poor adhesive force to the sleeve, so as to pass the concentrated magnetic field (magnetic curtain) between the blade 6 and magnet 3, letting pass only the normally charged toner with proper amount of electrostatic adhesive force to the sleeve.
  • the work function defining inclination ⁇ is defined as the minimum energy required for taking one electron out of the surface of a material to a position immediately outside the surface.
  • the work function may be measured by a photoelectron measurement device, for example, AC-1 -Trade Mark- available from Riken Keiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan.
  • the device AC-1 is characterised in that the work function of the surface of the developing sleeve 2 is easily determined in the atmosphere. It has been confirmed by the inventor that the work functions measured by the device AC-1 is equivalent to the values determined by the Kelvin method (contact potential method, IBM, J. RES. DEVELOP., vol. 22, no. 1, January 1978, pages 72 to 79, H.B. Michaelson: "Relation between an atomic electronegativity scale and the work function").
  • Figure 2 shows the work function measurement curve obtained by the measurement using the device AC-1.
  • the abscissa represents excitation energy (eV)
  • the ordinate represents the number of photoelectrons (yield) (cps, that is, the count per second).
  • cps the number of photoelectrons
  • This point is defined as the level of the work function Wf.
  • the degree of photoelectron emission thereafter (right side of the Wf point) is defined by the inclination ⁇ of rectilinear line 1 approximating the measured curve.
  • a sodium lamp was used as the measurement light source during the measurement, and its luminance intensity was 500 mW.
  • the magnetic toner materials used as the one compound developer in these embodiments are as follows.
  • the material of the toner used is as follows: Styrene-butylacrylate-n-butylhalfester-maleate copolymer 100 wt.parts Magnetite 55 wt.parts Negative charge controlling agent 3 wt.parts Low-molecular weight polypropylene 3 wt.parts
  • the above mentioned materials were kneaded, pulverized and classified to produce a toner powder having a weight average particle size of 12.2 ⁇ m, containing 23 % of 6.35 ⁇ m or less particles on the basis of number and 1.7 % of 20.2 ⁇ m or larger toner particles on the basis of weight, and then, used as the magnetic toner.
  • LBP-SX -Trade Mark- available from Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan
  • a commercially available process cartridge for the LBP-SX was used as the process cartridge, which supports a photosensitive drum, triboelectric charging device, developing device, and cleaner, integrally within its frame. Flanges were installed at the ends of the following developing sleeves so that they can be mounted in the above mentioned cartridge.
  • the test operations of image formation were carried out under 15 °C and 10 % RH and under 32 °C and 85 % RH.
  • the composition of the coating layer resin liquid used to form the surface coating resin layer 10 and the mixing formula of its diluting solvent were varied between the middle region and the end regions of the sleeve in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve in order to control the triboelectric toner charging capacity.
  • coat forming resin liquids the following two types of formulas A and B were used.
  • the materials for the above mentioned coating layer forming resin liquids A and B were dispersed to satisfy a predetermined condition using a sand mill. These coating layer forming resin liquids A and B were coated on aluminum cylinders (to be mounted on LBP-SX cartridge) using a spray gun. The coating of the sleeve of Embodiment 1 was carried out as shown in Figure 3.
  • the sleeve 2 was masked in the middle region in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve, and then, end regions V and W (approximately 20 mm long in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve) in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve 2 were coated with the spray of resin liquid A.
  • end regions V and W were masked and resin liquid B was sprayed on the middle region Y.
  • the cylinders were left in a thermostatic tub at 160°C for 20 minutes to thermally cure the phenol resin in coat layer forming resin liquids A and B.
  • coating layer forming resin liquid A was formed into a 10 ⁇ m thick resin coating layer 10 covering middle region U in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve, and end regions V and W were coated with coating layer forming resin liquid B to a thickness of 10 ⁇ m, thereby producing the developing sleeve of Embodiment 1, in which the graphite content is higher in the middle region U than in end regions V and W.
  • the image density column indicates the image density dispersion when a large number of copies were continuously made, in other words, the values of solid black section (5 mm square) were measured by a MacBeth (Trade Mark) reflection densitometer.
  • o ⁇ indicates excellent, ⁇ good, and ⁇ indicates fair in practical usage level.
  • these symbols are going to be used in the same manner in the following Tables 2 - 4.
  • the ⁇ symbol, which appears for the first time in Table 2 indicates that the image develops but its density is too low for practical usage
  • the ⁇ symbol, which appears first time in Table 3 indicates that the image is too inferior to be acceptable.
  • inclination ⁇ of the work function measurement curve of the developing sleeve surface is as low as 6.5 - 7 at both end regions of the sleeve (left V, and right W), in other words, below 10, and is 25 at middle region U, that is, higher than 10. Since the triboelectric tone charging capacity is low at the both end regions and higher in the middle region, the toner was not excessively charged up and the image density was high at 1.2 - 1.4, in the low humidity environment of 15 °C and 10 %RH. Also, in the high humidity environment of 32 °C and 85 %RH, the images were excellent without any fading, and the image density was high at 1.1 - 1.3. Excellent results were obtained in all categories.
  • 41 and 42 are the left and right side walls of container 4 containing the toner 5, and the sleeve 2 is rotatively supported by these side walls 41 and 42.
  • the sleeve 2 is rotated by the driving force transmitted through gear 21 which is attached to the sleeve 2.
  • coat forming resin liquids C, D, E and F which employ the formulas shown below, were prepared. These coat forming resin liquids, A, C - F were coated, as needed, on middle region U and both end sections V and W of the sleeve 2 in Figure 3, in the various patterns and combinations shown in Table 2, whereby he developing sleeves on which resin coating layers 10 containing graphite were formed as Embodiments 2 - 6. However, end regions V and W were made to be 15 mm long, respectively. Then, images were formed in the same manner as Embodiment 1 and subjected to the same evaluation test.
  • the composition of the resin coating layer 10 on the surface of the developing sleeve 2 was varied between the sleeve end regions and the middle in order to set the triboelectric toner charging capacity to be low at the sleeve end regions and high in the middle, but it is also possible to arrange the same triboelectric toner charging capacity as the above by performing a polishing process on the surface of the developing sleeve 2 after the formation of the resin coating layer 10. In this case, all that is needed is to coat the identical resin liquid on the above mentioned regions U, V and W. In any case, since the adjustment of the amount of graphite exposed at the coating layer surface is possible by adjusting the degree of polishing on the coating layer, the triboelectric toner charging capacity can be adjusted by controlling the sliding property of the surface.
  • the resin layer impregnated with fine graphite particles is preferably polished using polishing materials such as felt, woven fabric or paper, which do not contain abrasive particles, after the above liquids are coated on the sleeve member and dried.
  • the polishing material used for the polishing is HW felt available from Hayashi Felt Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan, which is 100 % wool having a standard density of 0.34 g/cm 2 . It has a width of 40 mm, a length of 200 mm and a thickness of 3 mm.
  • Figure 4 shows a surface polishing apparatus capable of easily exposing the crystalline graphite contained in the coating layer 10 of the developing sleeve 2.
  • the developing sleeve 2 is placed vertically, and is fixed by main shaft 12 at the top and bottom ends, and is rotated by main shaft 12, which is driven by an unshown driving device.
  • a polishing felt 13 in the form of a strand fixed on a holder 14 is extended, and is pulled in direction a .
  • the tension load at this time is measured by a load detector 15 directly connected to the holder 14.
  • the load detector 15 is mounted on a carriage 16b movable together with the felt 13 in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 2.
  • the developing sleeve fixed to a shaft 12 at the longitudinal ends thereof is rotated at a predetermined speed.
  • the felt should not be allowed to contact the freshly formed the resin coating layer 10 of the the developing sleeve 2, and therefore, the felt 13 is placed either at the top or bottom end of the the developing sleeve 2.
  • Felt 13 is pulled with a predetermined load using the load detector 15 through the holder 14 affixed to the felt 13, and a carriage 16 is moved up or down relative to the developing sleeve 2 at a predetermined speed. By doing so, the surface of the developing sleeve 2 is polished by the felt 13 press-contacted thereto, by which the crystalline graphite contained in the coating layer 10 is exposed.
  • Figure 5A is a sectional view of a the developing sleeve 2 surface before the polishing process
  • Figure 5B shows the same after the polishing process.
  • the degree of exposure of graphite 19 can be controlled.
  • Binder resin 18 or crystalline graphite 19 (and also the conductive amorphous carbon or the like if any) in the coating layer 10 are gradually absorbed by the felt when they are removed from the coating layer 10, because the surface of the felt 13 is soft. The removed materials do not remain on the surface of the developing sleeve 2, and therefore, the surface of the developing sleeve 2 is polished while being cleaned.
  • the degree of graphite exposure can be controlled by controlling the extent of polishing given to the coating layer.
  • the above mentioned amount of polishing can be controlled by adjusting any one, or combinations of any two or three, among the factors such as the pressure applied on the coating layer by the polishing member (felt), relative speed between the coating layer and the polishing member, and duration of the polishing process.
  • the greater the amount of polishing, (for example, the higher the above mentioned contact pressure, and/or the higher the relative speed), the larger the degree of the graphite exposure becomes, thereby increasing the above mentioned inclination ⁇ .
  • the polishing device in Figure 6 is provided with a feeding shaft 26 and a take-up shaft 27 for the felt web 13, and the felt 13 is fitted on a sleeve 22, pulleys 22, 23, 24 and 25, as is shown in the figure.
  • the contact pressure applied on the sleeve 2 by the felt 13 can be adjusted by displacing the pulleys 24 and 25 in the direction of arrow c, and take-up angle ⁇ can be adjusted by displacing pulleys 22 and 23 in the direction of arrow d.
  • Members 22 - 27 are mounted on the same sinkable table, which can be moved up and down perpendicularly to this page, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve 2, whereby the sleeve can be polished by the felt which slides up and down in the same longitudinal direction, while the sleeve 2 is driven to rotate. It is also acceptable to move the sleeve 2 itself in its longitudinal direction, instead of the above mentioned table.
  • the above mentioned amount of polishing can be varied while the above mentioned table or the sleeve is being moved, whereby the coating layer is polished so that the triboelectric charge capacity is caused to be larger in the middle in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve than at the both end regions.
  • the materials are mixed, kneaded, pulverized and classified into toner powder having a weight average particle size of 11.3 ⁇ m, and containing 28 % of 6.35 ⁇ m or less particles on the basis of the number and containing 0.7 % of 20.2 ⁇ m or larger particles on the basis of light (measured by Coulter Counter TA-II -Trade Mark-).
  • colloidal silica of 0.6 % was added. This was used as the magnetic toner.
  • the developing sleeve 2 in accordance with the present invention was produced in the following manner.
  • the materials mixed in the coating layer resin liquid were as follows: Phenol resin 30 parts by weight Crystalline graphite (average particle size of 8 micron) 41 parts by weight Carbon black 4 parts by weight
  • the above materials was dispersed in 250 weight parts of the mixed liquid of isopropyl alcohol/butyl alcohol (1:1), using a sand mill, to prepare the coating layer resin liquids. This was coated on the aluminum cylinder (flanges were attached in advance at the opposite ends), using a spray gun, and then, the liquid was cured under the temperature of 150 °C into a resin coating layer having a thickness of 9 ⁇ m.
  • the surface of the the developing sleeve 2 was polished using the polishing device shown in Figure 6 while the tension pressure of the felt 13, that is the polishing member, polishing duration (moving speed of the felt in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 2), and contact angle of the felt to the developing sleeve being adjusted.
  • the content angle ⁇ of the felt 13 to the developing sleeve 2 was made to be small at the both end regions of the developing sleeve 2 and large in the middle region. Also, the moving speed of the felt 13 in the perpendicular direction to the page of Figure 6 (longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 2) was caused to be faster at the both end regions and slow in the middle.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic diagram to explain the produced developing sleeve.
  • right end region W is the region where the contact angle of the felt 13 to the sleeve charges from a small one to a large one and the shifting speed of the felt 13 changes from a large one to a small one
  • the left end region V is the region where the contact angle of the felt 13 to the sleeve and the shifting speed change in reverse.
  • the middle region U is the region where the contact angle is largest and remains constant and the shifting speed also remains constant.
  • Points f, g, h, m, i and j indicated by the arrows in Figure 7 are the points for visual examination.
  • visual examination point f shows a position within less than 5 mm from the left end of the resin coat layer formation region in Figure 7, g within 20 mm from the same place, h approximately the middle, and i and j show the positions symmetrical to g and f, respectively.
  • the width of the regions where the triboelectric toner charge was measured were 30 mm at both end regions V and W of the developing sleeve and 30 mm in the middle region U, with h as its center.
  • the above mentioned developing sleeves were mounted in the cartridge for the LBP-SX to be subjected to the developing process, whereby the image formation test was performed. At the same time, the amount of the triboelectric toner charge on the developing sleeve was also measured. The results are shown in Table 3 along with the results for the comparative examples.
  • the image density column shows the image density dispersion over the entire picture surface during the continuous production of 500 copies, and was measured by a MacBeth reflection densitometer.
  • the column for the amount of the triboelectric toner charge shows the amount of the triboelectric toner charge measured by vacuuming the toner remaining coated on the developing sleeve after the production of 100 copies.
  • the evaluation symbols shows, as was explained before, o ⁇ indicates excellent, ⁇ good, ⁇ fair but not problematic in practical usage, ⁇ fair but below the level for practical usage, and ⁇ indicates unacceptable.
  • the developing sleeve 2 was produced by the method explained below.
  • the materials formulated in the coating forming resin liquid are as follows: Phenol resin 30 wt.parts Crystalline graphite 22.5 wt.parts Carbon black 2.5 wt.parts
  • both sleeve end regions R and S were left unpolished but the inward region V (left), U (middle) and W (right) were subjected to the same polishing process as that of Embodiments 7 - 12.
  • the width of far left end section R and far right end section S were made to be 20 mm, respectively.
  • Point m for the visual examination of the developing sleeve surface shows a location within 5 mm from the left end of the resin coating layer formation region, n within 20 mm from the same place, r approximately middle of the above mentioned region Lb, and p and q show the locations symmetrical to n and m, respectively.
  • the measurement of the triboelectric toner charge and the image evaluation were performed in the same manner as was stated before. The results obtained are shown in Table 4, along with the results of comparative examples.
  • Embodiments 13 - 18 since the developing sleeve surface was polished to cause the triboelectric toner charging capacity to be low at both sleeve end sections and high in the middle, excellent results were obtained in all categories of image density, toner charge-up, and amount of triboelectric toner charge on the developing sleeve after the continuous production of 100 copies in the environment of 15°C and 10 % RH, along with image density and image fading in the environment of 32 °C and 85 % RH.
  • inclination ⁇ is preferred to be more than 10, or more preferably, more than 20, in the middle region of the sleeve, and inclination ⁇ is preferred to be less than 10, more preferably less than 11, at both sleeve end regions.
  • the above mentioned polishing process may be performed on the coating layer formed of the above mentioned resin liquids A - F or the coating layer formed of the resin liquids G - H described below.
  • Resin coat forming liquid G Phenol resin 30 wt.parts Natural graphite 27 wt.parts Carbon black 3 wt.parts Methyl alcohol + methylcellusolve 200 wt.parts
  • Resin coat forming liquid G Phenol resin 15 wt.parts Artifical graphite 15 wt.parts Methyl alcohol + methylcellusolve 225 wt.parts

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Elément (2) porteur de développeur pour porter un développeur (5) à un composant comprenant un élément de base (9) et une couche de revêtement extérieure (10) sur l'élément de base, ladite couche de revêtement extérieure comprenant un matériau en résine (18) dans lequel de fines particules conductrices (19) sont dispersées, caractérisé en ce que la couche de revêtement extérieure est adaptée de telle sorte qu'en référence à la direction longitudinale de l'élément de base (9), la capacité de charge triboélectrique de cette couche de revêtement extérieure (10) soit supérieure, dans la région médiane de l'élément porteur de développeur, à celle dans les régions d'extrémité, et le coefficient de frottement entre le développeur et le revêtement extérieur, dans la région médiane, est inférieur à celui dans les régions d'extrémité.
  2. Elément selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les fines particules conductrices dispersées sont en graphite.
  3. Elément selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le rapport d'exposition des fines particules conductrices dispersées sur la surface de la couche de revêtement extérieure est supérieur, dans la région médiane, à celui dans les régions d'extrémité.
  4. Elément selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel le contenu de particules de graphite, est supérieur, dans la région médiane, à celui dans les régions d'extrémité.
  5. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel la couche de revêtement (10) est polie et le degré de polissage est supérieur, dans la région médiane, à ce qu'il est dans les régions d'extrémité.
  6. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel de fines particules de carbone amorphe sont dispersées dans la couche de revêtement (10).
  7. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel l'inclinaison (γ) de la courbe de mesure du travail de sortie de la surface de la couche de revêtement est supérieure à 10 cps/eV dans la région médiane, et inférieure à 10 cps/eV dans les régions d'extrémité, où le travail de sortie définit l'énergie minimum requise pour détacher un électron de la surface.
  8. Appareil (D) de développement pour développer une image latente électrostatique sur un élément (1) de support d'image, comprenant un élément (2) porteur de développeur tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, opposé audit élément de support d'image.
  9. Appareil selon la revendication 8, comprenant en outre un élément de régulation (6) pour réguler l'épaisseur d'une couche (5') de développeur sur l'élément (2) porteur de développeur, l'épaisseur dans la zone (7) de développement de la couche de développeur, régulée par l'élément (6) de régulation, étant inférieure à l'intervalle minimum entre l'élément (2) porteur de développeur et l'élément (1) de support d'image.
  10. Appareil selon la revendication 8 ou 9, comprenant en outre une source d'alimentation (8) pour appliquer une tension de polarisation oscillante à l'élément porteur de développeur.
  11. Appareil selon la revendication 8, 9 ou 10, comprenant en outre un aimant permanent (3) disposé à l'intérieur de l'élément (2) porteur de développeur, ledit développeur à un composant étant un développeur magnétique, et ledit élément (6) de régulation étant magnétique et disposé face au pôle magnétique (N1) de l'aimant, avec l'élément (2) porteur de développeur entre eux, et formant un champ magnétique entre l'aimant (3) et ledit élément (6) de régulation.
EP92304847A 1991-05-29 1992-05-28 Appareil de développement et élément de transport de développateur pour cet appareil Expired - Lifetime EP0516419B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP15396291 1991-05-29
JP153962/91 1991-05-29

Publications (3)

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EP0516419A2 EP0516419A2 (fr) 1992-12-02
EP0516419A3 EP0516419A3 (en) 1993-03-31
EP0516419B1 true EP0516419B1 (fr) 1998-07-22

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DE (1) DE69226310T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5175586A (en) * 1991-01-31 1992-12-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Developing apparatus and developer carrying member therefor
DE69522194T2 (de) * 1994-12-28 2002-04-18 Canon K.K., Tokio/Tokyo Entwicklerträgerelement, Entwicklungseinheit, Bilderzeugungsgerät und Arbeitseinheit
DE69715514T2 (de) * 1996-05-29 2003-07-31 Canon K.K., Tokio/Tokyo Entwicklerträgerelement, Entwicklungsgerät, Entwicklungsverfahren, Bilderzeugungsgerät und Arbeitseinheit
US6600892B2 (en) * 2001-04-03 2003-07-29 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Developing device, charging method used therefor, and printing apparatus having the developing device

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4597661A (en) * 1983-04-18 1986-07-01 Hitachi Metals Ltd. Magnet roll assembly

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56151967A (en) * 1980-04-26 1981-11-25 Canon Inc Developing device
JPS5967566A (ja) * 1982-10-08 1984-04-17 Canon Inc 現像装置
US4989044A (en) * 1988-04-27 1991-01-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Developing apparatus for developing electrostatic latent images

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4597661A (en) * 1983-04-18 1986-07-01 Hitachi Metals Ltd. Magnet roll assembly

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IBM J. RES DEVELOP, vol. 22, n°1, January 1q978, p72-79 H.B. Mickaekson :"Relation between an atomic electronegativity scale and the work function" *

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Publication number Publication date
EP0516419A2 (fr) 1992-12-02
DE69226310T2 (de) 1998-12-17
DE69226310D1 (de) 1998-08-27
EP0516419A3 (en) 1993-03-31

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