JP4421839B2 - Toner supply roller - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toner supply roller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus, an image recording apparatus, a printer, and a facsimile, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier made of an electrophotographic photosensitive member or an electrostatic recording dielectric is developed by a developing device. Development is performed with toner (developer) supplied from a roller to visualize the toner image. In such a developing device, in order to supply an appropriate amount of toner of about 10 μm or less accommodated in the hopper to the developing roller, or to scrape it off, a cylindrical elastic body is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft. Built-in roller.
[0003]
As the toner supply roller, an elastic roller provided with polyurethane foam or silicone foam on the outer periphery of the shaft is used (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Further, as a method of manufacturing the elastic roller, (1) a method of cutting a roller material from a foam material of slab foaming or mold foaming, passing the shaft through it, and polishing the surface of the roller material to finish it into a roller shape, (2) After forming the roller material integrally with the shaft, polishing the unnecessary portion of the roller material to finish it into a roller shape, (3) Foaming the roller material integrally with the shaft in a roller-shaped mold And (4) a method in which an elastic body is formed into a cylindrical body by peeling processing, and burrs generated by peeling processing are melted (see Patent Document 3).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-155575
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-328523 A
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-10-104937
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The toner supply roller rotates while being in contact with the outer surface of the developing roller, and has an action of supplying the toner to the developing roller by the rotation and an action of collecting the remaining toner from the developing roller. In addition, it is known that the toner tends to be deteriorated such as fine powder. When the toner is deteriorated, a problem that the toner adheres to an unprinted portion easily occurs.
[0006]
Conventionally, in order to suppress the deterioration of the toner, a countermeasure has been proposed in which the flexible polyurethane foam or the like is formed of a foam layer having a low hardness, and the toner supply roller is appropriately pressed against and brought into contact with the developing roller.
[0007]
However, the toner collected by the toner supply roller is once captured by the opening hole on the surface of the foam layer in the toner supply roller, and the foam layer is deformed and restored when the toner supply roller rotates in contact with the developing roller. As a result, a part of the toner is pushed out from the opening hole, but most of the toner trapped in the opening hole is not pushed out and is held in the opening hole as it is. Accordingly, the rotation of the toner supply roller repeats that the toner is further captured by the open hole on the surface of the foam layer, and the captured toner gradually enters the inside of the foam layer. As a result, the trapped toner accumulates inside the foamed layer, solidifies and solidifies, thereby increasing the hardness of the foamed layer surface, and the effect of lowering the foamed layer is impaired. The deterioration of the toner is promoted.
[0008]
Further, in the conventional method for manufacturing a toner supply roller, in the polishing method, if the polishing residue remains on the roller surface, the residue will fall off during use of the toner supply roller and betWeen the developing roller and the toner regulating blade. The toner is scraped off and the white streaks appear on the image. On the other hand, when the outer shape is processed by grinding, it is not easy to completely remove the beard-like processing residue, and if there is a processing residue, white streaks appear in the image. In the peeling method, the blade is applied to the rotating elastic body, so that the soft elastic body can easily escape from the blade edge, and the edge is not formed into a smooth cylinder at the position where the blade edge enters and exits. The manufactured toner supply roller causes uneven friction with the developing roller, increases the stress on the toner, and easily deteriorates the toner over a long period of time.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and reduces the remaining toner in the elastic porous body on the roller surface, and eliminates polishing residue and processing unevenness on the surface of the elastic porous body so that a good image can be obtained. Provide a supply roller.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite tape in which a sheet-like base material having a tensile elastic modulus larger than that of the outer elastic porous body is bonded to one side of the outer elastic porous body having an open-cell structure via an adhesive layer. Toner supply wound in a spiral manner around the outer periphery of the shaft such that the shaped substrate faces the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and leaving a gap between the outer elastic porous bodies adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft The composite tape has a dimension set by cutting with a blade, and ends in the width direction of the outer elastic porous body on both sides of the gap are edge-shaped. The value of the gap is in the range of 0.5 mm to ½ or less of the width of the composite tape, and the hardness of the outer elastic body is 10 to 90 ° (Asuka F hardness meter). The present invention relates to a toner supply roller.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a sheet-like base material having a tensile modulus higher than that of the inner elastic porous body is bonded to one side of the inner elastic porous body having an open cell structure via a first adhesive layer, and the inner elastic porous body is bonded. A composite tape having an outer elastic porous body having an open-cell structure bonded to the other surface of the body through a second adhesive layer is disposed on the shaft so that the sheet-like substrate faces the outer peripheral surface of the shaft. A toner supply roller that is spirally wound around an outer periphery and bonded and fixed with a gap between the outer elastic porous bodies adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the shaft, wherein the outer elastic porous body is The hardness is 10-90 ° (Asuka F hardness tester) The toner supply roller according to the present invention is characterized in that it is cut to a required width with a blade, and the widthwise ends of the outer elastic porous body on both sides of the gap are edge-shaped.
[0012]
The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 1 or 2, a conductive layer is provided on the surface of the composite tape from the surface of the shaft.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described in detail below. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply roller according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a composite member before being cut into the composite tape of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a conductive view in the first embodiment. 4 is a sectional view of a toner supply roller according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the composite member before being cut into the composite tape according to the second embodiment. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part when the conductive layer is provided in the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply roller of the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram before cutting into the composite tape of the third embodiment. The perspective view of a composite member and FIG. 9 are principal part expanded sectional views at the time of providing a conductive layer in 3rd Example.
[0014]
A toner supply roller 10A according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a shaft 11A and a composite tape 21A which is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the shaft 11A and bonded and fixed. The copying apparatus, image recording apparatus, printer, Used in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile.
[0015]
The shaft 11A serves as a rotating shaft of the toner supply roller 10A, is made of a material having a required rigidity such as metal, and is sized according to the toner supply roller 10A.
[0016]
The composite tape 21A includes an outer elastic porous body 22A and a sheet-like base material 24A bonded to one surface of the composite tape 21A via an adhesive layer 23A.
[0017]
The outer elastic porous body 22A has an open cell structure such as urethane foam or silicone foam, and has an open hole due to the opening of bubbles on the surface. Especially density 10-500kg / m ³ A urethane foam having an open-cell structure having a cell diameter of 10 to 500 μm and a hardness of 10 to 90 ° (Asuka F hardness meter) is suitable as the outer elastic porous body 22A. Although the thickness of the outer elastic porous body 22A is set as appropriate, about 1 to 10 mm is given as an example. Further, when the toner supply roller 10A is required to have conductivity, the outer elastic porous body 22A may be provided with conductivity by including a conductive filler or spraying an electronic conductive agent dispersion. preferable.
[0018]
Examples of the adhesive layer 23A between the outer elastic porous body 22A and the sheet-like base material 24A include an appropriate adhesive, or a frame lamination that heats the urethane foam surface for a very short time and bonds it in a molten state. be able to. Examples of the adhesive include a two-component polyurethane adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, a polyester adhesive, an acrylic adhesive, an acrylic emulsion adhesive, and a urethane emulsion adhesive. When the toner supply roller 10A is required to be conductive, the adhesive layer 23A may be made of a conductive adhesive.
[0019]
The sheet-like base material 24A has a function of regulating elongation when the composite tape 21A is wound around the shaft 11A, and has a tensile elastic modulus larger than that of the outer elastic porous body 22A. The range of the tensile elastic modulus is preferably 0.1 to 200 GPa (JIS K 7127: 1999). The thickness of the sheet-like substrate 24A is preferably about 10 to 200 μm. Examples of the sheet-like substrate include paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, plastic film, aluminum foil, and stainless steel foil. Further, the sheet-like substrate 24A may also have conductivity. When the composite tape 21A is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 11A, the sheet-like base material 24A is formed by an appropriate adhesive or when the sheet-like base material 24A is a hot melt resin. It is bonded and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 11A by heating and melting 24A.
[0020]
The width D1 of the composite tape 21A is preferably about 1 to 10 mm. The composite tape 21A is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the shaft 11A so that the sheet-like substrate 24A faces the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 11A. The composite tape 21A spirally wound around the outer periphery of the shaft 11A preferably leaves a gap S1 between the outer elastic bodies 22A adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft 11A. The value of the gap S1 is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to ½ or less of the width D1 of the composite tape 21A. Due to the presence of the gap S1, corners formed by the width direction end portions 221A of the outer elastic porous body 22A are formed on both sides of the gap S1, and the toner can be efficiently scraped off from the developing roller. . In addition, when the composite tape 21A is cut and dimensioned from a composite member 20A as shown in FIG. 2 to a predetermined width by a blade, the end 221A in the width direction of the outer elastic porous body 22A. Becomes an edge, and the toner can be scraped off more efficiently. The composite member 20A has a laminated structure similar to the composite tape 21A, and only the planar size is larger than the composite tape 21A. A broken line C in FIG. 2 indicates a cutting position.
[0021]
Furthermore, when the composite tape 21A has poor conductivity and the toner supply roller 10A requires conductivity, it is preferable to provide a conductive layer 31A on the surface of the composite tape 21A as shown in FIG. The conductive layer 31A may be formed by impregnating the surface of the composite tape 21A with a conductive composition obtained by adding a conductive filler such as carbon black to an acrylic resin emulsion or the like by spray coating or the like and curing the conductive composition. it can. At that time, it is preferable to provide a series of conductive layers 31A without any interruption from the surface of the shaft 11A to the surface of the outer elastic porous body 22A.
[0022]
The toner supply roller 10B of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes a shaft 11B and a composite tape 21B that is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the shaft 11B and bonded and fixed. The copying apparatus, image recording apparatus, printer, facsimile Used in an image forming apparatus.
[0023]
The shaft 11B serves as a rotating shaft of the toner supply roller 10A, is made of a material having a required rigidity such as metal, and has a size corresponding to the toner supply roller 10B.
[0024]
The composite tape 21B includes an inner elastic porous body 22B and a sheet-like base material 24B bonded to one surface thereof via a first adhesive layer 23B, and a second adhesive layer 25B attached to the other surface of the inner elastic porous body 22B. The outer elastic porous body 26 </ b> B bonded to each other is bonded. The composite tape 21B is wound around the outer periphery of the shaft 11B and bonded and fixed so that the sheet-like base material 24B faces the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 11B. The width of the composite tape 21B is the same as that of the composite tape 21A of the first embodiment.
[0025]
The inner elastic porous body 22B is made of the same material, physical properties and thickness as the outer elastic porous body 22A in the first embodiment.
The first adhesive layer 23B is made of the same adhesive or frame lamination as the adhesive layer 23A in the first embodiment.
[0026]
The sheet-like base material 24B is made of the same material as that of the first embodiment (including the case of hot melt resin). When the composite tape 21B is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 11B, the sheet-like base material 24B is formed by an appropriate adhesive or when the sheet-like base material 24B is a hot melt resin. It is bonded and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 11B by heating and melting 24B.
[0027]
The second adhesive layer 25B is made of an adhesive made of a low hardness polymer material such as urethane elastomer, or at least one of the inner elastic porous body 22B or the outer elastic porous body 26B is made of urethane foam. In some cases, the urethane foam surface is heated for a short time to be in a molten state, and is constituted by a frame lamination that is bonded. In the second embodiment, the second adhesive layer 25B, the inner elastic porous body 22B, the first adhesive layer 23B, and the sheet-like base material 24B have the same width (the width D2 of the composite tape 21B). The same). Due to the presence of the second adhesive layer 25B, the toner adhering to the surface of the toner supply roller 10B can be further prevented from entering the roller.
[0028]
The outer elastic porous body 26B is made of the same material, physical properties and thickness as the outer elastic porous body 22A in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the width E2 of the outer elastic porous body 26B is narrower than the width D2 of the composite tape 21B. Therefore, when the composite tape 21B is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the shaft 11B, even if the composite tapes 21B adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft are brought into close contact with each other, the outer elastic porous material adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft is used. The gap S2 is spirally formed between the bodies 26B, and the winding work of the composite tape 21B becomes easy.
[0029]
In addition, when the composite tape 21B is cut and dimensioned from the composite member 20B as shown in FIG. 5 to the width D2 of the composite tape 21B by a cutter, or the inner elastic porous body A laminated material in which the sheet-like base material 24B is bonded to one surface of 22B through the first adhesive layer 23B is cut into a required width (the width D2) with a blade, and the required width (the width) is cut with a blade in advance. When the outer elastic porous material 26B cut and processed in E2) is bonded to the other surface of the inner elastic porous body 22B via the second adhesive layer 25B, the end in the width direction of the outer elastic porous body 26B The portion 221B has an edge shape, and the toner can be scraped off more efficiently. The composite member 20B has a laminated structure similar to that of the composite tape 21B. The outer elastic porous body 26B is arranged in parallel with the gap S2 on the second adhesive layer 25B, and the plane size is the composite size. It is larger than the tape 21B. A broken line C in FIG. 5 indicates a cutting position.
[0030]
Further, in the toner supply roller 10B of the second embodiment, since the second adhesive layer 25B adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft is in close contact and continuous, the toner supply roller 10B is used when the toner supply roller 10B is used. The toner adhering to 10B is prevented from further entering the inside of the toner supply roller 10B due to the presence of the second adhesive layer 25B, so that clogging in the toner supply roller 10B can be effectively prevented. it can.
[0031]
Further, also in the second embodiment, when the composite tape 21B has poor conductivity and the toner supply roller 10B is required to have conductivity, as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to provide a conductive layer 31B on the surface of the composite tape 21B. The conductive layer 31B is formed by impregnating the surface of the composite tape 21B with a conductive composition in which a conductive filler such as carbon black is added to an acrylic resin emulsion or the like, and curing it. Can do. At that time, it is preferable to form a series of conductive layers 31B without any interruption from the surface of the shaft 11B to the surface of the outer elastic porous body 26B.
[0032]
The toner supply roller 10C of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7 includes a shaft 11C and a composite tape 21C that is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the shaft 11C and bonded and fixed. The copying apparatus, image recording apparatus, printer, facsimile Used in an image forming apparatus.
[0033]
In the third embodiment, the width of the second adhesive layer 25C, which is one constituent member of the composite tape 21C, is the same width E3 as that of the outer elastic porous body 26C, and the inner elastic porous body 22C and the first adhesive layer 23C. The rest is the same as the corresponding configuration of the second embodiment, except that the width of the sheet-like base material 24C, that is, the width of the composite tape 24 is narrower than that of the composite tape. S3 indicates a gap between the outer elastic porous bodies 26C. FIG. 8 shows the composite member 20C before it is cut into the composite tape 21C by cutting tools. A broken line C indicates a cutting position. Note that a laminated material obtained by bonding the sheet-like base material 24C to the one surface of the inner elastic porous body 22C via the first adhesive layer 23C is cut into a required width (the width D3), and then the required width ( The composite tape 21C may be formed by bonding the outer elastic porous body 26C cut into the width E3) via a second adhesive layer 25C having the same width as the elastic porous body 26C. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the case where a series of conductive layers 31C that are not interrupted from the surface of the shaft 11C are provided on the surface of the composite tape 21C.
[0034]
The toner supply rollers 10A to 10C are manufactured by using the composite tapes 21A to 21C formed by cutting with blades on the outer periphery of the shafts 11A to 11C, and the sheet-like base materials 23A to 23C to the shafts 11A to 11C. The sheet-like base materials 23A to 23C and an adhesive provided between the shafts 11A to 11C, or the sheet-like base materials 23A to 23C are made of a hot-melt resin. In this case, the sheet-like base materials 23A to 23C are heated and melted to be bonded and fixed.
[0035]
In the toner supply rollers 10A, 10B, and 10C of the first to third embodiments, the conductive composition is formed on the surfaces of the composite tapes 21A, 21B, and 21C wound around the outer circumferences of the shafts 11A, 11B, and 11C. The conductive layers 31A to 31C are applied from the surface of the outer elastic porous bodies 22A, 26B, and 26C by applying and curing a series of materials from the surfaces of the shafts 11A, 11B, and 11C with a spray or the like without interruption. You may form in series over the surface of 11A, 11B, 11C. Note that a conductive layer may not be formed in the vicinity of both ends of the shafts 11A, 11B, and 11C where the composite tapes 21A, 21B, and 21C are not present.
[0036]
【Example】
Example 1
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film (tensile elastic modulus 4 GPa, thickness 50 μm, width 1050 mm) as a sheet-like base material and a two-component polyurethane adhesive (product number: EM803, manufactured by Cemedine, emulsion type) weight per unit area 20 g / M ² A urethane foam having an open cell structure as an outer elastic porous body (Product No .: EP70, manufactured by Inoac Corporation, cell diameter: 250 to 500 μm, Asuka F hardness 90 °, density 80 kg / m) ³ ) With a thickness of 3.5 mm and a width of 1050 mm, and bonded to the PET film via the adhesive to form a composite member. The composite member is cut into a width of 5 mm with a cutter, and a long composite tape ( Width 5 mm).
[0037]
Further, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) hot melt adhesive was applied to the outer peripheral surface of a shaft made of steel material (diameter 5 mm) subjected to electroless nickel plating to a thickness of about 50 μm, and the composite tape was immediately applied. With the PET film facing the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, the outer periphery of the shaft is spirally wound at a spiral angle of 30 °, the gap S1 in FIG. It was. The composite tape was trimmed by cutting so that both ends of the shaft appeared near both ends of the shaft. The obtained roller had a roller surface length of 220 mm and an outer diameter of 12 mm.
[0038]
Further, in order to impart conductivity to the roller, 10 g of the conductive composition was applied to the surface of the roller portion while chucking and rotating both ends of the shaft of the roller. The conductive composition is 30% by weight of a carbon black dispersion (product number: Emacol Black, manufactured by Sanyo Dye Co., Ltd., solid content 36%) in an acrylic resin emulsion (product number: Nipol 851, manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd., solid content 45%). % Addition and stirring. The conductive composition was applied while traversing the spray gun at a constant speed in the axial direction of the roller. At that time, care was taken that the conductive composition was applied from the shaft to the roller surface without interruption in the vicinity of the roller portion end portion, and the roller portion was also applied to the end surface of the roller portion and the boundary between the end surface and the shaft. Further, the conductive composition is sprayed again along the gap (S1 in FIG. 1) formed in a spiral shape (Spiral shape), and the conductive composition is continuously formed from both sides of the gap to the shaft from both sides of the groove. It was made to apply. After application, the toner supply roller of Example 1 (toner supply roller in FIG. 3) was obtained by drying in a hot air circulating oven at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes and then at 120 ° C. for 30 minutes.
[0039]
(Example 2)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film (tensile elastic modulus 4 GPa, thickness 50 μm, width 1050 mm) as a sheet-like base material with a two-part polyurethane adhesive (product number: EP803, manufactured by Cemedine, emulsion type) weight per unit area when dried 20 g / m ² A urethane foam having an open cell structure as an inner elastic porous body (product number: EP70, manufactured by Inoac Corporation, cell diameter: 250 to 500 μm, Asuka F hardness 90 °, density 80 kg / m) ³ ) With a thickness of 2 mm and a width of 1050 mm, and pasted onto the PET film via the adhesive, and then cut with a cutter to a width of 7 mm to form a laminated cut member. Also, urethane foam with an open cell structure (Product No .: EP70, manufactured by Inoac Corporation, density 80 kg / m ³ ) Is cut to a thickness of 1.5 mm and a width of 5 mm with a cutter to form an outer elastic porous body, and a polyamide-based hot melt film (product number: Elfan NT) provided on the entire surface of the inner elastic porous body in the laminated cutting member , Manufactured by Nihon Matai Co., Ltd.), laminated on the inner elastic porous body so that their centerlines coincide with each other, fused with a pair of pressure rollers adjusted to 50 ° C., and a long composite tape ( The second adhesive layer, the inner elastic porous body, the first adhesive layer and the sheet-like base material having a width of 7 mm and the outer elastic porous body having a width of 5 mm were obtained.
[0040]
Further, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) hot melt adhesive was applied to the outer peripheral surface of a shaft made of steel material (diameter 5 mm) subjected to electroless nickel plating to a thickness of about 50 μm, and the composite tape was immediately applied. With the PET film facing the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, the outer periphery of the shaft is spirally wound with a spiral angle of 30 °, the gap S2 in FIG. It was. The composite tape was trimmed by cutting so that both ends of the shaft appeared near both ends of the shaft. The obtained roller had a roller surface length of 220 mm and an outer diameter of 12 mm.
[0041]
Further, in order to impart conductivity to the roller, 10 g of the conductive composition was applied to the surface of the roller portion while chucking and rotating both ends of the shaft of the roller. The conductive composition is 30% by weight of a carbon black dispersion (product number: Emacol Black, manufactured by Sanyo Dye Co., Ltd., solid content 36%) in an acrylic resin emulsion (product number: Nipol 851, manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd., solid content 45%). % Addition and stirring. The conductive composition was applied while traversing the spray gun at a constant speed in the axial direction of the roller. At that time, care was taken that the conductive composition was applied from the shaft to the roller surface without interruption in the vicinity of the roller portion end portion, and the roller portion was also applied to the end surface of the roller portion and the boundary between the end surface and the shaft. Further, the conductive composition is sprayed again along the gap (S2 in FIG. 4) of the outer elastic porous body formed in a spiral shape (spiral shape), and the roller surface and both ends of the roller portion are formed from both side surfaces of the gap. The conductive composition was continuously applied over the shaft without interruption. After coating, the toner supply roller of Example 2 (toner supply roller 10B in FIG. 6) was obtained by drying in a hot air circulating oven at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes and then at 120 ° C. for 30 minutes.
[0042]
(Comparative example)
After perforating a prismatic urethane foam block, impregnating the urethane foam block with a blend of carbon black dispersion and acrylic resin emulsion (blending ratio 30:70), squeezing the excess blended liquid and drying Then, the shaft was inserted into the hole and fixed with an adhesive, and the surface was ground while holding the shaft and rotating the urethane foam block to obtain a toner supply roller of a comparative example.
[0043]
With respect to the toner supply rollers of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example, 100 g weights were attached to both ends of the shaft, and the resistance between the brass plate laid under the roller and the shaft was measured. As a result of measurement, Example 1 and Example 2 were 2 × 10 at 100V. ⁵ Ω, comparative example is 1 × 10 at 100V ⁵ Ω.
[0044]
Also, the toner supply rollers of Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example are attached to the same type of laser printer, a character string having a toner density of about 5% is printed, and a solid black image is printed every 1000 sheets. The images were continuously printed up to 10000 sheets, and an image evaluation test was conducted assuming that even if even the density unevenness or white streaks were observed with the naked eye on the output print of the solid black image, a defect occurred. In addition, in Example 1, Example 2, and the comparative example, there were four rollers used for the image evaluation test, and they were sequentially attached to a laser printer and measured.
[0045]
As a result of the image evaluation of the image measurement, neither the image unevenness nor the white streak occurred in the rollers of Example 1 and Example 2 up to 10,000 sheets. On the other hand, in the roller of the comparative example, the density unevenness is generated in two of the total number of black solid image outputs of the four rollers when the cumulative number of printed sheets of each roller is 5000 (defect occurrence rate of 25%). , 4 out of 8 sheets of black solid image output at 6000 sheets (defect occurrence rate 50%), 8 out of 8 sheets of black solid image output at 7000 sheets (defect occurrence) 100%), and thereafter, 8000 sheets, 9000 sheets, and 10000 sheets all generated 8 out of 8 sheets of black solid image output (defect occurrence rate 100%). Further, in the comparative example, white streaks occur at the time when the total number of printed sheets of each roller is 8000, four out of the total number of black solid image outputs (the defect occurrence rate is 50%), and at the time of 9000 sheets, the black solid is black. Eight out of the total number of 8 image outputs (defect occurrence rate 100%). At the time of 10,000, 8 out of the total number of black solid image outputs 8 (defect occurrence rate 100%).
[0046]
The reason why the rollers of Examples 1 and 2 were better than the comparative example in the image quality evaluation results is presumed to be as follows. That is, in the rollers of Example 1 and Example 2, there is a gap on the surface of the outer elastic porous body, and the toner that has entered the back of the roller is guided and discharged out of the roller through the gap. This is presumably because the phenomenon that the cured toner is cured as it is is difficult to occur. Further, in the rollers of Example 1 and Example 2, the outer elastic porous body and the like are cut by cutting tools, so that it is difficult to cause image defects due to polishing powder or a beard due to a processing residue.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the toner supply roller of the present invention, the gap provided in the outer elastic porous body on the roller surface functions as a guide discharge path to the outside of the roller for the toner that has entered the roller. Therefore, it is difficult to cause a phenomenon in which the intruding toner is cured as it is in the roller, and it is difficult to cause image defects due to the phenomenon. In addition, when the composite tape wound around the outer periphery of the shaft is cut with a blade, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of image defects due to polishing powder, unprocessed beard, and the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply roller according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a composite member before being cut into the composite tape of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part when a conductive layer is provided in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply roller according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a composite member before being cut into the composite tape of the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part when a conductive layer is provided in the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply roller according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a composite member before being cut into composite tapes of a third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part when a conductive layer is provided in the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10A, 10B, 10C: toner supply rollers of the first, second, and third embodiments
21A, 21B, 21C: Composite tape
22A, 26B, 26C: outer elastic porous body
23A: Adhesive layer
23B, 23C: first adhesive layer
24A, 24B, 24C: Sheet-like base material
25B, 25C: second adhesive layer
31A, 31B, 31C: conductive layer

Claims (3)

A composite in which a sheet-like substrate (24A) having a tensile modulus higher than that of the outer elastic porous body (22A) is bonded to one side of the outer elastic porous body (22A) having an open cell structure via an adhesive layer (23A). A tape (21A) is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the shaft (11A) so that the sheet-like substrate (24A) faces the outer peripheral surface of the shaft (11A), and the shaft of the shaft (11A) A toner supply roller that is adhered and fixed with a gap (S1) between the outer elastic porous bodies (22A) adjacent in the direction,
The composite tape (21A) has been dimensioned by cutting with a blade,
The widthwise ends (221A) of the outer elastic porous body (22A) on both sides of the gap (S1) are edge-shaped ,
The value of the gap (S1) ranges from 0.5 mm to 1/2 or less of the width (D1) of the composite tape (21A),
The toner supply roller, wherein the outer elastic body (22A) has a hardness of 10 to 90 ° (Asuka F hardness meter) . A sheet-like base material having a larger tensile elastic modulus than the inner elastic porous body (22B, 22C) on one side of the inner elastic porous body (22B, 22C) having an open cell structure via the first adhesive layer (23B, 23C). (24B, 24C) is bonded, and the outer elastic porous body (26B, 26C) having an open cell structure is formed on the other surface of the inner elastic porous body (22B, 22C) via the second adhesive layer (25B, 25C). Is bonded to the outer periphery of the shaft (11B, 11C) so that the sheet-like base material (24B, 24C) faces the outer peripheral surface of the shaft (11B, 11C). A toner supply roller which is wound in a spiral shape and adhered and fixed with a gap (S2, S3) between the outer elastic porous bodies (26B, 26C) adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft (11B, 11C). A La,
The outer elastic porous body (26B, 26C) has a hardness of 10 to 90 ° (Asuka F hardness meter) and is cut into a required width with a blade.
A toner supply roller, characterized in that end portions in the width direction of the outer elastic porous bodies (26B, 26C) on both sides of the gap (S2, S3) are edge-shaped.   The conductive layer (31A, 31B, 31C) is provided on the surface of the composite tape (21A, 21B, 21C) from the surface of the shaft (11A, 11B, 11C). Toner supply roller.

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