JPH0443905Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field The present invention relates to a mark for detecting a seam in an endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor.

Prior Art As is well known, an endless belt-like organic electrophotographic photoreceptor is a long sheet-like organic electrophotographic photoreceptor (mainly an organic photoconductor such as polyvinyl carbazole (PVK) on a flexible conductive support). It has a seam because it is made by joining both ends of a photoconductive layer (with a photoconductive layer as a component). However, since light cannot be attenuated at this joint portion and therefore no image can be formed, it is necessary to detect this portion and avoid manipulation during copying. Conventionally, this joint portion has been detected by making a hole in the side end of the photoreceptor and utilizing transmitted light passing through the hole. However, although the mark itself is durable in such a detection means using a hole mark, it requires two elements, a light emitting element and a light receiving element, making the apparatus complicated.

Purpose The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor that simplifies a seam detection device and has a durable seam detection mark.

Structure: The endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention has a seam detection mark exposed on the side edge of the photosensitive layer in front of the seam. It is characterized in that it is formed by thermal transfer of ink from a fusible ink layer.

A general endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor is made of PVK or its derivatives, anthraquinone or its derivatives, with at least one side end left on the conductive surface of a flexible conductive support such as a long A1 vapor-deposited plastic film. A photoconductive layer containing an organic photoconductor and a resin binder was provided, and a conductive paint (usually black because it contains carbon black as a conductive agent) was applied to the conductive side edge and dried to form a conductive layer. After that, both lengthwise ends are joined by ultrasonic welding, adhesive bonding, etc. Therefore, the mark for seam detection provided on the side edge of the belt-shaped photoreceptor of the present invention is such that the conductive layer 3 is provided only on one side of the photoreceptor 1, as shown in FIG. 1 (2 in the figure is a mark). 2 (not shown), it may be provided on the photoconductive layer 4 on the other side or on the conductive layer 3 (not shown)
2' is a mark), the conductive layer 3 is connected to the photoreceptor 1.
When the conductive layer 3 is provided on both sides of the
provided above. Note that 5 is a seam.

In any case, this mark 2 or 2' is different from the conventional one, and is made by a thermal head from a heat-fusible ink layer having a reflectance different from that of the photoreceptor (specifically, the photoconductive layer or conductive layer of the photoreceptor). It is formed by thermally transferring ink to the side edges of the photoreceptor.
The ink used for such an ink layer may be an ink that has been conventionally used in the field of thermal transfer recording, and that has a coloring agent and a fixing agent as main components. Here, various dyes or pigments are used as the coloring agent, and various waxes such as carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, orcherry wax, low molecular weight polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, or acrylic resin are used as the fixing agent. be done. Further, gold or silver colors can be obtained by vapor depositing Al or the like on this ink layer.

The heat-melting ink layer as described above is used while being supported on a support such as tape-shaped paper or heat-resistant plastic film. Therefore, commercially available thermal transfer recording materials can be used as they are. Further, the mark processing may be performed either before or after joining both ends of the elongated photoreceptor as described above. The reflectance of the mark or photoreceptor can be measured using a conventional reflectance meter. The difference in reflectance between the mark and the photoreceptor is not particularly limited, but the larger the difference, the better.

The organic photoreceptor itself used in the present invention may be one that is conventionally and generally used.

The present invention will be explained below using examples.

Example 1 A long organic electrophotographic photoreceptor (Al-deposited polyester film with one side end left on the Al surface)
PVK ~ those with a resin binder-based photoconductive layer)
After forming a conductive layer by screen printing a black conductive paint on the conductive side edge of the , a commercially available tape-shaped thermal transfer recording material (thermal transfer tape manufactured by EDM Co., Ltd.) is applied to a predetermined position on the other side edge using a hot printer. A mark was formed by thermally transferring black ink from the ink layer of the black type, and then both ends in the length direction were joined using an ultrasonic welder. When measuring the reflectance at 950 nm using a reflectance meter for the endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor with marks as shown in FIG. layer part) was 60%.

Next, this belt-shaped photoreceptor was set in a commercially available dry transfer type electrophotographic copying machine and continuous copying was performed.The reflectance of the mark part hardly changed even after 20,000 copies, making it possible to detect seams. It was hot.

Example 2 A long organic electrophotographic photoreceptor (PVK~
After forming a conductive layer by screen printing black conductive paint on both conductive side edges of the photoconductive layer (with a resin binder photoconductive layer), a commercially available tape is applied to a predetermined position on one of the conductive layers using a hot printer. A mark was formed by thermally transferring gold ink from the ink layer of a thermal transfer recording material (thermal transfer tape black type manufactured by EDM Co., Ltd.), and then both longitudinal ends were joined using an ultrasonic welder. When the reflectance of the obtained endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor with marks as shown in FIG. It was 5%. No abnormality was observed when this product was continuously copied in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 1 An endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor with marks was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that marks were formed by pasting black polyester adhesive tape at predetermined positions, and continuous copying was carried out in the same manner. However, from the beginning, the mark part was peeled off from the edge by the toner cleaning blade, making it impossible to detect the seam.

Comparative Example 2 An endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor with marks was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that marks were formed by applying black magic ink to predetermined positions, and continuous copying was carried out in the same manner. However, after 1000 copies, the marked part was erased, making it impossible to detect the seam.

Effects In the endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention, the mark portion is formed by thermal transfer of ink from a heat-fusible ink layer, and the seam is detected based on the reflectance, so the detection device is simple. Not only is the mark part durable,
Therefore, it has the advantage that continuous copying can be performed without any trouble.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of an endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor according to an example of the present invention. 1...Endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor, 2,
2'... Seam detection mark, 3... Conductive layer, 4...
...Photoconductive layer, 5... Seam.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor having a mark for seam detection at the side end on the photosensitive layer side, the mark is placed in front of the seam and on the exposed surface, a thermally fused film having a reflectance different from that of the photoreceptor is used. 1. An endless belt-shaped organic electrophotographic photoreceptor, characterized in that it is formed by thermal transfer of ink from a transparent ink layer.