ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE

• US 20170227858A1
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tomono, Hiroyuki, Miura, Daisuke, Anezaki, Takashi, Ito, Yota, Ogaki, Harunobu
• Granted Patent: US 9,851,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0189 primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt G03G15/0184 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0233 Structure, details of the charging member, e.g. chemical composition, surface properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/75 Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing electrographic recording members per se G03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/18 using a processing cartridge , whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1814 Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing G03G21/1835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0132 vertical medium transport path at the secondary transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/04 Photoconductive layers; Charge-generation layers or charge-transporting layers; Additives therefor; Binders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/047 characterised by the charge-generation layers or charge transport layers G03G5/0433 and G03G5/0436 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/147 Cover layers

Abstract

Provided is an electrophotographic apparatus, including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit arranged in a non-abutment manner with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning unit or a developing unit arranged in abutment against the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a transferring unit.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a cylindrical shape;

a charging unit, which is arranged in a non-abutment manner with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to charge the electrophotographic photosensitive member;

a cleaning unit, which is arranged in abutment against the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to clean a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

a transferring unit configured to transfer a toner image onto a transfer material,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a charge generating layer and a surface layer in this order,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfying Expression (1), Expression (2), and Expression (3);

L1<

L5<

L3 

 

(1);

L1>

L2 

 

(2); and

L1>

L4 

 

(3),

where L1 represents a width from a center of an image forming area in a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charging area,

L2 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a transferring area,

L3 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a surface layer formed area in which the surface layer is formed,

L4 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charge generating layer formed area in which the charge generating layer is formed, and

L5 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a cleaning area.

2. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member further satisfies Expression (4):

L1>

L4>

L2 

 

(4).

3. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member further satisfies Expression (5):

L1>

L2>

L4 

 

(5).

7. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of a charging member to be used in the charging unit and a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member have a gap of 200 μ

m or less secured therebetween.

8. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging unit is a corona charging device including a grid electrode and being configured to charge a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

9. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer is a charge transporting layer.

4. An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a cylindrical shape;

a charging unit, which is arranged in a non-abutment manner with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to charge the electrophotographic photosensitive member;

a developing unit, which is arranged in abutment against the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to develop a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

a transferring unit configured to transfer the toner image onto a transfer material,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a charge generating layer and a surface layer in this order,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfying Expression (1), Expression (2), and Expression (3);

L1<

L5<

L3 

 

(1);

L1>

L2 

 

(2); and

L1>

L4 

 

(3),

where L1 represents a width from a center of an image forming area in a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charging area,

L2 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a transferring area,

L3 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a surface layer formed area in which the surface layer is formed,

L4 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charge generating layer formed area in which the charge generating layer is formed, and

L5 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a developing area.

5. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member further satisfies Expression (4):

L1>

L4>

L2 

 

(4).

6. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member further satisfies Expression (5):

L1>

L2>

L4 

 

(5).

10. A process cartridge, which is configured to be removably mounted to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a cylindrical shape;

a charging unit, which is arranged in a non-abutment manner with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to charge the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

a cleaning unit, which is arranged in abutment against the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to clean a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a charge generating layer and a surface layer in this order, and having a transferring area to be opposed to a transferring unit configured to transfer a toner image onto a transfer material,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfying Expression (1), Expression (2), and Expression (3);

L1<

L5<

L3 

 

(1);

L1>

L2 

 

(2); and

L1>

L4 

 

(3),

where L1 represents a width from a center of an image forming area in a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charging area,

L2 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of the transferring area,

L3 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a surface layer formed area in which the surface layer is formed,

L4 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charge generating layer formed area in which the charge generating layer is formed, and

L5 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a cleaning area.

12. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the charging unit is configured to apply a voltage obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage to a charging member, and form corona discharge between a surface of the charging member and a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, to thereby charge the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

13. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the charging unit is a corona charging device including a grid electrode and being configured to charge a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

14. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the surface layer is a charge transporting layer.

11. A process cartridge, which is configured to be removably mounted to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a cylindrical shape;

a charging unit, which is arranged in a non-abutment manner with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to charge the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

a developing unit, which is arranged in abutment against the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is configured to develop a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a charge generating layer and a surface layer in this order, and having a transferring area to be opposed to a transferring unit configured to transfer the toner image onto a transfer material,

the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfying Expression (1), Expression (2), and Expression (3);

L1<

L5<

L3 

 

(1);

L1>

L2 

 

(2); and

L1>

L4 

 

(3),

where L1 represents a width from a center of an image forming area in a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charging area,

L2 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of the transferring area,

L3 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a surface layer formed area in which the surface layer is formed,

L4 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a charge generating layer formed area in which the charge generating layer is formed, and

L5 represents a width from the center of the image forming area in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to an end of a developing area.