Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus

• US 6,185,398 B1
• Filed: 07/19/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Uesugi, Hirotoshi, Tanaka, Takakazu, Hirano, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): MARTIN, ROLAND E
• Application Number:
  US09/356,555
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 430/66, 430/67, 430/59.6, 399/174
• US Class Current: 399/174
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/056 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/14752 Polyesters

Abstract

An electrophotographic photosensitive member is constituted by a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer comprising a polyester resin having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1):

wherein A₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group. The resultant surface layer is effective in improving an abrasive resistance of the photosensitive member.

Claims

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic apparatus main body, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member and contact charging means, wherein

said electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support, and

said electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer comprising a polyester resin having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1);

wherein A₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon group has an alicyclic ring structure.

4. A process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said alicyclic ring structure is represented by the following formula (2):

5. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said recurring unit of a polyester resin is represented by the following formula (3):

wherein R₃, R₄ and R_n are each hydrogen, halogen or an alkyl group; and

n is 1, 2 or 3.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said polyester resin comprises a copolymer having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (4) and a recurring unit represented by the following formula (5):

wherein R₅ and R₆ are each a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group and A₃ is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent cyclic hydrocarbon group; and

wherein R₇ is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

7. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said polyester resin comprises a copolymer having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (3) and a recurring unit represented by the following formula (6):

wherein R₃, R₄ and R_n are each hydrogen, halogen or an alkyl group; and

n is 1, 2 or 3, and

wherein m is an integer of 2-6.

2. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member, contact charging means, exposure means, developing means and transfer means, wherein

said electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support, and

said electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer comprising a polyester resin having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1);

wherein A₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

8. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon group has an alicyclic ring structure.

9. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said alicyclic ring structure is represented by the following formula (2):

10. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said recurring unit of a polyester resin is represented by the following formula (3):

wherein R₃, R₄ and R_n are each hydrogen, halogen or an alkyl group; and

n is 1, 2 or 3.

11. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said polyester resin comprises a copolymer having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (4) and a recurring unit represented by the following formula (5):

wherein R₅ and R₆ are each a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group and A₃ is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group; and

wherein R₇ is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

12. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said polyester resin comprises a copolymer having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (3) and a recurring unit represented by the following formula (6):

wherein R₃, R₄ and R_n are each hydrogen, halogen or an alkyl group; and

n is 1, 2 or 3, and

wherein m is an integer of 2-6.