ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITVE MEMBER, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS WHICH HAVE THE ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER

• US 6,436,597 B2
• Filed: 01/06/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Uematsu, Hiroki, Sekiya, Michiyo, Amamiya, Shoji, Maruyama, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): RODEE, CHRISTOPHER D
• Application Number:
  US09/225,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 430/59.6, 430/96, 430/56, 430/66, 430/67, 430/130, 430/132, 430/133, 399/159, 399/116
• US Class Current: 430/59.6
• 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 5/0546 Polymers comprising at least one carboxyl radical, e.g. polyacrylic acid, polycrotonic acid, polymaleic acid; Derivatives thereof, e.g. their esters, salts, anhydrides, nitriles, amides
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/0589 Macromolecular compounds characterised by specific side-chain substituents or end groups

Abstract

An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support and a photosensitive layer formed thereon. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer containing a charge-transporting material and a resin obtained by exposing to radiations a compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group to cure.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed thereon;

wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer containing a charge-transporting material and a resin obtained by exposing to electron rays at an accelerating voltage of 150 kV or below in an irradiation dose of from 1 Mrad to 100 Mrad, a monomer compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group to cure without employing a thermo- or photo-reaction initiator, wherein said monomer compound contains a moiety selected from the group consisting of a trimethylolpropane, a pentaerythritol, an isocyanurate and an alicyclic; and

wherein said photosensitive layer has a specific dielectric constant of 4.0 or below.

2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive layer has a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, and the charge transport layer is said surface layer.

3. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said surface layer is a layer obtained by coating a solution containing the monomer compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group, followed by exposure to electron rays to effect curing.

4. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 3, wherein said solution contains the charge-transporting material.

5. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said monomer compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group is a polyfunctional compound.

6. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive layer has a specific dielectric constant of 3.5 or below.

7. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said electron rays are applied in an irradiation dose of from 3 Mrad to 50 Mrad.

8. A process for forming a surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed thereon, said electrophotographic photosensitive member having a specific dielectric constant of 4.0 or below, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) coating a solution containing a monomer compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group, wherein said monomer compound contains a moiety selected from the group consisting of a trimethylolpropane, a pentaerythritol, an isocyanurate and an alicyclic and a charge-transporting material to form the surface layer; and

(b) exposing the layer to electron rays at an accelerating voltage of 150 kV or below in an irradiation dose of from 1 Mrad to 100 Mrad to cure the compound without employing a thermo- or photo-reaction initiator and form the surface layer.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein said photosensitive layer has a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, and the charge transport layer is said surface layer.

10. The process according to claim 8, wherein said monomer compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group is a polyfunctional compound.

11. The process according to claim 8, wherein said photosensitive layer has a specific dielectric constant of 3.5 or below.

12. The process according to claim 8, wherein said electron rays are applied in an irradiation dose of from 3 Mrad to 50 Mrad.

13. A process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a means selected from the group consisting of a charging means, a developing means and a cleaning means;

said electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of said means being supported as one unit and being detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus; and

said electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed thereon;

which electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer containing a charge-transporting material and a resin obtained by exposing to electron rays at an accelerating voltage of 150 kV or below in an irradiation dose of from 1 Mrad to 100 Mrad a monomer compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group to cure without employing a thermo- or photo-reaction initiator, wherein said monomer compound contains a moiety selected from the group consisting of a trimethylolpropane, a pentaerythritol, an isocyanurate and an alicyclic, and wherein said photosensitive layer has a specific dielectric constant of 4.0 or below.

14. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging means, an exposure means, a developing means and a transfer means;

said electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed thereon;

which electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer containing a charge-transporting material and a resin obtained by exposing to electron rays at an accelerating voltage of 150 kV or below in an irradiation dose of from 1 Mrad to 100 Mrad, a monomer compound having an acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group to cure without employing a thermo- or photo-reaction initiator, wherein said monomer compound contains a moiety selected from the group consisting of a trimethylolpropane, a pentaerythritol, an isocyanurate and an alicyclic, and wherein said photosensitive layer has a specific dielectric constant of 4.0 or below.