Image forming apparatus with grooved photosensitive drum

• US 6,453,137 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Iinuma, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Hoang
• Application Number:
  US09/861,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20020001482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 399/116, 399/159, 399/167, 399/162, 399/356, 430/56, 430/66, 430/67
• US Class Current: 399/159
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5008 Driving control for rotary photosensitive medium, e.g. speed control, stop position control
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/751 relating to drum G03G15/757 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/08214 Silicon-based

Abstract

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and an image exposure unit for drawing an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive drum. A developing unit develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum by means of developer and a transfer charger transfers the developed image onto a receiving material. A cleaning unit removes developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum after the transfer. The photosensitive drum is driven to rotate so as to make a cycle of image forming operation proceed. The photosensitive drum includes a base member on a surface of which a plurality of line grooves having a triangular cross section are formed and arranged around the circumference in parallel with each other at a pitch of 17 to 19 μm. The photosensitive drum also has a photosensitive layer of amorphous silicon with an arithmetical mean deviation of the profile of Ra=0.08 to 0.12 μm.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive drum;

an image exposure unit for drawing an electrostatic latent image on a surface of said photosensitive drum;

a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of said photosensitive drum by means of developer;

a transfer charger for transferring the image developed by means of developer onto a receiving material; and

a cleaning unit for removing developer remaining on the surface of said photosensitive drum after the transfer;

said photosensitive drum being driven to rotate so as to make a cycle of image forming operation proceed,

wherein said photosensitive drum includes a base member on a surface of which a plurality of line grooves having a triangular cross section are formed and arranged around the circumference in parallel with each other at a pitch of 17 to 19 μ

m, and

wherein said photosensitive drum has a photosensitive layer of amorphous silicon on the base member, said photosensitive layer having an arithmetical mean deviation of the profile of Ra=0.08 to 0.12 μ

m.

2. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ten-point height of irregularities of the surface of said photosensitive drum is Rz=0.45 to 0.75 μ

m.

3. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cleaning unit includes a cleaning blade and a cleaning auxiliary member.

4. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cleaning auxiliary member is a magnet roller for supplying developer to the photosensitive drum and is located upstream relative to the cleaning blade.

5. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said photosensitive drum is driven with a rotation starting torque not greater than 0.39 N·

m.