Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus

• US 6,815,135 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Kimihiro, Tanaka, Daisuke, Ikezue, Tatsuya, Morikawa, Yosuke, Nakata, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodrow, John L
• Application Number:
  US10/321,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20030175604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 430/66, 430/67, 399/159, 427/430.1, 118/503
• US Class Current: 430/66
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/043 Photoconductive layers characterised by having two or more layers or characterised by their composite structure
• 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 5/14 Inert intermediate or cover layers for charge-receiving layers G03G5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/147 Cover layers

Abstract

In an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support, and provided thereon a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a protective layer in this order, the layer thickness a₀ (μm) of the charge transport layer at the middle portion of the conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness b₀ (μm) of the protective layer at the middle portion of the conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness a (μm) of the charge transport layer at a portion other than the middle portion and the layer thickness b (μm) of the protective layer at the portion other than the middle portion satisfy the following expression (1) in a region satisfying 0.8 (μm)≦(a₀−a)≦3.0 (μm):

b₀×(a/a₀)³≦b(μm)≦b₀×(a/a₀)^1/4  (1).

Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support, and provided thereon a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a protective layer in this order, wherein;

the layer thickness a₀ (μ

m) of said charge transport layer at the middle portion of said conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness b₀ (μ

m) of said protective layer at the middle portion of said conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness a (μ

m) of said charge transport layer at a portion other than the middle portion and the layer thickness b (μ

m) of said protective layer at the portion other than the middle portion satisfy the following expression (1) in a region satisfying 0.8 (μ

m)≦

(a₀−

a)≦

3.0 (μ

m);

2. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said a₀ (μ

m), b₀ (μ

m), a (μ

m) and b (μ

m) satisfy the following expression (2) in the region satisfying 0.8 (μ

m)≦

(a₀−

a)≦

3.0 (μ

m);

3. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said a₀ (μ

m) and a (μ

m) satisfy the following expression (3) in a developing-region width;

4. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said protective layer contains a binder resin and at least one of conductive particles and a charge-transporting material.

5. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 4, wherein said binder resin is a curable resin.

6. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 5, wherein said curable resin is a phenolic resin.

7. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 4, wherein said charge-transporting material is a compound having at least one hydroxyl group in the molecule.

8. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein said hydroxyl group is a hydroxyalkyl group, a hydroxyalkoxyl group or a hydroxyphenyl group.

9. An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 8, wherein the compound having at least one hydroxyalkyl group, hydroxyalkoxyl group or hydroxyphenyl group is represented by any of the following Formulas (2) to (7):

wherein R²¹, R²² and R²³ each independently represent a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and which may be branched;

the benzene rings α

, β and

γ

may each independently have as a substituent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group; and

letter symbols a, b, d, m and n each independently represent 0 or 1;

wherein R³¹, R³² and R³³ each independently represent a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and which may be branched;

the benzene rings δ and

ε

may each independently have as a substituent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group;

letter symbols e, f and g each independently represent 0 or 1;

letter symbols p, q and r each independently represent 0 or 1, provided that a case in which all of them are simultaneously 0 is excluded; and

Z³¹ and Z³² each independently represent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, or may combine to form a ring;

wherein R⁴¹, R⁴², R⁴³ and R⁴⁴ each independently represent a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and which may be branched;

the benzene rings ζ

, η

, θ and

ι

may each independently have as a substituent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group;

letter symbols h, i, j, k, s, t and u each independently represent 0 or 1; and

Z⁴¹ and Z⁴² each independently represent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, or may combine to form a ring;

wherein R⁵¹ represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and which may be branched;

R⁵² represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group;

Ar⁵¹ and Ar⁵² each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group;

Ar⁵³ represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic heterocyclic group;

letter symbols v and w each independently represent 0 or 1, provided that w is 0 when v is 0; and

the benzene rings κ and

λ

may each independently have as a substituent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group;

wherein R⁶¹ represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and which may be branched;

Ar⁶¹ and Ar⁶² each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group;

letter symbol x represents 0 or 1; and

the benzene rings μ and

ν

may each independently have as a substituent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, or the benzene rings μ and

ν

may combine via a substituent to form a ring; and

wherein R⁷¹ and R⁷² each independently represent a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and which may be branched;

Ar⁷¹ represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group;

letter symbols y and z each independently represent 0 or 1; and

the benzene rings ξ

, π

, ρ and

σ

may each independently have as a substituent a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group;

or the benzene rings ξ and

π and

the benzene rings ρ and

σ

may each independently combine via a substituent to form a ring.

10. A process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging means;

said electrophotographic photosensitive member and said charging means being integrally supported;

said process cartridge being detachably mountable to the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus;

said electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support, and provided thereon a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a protective layer in this order, wherein;

the layer thickness a₀ (μ

m) of said charge transport layer at the middle portion of said conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness b₀ (μ

m) of said protective layer at the middle portion of said conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness a (μ

m) of said charge transport layer at a portion other than the middle portion and the layer thickness b (μ

m) of said protective layer at the portion other than the middle portion satisfy the following expression (1) in a region satisfying 0.8 (μ

m)≦

(a₀−

a)≦

3.0 (μ

m);

11. 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 provided thereon a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a protective layer in this order, wherein;

the layer thickness a₀ (μ

m) of said charge transport layer at the middle portion of said conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness b₀ (μ

m) of said protective layer at the middle portion of said conductive support in its generatrix direction, the layer thickness a (μ

m) of said charge transport layer at a portion other than the middle portion and the layer thickness b (μ

m) of said protective layer at the portion other than the middle portion satisfy the following expression (1) in a region satisfying 0.8 (μ

m)≦

(a₀−

a)≦

3.0 (μ

m);