Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus

• US 7,364,824 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tamai, Hideaki, Kosaka, Nobuo, Sako, Harumi, Yoshimura, Kimihiro, Ochi, Atsushi, Kikuchi, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Huff; Mark F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VAJDA, PETER L
• Application Number:
  US11/617,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 430/56, 430/58.7, 430/59.6, 430/66, 399/159
• US Class Current: 430/58.7
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/071 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds G03G5/078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/14717 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/14786 Macromolecular compounds characterised by specific side-chain substituents or end groups

Abstract

An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus are provided which not only secure mechanical strength sufficiently but also bring a vast improvement in charge transport performance and which can well satisfy electrical properties. An electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided an outermost surface layer of which contains at least a charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups which is represented by the following general formula (1-1) or (1-2); the charge transporting compound having been polymerized or cross-linked and cured. Also provided are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such a photosensitive member.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member which comprises:

a conductive support and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive support, wherein an outermost surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups, said charge transporting compound represented by the following general formula (9), (10) or (13);

the charge transporting compound having been polymerized or cross-linked and cured

2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups is a compound represented by the general formula (9), and R₁₆ and R₁₇ in the general formula (9) are each a group represented by the general formula (8).

3. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein, in the general formula (8), a is 1 and X₁₁ is an alkylene group.

4. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein Ar₁₁ and Ar₁₂ of the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups which is represented by the general formula (9) are each a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a biphenyl group which may have a substituent or a fluorenyl group which may have a substituent;

Ar₁₁ and Ar₁₂ may be the same or different; and

the substituents of Ar₁₁ and Ar₁₂ are each an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group.

5. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 4, wherein said chain polymerizable functional groups the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups which is represented by the general formula (9) has are each a group represented by the general formula (2) or (3).

6. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups is a compound represented by the general formula (10), and, in the general formula (12), a is 1 and X₂₁ is an oxygen atom, a divalent alkylene group or —

O-Z₂₁- (Z₂₁ is a divalent alkylene group).

7. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups is a compound represented by the general formula (13), and, in the general formula (13), b is 1 and X₂₂ is a divalent alkylene group which may have a substituent, an oxygen atom or —

O-Z₂₂- (Z₂₂ is a divalent alkylene group).

8. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein R₂₆ and R₂₇ represented by the general formula (13) are each a group represented by the general formula (12).

9. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 8, wherein, in the general formula (12), a is 1 and X₂₁ is an alkylene group.

10. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 8, wherein Ar₂₁ and Ar₂₂ of the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups which is represented by the general formula (13) may be the same or different, and are each a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a biphenyl group which may have a substituent or a fluorenyl group which may have a substituent;

and the substituents of Ar₂₁ and Ar₂₂ are each an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group.

11. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 10, wherein said chain polymerizable functional groups the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups which is represented by the general formula (13) has are each a group represented by the general formula (2) or (3).

12. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein said outermost surface layer is cured by electron rays.

13. A process cartridge which comprises the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, and at least one means selected from the group consisting of a charging means which charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member electrostatically, a developing means which develops with a toner an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cleaning means which collects the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member after the step of transfer;

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

14. An electrophotographic apparatus which comprises the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1;

a charging means which charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member electrostatically;

an exposure means which performs exposure on the electrophotographic photosensitive member thus charged, to form an electrostatic latent image;

a developing means which develops with a toner the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, to form a toner image; and

a transfer means which transfers to a transfer material the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

15. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 6, wherein Ar₂₁ and Ar₂₂ of the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups which is represented by the general formula (10) maybe the same or different, and are each a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a biphenyl group which may have a substituent or a fluorenyl group which may have a substituent;

and the substituents of Ar₂₁ and Ar₂₂ are each an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group.

16. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 15, wherein said chain polymerizable functional groups the charge transporting compound having chain polymerizable functional groups which is represented by the general formula (10) has are each a group represented by the general formula (2) or (3).