Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus

• US 7,378,205 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Uematsu, Hiroki, Sekiya, Michiyo, Ishii, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodrow; John L
• Application Number:
  US10/896,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20050019684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 430/66, 430/130, 399/262
• US Class Current: 430/66
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/04 Photoconductive layers; Charge-generation layers or charge-transporting layers; Additives therefor; Binders therefor
• 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 5/071 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds G03G5/078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/147 Cover layers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/14717 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/14734 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

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface with a universal hardness (HU) in the range of between 150 and 220 N/mm² and an elastic deformation ratio in the range of between 50 and 65%. The present invention also provides a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a support and a photosensitive layer on the support,

wherein a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a universal hardness (HU) in a range of between 160 and 200 N/mm² and an elastic deformation ratio in a range of between 50 and 65%, wherein the universal hardness (HU) of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the elastic deformation are measured at a temperature of 25°

C. and a relative humidity of 50% by bringing a Vickers square cone diamond indenter with an angle between opposite faces of 136°

into abutment with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, continuously applying a load to the indenter with a final value of the load applied being 6 mN, employing a time period during which the indenter is maintained under the final value of the load of 6 mN of 0.1 second and directly reading an indentation depth under the load.

2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is a layer formed by polymerizing a hole-transporting compound having a chain polymerizable functional group.

3. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein the hole-transporting compound having a chain polymerizable functional group comprises a hole-transporting compound having 2 or more chain polymerizable functional groups.

4. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein the hole-transporting compound having a chain polymerizable functional group has at least one group of an acryloyloxy group and a methacryloyloxy group as the chain polymerizable functional group.

5. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a layer formed by polymerizing the hole-transporting compound having a chain polymerizable functional group by using radiation.

6. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 5, wherein the radiation is an electron beam.

7. A process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one means selected from the group consisting of charging means, developing means, transferring means, and cleaning means which are integrally supported, and being detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein

the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support and a photosensitive layer on the support;

and

a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a universal hardness (HU) in a range of between 160 and 200 N/mm² and an elastic deformation ratio in a range of between 50 and 65%, wherein the universal hardness (HU) of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the elastic deformation are measured at a temperature of 25°

C. and a relative humidity of 50% by bringing a Vickers square cone diamond indenter with an angle between opposite faces of 136°

into abutment with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, continuously applying a load to the indenter with a final value of the load applied being 6 mN. employing a time period during which the indenter is maintained under the final value of the load of 6 mN of 0.1 second and directly reading an indentation depth under the load.

8. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means, exposure means, developing means and transferring means, wherein

the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support and a photosensitive layer on the support;

and

a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a universal hardness (HU) in a range of between 160 and 200 N/mm² and an elastic deformation ratio in a range of between 50 and 65%, wherein the universal hardness (HU) of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the elastic deformation are measured at a temperature of 25°

C. and a relative humidity of 50% by bringing a Vickers square cone diamond indenter with an angle between opposite faces of 136°

into abutment with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, continuously applying a load to the indenter with a final value of the load applied being 6 mN, employing a time period during which the indenter is maintained under the final value of the load of 6 mN of 0.1 second and directly reading an indentation depth under the load.