Electrophotographic apparatus

• US 9,983,490 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2017
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shimada, Tsuyoshi, Tokimitsu, Ryoichi, Murakami, Mai, Tanabe, Kan, Kitamura, Wataru, Mitsuda, Haruhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US15/469,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20170285499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 430 60, 430 63, 430 65
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0216 by bringing a charging member into contact with the member to be charged, e.g. roller, brush chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00957 Compositions
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/025 using contact charging means having lateral dimensions related to other apparatus means, e.g. photodrum, developing roller
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/0517 comprising one or more cyclic groups consisting of carbon-atoms only
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/14 Inert intermediate or cover layers for charge-receiving layers G03G5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/142 Inert intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/144 comprising inorganic material

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrophotographic apparatus in which the deterioration of electrical properties in repetitive use is suppressed even in the case where an electrophotographic photosensitive member absorbs moisture under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. An undercoat layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member provided in the electrophotographic apparatus contains (α) a metal oxide particle, (β) a particular benzophenone compound and (γ) a compound represented by the following formula (2).

wherein R¹¹ to R¹⁵ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or an amino group and A¹ represents an alkenyl group having 2 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

a charging roller disposed so as to abut on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

a charging unit charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member by applying only a direct-current voltage, wherein

the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises;

a support;

a photosensitive layer; and

an undercoat layer between the support and the photosensitive layer, the undercoat layer comprising;

(α

) a metal oxide particle;

(β

) a benzophenone compound represented by formula (1)

2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the (α

) is a metal oxide particle comprising a zinc oxide particle.

3. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the (β

) is a benzophenone compound wherein 2 adjacent groups of R⁶ to R¹⁰ in the formula (1) are hydroxy groups.

4. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the (γ

) is a compound wherein A¹ in the formula (2) is a 1-propenyl group.

5. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a content of the (β

) in the undercoat layer is 0.1 to 4.0% by mass relative to a content of the (α

) in the undercoat layer.

6. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a content of the (γ

) is 1.0 to 15% by mass relative to a content of the (β

) in the undercoat layer.

7. A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a support, a photosensitive layer, and an undercoat layer between the support and the photosensitive layer, the process comprising:

forming a coating film through coating with a coating liquid for an undercoat layer; and

drying the coating film, thereby forming the undercoat layer, wherein

the coating liquid for an undercoat layer comprises;

(α

) a metal oxide particle;

(β

) a benzophenone compound represented by formula (1)

8. The process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein the (α

) is a metal oxide particle comprising a zinc oxide particle.

9. The process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein the (β

) is a benzophenone compound wherein 2 adjacent groups of R⁶ to R¹⁰ in the formula (1) are hydroxy groups.

10. The process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein the (γ

) is a compound wherein A¹ in the formula (2) is a 1-propenyl group.

11. The process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein a content of the (β

) in the undercoat layer is 0.1 to 4.0% by mass relative to a content of the (α

) in the undercoat layer.

12. The process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein a content of the (γ

) is 1.0 to 15% by mass relative to a content of the (β

) in the undercoat layer.