MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY, DEVELOPING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS

• US 20170097580A1
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishida, Kazutoshi, Sakurai, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 10,082,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0818 characterised by the structure of the donor member, e.g. surface properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0141 the linear arrangement being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 5/04 Photoconductive layers; Charge-generation layers or charge-transporting layers; Additives therefor; Binders therefor

Abstract

Provided is a member for electrophotography that enables stable formation of a high-quality electrophotographic image even when used as a developing member over a long period of time. The member for electrophotography includes: a support; an electro-conductive elastic layer on the support; and a plurality of electrically insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer, in which a surface of the member for electrophotography includes surfaces of the electrically insulating domains and an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer free of being covered by the electrically insulating domains, and in which the electrically insulating domains each contain a resin having a specific structure.

Claims

1. A member for electrophotography, comprising:

a support;

an electro-conductive elastic layer on the support; and

a plurality of electrically insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer,

wherein a surface of the member for electrophotography includes;

surfaces of the electrically insulating domains; and

an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer free of being covered by the electrically insulating domains, and

wherein the electrically insulating domains contain a resin,

the resin having a structure represented by the following structural formula (1);

AnR 

 

(Structural formula (1))

in the structural formula (1), A represents a structure represented by the following structural formula (2), n represents an integer of 2 or more, and R represents a linking group that links n pieces of A;

2. A member for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein M1 and M2 satisfy a relationship represented by the following numerical expression (1):

(M2/M1)*100≦

15 

 

Numerical expression (1)

where M2 represents a mass of a residue obtained by subjecting the electrically insulating domains having a mass M1 to reflux in a Soxhlet extractor for 36 hours using methyl ethyl ketone as a solvent, and removing the methyl ethyl ketone from the resultant extract solution.

3. A member for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the linking group R comprises an n-valent group of atoms having 2 or more carbon atoms and bonded to an oxygen atom of A.

4. A member for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the linking group R has a hydrocarbon structure having 4 or more carbon atoms.

5. A member for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the linking group R contains an oligomer component of at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, an epoxy resin, and polybutadiene.

6. A member for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the linking group R has at least one of an aromatic structure or an alicyclic structure.

7. A member for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating domains are each formed in a convex shape with respect to a surface of the electro-conductive elastic layer.

8. A member for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the linking group R has at least one of structures represented by the following structural formula 3-1 to structural formula 3-9:

9. A member for electrophotography, comprising:

a support;

an electro-conductive elastic layer on the support; and

a plurality of electrically insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer,

wherein a surface of the member for electrophotography includes;

surfaces of the electrically insulating domains; and

an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer free of being covered by the electrically insulating domains, and

wherein the electrically insulating domains each contain a resin,

the resin having a structure in which at least two units each represented by the following structural formula (2) are bonded by a linking group R;

10. A member for electrophotography according to claim 9, wherein the linking group R has at least one of structures represented by the following structural formula 3-1 to structural formula 3-9:

11. A developing apparatus, comprising a developing member, wherein the developing member, comprising:

a support;

an electro-conductive elastic layer on the support; and

a plurality of electrically insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer,

wherein a surface of the member for electrophotography includes;

surfaces of the electrically insulating domains; and

an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer free of being covered by the electrically insulating domains, and

wherein the electrically insulating domains contain a resin,

the resin having a structure represented by the following structural formula (1);

AnR 

 

(Structural formula (1))

in the structural formula (1), A represents a structure represented by the following structural formula (2), n represents an integer of 2 or more, and R represents a linking group that links n pieces of A;

12. An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

a photosensitive drum; and

a developing roller configured to supply a developer to the photosensitive drum,

wherein the developing roller, comprising;

a support;

an electro-conductive elastic layer on the support; and

a plurality of electrically insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer,

wherein a surface of the member for electrophotography includes;

surfaces of the electrically insulating domains; and

an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer free of being covered by the electrically insulating domains, and

wherein the electrically insulating domains contain a resin,

the resin having a structure represented by the following structural formula (1);

AnR 

 

(Structural formula (1))

in the structural formula (1), A represents a structure represented by the following structural formula (2), n represents an integer of 2 or more, and R represents a linking group that links n pieces of A;