Process for producing a drum photosensitive member for electrophotography

Claim 1

A METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DRUM MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOFRAPHY COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PROVIDING A DRUM HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE SURFACE; B. WHILE ROTATING SAID DRUM, APPLYING TO THE SURFACE THEREOF A FILM OF LIQUID COMPRISING A MIXTURE OF PARTICULATE PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A BINDER RESIN, A FIRST SOLVENT THEREFOR, AND A SECOND SOLVENT, SAID SECOND SOLVENT HAVING A LOWER VAPOR PRESSURE THAN SAID FIRST SLOVENT, SAID SECOND SOLVENT BEING EMPLOYED IN QUANTITY SUFFICIENT TO LENGTHEN THE EVAORATION TIME OF THE TOTAL SOLVENT, SAIDTOTAL SOLVENT COMPRISING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SOLVENTS; C. EVAPORATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SOLVENTS FROM SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LIQUID FILM BY APPLYING HEATED AIR THERETO TO PROVIDE A SOLID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LAYER OF LESS THAN 100 MICRONS ON SAID DRUM SURFACE; D. WHILE ROTATING SAID DRUM, APPLYING TO THE SURFACE OF SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LAYER A FILM OF LIQUID CONTAINING ELECTRICALLY INSULATIVE TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL AND A SOLVENT THEREFOR; AND E. EVAPORATING THE SOLVENT FROM SAID INSULATIVE LIQUID FILM BY APPLYING HEATED AIR THERETO TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERFORATE SOLID TRANSLUCENT INSULATIVE LAYER ON SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LAYER.

Claim 2

A METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DRUM MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOFRAPHY COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PROVIDING A DRUM HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE SURFACE; B. WHILE ROTATING SAID DRUM, APPLYING TO THE SURFACE THEREOF A FILM OF LIQUID COMPRISING A MIXTURE OF PARTICULATE PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A BINDER RESIN, A FIRST SOLVENT THEREFOR, AND A SECOND SOLVENT, SAID SECOND SOLVENT HAVING A LOWER VAPOR PRESSURE THAN SAID FIRST SLOVENT, SAID SECOND SOLVENT BEING EMPLOYED IN QUANTITY SUFFICIENT TO LENGTHEN THE EVAORATION TIME OF THE TOTAL SOLVENT, SAIDTOTAL SOLVENT COMPRISING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SOLVENTS; C. EVAPORATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SOLVENTS FROM SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LIQUID FILM BY APPLYING HEATED AIR THERETO TO PROVIDE A SOLID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LAYER OF LESS THAN 100 MICRONS ON SAID DRUM SURFACE; D. WHILE ROTATING SAID DRUM, APPLYING TO THE SURFACE OF SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LAYER A FILM OF LIQUID CONTAINING ELECTRICALLY INSULATIVE TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL AND A SOLVENT THEREFOR; AND E. EVAPORATING THE SOLVENT FROM SAID INSULATIVE LIQUID FILM BY APPLYING HEATED AIR THERETO TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERFORATE SOLID TRANSLUCENT INSULATIVE LAYER ON SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE LAYER.

Claim 5

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof a film of liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin, a first solvent therefor, and a second solvent, said second solvent having a lower vapor pressure than said first solvent, said second solvent comprising from about 15 to about 30 percent by weight of the weight of said first solvent; c. evaporating said first and second solvents from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said photoconductive layer a film of liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and e. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said photoconductive layer.

Claim 6

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof a film of liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin, a first solvent therefor, and a second solvent, said second solvent having a lower vapor pressure than said first solvent, said second solvent comprising from about 15 to about 30 percent by weight of the weight of said first solvent; c. evaporating said first and second solvents from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said photoconductive layer a film of liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and e. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said photoconductive layer.

Claim 7

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor, said particulate photoconductive material of said first photoconductive liquid being of larger granularity than said particulate photoconductive material of said second photoconductive liquid; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.

Claim 8

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor, said particulate photoconductive material of said first photoconductive liquid being of larger granularity than said particulate photoconductive material of said second photoconductive liquid; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.

Claim 9

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor, said first photoconductive liquid containing a greater percentage of said binder than said second photoconductive liquid; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.

Claim 10

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor, said first photoconductive liquid containing a greater percentage of said binder than said second photoconductive liquid; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.

Claim 11

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a curing agent, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive lAyer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a curing agent, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.

Claim 12

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a curing agent, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive lAyer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a curing agent, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.

Claim 13

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor, said solvents of said first and second photoconductive liquids being mutually non-soluble; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.

Claim 14

A method for providing a drum member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: a. providing a drum having an electrically conductive surface; b. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface thereof at least one film of a first liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor; c. evaporating the solvent from said photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns on said drum surface; d. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of such first photoconductive layer at least one film of a second liquid comprising a mixture of particulate photoconductive material, a binder resin and a solvent therefor, said solvents of said first and second photoconductive liquids being mutually non-soluble; e. evaporating the solvent from said second photoconductive liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a second substantially imperforate solid photoconductive layer of less than 100 microns; f. while rotating said drum, applying to the surface of said second photoconductive layer a liquid containing electrically insulative translucent material and a solvent therefor; and g. evaporating the solvent from said insulative liquid film by applying heated air thereto to provide a substantially imperforate solid translucent insulative layer on said second photoconductive layer.