US5204202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a protective layer with a porous surface impregnated with lubricant
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-03-16
•
Granted: 1993-04-20
•
Expires: 2010-03-16
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic photosensitive element, e.g. for a photocopier or laser printer, comprises a substrate and a plurality of layers on the substrate including a photoconductive layer of a-Si:H and a protective and lubricating layer which is outermost from said substrate. To provide wear resistance and long life-time of the protective and lubricating layer, this layer comprises a microporous solid material having a pore structure which extends substantially over the whole thickness of the material and a hydrophobic lubricant carried by said solid material. The lubricant includes a liquid film and often times a non-particulate solid film, and provides at least part of the outer surface of the element and is present also in the pores of said microporous solid material.
Inventors
- 👤 Fuminori Ishikawa
- 👤 Kunihiro Tamahashi
- 👤 Shigeharu Onuma
- 👤 Masatoshi Wakagi
- 👤 Masanobu Hanazono
- 👤 Mitsuyoshi Shoji
- 👤 Takayuki Nakakawaji
- 👤 Yutaka Ito
- 👤 Shigeki Komatsuzaki
- 👤 Chiaki Yamabishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/005; G03G5/14; G03G5/147; G03G5/14704
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of the element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a solid film having a number of fine pores and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film, said water-repellent lubricant being a liquid film that exudes from the pores to the outermost surface; the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of the element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a solid film having a number of fine pores and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film, said water-repellent lubricant being a liquid film that exudes from the pores to the outermost surface; the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said lubricant further includes solid particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said lubricant includes a non-particulate solid film that is at least partly immobilized on said solid film by at least one of chemical bonding and molecular embedding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An element according to claim 3 wherein said liquid film is mobile on said solid film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said lubricant is at least partly mobile on said solid film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said protective and lubricating layer is formed directly on a smooth surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An element according to claim 6 wherein said smooth surface has a surface roughness of not more than 0.1 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said pore structure of said solid film comprises interconnected pores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein the pores of said solid film have a ratio of depth to size of at least 2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said solid film has a porosity of 10 to 50% by volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein the pores of said solid film have pore size of not greater than 1 micron.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An element according to claim 11 wherein said pore size is less than half the thickness of said protective and lubricating layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said solid film comprises a cross-linked organic polymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An element according to claim 13 wherein said solid film contains particulate inorganic filler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said lubricant comprises at least one fluorocarbon compound.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An element according to claim 1 wherein said photoconductive layer is an amorphous silicon layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of the element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a microporous solid film having a number of fine pores and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film, said water-repellent lubricant comprising a liquid film and a non-particulate solid film, said non-particulate solid film being immobilized through chemical linkage or implantation on the surface of said microporous solid film and said liquid film being impregnated into said pores and exuding from the pores to the outermost surface; the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of the element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a microporous solid film having a number of fine pores and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film, said water-repellent lubricant comprising a liquid film and a non-particulate solid film, said non-particulate solid film being immobilized through chemical linkage or implantation on the surface of said microporous solid film and said liquid film being impregnated into said pores and exuding from the pores to the outermost surface; the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An element according to claim 17 wherein said liquid film is mobile on said microporous solid film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An element according to claim 17 wherein said microporous solid film has pores which are at least partly interconnected and constitute a pore structure extending over substantially the whole thickness of said microporous solid film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of said element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a solid film having a number of fine pores including a particulate inorganic filler and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film; said water-repellent lubricant comprising a liquid film that exudes from the pores to the outermost surface and the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of said element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a solid film having a number of fine pores including a particulate inorganic filler and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film; said water-repellent lubricant comprising a liquid film that exudes from the pores to the outermost surface and the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
An element according to claim 20 wherein said solid film comprises a cross-linked organic polymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An element according to claim 20 wherein said inorganic filler has a particle size of not less than the thickness of said solid film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of the element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a solid film having a surface roughness of not more than 0.1 μm and a number of fine pores and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film, said water-repellent lubricant comprising a liquid film that exudes from the pores to the outermost surface; the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive element comprising a substrate and provided thereon at least a photoconductive layer and a protective and lubricating layer, with said protective and lubricating layer providing an outermost surface of the element, said protective and lubricating layer comprising a solid film having a surface roughness of not more than 0.1 μm and a number of fine pores and a water-repellent lubricant having perfluoropolyoxyalkyl groups or perfluoropolyoxyalkylene groups impregnated into said pores and covering a surface of said solid film, said water-repellent lubricant comprising a liquid film that exudes from the pores to the outermost surface; the thickness of the protective and lubricating layer being not greater than 1 micron and greater than the depth of the pores.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-19 | 1996-10-19 | 1997-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-19 | 2000-10-19 | 2001-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-19 | 2004-10-19 | 2005-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |