US6183930B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic photosensitive member having surface of non-monocrystalline carbon with controlled wear loss
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1998-12-22
•
Granted: 2001-02-06
•
Expires: 2018-12-22
Abstract
Abstract For stably obtaining high-quality images with good cleaning properties, with neither occurrence of uneven scraping of a surface layer of a light receiving member nor fusion of a toner, and without occurrence of an image defect even without provision of a heater, the wear loss of the surface layer of a non-monocrystalline hydrogenated carbon film is made not less than 1 Å/10,000 sheets nor more than 10 Å/10,000 sheets after completion of copying processes of A4-size transfer sheets, each copying process including developing an image on a light receiving member with a developer having an average grain diameter of 5 to 8 μm, then transferring the developer image onto a transfer medium, and thereafter scrape-cleaning the surface of the light receiving member with an elastic rubber blade having the hardness of not less than 70 nor more than 80.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigenori Ueda
- 👤 Junichiro Hashizume
- 👤 Makoto Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:05
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0011; G03G21/0017; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08285; G03G5/14; G03G5/147; G03G5/14704
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a charger, an exposure mechanism, a developing device, a transfer mechanism, and a cleaning means provided around the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the cleaning means comprises a blade with an elasticity of a hardness of not less than 70 nor more than 80 for scrape-cleaning a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is formed of non-monocrystalline carbon containing hydrogen atoms, and wherein the wear loss of the surface during passage of A4-size transfer sheets with a developing agent of an average grain diameter of 5 to 8 μm is not less than 1 Å/10,000 sheets nor more than 10 Å/10,000 sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a charger, an exposure mechanism, a developing device, a transfer mechanism, and a cleaning means provided around the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the cleaning means comprises a blade with an elasticity of a hardness of not less than 70 nor more than 80 for scrape-cleaning a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is formed of non-monocrystalline carbon containing hydrogen atoms, and wherein the wear loss of the surface during passage of A4-size transfer sheets with a developing agent of an average grain diameter of 5 to 8 μm is not less than 1 Å/10,000 sheets nor more than 10 Å/10,000 sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-monocrystalline carbon is amorphous carbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-monocrystalline carbon contains 41 to 60 atomic % of hydrogen atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a photoconductive layer and a surface layer in this order on a substrate, the surface layer comprising the non-monocrystalline carbon in the outermost surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member further comprises a charge injection inhibiting layer between the substrate and the photoconductive layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the photoconductive layer comprises a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the photoconductive layer comprises a non-monocrystalline material comprising silicon atoms as a matrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrophotographic method of successively carrying out the steps of charging, exposure, development, transfer, and cleaning on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the development is carried out by use of a developing agent of an average grain diameter of 5 to 8 μm and the cleaning is carried out by use of an elastic blade with a hardness of not less than 70 nor more than 80, wherein the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises non-monocrystalline carbon containing hydrogen atoms, and wherein when the above mentioned steps are successively carried out with regard to A4-size transfer sheets, the above mentioned steps are carried out such that the wear loss of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is not less than 1 Å/10,000 sheets nor more than 10 Å/10,000 sheets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrophotographic method of successively carrying out the steps of charging, exposure, development, transfer, and cleaning on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the development is carried out by use of a developing agent of an average grain diameter of 5 to 8 μm and the cleaning is carried out by use of an elastic blade with a hardness of not less than 70 nor more than 80, wherein the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises non-monocrystalline carbon containing hydrogen atoms, and wherein when the above mentioned steps are successively carried out with regard to A4-size transfer sheets, the above mentioned steps are carried out such that the wear loss of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is not less than 1 Å/10,000 sheets nor more than 10 Å/10,000 sheets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrophotographic method according to claim 8 , wherein the non-monocrystalline carbon is amorphous carbon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophotographic method according to claim 8 , wherein the non-monocrystalline carbon contains 41 to 60 atomic % of hydrogen atoms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrophotographic method according to claim 8 , wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a photoconductive layer and a surface layer in this order on a substrate, the surface layer comprising the non-monocrystalline carbon in the outermost surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrophotographic method according to claim 11 , wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member further comprises a charge injection inhibiting layer between the substrate and the photoconductive layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrophotographic method according to claim 11 , wherein the photoconductive layer comprises a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrophotographic method according to claim 11 , wherein the photoconductive layer comprises a non-monocrystalline material comprising silicon atoms as a matrix.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a photoconductive layer and having a surface comprising non-monocrystalline carbon containing hydrogen atoms, the surface having a wear loss of not less than 1 Å nor more than 10 Å per 10,000 A4-size transfer sheets when effecting a process of carrying out charging, exposure, subsequent development with provision of a developing agent of an average grain diameter of 5 to 8 μm, subsequent transfer to a transfer sheet and subsequent scrape-cleaning with a blade having an elasticity of a hardness of not less than 70 nor more than 80.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a photoconductive layer and having a surface comprising non-monocrystalline carbon containing hydrogen atoms, the surface having a wear loss of not less than 1 Å nor more than 10 Å per 10,000 A4-size transfer sheets when effecting a process of carrying out charging, exposure, subsequent development with provision of a developing agent of an average grain diameter of 5 to 8 μm, subsequent transfer to a transfer sheet and subsequent scrape-cleaning with a blade having an elasticity of a hardness of not less than 70 nor more than 80.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 15 , wherein the non-monocrystalline carbon is amorphous carbon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 15 , wherein the non-monocrystalline carbon contains 41 to 60 atomic % of hydrogen atoms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 15 , wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a photoconductive layer and a surface layer in this order on a substrate, the surface layer comprising the non-monocrystalline carbon in the outermost surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 18 , wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member further comprises a charge injection inhibiting layer between the substrate and the photoconductive layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 18 , wherein the photoconductive layer comprises a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 18 , wherein the photoconductive layer has a non-monocrystalline material comprising silicon atoms as a matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4265991A
Cited
JPS54143149A
Cited
JPS57124777A
Cited
JPS6012554A
Cited
US4898798A
Cited
US4873165A
Cited
JPH02111962A
Cited
US5392098A
Cited
US5656406A
Cited
US5849446A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |