JP2001075461A - Electrophotographic device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a high definition image free from image blurring and image flowing under a high humidity, as to an electrophotographic device provided with an electrophotographic photoreceptor with a protecting layer with conductive particles contained and as to a process cartridge equipped with the electrophotographic photoreceptor. SOLUTION: The electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 in the device or in the process cartridge is provided with the protecting layer containing the conductive particles whose resistance value is easily fluctuated according to an environmental change, and by controlling the ambient temperature in the device and maintaining the prescribed temperature in a dehumidified state so as to keep the resistance value of the protecting layer of the photoreceptor within the appropriate extent, the high definition image free from the image blurring and the image flowing is obtained in a stable state at all times.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus having an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a protective layer containing conductive particles therein, and a process cartridge having the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an electrophotographic photoreceptor, the releasability of the surface of the photoreceptor has been improved in order to suppress the occurrence of fusion and filming of toner on the photoreceptor, or by rubbing. Attempts to provide various protective layers on the surface of the photoreceptor have been made to improve the durability of the surface layer due to the abrasion or damage of the surface or the deterioration of the surface layer due to the adhesion of active substances such as ozone and NOx generated during charging. It has been done.

[0003] Among them, many protective layers containing a resin as a main component have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-30846
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-264, a protective layer whose resistance can be controlled by adding a metal oxide as a conductive powder to a resin is proposed.

Dispersing a metal oxide in a protective layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member is intended to control the electric resistance of the protective layer itself and prevent an increase in residual potential in the photosensitive member due to repetition of the electrophotographic process. Its main purpose is, on the other hand, a suitable resistance value of the protective layer for the electrophotographic photosensitive member is 10 ¹⁰ to 10 ¹⁵ Ω · c.
m is known.

[0005]

However, in the resistance value in the above-mentioned range, the electric resistance of the protective layer is easily affected by ionic conduction, so that the electric resistance tends to largely change due to a change in environment. Particularly when the metal oxide is dispersed in the film, the water absorption of the metal oxide surface is high, so that the resistance of the protective layer is reduced in all environments, particularly when the electrophotographic process is repeated. Keeping in range has so far been very difficult.

[0006] Particularly under high humidity, the resistance gradually decreases upon standing, or the active material such as ozone or NOx generated by charging repeatedly adheres to the surface, so that the resistance of the surface of the photoreceptor is reduced. There are problems such as causing a decrease in the releasability of the toner from the surface layer, causing image deletion and insufficient image uniformity.

In order to make up for the above-mentioned drawbacks, see, for example,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-295066 proposes a protective layer in which a metal fine powder or a metal oxide fine powder having improved dispersibility and moisture resistance by water-repellent treatment is dispersed in a binder resin.

However, even in these concession layers, the releasability of the binder resin itself used for the protective layer itself and the durability against abrasion and scratches caused by rubbing are not sufficient, and the protective layer still responds to recent high image quality. At present, it is not possible to obtain a material exhibiting satisfactory electrophotographic characteristics.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus having an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a protective layer containing conductive particles therein, and a process cartridge provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member under high humidity. Image blur in
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge capable of obtaining a high-quality image with no flow.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge having the following constitution.

(1) In an electrophotographic apparatus having an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a protective layer containing conductive particles in the apparatus, an apparatus temperature control means including a heater for controlling an atmosphere temperature in the apparatus to a predetermined temperature. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

(2) The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to (1), wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a photosensitive layer and a protective layer on a conductive support, and the protective layer contains conductive particles and a binder resin. Electrophotographic equipment.

(3) The electrophotographic apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the internal atmosphere temperature controlled by the internal temperature control means is 35 ° C. or more and 55 ° C. or less.

(4) charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, image exposing means for forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the photosensitive member charged surface to an image, developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image,
The electrophotographic apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), further comprising a transfer means for transferring the developed image to a transfer material.

(5) An electrophotographic photoreceptor, charging means for charging the photoreceptor, developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor, and photoreceptor after image transfer from the photoreceptor to a transfer material The electrophotography according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein at least one of the cleaning means for cleaning the body surface is integrally formed as a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus. apparatus.

(6) An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a protective layer containing conductive particles, and a process cartridge having process means acting on the photosensitive member and detachable from an electrophotographic apparatus main body. A process cartridge, comprising: a temperature control unit in a device including a heater for controlling an ambient temperature in an electrophotographic device to which the device is mounted to a predetermined temperature, or a part of a component of the device.

(7) The process means includes a charging means for charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member, and a photosensitive member after transferring an image from the photosensitive member to a transfer material. The process cartridge according to (6), wherein the process cartridge is at least one of cleaning means for cleaning a body surface.

<Operation> That is, the electrophotographic photoreceptor in the apparatus or the process cartridge is a photoreceptor having a conductive particle-containing protective layer whose resistance value is liable to fluctuate due to environmental changes. By controlling the atmosphere temperature in the apparatus to a predetermined temperature in a dehumidified state in which the resistance value of the protective layer of the photoconductor is kept in an appropriate range by means,
An electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge capable of constantly and stably obtaining a high-quality image without blurring or running under high humidity are constituted.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) Schematic Configuration of an Example of an Electrophotographic Apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member having a protective layer containing conductive particles, and is driven to rotate around an axis 2 in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow at a predetermined peripheral speed. During the rotation process, the photosensitive member 1 receives a uniform charge of a predetermined positive or negative potential on its surface by the primary charging unit 3, and then receives an image from an image exposure unit (not shown) such as slit exposure or laser beam scanning exposure. The exposure light 4 is received. Thus, the electrostatic latent rubber is sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 1.

The formed electrostatic latent image is then transferred to developing means 5
The toner-developed image developed is transferred between a photosensitive member 1 and a transfer means 6 from a paper supply unit (not shown) in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive member 1 and transferred to a supplied transfer material 7. The image is sequentially transferred by the means 6.

The transfer material 7 to which the image has been transferred is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 1 and introduced into the image fixing means 8, where the image is fixed and printed out of the apparatus as a copy.

The surface of the photoreceptor 1 after the image is transferred is cleaned by a cleaning unit 9 to remove the untransferred toner, and is further subjected to a static elimination process by a pre-exposure light 10 from a pre-exposure manual throw (not shown). Later, it is used repeatedly for image formation.
Note that pre-exposure is not always necessary.

The electrophotographic apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and a plurality of components such as a primary charging unit 3, a developing unit 5 and a cleaning unit 9.
1, the process cartridge 11 may be configured to be detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer. For example, a process in which at least one of the primary charging unit 3, the developing unit 5, and the cleaning unit 9 is integrally supported together with the photoreceptor 1 to form a cartridge, and is detachable from the apparatus main body using a guide unit such as the rail 12 of the apparatus main body. The cartridge 11 can be used.

(2) In-apparatus temperature control means 13 is an atmosphere heater (heating element) arranged near the photosensitive member 1, 14 is a temperature detecting means such as a thermoswitch arranged near the photosensitive member 1, and 15 is a temperature detecting means. This is an internal temperature control circuit.
The temperature control circuit 15 in the apparatus controls the energization of the heater 13 based on the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting means 14, so that the temperature in the apparatus is maintained within the appropriate range of the resistance value of the protective layer of the photoconductor. A predetermined temperature in a dehumidified state, for example, 35 ° C.
The temperature is controlled and maintained at not less than 55 ° C.

As described above, the temperature of the photosensitive member and the atmosphere surrounding the photosensitive member is increased by the heater 13 to maintain and maintain a predetermined temperature in a dehumidified state in which the resistance value of the photosensitive member protective layer is maintained in an appropriate range. The electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 in the apparatus or in the process cartridge has a photoreceptor having a conductive particle-containing protective layer whose resistance value is liable to fluctuate due to environmental changes, so that image blur and flow under high humidity can be suppressed.

The heated and dehumidified atmosphere in the electrophotographic apparatus is configured to be generated at least in the vicinity of the photosensitive member.

When the heater 13 is set apart from the photoreceptor 1, the distance between the two is preferably in the range of 10 mm to 300 mm.

The heater 13 may be installed inside the photoconductor 1 or may be installed in contact with the photoconductor 1.

As a heating method, a heating element having a vacuum specification may be used. More specifically, an electric resistance heating element such as a winding heater of a sheath heater, a plate heater, a ceramic heater, a halogen lamp, an infrared lamp, or the like. Examples include a heat radiation lamp heating element such as a lamp, and a heating element using heat exchange means using a liquid, a gas, or the like as a heating medium. As the surface material of the heating method, metals such as stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, and copper, ceramics, and heat-resistant polymer resins can be used.

The temperature of the heating element is controlled by installing a thermoswitch near the heating element and controlling the temperature by sensing the temperature of the heating element itself, or by installing a thermoswitch inside or near the photosensitive element and controlling the temperature of the heating element. Any of the methods of controlling the temperature by sensing the temperature in the vicinity may be used.

(3) Electrophotographic Photoreceptor Having Protective Layer Containing Conductive Particles FIGS. 2A and 2B show an electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 having a protective layer containing conductive particles, respectively. The model diagram of the layer structure is shown.

1a is a support, 1b is an undercoat layer, 1c is a photosensitive layer, 1d is a protective layer containing conductive particles, and the photosensitive body 1 is formed by laminating these layers in order. The photoreceptor 1 of (a) is a single-layer type in which the photosensitive layer 1c contains both the charge generating substance and the charge transporting substance in the same layer, and the photoreceptor 1 of (b) has the photosensitive layer 1c having the charge generating layer 1c. ₁ is a multilayer type having a charge transport layer 1c _2.

A) Support 1a The support 1a may be any conductive material, for example, aluminum, aluminum alloy, steel, zinc, stainless steel, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium, titanium, nickel. And metal such as indium or the like in the form of a drum or sheet, metal foil such as aluminum or copper laminated on a plastic film, aluminum, indium oxide, tin oxide, etc. deposited on a plastic film, conductive material , Alone or together with a binder resin to provide a conductive layer, such as metal, plastic film and paper.

Examples of the shape of the support include a drum shape, a sheet shape, a belt shape and the like, and it is preferable that the shape is most suitable for the applied electrophotographic apparatus.

B) Undercoat Layer 1b The undercoat layer 1b is a layer having a barrier function and an adhesive function between the support 1a and the photosensitive layer 1c, and can be provided as necessary.

As a material of the undercoat layer 1b, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, nitrocellulose,
Examples include ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, alcohol-soluble amide, polyamide, polyurethane, casein, glue and gelatin.

The undercoat layer 1b can be formed by applying a solution obtained by dissolving these materials in an appropriate solvent on the support 1a and drying the solution. The film thickness is desirably 5 μm or less, and particularly desirably 0.2 μm to 3 μm.

When the exposure is laser light, a conductive layer is preferably provided between the undercoat layer 1b and the support 1a to prevent interference fringes. The conductive layer can be formed by applying a solution in which a conductive powder such as carbon black and metal particles is dispersed in a binder resin on the support 1a and drying the solution. The thickness of the conductive layer is desirably 5 to 40 μm, and particularly desirably 5 to 30 μm.

C) Photosensitive layer 1c (1c ₁ .1c ₂ ) When the photosensitive layer is of a laminated type, the charge generating substances include inorganic charge generating substances such as selenium, selenium-tellurium and amorphous silicon; pyrylium dyes and thiapyrylium dyes Cationic dyes such as azurenium-based dyes, thiacyanine-based dyes and quinocyanine-based dyes; squarium salt-based pigments; phthalocyanine-based pigments; Pigments; quinacridone pigments; and azo pigments.

The charge generation layer 1c ₁ is these charge generating material was coated a coating solution prepared by dispersing or dissolving the formed or, or a binder resin as a vapor deposition layer by a vacuum deposition apparatus,
It can be formed as a coating layer by drying.

The binder resin can be selected from a wide range of insulating resins, and can be selected from organic photoconductive polymers such as poly-N-vinylcarbazole and polyvinylpyrene. Desirably, polyvinyl butyral, polyarylate (polycondensate of bisphenol A and phthalic acid, etc.), polycarbonate, polyester, polyvinyl acetate, acrylic resin, polyacrylamide, polyamide, cellulose resin, urethane resin, epoxy resin, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. Resins.

The binder resin contained in the charge generation layer 1c ₁ is desirably a charge generation layer is 80% by weight based on the total weight, and particularly desirably 50% by weight or less.

[0044] It is desirable thickness of the charge generation layer 1c ₁ is 5μm or less, it is particularly desirable is 0.01 to 1 [mu] m.

The charge transport layer 1c _2, the main chain or biphenylene in the side chain, anthracene, polycyclic aromatic compounds having a structure such as pyrene and phenanthrene; indole, carbazole, nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds such as oxadiazole and pyrazoline; The hydrazone compound is formed by applying a coating solution in which a charge transport material such as a styryl compound or the like is dissolved in a binder resin, and drying the coating solution.

Examples of the binder resin include polyarylate, polysulfone, polyamide, acrylic resin, acrylonitrile resin, methacrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, phenol resin, ethoxy resin, polyester resin, alkyd resin, polycarbonate resin, polyurethane, Alternatively, copolymers thereof, for example, styrene butadiene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer and the like can be mentioned. In addition to such an insulating polymer, an organic photoconductive polymer such as polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl anthracene, and polyvinyl pyrene can be used.

The ratio of the charge transport material to the binder resin is preferably 10 to 500 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

The charge transport layer has a thickness of 5 to 40 μm.
, And particularly preferably 10 to 30 μm.

When the photosensitive layer 1c is of a single-layer type, the photosensitive layer is prepared by applying a solution in which the above-mentioned charge generating substance and charge transporting substance are dispersed and dissolved in the above-mentioned binder resin to a support and dried. Can be formed by

D) Protective Layer 1d Containing Conductive Particles The conductive particles include metals, metal oxides and carbon black. As metal, aluminum,
Zinc, copper, chromium, nickel, silver, stainless steel, and the like, or those obtained by vapor-depositing these metals on the surfaces of plastic particles are included. Examples of the metal oxide include zinc oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, bismuth oxide, tin-doped indium oxide, antimony and tantalum-doped tin oxide, and antimony-doped zirconium oxide. . These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more kinds are used in combination, they may be simply mixed or formed into a solid solution or a fusion form.

The average particle size of the conductive particles is preferably 0.3 μm or less, particularly preferably 0.1 μm or less, in view of the transparency of the protective layer 1d.

It is particularly desirable to use a metal oxide among the above-mentioned conductive particles in terms of transparency and the like.

For the purpose of improving the releasability and slipperiness of the surface of the photoreceptor, fluorine atom-containing resin particles may be added.
Examples of the fluorine atom-containing resin particles used include ethylene tetrafluoride, ethylene trifluoride chloride resin, hexafluoroethylene propylene resin, vinyl fluoride resin, vinylidene fluoride resin, difluoroethylene dichloride resin, and copolymers thereof. It is desirable to appropriately select one or two or more kinds from the coalescing, and particularly preferred are an ethylene tetrafluoride resin and a vinylidene fluoride resin. The molecular weight of the resin particles and the particle size of the particles can be appropriately selected and are not particularly limited.

The surface of the conductive particles may be treated with a fluorine atom-containing compound so that both the conductive particles and the fluorine atom-containing resin do not agglomerate each other in the resin solution.

When the conductive particles are subjected to a surface treatment with a fluorine atom-containing compound, examples of the fluorine atom-containing compound that can be used include a fluorine-containing silane coupling agent, a fluorine-modified silicone oil, and a fluorine-based surfactant. Examples of desirable compounds are listed in Tables 1 to 3, but are not limited to these compounds.

[0056]

[Table 1]

[0057]

[Table 2]

[0058]

[Table 3]

In order to form a protective layer having more environmental stability, dimethylsiloxane or a siloxane compound represented by the following general formula (1) may be mixed with conductive particles which have been subjected to a surface treatment in advance.

[0060]

Embedded image

In the formula, A is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and the proportion of hydrogen atoms in all A is 0.1 to 5
In the range of 0%, n is an integer of 0 or more.

By dispersing the conductive metal oxide fine particles subjected to the surface treatment in a binder resin dissolved in a solvent, secondary particles of the dispersed particles are not formed, and the dispersibility is stable over time. A coating liquid was obtained, and a protective layer formed from this coating liquid had high transparency and a film excellent in environmental resistance.

Although the molecular weight of the siloxane compound represented by the general formula (1) is not particularly limited, it is preferable that the viscosity is not too high from the viewpoint of easiness of the surface treatment operation, and that the weight average molecular weight is several hundred to About tens of thousands are appropriate.

Examples of the conductive metal oxide include zinc oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, bismuth oxide, and tin-doped indium oxide.
Ultrafine particles such as tin oxide and zirconium oxide doped with antimony can be used. These metal oxides are used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more kinds are mixed, they may be in the form of solid solution or fusion. The average particle size of such a metal oxide is preferably 0.3 μm or less, more preferably 0.1 μm or less.

The ratio of the siloxane compound to the conductive metal oxide fine particles depends on the particle size of the fine particles and the ratio of methyl groups to hydrogen atoms in the siloxane.
Desirably, the content is 3 to 40 wt%.

Examples of the binder resin include polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, polyarylate resin, polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, cellulose resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, and phosphazene resin. Melamine resin and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. These binder resins can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

An additive such as a coupling agent or an antioxidant may be added to the surface layer for the purpose of improving dispersibility, binding property, weather resistance and the like.

The above-mentioned various layers 1b and 1c (1c1 _, 1c)
₂ ) 1d can be formed using a suitable organic solvent by a coating method such as dip coating, spray coating, beam coating, spinner coating, roller coating, Meyer bar coating, and blade coating. it can.

(4) Examples and Comparative Examples <Example 1> An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a protective layer containing conductive fine particles was prepared in the following manner.

. An aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 30φ and 357.5 mm is used as a support 1a, and a paint composed of the following material is applied on the support by a dip coating method and thermally cured at 140 ° C. for 30 minutes.
A μm conductive layer was formed.

Conductive pigment: tin oxide-coated titanium oxide 10 parts (parts by weight, hereinafter the same) Resistance adjusting pigment: titanium oxide 10 parts Binder resin: phenol resin 10 parts Leveling agent: Silicone oil: 0.001 part Solvent: methanol / methyl cellosolve = 1 / 1..20 parts. A solution obtained by dissolving 3 parts of N-methoxymethylated nylon and 3 parts of copolymerized nylon in 65 parts of methanol and 30 parts of n-butanol was applied thereon by dip coating to form a 0.5 μm intermediate layer. 1b was formed.

[0072] Next, the Bragg angles 2θ ± 0.2 ° in the CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction were 9.0 °, 14.2 °,
Sand mill using 4 parts of oxytitanium phthalocyanine having strong peaks at 3.9 ° and 27.1 °, 2 parts of polyvinyl butyral (trade name: BX-1 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 80 parts of cyclohexanone using φ1 mm glass beads After dispersing for 4 hours in methyl ethyl ketone 11
By adding 5 parts, a dispersion for charge generation layer was obtained. By applying this on the intermediate layer by a dip coating method,
To form a charge generation layer 1c ₁ of 0.3 [mu] m.

[0073] Next, the following structural formula

[0074]

Embedded image

10 parts of a styryl compound and a polycarbonate resin (Iupilon Z-200: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Was dissolved in a mixed solvent of 20 parts of dichloromethane and 60 parts of monochlorobenzene, and this solution was applied on the charge generation layer by dip coating, and dried at 115 ° C. for 60 minutes to obtain a film thickness. to form a charge transport layer 1c ₂ of 20 [mu] m.

. Next, 15 parts of an acrylic monomer having the following structural formula (trade name: Biscoat # 300: manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)

[0077]

Embedded image

20 parts of antimony-doped tin oxide fine particles surface-treated with a compound having the following structural formula (processing amount: 7%):

[0079]

Embedded image

Antimony-doped tin oxide fine particles 30 treated with methyl hydrogen silicone oil (trade name KF99: manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone Co., Ltd.) (processing amount: 20%)
Parts and 150 parts of ethanol were dispersed in a sand mill for 66 hours.

Next, 15 parts of polytetrafluoroethylene fine particles (average particle size: 0.18 μm) were added to this dispersion, dispersed by a microfluidizer, and then 1 part of 2-methylthioxanthone was added as a photopolymerization initiator. .

Using this solution, a film was formed by dip coating on the charge transport layer, and the film was formed at 150 W / cm with a high pressure mercury lamp.
Light curing was performed at a light intensity of ² for 60 seconds, and then 120
The resultant was dried with hot air at a temperature of 2 ° C. for 2 hours to form a protective layer 1 d having a thickness of 3 μm, thereby producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

The dispersion used had good dispersibility and the surface of the layer had a uniform surface without unevenness.

[0084] Evaluation A copy machine modified from GP215 manufactured by Canon Inc. was used. The control temperature of the atmosphere temperature in the apparatus by the apparatus temperature control means 13, 14 and 15 is set to 35 ° C.
The operation was performed at 80 ° C. and a relative humidity of 80%.

The volume resistance of the protective layer 1d was determined by PET.
A comb-shaped electrode having a gap of 180 μm was formed thereon by gold vapor deposition, a protective layer preparation liquid was applied thereon, and curing conditions were the same as in the preparation of the photoreceptor to prepare a sample.
The measurement was performed by applying a voltage of 100 V using a pA meter 4140B manufactured by Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard Co., Ltd. The temperature was set to 35 ° C. for the control temperature of the main body atmosphere heater, and the relative humidity was set to 60%. The relative humidity was determined by calculating a relative humidity value corresponding to a temperature of 35 ° C. from the absolute water content at a temperature of 30 ° C. and a relative humidity of 80%. The results are shown in Tables 4 and 5 below.

Example 2 An electrophotographic photoreceptor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the protective layer 1d of the photoreceptor 1 of Example 1 was changed to use 12 parts of an acrylic monomer.
The results are shown in Tables 4 and 5.

Example 3 For the protective layer 1d of the photoreceptor 1 of Example 1, 30 parts of antimony-doped tin oxide particles surface-treated with a fluorine atom-containing compound and 20 parts of siloxane-treated antimony-doped tin oxide particles were used. An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except for the above.
Tables 4 and 5 show the evaluation results.

Example 4 In the protective layer 1d of the photoreceptor 1 of Example 1, 50 parts of antimony-doped tin oxide particles surface-treated with a fluorine atom-containing compound were added, and siloxane-treated antimony-doped tin oxide particles were added. An electrophotographic photoreceptor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the photoreceptor was not used. Tables 4 and 5 show the evaluation results.

<Comparative Examples 1-4> In Examples 1-4,
Image evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 4, except that the atmosphere heater 13 was removed from GP215 manufactured by Canon Inc.

The temperature / humidity condition of the volume resistance measurement was 30 ° C./80% assuming that the atmosphere heater 13 was removed.
The measurement was performed in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 4, except that
Tables 4 and 5 show the evaluation results.

<Comparative Example 5> In Example 1, the temperature of the main body atmosphere heater 13 was set to 60 ° C. for image evaluation.
And the temperature / humidity condition of the volume resistance measurement is 60 ° C./17%
The evaluation was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except for the above. Tables 4 and 5 show the evaluation results.

[0092]

[Table 4]

[0093]

[Table 5]

[0094]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electrophotographic photoreceptor in the apparatus or the process cartridge is provided with the photoreceptor having the conductive particle-containing protective layer whose resistance value is easily changed due to environmental changes. By controlling and maintaining the atmosphere temperature in the apparatus at a predetermined temperature in a dehumidified state in which the resistance value of the protective layer of the photoconductor is kept in an appropriate range by an apparatus temperature control unit including a heater, image blur and flow under high humidity Thus, an electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge capable of constantly and stably obtaining a high-quality image without defects are configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural model diagram of an example of an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a layer configuration of a photoreceptor having a protective layer containing conductive particles.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. electrophotographic photoreceptor, 2. axis, 3. primary charging means, 4. image exposure light, 5. developing means, 6. transfer means, 7. transfer material, 8. image fixing Means, 9 cleaning means, 10 pre-exposure light, 11 process cartridge, 12 rail, 13 atmosphere heater (heating means), 14 temperature detection means, 15 control circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Koichi Nakata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2H027 DA13 EA13 EC10 ED01 ED03 ED06 ED08 ED24 ED27 HB15 HB18 JA12 JB19 JC01 JC20 2H071 BA04 BA13 DA06 DA08 DA13 DA15 DA32

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic apparatus having an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a protective layer containing conductive particles in an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a heater for controlling an ambient temperature in the apparatus to a predetermined temperature; An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: 2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a photosensitive layer and a protective layer on a conductive support, and the protective layer contains conductive particles and a binder resin. Electrophotographic equipment. 3. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the atmosphere temperature in the apparatus controlled by the apparatus temperature control means is 35 ° C. or more and 55 ° C. or less. 4. A charging unit for charging an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an image exposing unit for exposing an image on a charged surface of the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a developing unit therefor 4. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer means for transferring an image to a transfer material. 5. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, charging means for charging the photoreceptor, developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor, and a photoreceptor surface after image transfer from the photoreceptor to a transfer material 5. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cleaning means for cleaning the electrophotographic apparatus is integrally formed as a process cartridge detachably mountable to the electrophotographic apparatus main body. 6. An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a protective layer containing conductive particles, and a process cartridge having process means for acting on the photoreceptor and detachable from an electrophotographic apparatus main body. A process cartridge comprising: a device internal temperature control means including a heater for controlling an ambient temperature in a mounted electrophotographic apparatus to a predetermined temperature; or a part of a constituent member of the means. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes a charging unit configured to charge an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member, and a surface of the photosensitive member after image transfer from the photosensitive member to a transfer material. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the process cartridge is at least one of a cleaning unit for cleaning the process cartridge.