JP2011248250A - Electrophotographic photoreceptor and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor and an image forming device which do not lose electrical properties by crystallization of charge transport agents and do have sufficient wear resistance and good durability when amine stilbene derivatives, butadienylbenzene amine derivatives and so on are used as charge transport agents.SOLUTION: A binder resin containing polycarbonate copolymer resin represented by the following general formula (I), and a charge transport material containing amine stilbene derivatives and butadienylbenzene amine derivatives as hole transport material are used for a photosensitive layer formed on a conductive substrate.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member and an image forming apparatus including the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

  The electrophotographic photoreceptor provided in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an inorganic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer made of an inorganic material such as selenium, and organic materials such as a binder resin, a charge generating agent, and a charge transporting agent. And an organic photoreceptor provided with a photosensitive layer. Among these photoconductors, organic photoconductors are widely used because they are easier to manufacture than inorganic photoconductors, and the material of the photosensitive layer can be selected from a wide range of materials and the degree of freedom in design is high.

  In order to provide high-quality images over a long period of time using an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, many methods for improving the electrical characteristics and durability of the organic photoreceptor have been proposed. As a method for improving the electrical characteristics and durability of the organic photoreceptor, for example, an amine stilbene derivative having a specific structure (Patent Document 1) or a butadienylbenzeneamine derivative having a specific structure (Patent Document 2), A method for use as a charge transport agent contained in a photosensitive layer has been proposed.

JP 2006-8670 A JP 2005-289877 A

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a photosensitive layer is formed by combining a charge transport agent such as an amine stilbene derivative or butadienylbenzeneamine derivative with a bisphenol Z-type polycarbonate resin, these charge transport agents are bisphenol Z-type. It has been shown that a photoreceptor having excellent electrical characteristics can be obtained because it has excellent compatibility with other polycarbonate resins and is less likely to cause crystallization of the charge transfer agent. However, the bisphenol Z-type polycarbonate resin does not have sufficient wear resistance, and even if the charge transfer agent does not crystallize, it is difficult to realize a long life of the photoreceptor due to the abrasion of the photosensitive layer. There's a problem.

  In recent years, a contact charging method has been adopted as a method for charging a photoconductor in order to suppress the generation of ozone during charging of the photoconductor for the purpose of extending the life of the photoconductor and considering the office environment. Things are increasing. When the photosensitive member is charged by the contact charging method, since a charging roller or the like that contacts the surface of the photosensitive member is used, wear of the photosensitive layer becomes remarkable.

  For this reason, in a photoreceptor in which a photosensitive layer is formed by combining an amine stilbene derivative or butadienylbenzeneamine derivative and a bisphenol Z-type polycarbonate resin, when the contact charging method is adopted as a charging method, the photosensitive layer is not worn. Because of the problem, it is more difficult to extend the life of the photosensitive member than when the charging method is a non-contact method.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a charge transport agent having excellent sensitivity characteristics such as an amine stilbene derivative or a butadienyl benzene amine derivative is used as a charge transport agent, the crystal of the charge transport agent is used. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor having sufficient wear resistance without losing electrical characteristics due to the conversion. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including the above-described electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier.

  In the electrophotographic photoreceptor in which a photosensitive layer is formed on a conductive substrate, the present inventors have used a binder resin containing a copolymer polycarbonate resin having a specific structure, an amine stilbene derivative and / or a pig as a material for the photosensitive layer. It was found that by using a combination with a dienylbenzenamine derivative, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having sufficient abrasion resistance can be obtained without damaging electrical characteristics due to crystallization of the charge transfer agent, and the present invention is completed. It came. More specifically, the present invention provides the following.

〔式（Ｉ）中、ｎ＋ｍ＝１であり、０．３５≦ｍ＜０．７である。Ｒ^１〜Ｒ^４はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基であり、Ｒ^３及びＲ^４は互いに結合してシクロアルキリデン基を形成してもよい。〕

〔式（ＩＩ）中、Ｒ^５〜Ｒ^１２はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基である。ａは０〜５の整数を表し、ｂは０〜４の整数を表し、ｋは０又は１を表す。〕

〔式（ＩＩＩ）中、Ｒ^１３〜Ｒ^１９はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基であり、Ｒ^１５〜Ｒ^１９から選択される隣接する二つの基は互いに結合して環を形成してもよい。ｃは０〜５の整数を表す。〕 (1) An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer formed on a conductive substrate,
The photosensitive layer is
1) a photosensitive layer in which a charge generation layer containing at least a charge generation agent, a charge transport layer containing at least a charge transfer agent and a binder resin are sequentially laminated, or
2) A photosensitive layer containing at least a charge generator, a charge transport agent, and a binder resin,
The binder resin contains a copolymer polycarbonate resin represented by the following general formula (I):
The electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the charge transporting agent contains a compound represented by the following general formula (II) and / or a compound represented by the following general formula (III) as a hole transporting agent.

[In formula (I), n + m = 1, and 0.35 ≦ m <0.7. R ^{1 to} R ⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R ³ and R ⁴ may be bonded to each other to form a cycloalkylidene group. ]

[In Formula (II), R ^{5 to} R ¹² are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group. a represents an integer of 0 to 5, b represents an integer of 0 to 4, and k represents 0 or 1. ]

[In Formula (III), R ^{13 to} R ¹⁹ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and two adjacent groups selected from R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are bonded to each other to form a ring. It may be formed. c represents an integer of 0 to 5. ]

(2) The electron according to (1), wherein the hole transport agent is a compound represented by the formula (II), and at least two substituents among R ^{7 to} R ¹¹ are not hydrogen atoms. Photoconductor.

(3) The hole transport agent is a compound represented by the formula (II), and at least one substituent among R ^{7 to} R ¹¹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms, 1) The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the above.

(4) The electrophotographic image described in (1), wherein the hole transport agent is a compound represented by the formula (III), and at least two substituents out of R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are not hydrogen atoms. Photoconductor.

(5) The hole transport agent is a compound represented by the formula (III), and at least one substituent among R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms, 1) The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the above.

  (6) The photosensitive layer is a photosensitive layer in which a charge generating layer containing at least a charge generating agent and a charge transporting layer containing at least a charge transporting agent and a binder resin are sequentially laminated on a conductive substrate. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein

  (7) Content of the said charge transport agent in the said charge transport layer is 50 mass% or less with respect to the mass of the said binder resin, It is characterized by the above-mentioned in any one of (1)-(6) Electrophotographic photoreceptor.

(8) an image carrier;
A charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An exposure unit for exposing the surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image as a toner image;
A transfer unit for transferring the toner image from the image carrier to a transfer target, and the charging unit is used as the image carrier of an image forming apparatus of a contact charging type. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of (1) to (7).

(9) an image carrier;
A charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An exposure unit for exposing the surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image as a toner image;
And a transfer portion for transferring the toner image from the image carrier to a transfer target, wherein the image carrier is the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of (1) to (7). An image forming apparatus.

  (10) The image forming apparatus according to (9), wherein the charging unit is a contact charging method.

  According to the present invention, when a charge transporting agent having excellent sensitivity characteristics such as an amine stilbene derivative or a butadienylbenzeneamine derivative is used as the charge transporting agent, the electrical characteristics are not impaired by the crystallization of the charge transporting agent, and sufficient A durable electrophotographic photosensitive member and an image forming apparatus can be obtained.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a laminated type photoreceptor. It is a figure which shows the structure of a single layer type photoreceptor. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the graph of the relationship between content of the unit derived from 4,4'-biphenol in the binder resin in an Example, and a film thickness change.

  Hereinafter, although embodiment of this invention is described, this invention is not limited to these.

[First Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, a photosensitive layer selected from the following 1) or 2) is formed on a conductive substrate,
1) a photosensitive layer in which a charge generation layer containing at least a charge generation agent, a charge transport layer containing at least a charge transfer agent and a binder resin are sequentially laminated,
2) A photosensitive layer containing at least a charge generator, a charge transport agent, and a binder resin,
The binder resin contained in the photosensitive layer contains a copolymerized polycarbonate resin represented by the following general formula (I), the charge transporting agent as a hole transporting agent, a compound represented by the following general formula (II), and The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a compound represented by the following general formula (III):

〔式（Ｉ）中、ｎ＋ｍ＝１であり、０．３５≦ｍ＜０．７である。Ｒ^１〜Ｒ^４はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基であり、Ｒ^３及びＲ^４は互いに結合してシクロアルキリデン基を形成してもよい。〕

[In formula (I), n + m = 1, and 0.35 ≦ m <0.7. R ^{1 to} R ⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R ³ and R ⁴ may be bonded to each other to form a cycloalkylidene group. ]

〔式（ＩＩ）中、Ｒ^５〜Ｒ^１２はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基である。ａは０〜５の整数を表し、ｂは０〜４の整数を表し、ｋは０又は１を表す。〕

[In Formula (II), R ^{5 to} R ¹² are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group. a represents an integer of 0 to 5, b represents an integer of 0 to 4, and k represents 0 or 1. ]

〔式（ＩＩＩ）中、Ｒ^１３〜Ｒ^１９はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基であり、Ｒ^１５〜Ｒ^１９から選択される隣接する二つの基は互いに結合して環を形成してもよい。ｃは０〜５の整数を表す。〕

[In Formula (III), R ^{13 to} R ¹⁹ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and two adjacent groups selected from R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are bonded to each other to form a ring. It may be formed. c represents an integer of 0 to 5. ]

  Here, the electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a photosensitive member) includes a single layer type and a laminated type, but the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention is applicable to both.

  In the specification and claims of the present application, the resin contained in the charge transport layer of the multilayer photoreceptor or the photosensitive layer of the single-layer laminate is referred to as “binder resin”. In addition, when the charge generation layer of the multilayer photoreceptor includes a resin, the resin included in the charge generation layer is referred to as a “base resin”. Hereinafter, the laminated photoreceptor and the single-layer photoreceptor will be described in order.

1. Laminated Photoreceptor As shown in FIG. 1A, in an electrophotographic photoreceptor, the laminated photoreceptor 10 is a charge generating layer 12 containing a charge generating agent on a conductive substrate 11 by means such as vapor deposition or coating. Then, a coating liquid containing a charge transport agent and a specific binder resin is applied on the charge generation layer 12 and then dried to form the charge transport layer 13.

  The laminated electrophotographic photosensitive member can be applied to both positive and negative charging systems by appropriately selecting the type of the charge transport agent.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, it is also preferable to previously form the undercoat layer 14 on the conductive substrate 11 before forming the photosensitive layer. By providing the undercoat layer 14, the charge on the conductive substrate 11 side is prevented from being injected into the photosensitive layer, and the binding of the photosensitive layer onto the conductive substrate 11 is strengthened. This is because defects can be covered and smoothed.

  Hereinafter, the conductive substrate and the photosensitive layer will be described in order with respect to the multilayer photoreceptor.

[Conductive substrate]
The conductive substrate used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be used as a conductive substrate of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Specifically, for example, a material having at least a surface portion made of a conductive material can be used. Specifically, for example, it may be made of a conductive material, or may be a plastic material or the like whose surface is covered with a conductive material. Examples of the conductive material include aluminum, iron, copper, tin, platinum, silver, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium, cadmium, titanium, nickel, palladium, indium, stainless steel, and brass. Moreover, as a material which has electroconductivity, the material which has electroconductivity may be used by 1 type, and may be used as an alloy etc., for example, combining 2 or more types. Further, among the above, the conductive substrate is preferably made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. By doing so, a photoconductor capable of forming a more suitable image can be provided. This is considered to be due to good charge transfer from the photosensitive layer to the conductive substrate.

  The shape of the conductive substrate can be appropriately selected according to the structure of the image forming apparatus to be used. For example, a sheet-like or drum-like substrate can be suitably used.

(Photosensitive layer)
<Materials constituting photosensitive layer>
The multilayer electrophotographic photosensitive member is composed of a charge generation layer containing at least a charge generation agent and a charge transport layer containing at least a charge transfer agent and a binder resin formed on a conductive substrate. The charge generation layer is a base. Resin may be included. Hereinafter, the binder resin, the charge transport agent, the charge generator, and the base resin will be described in order.

(Binder resin)
As the binder resin used for the charge transport layer in the present invention, a resin containing a copolymerized polycarbonate resin represented by the following general formula (I) (hereinafter also referred to as binder resin I) is used.

〔式（Ｉ）中、ｎ＋ｍ＝１であり、０．３５≦ｍ＜０．７である。Ｒ^１〜Ｒ^４はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基であり、Ｒ^３及びＲ^４は互いに結合してシクロアルキリデン基を形成してもよい。〕

[In formula (I), n + m = 1, and 0.35 ≦ m <0.7. R ^{1 to} R ⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R ³ and R ⁴ may be bonded to each other to form a cycloalkylidene group. ]

  In the binder resin I, when m is too small, it is difficult to obtain a photoreceptor having desired wear resistance. When m is too large, when the charge transport layer is formed, the components contained in the charge transport layer are uniformly dissolved in the solvent. In some cases, it is not possible to prepare a coating solution dissolved in the solution, and a homogeneous charge transport layer cannot be formed.

In the copolymeric polycarbonate represented by the formula (I), when the substituents R ^{1 to} R ⁴ are alkyl groups, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms is preferable, and an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms is more preferable. Preferably, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms is particularly preferable.

Specific examples of the substituent represented by R ^{1 to} R ⁴ being an alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an iso-propyl group, an n-butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a ter -Butyl group, n-pentyl group, iso-pentyl group, tert-pentyl group, neopentyl group, n-hexyl group, iso-hexyl group, n-heptyl group, n-octyl group, 2-ethylhexyl group, tert-octyl Group, n-nonyl group, n-decyl group, n-undecyl group and the like.

In the general formula (I), R ³ and R ⁴ may be bonded to each other to form a ring. When R ³ and R ⁴ form a ring, the ring is preferably a 4- to 8-membered ring, more preferably a 5- to 6-membered ring.

In the general formula (I), when the substituents R ^{1 to} R ⁴ are aryl groups, a phenyl group or a group formed by condensing 2 to 6 benzene rings or connecting them by a single bond is preferable. 1-6 are preferable, as for the number of the benzene rings contained in an aryl group, 1-3 are more preferable, and 1 or 2 is especially preferable.

Specific examples of the substituent represented by R ^{1 to} R ⁴ being an aryl group include a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a biphenylyl group, an anthryl group, a phenanthryl group, and a pyrenyl group.

  The method for producing the binder resin I is not particularly limited. The binder resin I can be produced, for example, using a bisphenol compound corresponding to the repeating unit described in the general formula (I) according to a known polycarbonate resin production method.

  As the binder resin I, any of random copolymers and block copolymers can be used as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. Further, the binder resin I preferably has a viscosity average molecular weight of 5,000 to 200,000, more preferably 20,000 to 60,000. By setting the viscosity average molecular weight of the binder resin in such a range, the binder resin has an appropriate hardness, and the charge transfer agent is well dispersed in the binder resin, thereby being excellent in electrical characteristics and abrasion resistance. Is obtained.

The viscosity average molecular weight [M] of the polycarbonate resin can be calculated from [η] = 1.23 × 10 ⁻⁴ M ^{0.83 according} to Schnell's equation, by obtaining the intrinsic viscosity [η] with an Ostwald viscometer. [Η] can be measured using a polycarbonate resin solution obtained by dissolving a polycarbonate resin at 20 ° C. using methylene chloride as a solvent so that the concentration becomes 6.0 g / dm ³ .

  The content of the binder resin I with respect to the total amount of the binder resin in the charge transport layer is not particularly limited as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired, but is preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more, and 100% by mass. % Is particularly preferred.

  The binder resin of the charge transport layer may contain other resins of the binder resin I as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. The resin that the binder resin of the charge transport layer may contain includes polyarylate resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, acrylic copolymer, styrene-acrylic. Acid copolymer, polyethylene resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, chlorinated polyethylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polypropylene resin, ionomer resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, alkyd resin, polyamide resin, polyurethane resin, Polysulfone resin, diallyl phthalate resin, ketone resin, polyvinyl acetal resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyether resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, urea resin, melamine resin, epoxy acrylate resin, and urethane-acrylic resin Rate resins.

(Charge transport agent)
Generally as a charge transport agent, a hole transport agent and an electron transport agent are mentioned. The charge transport agent used in the present invention includes an amine stilbene derivative represented by the following general formula (II) and / or a butadienylbenzeneamine derivative represented by the following general formula (III) as a hole transport agent. .

〔式（ＩＩ）中、Ｒ^５〜Ｒ^１２はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基である。ａは０〜５の整数を表し、ｂは０〜４の整数を表し、ｋは０又は１を表す。〕

[In Formula (II), R ^{5 to} R ¹² are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group. a represents an integer of 0 to 5, b represents an integer of 0 to 4, and k represents 0 or 1. ]

〔式（ＩＩＩ）中、Ｒ^１３〜Ｒ^１９はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子、アルキル基、又はアリール基であり、Ｒ^１５〜Ｒ^１９から選択される隣接する二つの基は互いに結合して環を形成してもよい。ｃは０〜５の整数を表す。〕

[In Formula (III), R ^{13 to} R ¹⁹ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and two adjacent groups selected from R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are bonded to each other to form a ring. It may be formed. c represents an integer of 0 to 5. ]

When the substituents R ^{5 to} R ^{19 included in the} compound represented by the formula (II) or the formula (III) are alkyl groups, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms is preferable, and an alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms is preferable. Group is more preferable, and an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms is particularly preferable.

The compound represented by the formula (II) is a compound in which at least two substituents among R ^{7 to} R ¹¹ are not hydrogen atoms, or at least one substituent of R ^{7 to} R ¹¹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms. Are preferred. When at least one substituent among R ^{7 to} R ¹¹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms, the alkyl group preferably has 4 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and particularly preferably 4 to 6 carbon atoms. preferable. When the compound represented by the formula (II) has such a substituent, since the compatibility with the binder resin including the binder resin I is particularly excellent, a photoreceptor having excellent electrical characteristics can be obtained.

In the compound represented by the formula (III), at least two substituents among R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are not hydrogen atoms, or at least one substituent of R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms. Are preferred. In addition, when two adjacent substituents of R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are bonded to each other to form a ring, at least two substituents of R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are not hydrogen atoms. When at least one substituent among R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms, the alkyl group preferably has 4 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and particularly preferably 4 to 6 carbon atoms. preferable. When the compound represented by the formula (III) has such a substituent, since the compatibility with the binder resin including the binder resin I is particularly excellent, a photoreceptor having excellent electrical characteristics can be obtained.

Specific examples of the substituent represented by R ^{5 to} R ¹⁹ being an alkyl group include a methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, iso-propyl group, n-butyl group, sec-butyl group, ter -Butyl group, n-pentyl group, iso-pentyl group, tert-pentyl group, neopentyl group, n-hexyl group, iso-hexyl group, n-heptyl group, n-octyl group, 2-ethylhexyl group, tert-octyl Group, n-nonyl group, n-decyl group, n-undecyl group and the like.

In the compound of formula (III), when two adjacent groups selected from R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are bonded to each other to form a ring, the ring is preferably a 4- to 8-membered ring, A 6-membered ring is more preferable.

When the substituents R ^{5 to} R ^{19 included in the} compound represented by the formula (II) or the formula (III) are aryl groups, the phenyl group or 2 to 6 benzene rings are condensed or linked by a single bond. And the groups formed are preferred. 1-6 are preferable, as for the number of the benzene rings contained in an aryl group, 1-3 are more preferable, and 1 or 2 is especially preferable.

Specific examples of the substituent represented by R ^{5 to} R ¹⁹ being an aryl group include a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a biphenylyl group, an anthryl group, a phenanthryl group, and a pyrenyl group.

  The charge transporting agent used in the present invention is not limited to the compound represented by the general formula (II) and the compound represented by the general formula (III) as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. It may contain various compounds used as charge transport agents in the body. Examples of the hole transporting agent that may be contained in the charge transporting agent include, for example, benzazi derivatives, oxadi such as 2,5-di (4-methylaminophenyl) -1,3,4-oxadiazole. Azole compounds, styryl compounds such as 9- (4-diethylaminostyryl) anthracene, carbazole compounds such as polyvinyl carbazole, organic polysilane compounds, pyrazoline compounds such as 1-phenyl-3- (p-dimethylaminophenyl) pyrazoline , Hydrazone compounds, triphenylamine compounds, indole compounds, oxazole compounds, isoxazole compounds, thiazole compounds, thiadiazole compounds, imidazole compounds, pyrazole compounds, triazole compounds, and other nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds And condensed polycyclic compounds It is.

  The electron transporting agent that can be suitably used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be used as an electron transporting agent contained in the photosensitive layer of a single layer type electrophotographic photosensitive member. Specifically, for example, quinone derivatives such as naphthoquinone derivatives, diphenoquinone derivatives, anthraquinone derivatives, azoquinone derivatives, nitroantharaquinone derivatives, dinitroanthraquinone derivatives, malononitrile derivatives, thiopyran derivatives, trinitrothioxanthone derivatives, 3, 4, 5, 7-tetranitro-9-fluorenone derivative, dinitroanthracene derivative, dinitroacridine derivative, tetracyanoethylene, 2,4,8-trinitrothioxanthone, dinitrobenzene, dinitroanthracene, dinitroacridine, succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, dibromoanhydride And maleic acid. Of these, quinone derivatives are more preferable.

(Charge generator)
The charge generating agent used for the photosensitive layer of the multilayer electrophotographic photosensitive member is not particularly limited as long as it can be used as the charge generating agent of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Specifically, X-type metal-free phthalocyanine (x-H2Pc), Y-type oxotitanyl phthalocyanine (Y-TiOPc), perylene pigment, bisazo pigment, dithioketopyrrolopyrrole pigment, metal-free naphthalocyanine pigment, metal naphthalocyanine pigment, SQUALINE pigments, trisazo pigments, indigo pigments, azurenium pigments, cyanine pigments, powders of inorganic photoconductive materials such as selenium, selenium-tellurium, selenium-arsenic, cadmium sulfide, amorphous silicon, pyrylium salts, ansanthrone pigments, triphenyl Examples include methane pigments, selenium pigments, toluidine pigments, pyrazoline pigments, and quinacridone pigments.

  Moreover, a charge generation agent may be used independently so that it may have an absorption wavelength in a desired area | region, and may be used in combination of 2 or more type. Further, among the above-mentioned charge generating agents, digital image forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers and facsimiles using a light source such as a semiconductor laser, in particular, require a photosensitive member having sensitivity in a wavelength region of 700 nm or more. Therefore, for example, phthalocyanine pigments such as metal-free phthalocyanine and oxo titanyl phthalocyanine are preferably used. The crystal form of the phthalocyanine pigment is not particularly limited, and various types can be used. In addition, an image forming apparatus of an analog optical system such as an electrostatic copying machine using a white light source such as a halogen lamp requires a photosensitive member having sensitivity in the visible region. For example, a perylene pigment or a bisazo pigment Etc. are preferably used.

(Base resin)
When the charge generation layer is formed on a conductive substrate by applying a solution containing a charge generation agent, a base resin is used together with the charge generation agent. In the present invention, the base resin used in the charge generation layer can be a binder resin used in the charge transport layer, or other resins used in the charge transport layer. Specific examples of other resins of the binder resin used in the charge transport layer that can be used as the base resin of the charge generation layer include bisphenol Z type polycarbonate resin, bisphenol ZC type polycarbonate resin, bisphenol C type polycarbonate resin, and bisphenol A type polycarbonate resin. , Polyarylate resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, acrylic copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid copolymer, polyethylene resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer , Chlorinated polyethylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polypropylene resin, ionomer resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, alkyd resin, polyamide resin, polyurethane resin, polysulfone resin, diallyl Tallates resins, ketone resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polyvinyl butyral resins, polyether resins, silicone resins, epoxy resins, phenol resins, urea resins, melamine resins, epoxy acrylate resins, and urethane - acrylate resins. The base resin used for the charge generation layer may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

<Method for creating photosensitive layer>
The photosensitive layer in the multilayer photoreceptor is formed by sequentially laminating a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer on a conductive substrate or an undercoat layer formed on the conductive substrate.

  The film thickness of the charge generation layer in the multilayer photoreceptor is preferably from 0.1 to 5 μm, more preferably from 0.1 to 3 μm. Moreover, 2-100 micrometers is preferable and, as for the film thickness of a charge transport layer, 5-50 micrometers is more preferable.

  The content of the charge generation agent in the charge generation layer is not particularly limited as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. When the charge generation layer and the coating solution are applied, the amount of the charge generation agent is preferably 10 to 500 parts by mass, more preferably 30 to 300 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the base resin.

  The content of the charge transport agent in the charge transport layer is not particularly limited as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. The content of the charge transport agent in the charge transport layer is preferably 65 parts by mass or less, more preferably 50 parts by mass or less, and particularly preferably 10 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. The amount of the charge transport agent is the total amount of the hole transport agent and the electron transport agent in the charge transport layer. By setting the amount of the charge transfer agent in such a range, it is easy to obtain a laminated photoreceptor having excellent wear resistance.

  Examples of the method for forming the charge generation layer include vacuum deposition of a charge generation agent or application of a coating solution containing at least the charge generation agent, a base resin, and a solvent. As a method for forming the charge generation layer, it is preferable to apply a coating solution containing at least a charge generation agent, a base resin, and a solvent because an expensive vapor deposition apparatus is unnecessary and a film forming operation is easy. Moreover, as a formation method of a charge transport layer, application | coating of the coating liquid containing a charge transport agent, binder resin, and a solvent is mentioned at least.

  As the solvent used for preparing the coating solution for forming the photosensitive layer, various organic solvents conventionally used for the coating solution for forming the photosensitive layer can be used. Specifically, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and butanol; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-hexane, octane and cyclohexane; aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene and xylene; dichloromethane, dichloroethane and chloroform , Halogenated hydrocarbons such as carbon tetrachloride and chlorobenzene; ethers such as dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dioxolane, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone; Esters such as ethyl and methyl acetate; N, N-dimethylformaldehyde, N, N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, etc. Aprotic polar organic solvents.

  Various conventionally known additives can be blended in the coating solution for the charge generation layer or the charge transport layer as long as the electrophotographic characteristics are not adversely affected. Suitable additives blended in the coating liquid include, for example, antioxidants, radical scavengers, singlet quenchers, deterioration inhibitors such as UV absorbers, softeners, plasticizers, surface modifiers, extenders. , Thickeners, dispersion stabilizers, waxes, acceptors, donors and the like. In order to improve the dispersibility of the charge transporting agent and the charge generating agent and the smoothness of the photosensitive layer surface, a surfactant, a leveling agent and the like may be used.

  The method for applying the coating solution for the charge generation layer or the charge transport layer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method using a spin coater, applicator, spray coater, bar coater, dip coater, doctor blade and the like.

  The film formed by applying the coating solution by the above method is dried using a high-temperature dryer, a vacuum dryer, or the like to remove the solvent, thereby forming a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer. The drying temperature is preferably 40 to 150 ° C. This is because, by drying the film in such a temperature range, the removal of the solvent proceeds rapidly, and the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer having a uniform thickness can be efficiently formed. When the drying temperature is too high, the components contained in the photosensitive layer may be thermally decomposed, which is not preferable.

  The undercoat layer can be formed by preparing a coating solution from a resin, inorganic fine particles such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and a solvent, applying the solution onto a conductive substrate, and then drying the coating solution.

2. Single Layer Type Photoreceptor The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention can be used in both positive and negative charging systems, and since the photosensitive layer is a single layer, the production of the photoreceptor is easy, and there are few interfaces between layers. From the viewpoint of excellent optical characteristics, it is also preferable to use a single layer type photoreceptor.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, in the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the single layer type photosensitive member 20 has a single photosensitive layer 21 provided on a conductive substrate 11. The photosensitive layer in the single-layer type photoreceptor is, for example, a coating liquid obtained by dissolving or dispersing a charge transport agent, a charge generator, a binder resin, and a leveling agent, if necessary, in an appropriate solvent. It can be formed by drying after coating on the conductive substrate 11.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, it is also preferable to form a photosensitive layer 21 on the conductive substrate 11 via the undercoat layer 14.

  Hereinafter, regarding the single-layer type photoreceptor, the conductive substrate and the photosensitive layer will be described in order.

[Conductive substrate]
In the present invention, as the conductive substrate used for the single-layer type photoreceptor, a substrate made of the same material as the conductive substrate used for the above-mentioned laminated type photoreceptor can be used. The shape of the conductive substrate can be appropriately selected according to the structure of the image forming apparatus to be used. For example, a substrate such as a sheet or a drum can be suitably used.

(Photosensitive layer)
<Materials constituting photosensitive layer>
In the present invention, examples of the main material constituting the photosensitive layer in the single-layer type photoreceptor include a binder resin, a charge transport agent, and a charge generator. As the binder resin, a resin containing the binder resin I is used in the same manner as the binder resin contained in the charge transport layer of the multilayer photoconductor. The charge transport agent and charge generator can be made of the same material as that of the laminated photoreceptor.

<Method for producing photosensitive layer>
The photosensitive layer of a single layer type photoreceptor is prepared by preparing a coating liquid from a charge transport agent, a charge generator, a binder resin, and a solvent, and is the same method as the method for forming the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer in the multilayer photoreceptor. Can be formed.

  The amount of the charge transfer agent used in the photosensitive layer of the single layer type photoreceptor is preferably 55 parts by mass or less, more preferably 5 to 55 parts by mass, and particularly preferably 10 to 55 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. . The amount of the charge transport agent is the total amount of the hole transport agent and the electron transport agent in the charge transport layer. By setting the amount of the charge transfer agent in such a range, it is easy to obtain a single layer type photoreceptor excellent in wear resistance.

  The amount of the charge generating agent used in the photosensitive layer of the single-layer type photoreceptor is preferably 0.01 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 20 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. 10 parts by mass is particularly preferable. By setting the amount of the charge generating agent to be in such a range, it is possible to produce a photoreceptor having excellent electrical characteristics without reducing the abrasion resistance of the photoreceptor.

  The thickness of the photosensitive layer of the single layer type photoreceptor is not particularly limited as long as it has a function suitable as a photosensitive layer. Specifically, for example, 5 to 100 μm is preferable, and 10 to 50 μm is preferable.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment includes an image carrier, a charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit for exposing the surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a developing unit for developing a latent image as a toner image and a transfer unit for transferring a toner image from an image carrier to a transfer target.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is preferably a tandem color image forming apparatus using a plurality of colors of toner as described later. Here, a tandem color image forming apparatus will be described.

  The image forming apparatus provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of image carriers arranged in parallel in a predetermined direction so as to form toner images with toners of different colors on the respective surfaces. And a plurality of developing units each having a developing roller disposed opposite to each image carrier and carrying and transporting toner on the surface and supplying the conveyed toner to the surface of each image carrier The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the first embodiment is used as an image carrier.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the color printer 1 will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the color printer 1 has a box-shaped device main body 1a. In the apparatus main body 1a, a toner image based on image data and the like is transferred to the paper P while feeding the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 2 and the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 2. An image forming unit 3 and a fixing unit 4 for performing a fixing process for fixing the unfixed toner image transferred onto the paper P by the image forming unit 3 to the paper P are provided. Further, on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1a, a paper discharge unit 5 for discharging the paper P subjected to the fixing process by the fixing unit 4 is provided.

  The paper feed unit 2 includes a paper feed cassette 121, a pickup roller 122, paper feed rollers 123, 124, 125, and a registration roller 126. The paper feed cassette 121 is provided so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1a, and stores the paper P of each size. The pickup roller 122 is provided at the upper left position of the paper feed cassette 121 shown in FIG. 2 and takes out the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 121 one by one. The paper feed rollers 123, 124, and 125 send the paper P taken out by the pickup roller 122 to the paper transport path. The registration roller 126 temporarily waits for the paper P sent to the paper transport path by the paper feed rollers 123, 124, 125, and then supplies the paper P to the image forming unit 3 at a predetermined timing.

  The paper feeding unit 2 further includes a manual feed tray (not shown) and a pickup roller 127 that are attached to the left side surface of the device main body 1a shown in FIG. The pickup roller 127 takes out the paper P placed on the manual feed tray. The paper P taken out by the pickup roller 127 is sent out to the paper transport path by the paper feed rollers 123 and 125, and is supplied to the image forming unit 3 by the registration roller 126 at a predetermined timing.

  The image forming unit 3 includes an image forming unit 7, an intermediate transfer belt 31 on which a toner image based on image data transmitted from a computer or the like to the surface (contact surface) of the image forming unit 7 is primarily transferred. A secondary transfer roller 32 is provided for secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 onto the paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 121.

  The image forming unit 7 includes a black unit 7K, a yellow unit 7Y, a cyan unit 7C, and a magenta unit 7M which are sequentially arranged from the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) to the downstream side. ing. In each of the units 7K, 7Y, 7C and 7M, a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 which is an image carrier is arranged at the center position so as to be rotatable in the direction of an arrow (clockwise). Around each electrophotographic photosensitive member 37, a charging unit 39, an exposure unit 38, a developing unit 71, a cleaning unit (not shown), a static eliminator, and the like are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the rotation direction.

  The charging unit 39 uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 rotated in the direction of the arrow. The charging unit 39 is not particularly limited as long as the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 can be uniformly charged, and may be a non-contact type or a contact type. Specific examples of the charging unit include a corona charging device, a charging roller, and a charging brush.

  Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention uses an electrophotographic photosensitive member that is extremely excellent in wear resistance, a contact-type charging method using a charging roller or the like as the charging unit 39 can be employed. By using the contact-type charging unit 39, it is possible to suppress discharge of active gas such as ozone and nitrogen oxide generated from the charging unit 39, prevent deterioration of the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by the active gas, and office Designed with the environment in mind.

  When the charging unit 39 includes a contact-type charging roller, the charging roller is not particularly limited as long as it can charge the peripheral surface (surface) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 while being in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37. Examples of the charging roller include a roller that rotates while depending on the rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 while being in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37. Examples of the charging roller include a roller having at least a surface portion made of resin. More specifically, for example, a core metal that is rotatably supported, a resin layer formed on the metal core, and a voltage application unit that applies a voltage to the metal core may be used. The charging unit including such a charging roller can charge the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 37 that is in contact with the cored bar by applying a voltage to the cored bar by the voltage applying unit.

  The resin constituting the resin layer of the charging roller is not particularly limited as long as the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 37 can be charged satisfactorily. Specific examples of the resin used for the resin layer include a silicone resin, a urethane resin, and a silicone-modified resin. Further, the resin layer may contain an inorganic filler.

  The voltage applied to the charging roller by the voltage application unit is preferably only a DC voltage. The amount of wear of the photosensitive layer tends to be smaller when only the DC voltage is applied to the charging roller than when the AC voltage or the superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing the AC voltage on the DC voltage is applied to the charging roller.

  Therefore, it is considered that a suitable image can be formed by applying only a DC voltage to the charging roller, and further, the wear amount of the photosensitive layer can be reduced.

  The exposure unit 38 is a so-called laser scanning unit, and laser light based on image data input from a personal computer (PC) as a host device on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 uniformly charged by the charging unit 39. To form an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photoreceptor 37 based on the image data. The developing unit 71 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, thereby forming a toner image based on the image data. The toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31. The cleaning unit cleans the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 after the primary transfer of the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 31 is completed. The static eliminator neutralizes the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 after the primary transfer is completed. The peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 cleaned by the cleaning unit and the charge eliminator goes to the charging unit for a new charging process, and a new charging process is performed.

  The intermediate transfer belt 31 is an endless belt-like rotating body, and includes a driving roller 33, a driven roller 34, a backup roller 35, and a front surface (contact surface) side in contact with the peripheral surface of each electrophotographic photosensitive member 37. And a plurality of rollers such as the primary transfer roller 36. The intermediate transfer belt 31 is configured to rotate endlessly by a plurality of rollers in a state where the intermediate transfer belt 31 is pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 by a primary transfer roller 36 disposed opposite to each electrophotographic photosensitive member 37. . The driving roller 33 is rotationally driven by a driving source such as a stepping motor, and gives a driving force for rotating the intermediate transfer belt 31 endlessly. The driven roller 34, the backup roller 35, and the primary transfer roller 36 are rotatably provided, and are driven to rotate with the endless rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 31 by the driving roller 33. These rollers 34, 35, 36 are driven to rotate via the intermediate transfer belt 31 in accordance with the main rotation of the drive roller 33 and support the intermediate transfer belt 31.

  The primary transfer roller 36 applies a primary transfer bias (a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity) to the intermediate transfer belt 31. By doing so, the toner image formed on each electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 is moved between each electrophotographic photosensitive member 37 and the primary transfer roller 36 by driving the driving roller 33 (counterclockwise). The images are sequentially transferred (primary transfer) in an overcoated state to the intermediate transfer belt 31 that circulates in the direction.

  The secondary transfer roller 32 applies a secondary transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the paper P. By doing so, the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 is transferred to the paper P between the secondary transfer roller 32 and the backup roller 35, and thereby, a color transfer image ( An unfixed toner image) is transferred.

  The fixing unit 4 performs a fixing process on the transfer image transferred to the paper P by the image forming unit 3. The fixing unit 4 is disposed opposite to the heating roller 41 heated by the energized heating element, and is disposed on the circumferential surface. Is provided with a pressure roller 42 pressed against and contacted with the peripheral surface of the heating roller 41.

  Then, the transfer image transferred to the paper P by the secondary transfer roller 32 in the image forming unit 3 is subjected to fixing processing by heating when the paper P passes between the heating roller 41 and the pressure roller 42. To be established. The paper P subjected to the fixing process is discharged to the paper discharge unit 5. Further, in the color printer 1 of the present embodiment, a transport roller 6 is disposed at an appropriate position between the fixing unit 4 and the paper discharge unit 5.

  The paper discharge unit 5 is formed by recessing the top of the apparatus main body 1a of the color printer 1, and a paper discharge tray 51 for receiving the discharged paper P is formed at the bottom of the concave portion. .

  The color printer 1 forms an image on the paper P by the image forming operation as described above. In the tandem image forming apparatus as described above, since the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the first embodiment is provided as the image carrier, it is suitable even if the contact-type charging unit is provided. An image can be formed, and an image forming apparatus having a low durability and a high durability can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. In addition, this invention is not limited at all by the Example.

[Example 1]
(Formation of undercoat layer)
After surface treatment with alumina and silica, 2 parts by mass of titanium oxide (manufactured by Teika Co., Ltd., SMT-A (prototype), number average primary particle size 10 nm) surface-treated with methyl hydrogen polysiloxane by wet dispersion; , 6, 12, 66, 610 quaternary copolymerized polyamide resin (Amilan CM8000, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) using a solvent consisting of 10 parts by mass of methanol, 1 part by mass of butanol, and 1 part by mass of toluene. Then, a coating solution for the undercoat layer was prepared by dispersing for 5 hours using a bead mill.

  The obtained undercoat layer coating solution was filtered through a filter having an opening of 5 μm, and then the undercoat layer coating solution was applied by dip coating on a conductive substrate made of an aluminum drum having a diameter of 30 mm and a total length of 246 mm. After application of the coating solution, it was treated at 130 ° C. for 30 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a thickness of 1.5 μm on the conductive substrate.

(Formation of photosensitive layer)
1.5 parts by weight of titanyl phthalocyanine (charge generating agent), 1 part by weight of polyvinyl butyral resin (base resin, Denka Butyral # 6000C), 40 parts by weight of propylene glycol monomethyl ether and 40 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran The dispersion medium consisting of the above was mixed and dispersed for 2 hours by a bead mill to prepare a charge generation layer coating solution. The obtained coating solution for charge generation layer was filtered with a filter having an opening of 3 μm, and then the coating solution for charge generation layer was applied on the undercoat layer by a dip coating method. After application of the coating solution, it was treated at 50 ° C. for 5 minutes to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.3 μm.

  Next, 40 parts by mass of a hole transport agent (HTM-1), 2 parts by mass of an electron transport agent (ETM-1), 5 parts by mass of an antioxidant (Irganox 1010, manufactured by Ciba Japan Co., Ltd.), a binder resin I ( 80 parts by mass of Resin-1, viscosity average molecular weight 51,000) were dissolved in a solvent consisting of 500 parts by mass of tetrahydrofuran and 200 parts by mass of toluene to prepare a coating solution for a charge transport layer.

  The obtained charge transport layer coating solution was applied onto the charge generation layer in the same manner as the charge generation layer, and then treated at 120 ° C. for 40 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a thickness of 20 μm.

[Examples 2 to 22 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6]
A photoconductor was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the types and amounts of the hole transport agent (HTM) and binder resin were changed to those shown in Table 1. In some cases, the charge transport layer coating solution became cloudy. In this case, the coating solution was kept at 35 ° C. to form charge transport.

  In Examples and Comparative Examples, HTM-1 to HTM-11 represented by the following formula are used as the hole transport agent (HTM), and ETM-1 represented by the following formula is used as the electron transport agent (ETM). It was. In addition, Resin-1 to Resin-4 composed of repeating units represented by the following formulas were used as binder resins.

[Hole transport agent: HTM1-6]

[Hole transport agent: HTM-7 to 11]

[Electron transport agent]

[Binder resin]

[Evaluation of electrical characteristics and film thickness change]
The electrophotographic photoreceptors prepared in the examples and comparative examples are mounted on a commercially available printer using a negative charging reversal development process and equipped with a charging roller, and the electrical characteristics and film thickness change are evaluated according to the following methods. went. Table 1 shows the evaluation results of the electrical characteristics and the film thickness change.

<Electrical characteristics measurement method>
For the electrical characteristics, the image drum unit was remodeled, the developing member was removed, and the surface potential was measured using a potential probe (surface potential measuring instrument Model 244 manufactured by Monroe) with a predetermined jig. The surface potential when printing a blank paper image was V ₀ , and the surface potential when printing a solid 100% image was _VL .

<Thickness change measurement method>
Using A4 size paper, 10,000 blank sheets were continuously printed in a room temperature environment, and the change in film thickness of the photosensitive layer before and after printing was measured.

According to Examples 1 to 22, the binder resin I represented by the formula (I) is used as the binder resin, and the charge transporting agent includes a hole transporting agent that is a compound represented by the formula (II) or the formula (III). In this case, it can be seen that a photoreceptor having a low _VL value and excellent electrical characteristics and excellent wear resistance with little change in film thickness can be obtained.

  From the comparison of Examples 8, 9, 17, and 18 with other examples, at least two substituents in the phenyl group at a specific site of the hole transport agent are not hydrogen atoms or at least one substituent. Is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms, the coating solution for charge transport does not become cloudy, but in other cases, the coating solution for charge transport tends to become cloudy, and the charge transport agent is soluble in a solvent or binder. It is predicted that the compatibility with the resin is poor.

From Comparative Examples 1 and 2, when another compound represented by the formula (II) or the formula (III) is used as a hole transport agent, a photoreceptor having a high _VL value and excellent electrical characteristics is obtained. I can't understand.

  From Comparative Examples 3 to 6, even when the compound represented by the formula (III) is used as the hole transport agent, when another polycarbonate resin of the binder resin I is used as the binder resin, the obtained photoreceptor is It can be seen that the properties are excellent, but the wear resistance is poor.

  Moreover, about the Example and comparative example using HTM-8 or HTM-9 as a hole transport agent, content (mol%) of the unit derived from 4,4'- biphenol contained in binder resin, The relationship with the state of the charge transport layer coating solution is summarized in Table 2.

  According to Table 2, it can be seen that the increase in the units derived from 4,4′-biphenol in the binder resin I makes it difficult for the components contained in the charge transport layer to be uniformly dissolved in the solvent used to prepare the coating solution. .

  From the results of Examples 1 and 10 and Comparative Examples 3 and 4, the content of units derived from 4,4′-biphenol of the binder resin (mol%) when HTM-1 was used as the hole transport agent. ) And the change in film thickness are graphed and shown in FIG. From FIG. 4, the content of units derived from 4,4′-biphenol in the binder resin is less than 35 mol%, that is, the amount of change in film thickness increases rapidly when m in the formula (I) is less than 0.35. It can be seen that it is difficult to obtain a photoconductor excellent in wear resistance.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Laminated-type photoreceptor 10 'Laminated-type photoreceptor which has an undercoat layer 11 Conductive substrate 12 Charge generation layer 13 Charge transport layer 14 Undercoat layer 20 Single-layer type photoreceptor 20' Single-layer type photoreceptor which has an undercoat layer 21 Photosensitive layer

Claims (10)

An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed on a conductive substrate,
The photosensitive layer is
1) a photosensitive layer in which a charge generation layer containing at least a charge generation agent, a charge transport layer containing at least a charge transfer agent and a binder resin are sequentially laminated, or
2) A photosensitive layer containing at least a charge generator, a charge transport agent, and a binder resin,
The binder resin contains a copolymer polycarbonate resin represented by the following general formula (I):
The electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the charge transporting agent contains a compound represented by the following general formula (II) and / or a compound represented by the following general formula (III) as a hole transporting agent.

[In formula (I), n + m = 1, and 0.35 ≦ m <0.7. R ^{1 to} R ⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R ³ and R ⁴ may be bonded to each other to form a cycloalkylidene group. ]

[In Formula (II), R ^{5 to} R ¹² are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group. a represents an integer of 0 to 5, b represents an integer of 0 to 4, and k represents 0 or 1. ]

[In Formula (III), R ^{13 to} R ¹⁹ are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and two adjacent groups selected from R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ are bonded to each other to form a ring. It may be formed. c represents an integer of 0 to 5. ] 2. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the hole transport agent is a compound represented by the formula (II), and at least two substituents of R ^{7 to} R ¹¹ are not hydrogen atoms. . The hole transport agent is a compound represented by the formula (II), and at least one substituent among R ^{7 to} R ¹¹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms. Electrophotographic photoreceptor. Wherein the hole transporting material is a compound represented by the formula (III), at least two substituents of R ¹⁵ to R ¹⁹ is characterized in that not a hydrogen atom, according to claim 1 electrophotographic photosensitive member according. The hole transport agent is a compound represented by the formula (III), and at least one substituent among R ^{15 to} R ¹⁹ is an alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms. Electrophotographic photoreceptor.   The photosensitive layer is a photosensitive layer in which a charge generation layer containing at least a charge generation agent and a charge transport layer containing at least a charge transfer agent and a binder resin are sequentially laminated on a conductive substrate. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1.   The electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein a content of the charge transport agent in the charge transport layer is 50% by mass or less based on a mass of the binder resin. An image carrier;
A charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An exposure unit for exposing the surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image as a toner image;
A transfer unit for transferring the toner image from the image carrier to a transfer target, and the charging unit is used as the image carrier of an image forming apparatus of a contact charging type. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1. An image carrier;
A charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An exposure unit for exposing the surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image as a toner image;
And a transfer part for transferring the toner image from the image carrier to a transfer target, wherein the image carrier is the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1. , Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the charging unit is a contact charging method.

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