Imaging member
View Patent ↗An imaging method utilizing an imaging member containing a supporting substrate, a layer of a charge carrier injecting surface, a hole blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a layer of a charge carrier transport material, a layer of an charge carrier generating material, an optional charge trapping layer, a crossed linked silicone rubber, and an electrically insulating overcoating layer. The member is first charged with electrostatic charges of a first polarity, charged a second time with electrostatic charges of a polarity opposite to said first polarity in order to substantially neutralize the charges residing on the electrically insulating surface of the member and exposed to an imagewise pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image may be developed to form a visible image which may be transferred to a receiver member. The imaging member may be reused after erasure and cleaning.
1. A positively charged imaging member comprising, in sequence:
a supporting substrate,
a hole blocking layer including a crosslinked polysiloxane polymer network impregnated with a hydroxy-functionalized polymer and photogenerating pigments,
an optional adhesive layer,
a charge transport layer,
a charge generating layer,
an optional charge trapping layer,
a cross linked silicone rubber layer, and
a resilient, electrically insulating overcoating layer.
2. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is of a thickness of from about 75 micrometers to from about 275 micrometers and wherein the substrate is flexible, seamless, or rigid.
3. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the substrate can be of different configurations, comprising a plate, a cylindrical drum, a scroll, or an endless flexible belt.
4. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the hole blocking layer is continuous and is of a thickness of from about 0.001 micrometers to about 5 micrometers.
5. An imaging member according to claim 4 wherein the hole blocking layer is continuous and is of a thickness of from about 0.005 micrometers to about 0.3 micrometers.
6. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer is present and is of a thickness of from about 0.001 micrometers and about 0.2 micrometers.
7. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer contains aryl amine molecules.
8. An imaging member according to claim 7 wherein the charge transport layer contains aryl amines of the formula
wherein X is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and halogen, and wherein the aryl amine is dispersed in a highly insulating and transparent resinous binder.
9. An imaging member according to claim 8 wherein when X is alkyl, X contains from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms.
10. An imaging member according to claim 8 wherein the charge transport layer is of a thickness of from about 10 micrometers to about 75 micrometers and X is alkyl containing from about 1 to about 5 carbon atoms.
11. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer contains a charge transporting polymer.
12. An imaging member according to claim 11 wherein the charge transporting polymer is polyethercarbonate (PEC).
13. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the charge generating layer contains photoconductive particles of hydroxygallium phthalocyanine and wherein said photoconductive particles are dispersed in a film forming binder.
14. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the charge generating layer is of a thickness of from about 0.2 micrometers to about 0.7 micrometers.
15. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the overcoating layer is of a thickness from about 5 micrometers to about 10 micrometers.
16. An imaging member according to claim 1 wherein the overcoating layer is substantially transparent to activating radiation and electrically insulating.