IP Library Granted Patent US 12,416,871
Granted Patent B2
US 12,416,871 · App. 17/649,570 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, electrophotographic apparatus, and method of manufacturing electrophotographic photosensitive member

Inventors: Masayuki Shinozuka (Ibaraki, JP); Motoya Yamada (Chiba, JP); Koji Takahashi (Chiba, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G5/102G03G15/75
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,416,871
App. No.
17/649,570
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member that suppresses an image defect resulting from its support and is reduced in long-term potential fluctuation. The electrophotographic photosensitive member is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support having a cylindrical shape and a photosensitive layer formed on the support, wherein the support has a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, and wherein the IR peak area ratio A of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy satisfies the following condition: A≥0.50 where the IR peak area ratio A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in the range of from 1,016 cm −1 or more to 1,130 cm −1 or less to a peak area “z” in the range of from 650 cm −1 or more to 1,130 cm −1 or less.

Claims (44)

1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising:

a support having a cylindrical shape, the support having a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy;

an undercoat layer formed on the support, the undercoat layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a polyvinyl butyral resin and a monomer having a blocked isocyanate group, and the cured film containing surface-treated zinc oxide particles;

a charge-generating layer on the undercoat layer, the charge-generating layer containing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal;

a charge-transporting layer on the charge-generating layer, the charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance and a polycarbonate resin; and

a protective layer on the charge-transporting layer, the protective layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a monomer having a polymerizable acrylic functional group or a polymerizable methacrylic functional group, wherein

A≥0.75 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in a range of 1,016-1,130 cm −1 to a peak area “z” in a range of 650-1,130 cm −1 .

2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1 , wherein B≤0.20 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when B represents a ratio b/z of a peak area “b” in a range of 831-1,015 cm −1 to the peak area “z”.

3. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1 , wherein 40 nm≤D≤1 μm when X is an element ratio O/Al of an outermost surface of the support determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and D is a depth of a region satisfying a value of X±0.1X.

4. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1 , wherein the support is formed of an Al alloy that contains, with respect to a total mass of the Al alloy, 0.6 mass % or less Si, 0.7 mass % or less Fe, 0.05 to 0.20 mass % Cu, 1.0 to 1.5 mass % Mn, and 0.10 mass % or less Zn.

5. A process cartridge, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

at least one unit selected from the group consisting of a charging unit, a developing unit and a cleaning unit;

the process cartridge integrally supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the at least one unit, and being removably mounted onto a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus; and

the electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support having a cylindrical shape having a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, with an undercoat a layer formed on the support, the undercoat layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a polyvinyl butyral resin and a monomer having a blocked isocyanate group, and the cured film containing surface-treated zinc oxide particles;

a charge-generating layer on the undercoat layer, the charge-generating layer containing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal;

a charge-transporting layer on the charge-generating layer, the charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance and a polycarbonate resin; and

a protective layer on the charge-transporting layer, the protective layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a monomer having a polymerizable acrylic functional group or a polymerizable methacrylic functional group, wherein

A≥0.75 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in a range of 1,016-1,130 cm −1 to a peak area “z” in a range of 650-1,130 cm −1 .

6. An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

a charging unit;

an exposing unit;

a developing unit; and

a transferring unit;

the electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support having a cylindrical shape having a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, with an undercoat layer formed on the support, the undercoat layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a polyvinyl butyral resin and a monomer having a blocked isocyanate group, and the cured film containing surface-treated zinc oxide particles;

a charge-generating layer on the undercoat layer, the charge-generating layer containing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal;

a charge-transporting layer on the charge-generating layer, the charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance and a polycarbonate resin; and

a protective layer on the charge-transporting layer, the protective layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a monomer having a polymerizable acrylic functional group or a polymerizable methacrylic functional group, wherein

A≥0.75 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in a range of 1,016-1,130 cm −1 to a peak area “z” in a range of 650-1,130 cm −1 .

7. A method of manufacturing an

electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support having a cylindrical shape an undercoat layer formed on the support, the undercoat layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a polyvinyl butyral resin and a monomer having a blocked isocyanate group, and the cured film containing surface-treated zinc oxide particles;

a charge-generating layer on the undercoat layer, the charge-generating layer containing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal;

a charge-transporting layer on the charge-generating layer, the charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance and a polycarbonate resin; and

a protective layer on the charge-transporting layer, the protective layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a monomer having a polymerizable acrylic functional group or a polymerizable methacrylic functional group, comprising the steps of:

forming the support by immersing a cylindrical body formed of Al and/or an Al alloy in pure water, the pure water having a temperature of 91 to 98° C., and the cylindrical body being immersed in the pure water for a time period of 60 to 300 seconds, wherein

A≥0.75 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in a range of 1,016-1,130 cm −1 to a peak area “z” in a range of 650-1,130 cm −1 .

8. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 3 , wherein 40 nm≤D≤81 nm.

9. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2 , wherein B≤0.10.

10. The method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7 , wherein the pure water has a temperature of 95° C., and the time period is 60 to 240 seconds.

11. The method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 7 , wherein 40 nm≤D≤1 μm when X is an element ratio O/Al of an outermost surface of the support determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and D is a depth of a region satisfying a value of X±0.1X.

12. The method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 11 , wherein 40 nm≤D≤81 nm.

13. The method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 11 , wherein B≤0.20 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when B represents a ratio b/z of a peak area “b” in a range of 831-1,015 cm −1 to the peak area “z”.

14. The method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 13 , wherein B≤0.10.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: SHINOZUKA, MASAYUKI; YAMADA, MOTOYA; TAKAHASHI, KOJI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 059309/0702 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-031207 · Feb 26, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220283522A1 · Sep 8, 2022
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