JP2014066789A - Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge and electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided that hardly causes an image flow and a toner image is hardly disturbed.
An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support, wherein the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a depth of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less and a longest opening diameter of 20 μm. A plurality of recesses of 80 μm or less and portions other than the recesses are formed. When a square region having a side of 500 μm is disposed at an arbitrary position on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, in a square region having a side of 500 μm the total area of the opening of the recess is at 10000 ² more 90000Myuemu ² or less, the total area of the flat portion contained in a portion other than the concave portion is at 80000Myuemu ² or more 240000Myuemu ² or less, the circumferential direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the recess The maximum inclination angle of the concave portion is greater than 0 ° and 60 ° or less.
[Selection figure] None

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic apparatus.

Since an electric external force such as charging or cleaning or a mechanical external force is applied to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, durability against such external force (such as wear resistance) is required.
In response to this requirement, conventionally, improved techniques such as using a highly wear-resistant resin (such as a curable resin) for the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member have been used.
On the other hand, a problem caused by increasing the wear resistance of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is image flow. The image flow is considered to be caused by deterioration of the material used for the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member due to an oxidizing gas such as ozone or nitrogen oxide generated by charging of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. ing. It is also considered that the cause is that the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is lowered by moisture adsorption. The higher the abrasion resistance of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the more difficult the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is refreshed (removal of materials that cause image flow such as deteriorated materials and adsorbed moisture), resulting in image flow. It becomes easy to do.

As a technique for improving image flow, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for providing a dimple-shaped recess on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member by dry blasting or wet honing. According to Patent Document 1, by providing a plurality of dimple-shaped concave portions on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, it is possible to suppress image flow from the initial stage to about 5000 sheets.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that a surface area of an electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided with a concave portion having a ratio of a depth to a major axis diameter of greater than 1.0 and 7.0 or less at a high area ratio. However, a technique for suppressing the image flow from the initial stage to about 50,000 sheets is disclosed.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique of providing a concave portion having a circular shape, a rod shape, an oval shape, a square shape, a triangular shape, or the like on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member by a micro / nano imprinting method.

Japanese Patent No. 3938209 JP 2007-233354 A JP 2011-22578 A

However, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement with respect to the image flow that occurs remarkably in the vicinity of the charging device, as well as relatively early image flow is suppressed. In addition, there is still room for improvement with respect to the image flow immediately after startup, which is likely to occur when the electrophotographic apparatus is left for several days in a high temperature and high humidity environment.
Further, even with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is still room for improvement with respect to image flow that occurs remarkably in the vicinity of the charging device, and when the electrophotographic apparatus is left in a high temperature and high humidity environment for several days. There is still room for improvement in the image flow immediately after startup, which is likely to occur.
Even with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, it suppresses image flow that occurs near the charging device and image flow that occurs immediately after startup, which is likely to occur when an electrophotographic device is left for several days in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. The effect to do was not fully obtained. It has also been found that depending on the shape of the recess, the toner image is disturbed during transfer (the toner image is scratched and pulled by the recess).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member that does not easily cause image flow and that does not disturb the toner image.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus that can stably form a high-quality image.

The present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support,
The surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is formed of a plurality of recesses having a depth of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less and an opening longest diameter of 20 μm or more and 80 μm or less, and a portion other than the recesses,
When placing the square area of a side 500μm at an arbitrary position of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the total area of the opening of the recess in the square area of the one side 500μm is at 10000 ² more 90000Myuemu ² or less, and the recess The total area of the flat portion included in the other portion is 80000 μm ² or more and 240000 μm ² or less, and the maximum inclination angle of the concave portion in the circumferential direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is greater than 0 ° and 60 ° or less. And an electrophotographic photoreceptor.
In addition, the present invention integrally supports the above-described electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one means selected from the group consisting of a charging means, a developing means, a transfer means, and a cleaning means, and is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus. The present invention relates to a process cartridge.
The present invention further relates to an electrophotographic apparatus comprising the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member that hardly causes image flow. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus that can stably form a high-quality image.

(A) And (B) is a figure which shows typically relations, such as a reference plane, a flat part, and a recessed part. (A)-(G) is a figure which shows the example of the shape of the opening part of the recessed part currently formed in the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of this invention. (A)-(G) is a figure which shows the example of the cross-sectional shape of the recessed part currently formed in the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the press-contact shape transfer processing apparatus used in order to form a recessed part in the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with a process cartridge having the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention. (A)-(D) are figures which show the example of the mold used in order to form a recessed part in the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the curve fitted to the cross-sectional profile and the cross-sectional profile. It is a figure which shows the result of having observed the surface layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of this invention with the laser microscope. (A) is the result of cross-sectional observation, and (B) is the result of surface observation. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a part of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention and illustrating a narrow portion.

The feature of the present invention with respect to Patent Document 1 is that the ratio of the area of the flat portion on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is large. When a dimple-shaped recess is provided on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member using dry blasting or wet honing, particles are allowed to randomly collide with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Of these, the ratio of the area of the flat portion is extremely small.
Also, the feature of the present invention with respect to Patent Document 3 is that the ratio of the area of the flat portion on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is large, as with the feature with respect to Patent Document 1.
In addition, the feature of the present invention with respect to Patent Document 2 is that a concave portion having a longest opening diameter (major axis diameter) is provided on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and that the area ratio of the concave portion is small.
In the present invention, the area of the recess is the area of the recess when the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is viewed from above, and means the area of the opening of the recess. The same applies to flat portions and convex portions.

As a result of the study by the present inventors, an image having a large opening having a longest diameter is disposed sparsely on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the area of the flat portion is particularly large among portions other than the recess. It was found that the flow control effect was dramatically improved.
By sparsely arranging the recesses having the longest longest diameter, chattering of the cleaning blade is moderately suppressed, and a stable rubbing state between the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cleaning blade is created. At the same time, the pressure of the cleaning blade with respect to the recesses is relatively low, so that the pressure with respect to portions other than the recesses is relatively high. In addition to the concave portions where the pressure increases, the image flow causative substance adhering to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is increased by increasing the number of flat portions on which the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member can be efficiently refreshed. It becomes easy to be removed. The present inventors believe that the image flow suppression effect is dramatically improved by such a mechanism.

<Recess>
Specifically, the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention is provided with a plurality of recesses having a depth of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less and a maximum opening diameter of 20 μm or more and 80 μm or less. A plurality of recesses having a depth of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less and an opening longest diameter of 20 μm or more and 80 μm or less are hereinafter also referred to as “specific recesses”. Particular recess, when placing a square region of side 500μm at an arbitrary position of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, so that the total area of the openings of the specific recess in said square area becomes 10000 ² more 90000Myuemu ² or less, electrons Provided on the surface of the photoconductor. By setting the total area of the openings of the specific recesses within the above range, chattering of the cleaning blade is moderately suppressed, and a stable rubbing state between the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the cleaning blade is created.
When the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is a curved surface, “arranging a square region having a side of 500 μm at an arbitrary position on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member” means the following. That is, when the curved surface is corrected to a flat surface, an area that is a square having a side of 500 m on the flat surface is arranged at an arbitrary position on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. When the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is a curved surface, for example, when the electrophotographic photosensitive member is cylindrical, the surface (circumferential surface) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is a curved surface curved in the circumferential direction. The same applies to a square region having a side of 10 μm, which will be described later.

<Flat part>
In addition to the specific recess, a flat portion is provided on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention. The flat portion has an electrophotographic photosensitive member such that when a square region having a side of 500 μm is arranged at an arbitrary position on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the total area of the flat portion in the square region is 80000 μm ² or more and 240000 μm ² or less. Provided on the surface. By setting the total area of the flat portion within the above range, it is easy to remove the image flow causing substance attached to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
The specific concave portion or flat portion on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member can be observed using a microscope such as a laser microscope, an optical microscope, an electron microscope, or an atomic force microscope.

As the laser microscope, for example, the following devices can be used.
Keyence Corporation ultra-deep shape measurement microscope VK-8550, ultra-deep shape measurement microscope VK-9000, ultra-deep shape measurement microscope VK-9500, VK-X200
Surface shape measuring system Surface Explorer SX-520DR model manufactured by Ryoka System Co., Ltd. Scanning confocal laser microscope OLS3000 manufactured by Olympus Corporation
Real color confocal microscope Oplitex C130 manufactured by Lasertec Co., Ltd.
As the optical microscope, for example, the following devices can be used.
Digital microscope VHX-500, digital microscope VHX-200 manufactured by Keyence Corporation
3D digital microscope VC-7700 manufactured by OMRON Corporation

As the electron microscope, for example, the following devices can be used.
Keyence 3D Real Surface View Microscope VE-9800, 3D Real Surface View Microscope VE-8800
Scanning Electron Microscope Conventional / Variable Pressure SEM manufactured by SII NanoTechnology Co., Ltd.
Scanning electron microscope SUPERSCAN SS-550 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation
As the atomic force microscope, for example, the following devices can be used.
KEYENCE nanoscale hybrid microscope VN-8000
Scanning Probe Microscope NanoNavi Station manufactured by SII Nano Technology Co., Ltd. Scanning Probe Microscope SPM-9600 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation
The observation of the square area of 500 μm on one side and the observation of the square area of 10 μm on one side, which will be described later, may be performed at such a magnification that the square area of 500 μm on one side can be accommodated, or after partial observation at a higher magnification. A plurality of partial images may be connected using software.

<Recess, flat part, depth of recess, longest diameter of opening>
The determination (definition) of the specific recessed portion and the flat portion in a square region having a side of 500 μm will be described.
First, the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is enlarged and observed with a microscope. For example, when the surface (circumferential surface) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is a curved surface curved in the circumferential direction as in the case where the electrophotographic photosensitive member is cylindrical, a cross-sectional profile of the curved surface is extracted and a curved line ( If the electrophotographic photosensitive member is cylindrical, an arc) is fitted.
FIG. 7 shows an example of fitting. The example shown in FIG. 7 is an example when the electrophotographic photosensitive member is cylindrical. In FIG. 7, a solid line 701 is a cross-sectional profile of the surface (curved surface) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a broken line 702 is a curve fitted to the cross-sectional profile 701. The cross-sectional profile 701 is corrected so that the curve 702 becomes a straight line, and a surface obtained by extending the obtained straight line in the longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is used as a reference surface. Even when the electrophotographic photosensitive member is not cylindrical, the reference surface is obtained in the same manner as when the electrophotographic photosensitive member is cylindrical.

Next, it demonstrates using FIG.
The surface that is located 0.2 μm below the obtained reference surface 1-1 and is parallel to the reference surface is defined as a second reference surface 1-2, and the surface that is 0.2 μm above the reference surface 1-1. The parallel plane is defined as a third reference plane 1-3. Of the square region having a side of 500 μm, a portion 1-7 sandwiched between the second reference surface 1-2 and the third reference surface 1-3 is defined as a flat portion in the square region. A portion 1-5 located above the third reference plane 1-3 is a convex portion in the square area. A portion 1-4 located below the second reference plane is defined as a recess in the square area. The distance 1-8 from the second reference plane to the lowest point of the recess is defined as the depth of the recess. Let the cross section of the recessed part by a 2nd reference plane be an opening part of a recessed part, and let the length of the longest line segment among the line segments which cross the opening part be the opening part longest diameter of a recessed part.
The depth thus obtained is in the range of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less and the longest diameter of the opening is in the range of 20 μm or more and 80 μm or less corresponds to the specific recess among the recesses. The depth of the specific recess in the present invention is preferably in the range of 1 μm to 5 μm.

<Maximum tilt angle of recess>
Further, the angle at which the absolute value of the angle formed with the first reference plane 1-1 in the recess cross-sectional profile when the electrophotographic photosensitive member circumferential cross section passing through the center of the recess is taken is the maximum recess inclination angle. 1-6. The maximum inclination angle of the recess is preferably larger than 0 ° and not more than 60 °.
1A and 1B, reference plane 1-1, flat portion 1-7 (a portion sandwiched between second reference plane 1-2 and third reference plane 1-3), concave portion 1-4 ( A specific concave portion), a convex portion 1-5, a concave maximum inclination angle 1-6, and the like are schematically shown. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional profiles after the above correction.

<Recess shape>
2A to 2G show examples of the shape of the opening of the specific recess (the shape when the specific recess is viewed from above). Moreover, the example of the cross-sectional shape of a specific recessed part is shown to FIG. 3 (A)-(G).
Examples of the shape of the opening of the specific recess include a circle, a square, an ellipse, a rectangle, a triangle, a hexagon, and a pentagon as shown in FIGS. Moreover, as a cross-sectional shape of a specific recessed part, as shown to FIG. 3 (A)-(G), what has edges, such as a triangle, a square, a polygon, the waveform which consists of a continuous curve, and a triangle , Quadrilaterals, polygonal edges partially or entirely deformed into curves, and the like.
The plurality of specific recesses provided on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member may all have the same shape, the longest diameter of the opening, and the depth, or may have different shapes, the longest diameter of the opening, and the depth. It may be.
The specific recess may be formed on the entire surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, or may be formed on a part of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. When the specific recess is formed in a part of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, it is preferable that the recess is formed at least in a contact region with the cleaning member.

  In addition, the flat portion provided on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member preferably has a certain size from the viewpoint of enhancing the removability of the substance causing the image flow, and there are few narrow flat portions (narrow portions). Is preferred. Specifically, the ratio of the area of the narrow portion where the 10 μm side square region cannot be arranged among the flat portions in the 500 μm side square region arranged at an arbitrary position on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member It is preferably 30% or less with respect to the total area of the flat portion.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a narrow portion. FIG. 9 shows an example of a shape when a part of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention is viewed from above. In FIG. 9, for ease of explanation, a case where all the portions that are not specific recesses are flat portions is taken as an example. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1001 denotes a specific concave portion on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, 1002 denotes a square region having a side of 10 μm arranged on the flat portion of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and 1003 denotes a narrow portion (black in the drawing). The part that is filled).
The square region 1002 may be arranged in any direction in the flat portion as long as it does not protrude from the flat portion, as indicated by a broken-line square in the drawing. Regardless of the orientation of the square region 1002 in the flat portion, the portion that does not overlap the square region 1002 becomes the narrow portion 1003 in the flat portion.

  In addition, the ratio of the area of the narrow portion in the flat portion is preferably uniform to some extent on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member from the viewpoint of uniform removability of the image flow causing substance. Specifically, when the ratio of the area of the narrow portion is measured in each of the square areas of 500 μm on each side arranged at 50 arbitrary positions on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the standard deviation (narrowness) of the 50 measured values is measured. The standard deviation of the part) is preferably 5% or less.

<Method of forming recesses on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor>
By pressing the mold having convex portions corresponding to the concave portions to be formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and performing shape transfer, the concave portions can be formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a press-contact shape transfer processing apparatus for forming concave portions on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
According to the press-contact shape transfer processing apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the mold 4-2 is continuously brought into contact with the surface (circumferential surface) and pressed while rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive member 4-1, which is a workpiece. Accordingly, a concave portion or a flat portion can be formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 4-1.

Examples of the material of the pressure member 4-3 include metal, metal oxide, plastic, and glass. Among these, stainless steel (SUS) is preferable from the viewpoint of mechanical strength, dimensional accuracy, and durability. The pressure member 4-3 is provided with a mold on its upper surface. Further, the mold 4-2 can be brought into contact with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 4-1 supported by the support member 4-4 with a predetermined pressure by a pressure system (not shown) on the lower surface side. Further, the support member 4-4 may be pressed against the pressure member 4-3 with a predetermined pressure, or the support member 4-4 and the pressure member 4-3 may be pressed against each other.
The example shown in FIG. 4 is an example in which the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 4-1 is continuously processed while being driven or rotated by moving the pressing member 4-3. Further, by fixing the pressure member 4-3 and moving the support member 4-4, or by moving both the support member 4-4 and the pressure member 4-3, the electrophotographic photosensitive member 4- The surface of 1 can also be processed continuously.
Note that it is preferable to heat the mold 4-2 and the electrophotographic photosensitive member 4-1, from the viewpoint of efficiently transferring the shape.

Examples of molds include metal and resin films with fine surface processing, those patterned on the surface of silicon wafers, etc., resin films with fine particles dispersed, and resin films with fine surface shapes. The thing which gave metal coating etc. are mentioned.
Moreover, it is preferable to install an elastic body between the mold and the pressure member from the viewpoint of making the pressure pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member uniform.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a mold. The convex portions of the mold may be regularly arranged by equally spaced Y1 and Y2 as shown in FIG. 6 (A), or may be randomly arranged as shown in FIG. 6 (B). The convex portion of the mold has a height H corresponding to the depth of the concave portion to be formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a longest diameter Xm corresponding to the longest opening diameter of the concave portion.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 6C, a square mold A having a side of 500 μm and a square mold B having a side of 500 μm can be alternately arranged to form a single mold. The mold A has convex portions having a height H and a longest diameter Xm1 at intervals of Y1 and Y2. The mold B has convex portions having a height H and a longest diameter Xm2 at intervals of Y3 and Y4.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6D, the first convex portions are regularly arranged at intervals of Y1 and Y2, and the second convex portions are regularly arranged at intervals of Y3 and Y4. It is also possible to use a mold in which the convex portions and the second convex portions are regularly arranged. The first convex portion has a height H and a longest diameter Xm1, for example, Y1 is 207 μm and Y2 is 207 μm. The second convex portion has a height H and a longest diameter Xm2. For example, Y3 is 148 μm and Y2 is 148 μm.

<Configuration of electrophotographic photoreceptor>
The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention has a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support.
Examples of the shape of the electrophotographic photosensitive member include a cylindrical shape, a belt (endless belt) shape, and a sheet shape.
The photosensitive layer may be a single-layer type photosensitive layer containing a charge transport material and a charge generation material in the same layer, or a charge generation layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material. It may be a laminated type (functionally separated type) photosensitive layer separated. From the viewpoint of electrophotographic characteristics, a laminated photosensitive layer is preferred. Further, the laminated photosensitive layer may be a normal photosensitive layer in which the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer are laminated in this order from the support side, or a reverse layer in which the charge transport layer and the charge generation layer are laminated in this order from the support side. Type photosensitive layer. From the viewpoint of electrophotographic characteristics, a normal layer type photosensitive layer is preferred. In addition, the charge generation layer may have a stacked structure, and the charge transport layer may have a stacked structure.

The support is preferably one that exhibits conductivity (conductive support). Examples of the material of the support include metals (alloys) such as iron, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, zinc, titanium, lead, nickel, tin, antimony, indium, chromium, aluminum alloy, and stainless steel. In addition, a metal support or a plastic support having a film formed by vacuum deposition using aluminum, an aluminum alloy, an indium oxide-tin oxide alloy, or the like can also be used. In addition, a support obtained by impregnating plastic or paper with conductive particles such as carbon black, tin oxide particles, titanium oxide particles, and silver particles, or a support made of conductive binder resin can also be used.
The surface of the support may be subjected to cutting treatment, roughening treatment, alumite treatment, etc. for the purpose of suppressing interference fringes due to scattering of laser light.
Conduction between the support and the undercoat layer or photosensitive layer (charge generation layer, charge transport layer), which will be described later, for the purpose of suppressing interference fringes due to scattering of laser light and covering scratches on the support. A layer may be provided.

The conductive layer can be formed by applying a coating solution for a conductive layer obtained by dispersing carbon black, a conductive pigment, a resistance adjusting pigment or the like together with a binder resin, and drying the obtained coating film. it can. Moreover, you may add to the coating liquid for conductive layers the compound which carries out hardening polymerization by heating, ultraviolet irradiation, radiation irradiation, etc. A conductive layer in which a conductive pigment, a resistance adjusting pigment or the like is dispersed tends to have a roughened surface.
The thickness of the conductive layer is preferably 0.2 μm or more and 40 μm or less, more preferably 1 μm or more and 35 μm or less, and further preferably 5 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

  Examples of the binder resin used for the conductive layer include polymers of vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid ester, vinylidene fluoride, and trifluoroethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl acetal. , Polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyurethane, cellulose resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, silicon resin, epoxy resin and the like.

Examples of the conductive pigment and the resistance adjusting pigment include particles of metals (alloys) such as aluminum, zinc, copper, chromium, nickel, silver, and stainless steel, and those obtained by depositing these on the surface of plastic particles. . It is also possible to use metal oxide particles such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, bismuth oxide, tin-doped indium oxide, antimony or tantalum-doped tin oxide. it can. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more types are used in combination, they may be mixed, or may be in the form of a solid solution or fusion.
Between the support or conductive layer and the photosensitive layer (charge generation layer, charge transport layer), improvement of adhesion of the photosensitive layer, improvement of coating property, improvement of charge injection from the support, electrical breakdown of the photosensitive layer An undercoat layer (intermediate layer) having a barrier function or an adhesive function may be provided for the purpose of protecting the film.

The undercoat layer can be formed by applying a coating solution for an undercoat layer obtained by dissolving a resin (binder resin) in a solvent and drying the obtained coating film.
Examples of the resin used for the undercoat layer include polyvinyl alcohol, poly-N-vinylimidazole, polyethylene oxide, ethyl cellulose, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, casein, polyamide, N-methoxymethylated 6 nylon, and copolymer nylon. , Glue, gelatin and the like.
The thickness of the undercoat layer is preferably 0.05 μm or more and 7 μm or less, and more preferably 0.1 μm or more and 2 μm or less.

  Examples of the charge generating material used in the photosensitive layer include pyrylium and thiapyrylium dyes, phthalocyanine pigments having various central metals and various crystal forms (α, β, γ, ε, X type, etc.), and anthanthrone pigments. And dibenzpyrenequinone pigments, pyranthrone pigments, azo pigments such as monoazo, disazo, and trisazo, indigo pigments, quinacridone pigments, asymmetric quinocyanine pigments, and quinocyanine pigments. These charge generation materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of the charge transport material used in the photosensitive layer include pyrene compounds, N-alkylcarbazole compounds, hydrazone compounds, N, N-dialkylaniline compounds, diphenylamine compounds, triphenylamine compounds, triphenylmethane compounds, pyrazoline compounds, styryl. Compounds and stilbene compounds.
When the photosensitive layer is a laminated photosensitive layer, the charge generation layer is obtained by applying a charge generation layer coating solution obtained by dispersing a charge generation material together with a binder resin and a solvent, and applying the resulting coating film. It can be formed by drying. The charge generation layer may be a vapor generation film of a charge generation material.
The mass ratio of the charge generation material and the binder resin is preferably in the range of 1: 0.3 to 1: 4.

Examples of the dispersion treatment method include a method using a homogenizer, ultrasonic dispersion, ball mill, vibration ball mill, sand mill, attritor, roll mill, and the like.
The charge transport layer can be formed by applying a charge transport layer coating solution obtained by dissolving a charge transport material and a binder resin in a solvent, and drying the obtained coating film. In addition, in the case where a charge transport material having film-forming properties is used alone, the charge transport layer can be formed without using a binder resin.

Examples of the binder resin used for the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer include polymers of vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid ester, vinylidene fluoride, and trifluoroethylene, Examples include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyurethane, cellulose resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, silicon resin, and epoxy resin.
The thickness of the charge generation layer is preferably 5 μm or less, and more preferably 0.1 to 2 μm.
The thickness of the charge transport layer is preferably 5 to 50 μm, and more preferably 10 to 35 μm.
Further, from the viewpoint of improving the durability of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is preferably composed of a crosslinked organic polymer.

  In the present invention, for example, the charge transport layer on the charge generation layer can be composed of a crosslinked organic polymer as the surface layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor. Further, a surface layer made of a crosslinked organic polymer can be formed on the charge transport layer on the charge generation layer as a second charge transport layer or a protective layer. In addition, the characteristics required for the surface layer composed of the crosslinked organic polymer are both the strength of the film and the charge transport capability. From this viewpoint, the charge transport material or the conductive particles and the crosslinkable monomer / It is preferable to form a surface layer using an oligomer.

As the charge transport material, the above-described charge transport materials can be used. Examples of the crosslinkable monomer / oligomer include a compound having a chain polymerizable functional group such as an acryloyloxy group and a styryl group, and a compound having a sequentially polymerizable functional group such as a hydroxyl group, an alkoxysilyl group and an isocyanate group. Can be mentioned.
Further, from the viewpoint of achieving both the strength of the film and the charge transport capability, it is more preferable to use a compound having both a charge transport structure (preferably a hole transport structure) and an acryloyloxy group in the same molecule.
Examples of the crosslinking and curing method include a method using heat, ultraviolet rays, and radiation.
The film thickness of the surface layer composed of the crosslinked organic polymer is preferably 0.1 to 30 μm, and more preferably 1 to 10 μm.
Additives can be added to each layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor. Examples of additives include deterioration inhibitors such as antioxidants and ultraviolet absorbers, organic resin particles such as fluorine atom-containing resin particles and acrylic resin particles, and inorganic particles such as silica, titanium oxide, and alumina. It is done.

<Configuration of process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus>
FIG. 5 shows an example of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with a process cartridge having the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention.
In FIG. 5, the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in the direction of the arrow about the shaft 2. The surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is uniformly charged to a predetermined positive or negative potential by a charging unit 3 (primary charging unit: for example, a charging roller) during the rotation process. Subsequently, the exposure light (image exposure light) 4 irradiated from an exposure means (image exposure means) (not shown) is received. In this way, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the target image information is formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1.
The present invention is particularly effective when a charging means using discharge is used.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 is then developed (regular development or reversal development) with toner (indeterminate toner or spherical toner) in the developing means 5 to form a toner image. A toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is transferred onto a transfer material by a transfer bias from a transfer unit (for example, a transfer roller) 6. At this time, the transfer material P is taken out from the transfer material supply means (not shown) between the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 and the transfer means 6 (contact portion) in synchronization with the rotation of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 and supplied. Sent. Further, a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to the charge held in the toner is applied to the transfer means from a bias power source (not shown).
The transfer material P onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, conveyed to the fixing means 8, and subjected to fixing processing of the toner image, whereby an electrophotographic apparatus is formed as an image formed product (print, copy). Printed out.

  The surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 after the toner image is transferred is adhered to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 by the cleaning means 7 having a cleaning member (cleaning blade or the like) placed in contact (contacted) with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. As a result, the surface is cleaned. Further, after being subjected to charge removal processing by pre-exposure light (not shown) from a pre-exposure means (not shown), it is repeatedly used for image formation. As shown in FIG. 5, when the charging unit 3 is a contact charging unit using a charging roller or the like, pre-exposure is not necessarily required.

In the present invention, a plurality of constituent elements selected from the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, the charging means 3, the developing means 5, the cleaning means 7 and the like are housed in a container and integrally combined as a process cartridge. May be. The process cartridge may be configured to be detachable from the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer. In FIG. 5, the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, the charging unit 3, the developing unit 5 and the cleaning unit 7 are integrally supported to form a cartridge, and the electrophotographic apparatus is used by using a guide unit 10 such as a rail of the electrophotographic apparatus main body. The process cartridge 9 is detachable from the main body.
When the electrophotographic apparatus is a copying machine or a printer, the exposure light 4 is a reflected light or transmitted light from a document, or a sensor reading a document with a sensor, scanning a laser beam performed according to this signal, an LED array or a liquid crystal shutter. Light emitted by driving the array or the like.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to specific examples. In the examples, “part” means “part by mass”. Further, the electrophotographic photoreceptor is hereinafter simply referred to as “photoreceptor”.
(Example of photoconductor A-1 production)
An aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 30.7 mm and a length of 370 mm was used as a support (cylindrical support).
Next, the materials shown in Table 1 were placed in a ball mill and dispersed for 20 hours to prepare a conductive layer coating solution. This conductive layer coating solution was dip-coated on a support, and the resulting coating film was heated at a temperature of 140 ° C. for 1 hour to be cured, thereby forming a conductive layer having a thickness of 15 μm.

  Next, 10 parts of copolymer nylon (trade name: Amilan CM8000, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) and 30 parts of methoxymethylated 6 nylon resin (trade name: Toresin EF-30T, manufactured by Teikoku Chemical Co., Ltd.) were added to methanol 400. Part / n-butanol was dissolved in 200 parts of a mixed solvent. In this way, an undercoat layer coating solution was prepared. This undercoat layer coating solution was dip-coated on the conductive layer, and the resulting coating film was dried at a temperature of 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a thickness of 0.45 μm.

  Next, 20 parts of a crystalline hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal (charge generation material) having strong peaks at 7.4 ° and 28.2 ° with a Bragg angle 2θ ± 0.2 ° in CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction was prepared. To this, 0.2 part of a calixarene compound represented by the following structural formula (1), 10 parts of polyvinyl butyral (trade name: ESREC BX-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 600 parts of cyclohexanone were mixed. . The above materials were placed in a sand mill using glass beads having a diameter of 1 mm, dispersed for 4 hours, and then 700 parts of ethyl acetate was added to prepare a coating solution for charge generation layer.

This charge generation layer coating solution was dip coated on the undercoat layer, and the resulting coating film was dried at a temperature of 80 ° C. for 15 minutes to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.17 μm.
Next, 70 parts of a compound (charge transporting material (hole transporting compound)) represented by the following structural formula (2) and polycarbonate (trade name: Iupilon Z400, manufactured by Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd., bisphenol Z type) 100 parts of polycarbonate) was prepared. The above material was dissolved in a mixed solvent of 600 parts monochlorobenzene / 200 parts dimethoxymethane to prepare a coating solution for charge transport layer.

The charge transport layer coating solution was dip coated on the charge generation layer, and the resulting coating film was dried at a temperature of 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a thickness of 15 μm.
Next, a mixed solvent of 20 parts of 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptafluorocyclopentane (trade name: Zeolora H, manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.) / 20 parts of 1-propanol was added to polyflon. The mixture was filtered with a filter (trade name: PF-040, manufactured by Advantech Toyo Co., Ltd.). Thereafter, 90 parts of the hole transporting compound represented by the following structural formula (3), 70 parts of 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptafluorocyclopentane, and 70 parts of 1-propanol were mixed together. Added to solvent.

By filtering this with a polyflon filter (trade name: PF-020, manufactured by Advantech Toyo Co., Ltd.), a coating solution for a second charge transport layer (protective layer) was prepared. The coating solution for the second charge transport layer was dip coated on the charge transport layer, and the obtained coating film was dried in the atmosphere at a temperature of 50 ° C. for 10 minutes. Thereafter, the coating film was irradiated with an electron beam for 1.6 seconds while rotating the support (object to be irradiated) at 200 rpm under the conditions of an acceleration voltage of 150 kV and a beam current of 3.0 mA in nitrogen. In addition, when the absorbed dose of the electron beam at this time was measured, it was 15 kGy. Subsequently, the temperature was raised from 25 ° C. to 125 ° C. over 30 seconds in nitrogen to heat the coating film. The oxygen concentration in the atmosphere during electron beam irradiation and subsequent heating was 15 ppm or less. Next, the coating film was naturally cooled to a temperature of 25 ° C. in the atmosphere, and a heat treatment was performed in the air at a temperature of 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a second charge transport layer (protective layer) having a thickness of 5 μm.
In this manner, a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member (an electrophotographic photosensitive member before forming the concave portion) before forming the concave portion on the surface was produced.

(Formation of recesses by mold pressure transfer)
In the press-fitting shape transfer processing apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the mold having the shape shown in FIG. 6A as the mold (in this example, the longest diameter (the longest diameter when the convex portion on the mold is viewed from above) is used. The same shall apply hereinafter.) Xm: 50 μm, interval Y1: 64 μm, interval Y2: 77 μm, height H: 3.0 μm). Surface processing was performed. At the time of processing, the temperature of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the mold was controlled so that the surface temperature of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was 110 ° C. Then, while pressing the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the pressure member at a pressure of 3.0 MPa, the electrophotographic photosensitive member was rotated in the circumferential direction to form a recess on the entire surface (peripheral surface) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
Thus, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a concave portion on the surface was produced. This electrophotographic photoreceptor is referred to as “photoreceptor A-1.”

(Observation of the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor)
The surface of the obtained electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive member A-1) was magnified and observed with a 50 × lens with a laser microscope (trade name: VK-9500, manufactured by Keyence Corporation), and electrophotographic as described above. Determination of specific concave portions and flat portions provided on the surface of the photoreceptor was performed. The observation results are shown in FIG. At the time of observation, adjustment was performed so that there is no inclination in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the circumferential direction was focused on the apex of the arc of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. FIG. 8A shows the result of cross-sectional observation of the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The observation result shows that the longest diameter of the opening is very large with respect to the depth of the specific recess. FIG. 8B shows the result of surface observation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A square region having a side of 500 μm was obtained by connecting the enlarged images with an image connection application. Moreover, about the obtained result, image processing height data was selected with attached image analysis software, and the filter process was performed by the filter type median.

By the above observation, the depth of the specific recess, the longest diameter of the opening of the specific recess, the total area of the opening of the specific recess, the area of the flat portion, the maximum inclination angle of the recess, and the like were obtained. The results are shown in Table 2.
The surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor (Photoreceptor A-1) was observed by the same method as described above using another laser microscope (trade name: X-200, manufactured by Keyence Corporation). As a result, the same result as that obtained when the above laser microscope (trade name: VK-9500, manufactured by Keyence Corporation) was used was obtained. In the following examples, a laser microscope (trade name: VK-9500, manufactured by Keyence Corporation) and a 50 × lens were used for observing the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

(Production example of photoconductors A-2 to A-15)
In the production example of the photoreceptor A-1, an electrophotographic photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in the production example of the photoreceptor A-1, except that the mold shown in Table 2 was used as the mold. The obtained electrophotographic photosensitive members having concave portions on the surface are referred to as “photosensitive member A-2” to “photosensitive member A-15”.
The surface of the obtained electrophotographic photoreceptor was observed in the same manner as in Production Example of the photoreceptor A-1. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example of photoconductor B-1 production)
The electrophotographic photosensitive member that has not been subjected to surface processing is referred to as "photosensitive member B-1."
(Production example of photoconductors B-2 to B-5)
In the production example of the photoreceptor A-1, an electrophotographic photoreceptor was produced in the same manner as in the production example of the photoreceptor A-1, except that the mold shown in Table 2 was used as the mold. The obtained electrophotographic photosensitive member having concave portions on its surface is referred to as “photosensitive member B-2” to “photosensitive member B-5”.
The surface of the obtained electrophotographic photoreceptor was observed in the same manner as in Production Example of the photoreceptor A-1. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Evaluation of actual electrophotographic photosensitive member)
Example 1
Photoreceptor A-1 is mounted on a cyan station of a modified machine of an electrophotographic apparatus (copier) (trade name: iR-ADV C7055) manufactured by Canon Inc., which is an evaluation apparatus, and the test and evaluation described below are performed. It was. The toner used had a weight average particle diameter (D4) of 6.7 μm and a circularity of 0.963.

<Method for Measuring Toner Weight Average Particle Size (D4)>
The weight average particle diameter (D4) of the toner is measured using a precise particle size distribution measuring device “Coulter Counter Multisizer 3” (registered trademark, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) equipped with a 100 μm aperture tube by a pore electrical resistance method. It was. In order to set measurement conditions and analyze measurement data, the attached dedicated software “Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3 Version 3.51” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) was used. Measurement was performed with 25,000 effective measurement channels, and measurement data was analyzed and calculated.
As the electrolytic aqueous solution used for the measurement, special grade sodium chloride is dissolved in ion-exchanged water so as to have a concentration of about 1% by mass, for example, “ISOTON II” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) can be used.

Prior to measurement and analysis, the dedicated software was set as follows.
In the “Standard measurement method (SOM) change screen” of the dedicated software, set the total count in the control mode to 50000 particles, the number of measurements is 1 and the Kd value is “standard particles 10.0 μm” (Beckman Coulter The value obtained using the product was set. The threshold and noise level were automatically set by pressing the threshold / noise level measurement button. The current was set to 1600 μA, the gain was set to 2, the electrolyte was set to ISOTON II, and the aperture tube flash after the measurement was checked.
In the “Pulse to Particle Size Conversion Setting Screen” of the dedicated software, the bin interval is set to logarithmic particle size, the particle size bin is set to 256 particle size bin, and the particle size range is set to 2 μm or more and 60 μm or less.

The specific measurement method is as follows.
(1) About 200 ml of the electrolytic solution was placed in a glass 250 ml round bottom beaker exclusively for Multisizer 3, set on a sample stand, and the stirrer rod was stirred counterclockwise at 24 rpm. Then, dirt and bubbles in the aperture tube were removed by the “aperture flush” function of the analysis software.
(2) About 30 ml of the electrolytic solution was placed in a glass 100 ml flat bottom beaker. In this, "Contaminone N" (nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, 10% by weight aqueous solution of neutral detergent for pH7 precision measuring instrument cleaning, made by organic builder, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. About 0.3 ml of a diluted solution obtained by diluting 3) with ion-exchanged water was added.
(3) Two oscillators with an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz were incorporated with the phase shifted by 180 degrees. A predetermined amount of ion-exchanged water was placed in a water tank of an ultrasonic disperser “Ultrasonic Dissipation System Tetora 150” (manufactured by Nikka Ki Bios Co., Ltd.) having an electrical output of 120 W, and about 2 ml of the above-mentioned Contaminone N was added to this water tank.
(4) The beaker of (2) was set in the beaker fixing hole of the ultrasonic disperser, and the ultrasonic disperser was operated. Then, the height position of the beaker was adjusted so that the resonance state of the liquid surface of the electrolytic aqueous solution in the beaker was maximized.
(5) In a state where the electrolytic aqueous solution in the beaker of (4) was irradiated with ultrasonic waves, about 10 mg of toner was added to the electrolytic aqueous solution little by little and dispersed. Then, the ultrasonic dispersion treatment was further continued for 60 seconds. In the ultrasonic dispersion, the water temperature in the water tank was adjusted as appropriate so that it was 10 ° C. or higher and 40 ° C. or lower.
(6) To the round bottom beaker of (1) installed in the sample stand, the electrolyte aqueous solution of (5) in which the toner is dispersed is dropped using a pipette, and the measurement concentration is adjusted to about 5%. . The measurement was performed until the number of measured particles reached 50,000.
(7) The measurement data was analyzed with the dedicated software attached to the apparatus, and the weight average particle diameter (D4) was calculated. The “average diameter” on the analysis / volume statistics (arithmetic average) screen when the graph / volume% is set with the dedicated software is the weight average particle diameter (D4).

<Measuring method of average circularity of toner>
The average circularity of the toner was measured with a flow type particle image analyzer “FPIA-3000” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) under the measurement and analysis conditions during calibration.
A specific measurement method is as follows.
First, about 20 ml of ion-exchanged water from which impure solids were previously removed was put in a glass container. In this, "Contaminone N" (nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, 10% by weight aqueous solution of neutral detergent for pH7 precision measuring instrument cleaning, made by organic builder, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. About 0.2 ml of a diluted solution obtained by diluting the solution with ion exchange water about 3 times by mass. Further, about 0.02 g of a measurement sample was added, and a dispersion treatment was performed for 2 minutes using an ultrasonic disperser to obtain a dispersion for measurement. In that case, it cooled suitably so that the temperature of a dispersion liquid might be 10 degreeC or more and 40 degrees C or less. As the ultrasonic disperser, a desktop type ultrasonic cleaner disperser (for example, “VS-150” (manufactured by VervoCrea)) having an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz and an electric output of 150 W is used. Ion exchange water was added, and about 2 ml of the above-mentioned Contaminone N was added to this water tank.

The flow type particle image analyzer equipped with a standard objective lens (10 ×) was used for the measurement, and a particle sheath “PSE-900A” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) was used as the sheath liquid. The dispersion prepared according to the above procedure was introduced into the flow type particle image analyzer, and 3000 toner particles were measured in the total count mode in the HPF measurement mode. The binarization threshold at the time of particle analysis was set to 85%.
Here, by specifying the analysis particle size range, the average circularity of the range can be obtained.
For example, when obtaining the average circularity of the equivalent circle diameter of 0.500 μm or more and less than 1.985 μm, the analysis particle diameter range is limited to the equivalent circle diameter of 0.500 μm or more and less than 1.985 μm.
In the measurement, automatic focus adjustment was performed using standard latex particles before the start of the measurement. As the standard latex particles, for example, those obtained by diluting “RESEARCH AND TEST PARTICLES Latex Microsphere Suspensions 5200A” manufactured by Duke Scientific may be used. It is preferable to perform focus adjustment every two hours from the start of measurement.

<Image judgment test>
First, in an environment of a temperature of 32.5 ° C./humidity of 85% RH, the charging device and the image exposure apparatus are set so that the dark portion potential (Vd) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is −500 V and the light portion potential (Vl) is −150 V. Conditions were set and the initial potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was adjusted.
Next, a polyurethane rubber cleaning blade having a hardness of 77 ° was set so that the contact angle was 28 ° and the contact pressure was 30 g / cm with respect to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. With the heater (drum heater) for the electrophotographic photosensitive member turned OFF, the evaluation chart of 5% image beside A4 is continuously output 50000 sheets in a temperature 32.5 ° C./humidity 85% RH environment. It was left for 3 days in a temperature 32.5 ° C./humidity 85% RH environment with the power off.
After being left for 3 days, the electrophotographic apparatus was started up, and an image of 1 dot-1 space with an output resolution of 600 dpi on the A4 side was formed. Evaluation was based on 4 criteria. The results are shown in Table 5.

<Image flow criteria>

<Criteria for determining the trailing edge of a toner image due to a recess>

(Examples 2 to 15)
The electrophotographic photosensitive member is the same as in Example 1 except that the electrophotographic photosensitive member shown in Table 5 is used and the hardness and settings (contact angle and contact pressure) of the cleaning blade are as shown in Table 5. The actual machine was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 5.

(Comparative Examples 1-5)
An electrophotographic apparatus (POD machine) manufactured by Canon Inc. (trade name: image PRESS C7000VP (corona charging method)) was used as the evaluation apparatus (the electrophotographic photosensitive member is mounted on the cyan station) and electrophotographic photosensitive member. The actual evaluation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the materials shown in Table 5 were used and the hardness and settings (contact angle and contact pressure) of the cleaning blade were as shown in Table 5. Went. The results are shown in Table 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrophotographic photoreceptor 2 Axis 3 Charging means 4 Exposure light 5 Developing means 6 Transfer means 7 Cleaning means 8 Fixing means 9 Process cartridge 10 Guide means 1-1 Reference surface 1-2 Second reference surface 1-3 Third reference surface 1-4 concave portion 1-5 convex portion 1-6 concave maximum inclination angle 1-7 flat portion 1-8 depth of concave portion 4-1 electrophotographic photosensitive member 4-2 mold 4-3 pressure member 4-4 support member 701 Cross-sectional profile of surface (curved surface) of electrophotographic photosensitive member 702 Curve fitted to cross-sectional profile 701 801 Concave portion 802 Flat portion 1001 Specific concave portion of surface of electrophotographic photosensitive member 1002 Arranged in flat portion of surface of electrophotographic photosensitive member Square area with a side of 10 μm 1003 Narrow part

Claims (3)

An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support,
The surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is formed of a plurality of recesses having a depth of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less and an opening longest diameter of 20 μm or more and 80 μm or less, and a portion other than the recesses,
When placing the square area of a side 500μm at an arbitrary position of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the total area of the opening of the recess in the square area of the one side 500μm is at 10000 ² more 90000Myuemu ² or less, and the recess The total area of the flat portion included in the other portion is 80000 μm ² or more and 240000 μm ² or less, and the maximum inclination angle of the recess in the circumferential direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is greater than 0 ° and 60 ° or less. An electrophotographic photosensitive member.   The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1 and at least one means selected from the group consisting of a charging means, a developing means, a transfer means, and a cleaning means are integrally supported and detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus. A process cartridge characterized by that. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit.