Amine Undercoat Layer Suppresses Ghosting in Electrophotographic Photosensitive Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrophotographic photosensitive members using phthalocyanine or azo pigments suffer from ghosting issues, particularly under low temperature and low humidity environments, where current techniques are insufficient in effectively suppressing this phenomenon.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an undercoat layer with an amine compound represented by a specific formula, which includes a benzophenone skeleton and amino groups substituted with aryl or alkyl groups, to enhance charge retention properties and reduce ghosting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If phthalocyanine pigment or azo pigment is used as charge generating material, then sensitivity is improved, but ghost occurs due to electron accumulation in photosensitive layer

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesensitivityVSAvoidghost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An undercoat layer comprising an amine compound with formula (1) is introduced as an intermediary between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer. This undercoat layer acts as a mediator to facilitate electron transport away from the photosensitive layer, preventing electron accumulation and ghost formation while maintaining the high sensitivity benefits of phthalocyanine or azo pigments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The undercoat layer uses a composite material system consisting of an amine compound with specific structural features (formula (1)) combined with appropriate binders. This composite structure provides both the electron transporting capability to suppress ghost and the mechanical adhesion properties needed for layer integration, resolving the contradiction between sensitivity enhancement and ghost suppression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional undercoat layer structures are used, then basic charge retention is maintained, but ghost suppression is insufficient under low temperature and low humidity environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge retentionVSAvoidghost under low temperature and low humidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical and structural parameters of the undercoat layer by using an amine compound with specific formula (1) features. The amino groups and aromatic hydrocarbon structures in this compound provide enhanced electron transporting capability that remains effective under low temperature and low humidity conditions, thereby suppressing ghost while maintaining charge retention reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The undercoat layer is designed with specific local chemical properties through the amine compound structure, creating a region with enhanced electron affinity and transporting capability. This localized quality improvement in the undercoat layer specifically addresses the ghost suppression problem under adverse environmental conditions without affecting the overall charge retention function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The proposed solution effectively suppresses ghosting in electrophotographic photosensitive members even under low temperature and low humidity conditions, improving the reliability of electrophotographic apparatuses.

Implementation Method 1

the undercoat layer comprises an amine compound represented by the following formula (1)... effectively suppresses ghosting... reducing ghosting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectron transport: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a photosensitive layer formed on the undercoat layer and comprising a charge generating material... the amount of photo carriers (holes and electrons) generated is large

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9535347B2Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 CANON KK

AI summary

In order to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member with which a ghost is suppressed even under a low temperature and low humidity environment, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support, an undercoat layer formed on the support, and a photosensitive layer formed on the undercoat layer and comprising a charge generating material and a hole transporting material, wherein the undercoat layer comprises a particular amine compound.