Electrically Insulating Overlayer Patents (Class 430/67)
  • Patent number: 6342324
    Abstract: Release compositions include (a) from zero to about 30 parts by weight of a polymer selected from the group consisting of wherein R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, R10, R11, and R12 are each independently selected from an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, and an aralkyl group, such that at least one of R6 and R7 is an alkenyl group, l, m, and n are each independently an integer so long as the polymer contains greater than 3 mol % vinyl-containing siloxane groups; a (vinyl siloxy)(siloxy)-modified silica having a vinyl content of at least about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Minyu Li, M. Zaki Ali, Eric D. Morrison, Charles W. Simpson, Leonard J. Stulc, Ramnath Subramaniam, Jiayi Zhu
  • Patent number: 6322943
    Abstract: There is provided a light-receiving member comprising a photoconductive layer provided on an electroconductive substrate, and a surface layer provided on the photoconductive layer, the surface layer comprising non-single-crystal carbon containing at least fluorine, wherein the surface layer has a ratio of the area of a peak having center in the vicinity of 1200 cm−1 or 1120 cm−1 in the infrared absorption spectrum to the area of a peak having center in the vicinity of 2920 cm−1 being in a range from 0.1 to 50. The light-receiving member allows to obtain a high-quality image without faint image or smeared image in any ambient conditions without use of heating means for the light-receiving member, and has high durability enough for maintaining such high quality characteristics. It can also prevent, by the absence of the heating means, the adhesion of low melting toners such as color toners and the unevenness in image density, generated at the rotating interval of the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Aoki, Shigenori Ueda, Junichiro Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6300027
    Abstract: An imaging member includes a substrate, a charge generating layer, and a charge transport layer, wherein an external layer of the imaging member includes hydrophobic silica particles uniformly dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Chambers, Abukar Wehelie, Huoy-Jen Yuh, Harold F. Hammond
  • Patent number: 6300028
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved a-Si:H photoreceptor comprising a-Si:H photoconductors and conductive substrates, such as metallic members or plastic members provided with a metallic or an ohmic layer, in which degrading effects of the ambient environment on the electrophotographic properties of the a-Si:H photoconductor is minimized. The present invention also provides a cost-effective method of forming the improved a-Si:H photoreceptors. The method comprises stabilizing an a-Si:H photoreceptor member against environmental degradation of its photoconductive properties, by modifying the working surface of the photoconductor through treatment with a silanol solution. The clean annealed photoreceptor is preferably exposed to a freshly prepared aqueous mixture of an organosilane hydrolyzable to yield a silanol solution. The photoreceptor is then rinsed with water to remove vagrant oligomers formed during condensation of the silanol prepolymers but unattached to surface sites on the photoconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Coulter International Corp.
    Inventors: Marshall Donnie Graham, Gary L. Dorer
  • Patent number: 6280896
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive member for electrophotography which has an excellent adhesion between a surface protective layer and a photosensitive layer and an excellent image quality at the time of plate wearing. In the photosensitive member for electrophotography wherein at least the photosensitive layer and the surface protective layer are laminated on an electroconductive support in this order, the characteristic is that said surface protective layer comprises at least fluorine-containing polysiloxane, ultraviolet absorber and electroconductive fine particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Tokutake, Teiko Edo, Keiichi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 6258499
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed. The photoreceptor comprises an electrically conductive support having thereon a photosensitive layer in which the glass transition temperature of the surface layer of said photosensitive layer is at least 105° C. and the contact angle of said surface layer with respect to deionized water is at least 90°. An image forming method, an apparatus and a unit employing the photoreceptor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Itami
  • Patent number: 6258498
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a support and a photosensitive layer provided on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Kawahara, Takeshi Ikeda, Tetsuro Fukui, Takanori Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6248489
    Abstract: This invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive body including a photosensitive layer containing a chemical substance selected from a compound having a polysilazane skeleton, a compound having an Si—CnH2n+1 bond and one of an Si—N bond and an Si—C—N bond, a compound having an Si—CnF2n+1 bond and one of an Si—N bond and an Si—C—N bond, and a mixture of a compound having one of an Si—N bond and an Si—C—N bond and a compound having a C—F bond, an intermediate transfer medium including a surface layer containing the chemical substance, and an electrophotographic apparatus using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yagi, Mitsunaga Saito, Koichi Ishii, Sadao Kajiura, Yuka Yamaguchi, Mitsuhiko Iida
  • Patent number: 6238832
    Abstract: For achieving satisfactory electrical characteristics and high image quality without peeling, damage or abrasion in a long use term the present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member which comprises, on a conductive substrate, a photoconductive layer composed of a non-single-crystalline material containing silicon atoms as a matrix, and a surface layer composed of non-single-crystalline carbon containing at least hydrogen, wherein the surface layer has a surface roughness Rz within a range from 500 Å to 2000 Å for a reference length of 5 &mgr;m and contains at least oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine and boron atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichiro Hashizume, Shigenori Ueda, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 6218064
    Abstract: In an electrophotographic apparatus having a structure for scrape-cleaning a developer of an average particle diameter of 5 to 8 &mgr;m with an elastic rubber blade having a modulus of repulsion elasticity of not less than 10% nor more than 50%, by using a light receiving member having a surface layer comprised of a non-monocrystalline fluorinated carbon film in which the wear loss after copying steps of 10,000 A4-size transfer sheets is not less than 0.1 Å nor more than 100 Å, in which the dynamic hardness is within the range of 10 to 500 kgf/mm2, and in which the fluorine content is not less than 5 atomic % nor more than 50 atomic %, an electrophotographic apparatus is provided which can prevent scattering or fusion of a developer, uneven scraping of a surface layer and image smearing irrespective of the service environment conditions and also can prevent image smearing without provision of means for directly heating the light receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigenori Ueda, Junichiro Hashizume, Ryuji Okamura
  • Patent number: 6203954
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support member and a photosensitive layer formed thereon. A surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains diorganopolysiloxane represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 to R6 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group; B represents a substituted or unsubstituted organic group containing a perfluoroalkyl group; D represents a group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted organic group containing a polyoxyalkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having at least 12 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group having a siloxane chain; E1 and E2 independently represent a group selected from groups of R1, B and D, X represents an integer of 0 to 1000, and Y and Z independently represent an integer of 1 to 1000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Anayama
  • Patent number: 6205307
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system equipped with an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an electrostatically charger, a light-exposure, a developing device, and a transferring device, wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor is an electrophotographic photoreceptor having at least a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an uppermost surface layer successively laminated on an electrically conductive substrate, the charge transport layer having a layer containing at least 45% by weight a charge transporting material, and the wear rate of the uppermost surface layer being less than the wear rate of said layer, and the time from a light-exposure to a development is not longer than 150 m sec. The image-forming apparatus is excellent in the printing durability and the stability, gives less image flowing, and is small-sized and high-speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Nukada, Wataru Yamada, Kiyokazu Mashimo
  • Patent number: 6197464
    Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging member including a substrate, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat layer formed from a solution including a first cross linkable polyamide film forming binder free of methyl methoxy groups, an optional second cross linkable polyamide film forming binder containing methyl methoxy groups, a cross linking catalyst and a hole transport material. A process for forming an overcoated imaging member is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenny-tuan T. Dinh, Timothy J. Fuller, Markus R. Silvestri, Paul J. Defeo, Damodar M. Pai, John F. Yanus, Robert W. Nolley, William W. Limburg, Dale S. Renfer
  • Patent number: 6197463
    Abstract: Electrophotographic photosensitive bodies which comprise a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, and which contain a wax having an ester group in their outermost layer, exhibit excellent durability and improved wear and printing resistance, without sacrificing their photosensitizability properties, such as chargeability and sensitivity, or ease and quality of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf E. Cais, Santanu Debnath, Shinichi Suzuki, Moto Makino
  • Patent number: 6187491
    Abstract: Electrophotographic charge generating elements comprise a solid electrolyte layer having improved image discrimination. The solid electrolyte layer includes a complex of a silsesquioxane and a charge carrier, and further includes nondiffusible acid scavengers in an amount of at least 0.2 weight %. The acid scavengers are nondiffusible tertiary arylamines having a pKa of at least 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, J. Robin Cowdery, William T. Gruenbaum, David S. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6185398
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is constituted by a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer comprising a polyester resin having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1): wherein A1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group. The resultant surface layer is effective in improving an abrasive resistance of the photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takakazu Tanaka, Hidetoshi Hirano, Hirotoshi Uesugi
  • Patent number: 6180305
    Abstract: An organic photoreceptor (“OPR”) including a barrier layer formed from a barrier layer coating composition including a cellulosic resin, methylvinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymer, a polyamide, a crosslinker, and a combination thereof, provides sufficient protection to the organic photoreceptor from damage due to corona-induced charge injection; is substantially inert with respect to the organic photoconductive layer; exhibits sufficient resiliency to withstand shear, compressional and tensional forces exerted on the belt as it passes through an electrophotographic system when the photoreceptor is used in an endless belt form; and provides sufficient protection to limit or prevent a liquid toner from contacting the organic photoconductor that may result in crazing and/or cracking of the organic photoreceptor during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: James H. Ackley, James E. Lindquist, Zbigniew Tokarski
  • Patent number: 6171742
    Abstract: A photosensitive member to be used for an image-forming apparatus effectively suppresses the effect of wetting the foreign matters adhered to the surface thereof, reduces the load of the cleaning unit and prolong the service life of the photosensitive member so that the image-forming apparatus may be down-sized. In the photosensitive member, the surface free energy (&ggr;) on the uppermost surface of the photosensitive member is made between 35 and 65 mN/m and the variation of the surface free energy &Dgr;&ggr; is made less than 25 mN/m during long operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Kawada, Takaaki Kaya, Tetsuya Karaki
  • Patent number: 6146800
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is disclosed which is provided with a surface layer containing a polyarylate resin or polycarbonate resin. The polyarylate resin and polycarbonate resin have a structural unit having a cyclic siloxane structure in its backbone chain. Also a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus using the photosensitive member are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshida, Hideki Anayama
  • Patent number: 6132913
    Abstract: A crosslinkable coating composition including an alcohol soluble acrylated polyamide containing alkoxymethyl or alkoxyalkylmethyl groups attached to amide nitrogen atoms, a crosslinking catalyst and a mixture of a hydroxy functionalized aromatic diamine with a hydroxy functionalized triarylamine. A coating is formed from this composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fuller, John F. Yanus, Damodar M. Pai, William W. Limburg, Markus R. Silvestri, Dale S. Renfer, Anthony T. Ward, Paul J. DeFeo, Harold F. Hammond, Robert W. Nolley
  • Patent number: 6124065
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive body and an electrophotographic printer capable of notifying an operating whether a protection film 15 is correctly peeled off from a photosensitive surface 1a of the photosensitive body. The protection film 15 has marks 15a and 15b to be automatically detected. The electrophotographic printer 100 comprises a peel member 13, a guide route for guiding the peeled off protection film out of the printer, a magnetic sensor 14 for detecting the marks 15a and 15b, and a control circuit 17 for deciding according to an output of the magnetic sensor whether the protection film is correctly peeled off and outputting the decision result through a liquid crystal display panel 19. This enables an operator to know about the peeling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoya Saeki
  • Patent number: 6120955
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided which does not involve any image noise occurrence, such as black spot or white spot under any environment. The electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a photoreceptor substrate including an anodized layer formed on the surface of an aluminum or aluminum alloy base, the anodized layer having been sealed by a low temperature sealing treatment and a high temperature sealing treatment, and at least one photosensitive layer formed on the photoreceptor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Tokutake, Teiko Yamaguchi, Keiichi Inagaki, Mitsutoshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6110628
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is comprised of a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer which contains a resin having at least one of the structural units represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein the bond represented by a broken line may be present, and when present, m is 4 and when m is 6, n represents an integer of 0 or more, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent each independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted cyclodienyl, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, a substituted or unsubstituted carbonyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiyo Sekiya, Hideki Anayama, Akio Maruyama, Shoji Amamiya, Hiroki Uematsu, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6093513
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photoreceptor for electrophotography having an over coating layer formed on a substrate and prepared by applying a composition containing silica particles, an organic compound chemically bonded thereto and a photo polymerization initiator and by curing said composition; said organic compound having an polymerizable unsaturated group, a group designated by Formula (1) or a group designated by Formula (2), and said silica particles and said organic compound being bonded with each other through a silyloxy group. The photoreceptor for electrophotography has not only excellent durabilities and an excellent resistance to printing but also excellent electrophoto characteristics such as sensitivity and a residual potential. ##STR1## (wherein --X-- is selected from --NH--, --O-- and --S--, --Y-- is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and when --X-- is --O--, Y is said sulfur atom).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Takeda, Hiroyuki Endoh, Tsutomu Uezono
  • Patent number: 6071661
    Abstract: An imaging member including: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an imaging layer; and (c) an abrasion resistant layer selected from the group consisting of an overcoating layer and an anti-curl layer, wherein the abrasion resistant layer includes a branched polycarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bing R. Hsieh, Satchidanand Mishra, Anthony M. Horgan, Richard L. Post, Robert C. U. Yu, Donald C. VonHoene, Edward F. Grabowski, Kathleen M. Carmichael
  • Patent number: 6066425
    Abstract: Electrophotographic charge generating elements comprise a solid electrolyte layer having improved image discrimination and layer adhesion. The solid electrolyte layer includes a complex of a silsesquioxane and a charge carrier, and is adhered to an underlying photoconductor layer using a primer layer that includes specific addition polymers. This primer layer has a resistivity of at least 10.sup.10 ohms/square and contains substantially no free ACTIVE moieties as defined herein. Such groups, when present in the primer layer, appear to reduce image discrimination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, Louis J. Sorriero, J. Robin Cowdery, David S. Weiss
  • Patent number: 6045962
    Abstract: A method for forming a low surface energy coating for electrophotographic photosensitive body substrates does not require performing a physical surface reforming treatment such as corona discharge, plasma treatment, and the like. The process comprises: forming on the substrate at least one polysiloxane coating material, (B), that has a water contact angle greater than the water contact angle of the substrate; and thereafter forming an outermost surface coating material, (A), on top of coating material (B). The water contact angle of coating material (B) is smaller than the water contact angle of coating material (A). Coating material (A) comprises finely divided silica and a resin of the formula RSiO.sub.3/2, wherein not less than 1 mol % and not more than 80 mol % of the R groups are fluorohydrocarbon groups of 3 to 12 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Dow Corning Asia, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kushibiki, Kikuko Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6040099
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the present invention includes: a photosensitive layer formed on an electroconductive support member thereof, wherein a surface layer of the photosensitive member contains a silicon denatured polycarbonate copolymer and a silicon-type graft polymer. An electrophotographic photosensitive apparatus according to the present invention includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the surface layer of which contains a silicon denatured polycarbonate copolymer and a silicon-type graft polymer; a latent image forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing unit for forming a toner image by developing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, on which the electrostatic image has been formed, with a toner; and, optimally, a cleaning unit for cleaning the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hanami, Junichi Kishi, Yoichi Kawamorita, Takao Soma
  • Patent number: 6030736
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor is provided which includes a photoconductive layer formed overlying an electroconductive substrate, wherein the photoconductor includes in a top layer thereof a polysiloxane mixture selected from the group consisting of a polysiloxane mixture of an unmodified polysiloxane compound and a modified polysiloxane compound, a mixture of a methacryl modified polysiloxane compound and an alkyl modified polysiloxane compound, a mixture of a methacryl modified polysiloxane compound and a vinyl modified polysiloxane compound, and a mixture of an alkyl modified polysiloxane compound and a vinyl modified polysiloxane compound. The photoconductor has good durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Yasuo Suzuki, Hiroshi Nakai, Nozomu Tamoto, Koji Kishida
  • Patent number: 6022656
    Abstract: A photoconductive element comprising an electrically conductive support and at least one active layer, said active layer comprising N-(p-(di-p-tolylamino)phenyl)-N'-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenet etracarboxylic diimide and one or more perylene dyes of structure I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are, each independently, ##STR2## and R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 are, each independently, H, CH.sub.3, or C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkyl, linear or branched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Susan A. Visser, Paul M. Borsenberger, Jeanne E. Kaeding
  • Patent number: 6020097
    Abstract: A bipolar electrophotographic element comprising a) a single active bipolar photoconductive layer on an electrically conductive support and b) a diamond-like carbon protective layer, having a fluorine content between 0 and 65 atomic percent based on the composition of the entire protective layer, and also having a thickness between 0.05 and 0.5 .mu.m. Also disclosed is a coating composition for a single bipolar photoconductive layer comprising: i) one or more binder polymers; ii) at least one aggregating dye salt; iii) at least one organic charge transport agent; and iv) a volatile coating solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Susan A. Visser, Donald S. Rimai, Michel F. Molaire, Paul M. Borsenberger
  • Patent number: 6020098
    Abstract: This invention discloses novel surface release layers on temporary image receptors particularly suited to the requirements of liquid electrographic (both electrophotographic and electrostatic) printing on a variety of receptors. The inventive temporary image receptors are comprised of a surface release layer on a photoreceptive or dielectric substrate. The release layers are silicone copolymers which are chemically modified to improve imaging, drying or transfer performance when used in the simplified color electrophotography (SCE) or electrostatic printing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kathryn R. Bretscher, Terri L. Butler, Mark C. Berens, James A. Baker, Gay L. Herman, Larry D. Boardman, Gaye K. Lehman
  • Patent number: 6001522
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photoconductor element for use in electrophotographic imaging, including a support, a photoconductive layer coated on the support, and a barrier layer coated on the photoconductive layer. The barrier layer includes an organic polymer and silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Edward J. Woo, David R. Boston
  • Patent number: 6001521
    Abstract: For providing an electrophotographic photosensitive member that can always maintain good images without occurrence of fusion of toner, independent of the circumstances and the combination of urging pressure of a cleaner, process speed, components contained in toner, etc. and that can always maintain good images of high resolution and even density without occurrence of uneven shaving against a cleaning system or toner, the outermost surface thereof is comprised of a non-monocrystalline carbon film comprising hydrogen and having a dynamic hardness not less than 300 kgf/mm.sup.2 nor more than 1300 kgf/mm.sup.2 measured using a diamond stylus of a triangular pyramid having a tip of a radius not more than 0.1 .mu.m and an edge-to-edge angle of 115.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichiro Hashizume, Shigenori Ueda, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 5995795
    Abstract: Electrophotographic printing apparatus is described, particularly useful for printing a plurality of copies from a single latent electrostatic image, in which the toner transfer system includes a multi-layer transfer photoreceptor having an outer dielectric layer, an inner electrically-conductive layer, and an intermediate photoconductive layer forming an interface with the outer dielectric layer. A charging system charges the outer surface of the outer dielectric layer of the transfer photoreceptor with charges of one polarity to facilitate the transfer of the toner image from the recording photoreceptor to the record member, and produces in the interface, between the photoconductive layer and the outer dielectric layer, charges of the opposite polarity to maintain the charges of said one polarity on the outer surface of the transfer photoreceptor. The transfer photoreceptor may also serve to transport the record member and to separate the record member from the recording photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Elfotek Ltd.
    Inventor: Genady Berlin
  • Patent number: 5976745
    Abstract: With a plasma being generated between a cathode electrode to which a high-frequency power is applied and an electrically conductive substrate opposed to the electrode in a reaction vessel the pressure of which can be reduced, a photoconductive layer having the matrix of silicon atoms is deposited on a substrate to be processed, a surface layer comprised of non-monocrystal carbon containing hydrogen is provided on the photoconductive layer, a surface of the surface layer is etched to fluorinate the surface, the surface roughness Rz by etching is controlled below 1000 .ANG., the fluorine contained in the surface layer is made present within 50 .ANG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Aoki, Shigenori Ueda, Junichiro Hashizume
  • Patent number: 5958644
    Abstract: In a reactor capable of reducing an internal pressure thereof, a non-single-crystalline material layer containing at least one kind of carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms or nitrogen atoms is formed and etched on a non-single-crystalline photoconductive layer mainly composed of silicon atoms, formed on a substrate, under application of a high-frequency power of 50 MHz to 450 MHz, and the formation and the etching are alternately repeated plural times to form a surface layer.A light-receiving member having such a surface layer does not damage cleaning performance over a long period of time, hardly allows adhesion of corona discharge products, and can be free from faint images, smeared images and uneven image density even if no heating means for the drum is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigenori Ueda, Junichiro Hashizume, Makoto Aoki, Shinji Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 5955230
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor excellent in wear resistance and low in residual potential comprising a conductive support, and a photoconductive layer and a protective layer formed on the conductive support. The protective layer contains a finely divided metal oxide powder and a binder resin composed of a polymer containing an acrylate or a methacrylate having at least one silicon-containing functional group as a monomer component, the polymer being crosslinked with said silicon-containing functional group. Also disclosed is an image forming method using the electrophotographic photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Kimura, Fumio Ojima, Kazuyuki Nakamura, Hirofumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5952139
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor is provided which principally consists of an electrically conductive substrate, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer which contains an orange dye compound. Preferably, the orange dye compound is selected from the group consisting of 1-o-tolylazo-2-naphthol, 5-(9-anthracenyl methylene) amino-3-methyl-1-tolylpyrazole, 4,5-diiodo-3,6-fluoranediol, and 4,5-dibromo-3,6-fluoranediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Takeuchi, Kenichi Ohkura
  • Patent number: 5942360
    Abstract: A photoreceptor includes a supporting substrate and an outer layer on the photoreceptor, the outer layer including silicone oil uniformly dispersed as vesicles in a continuous film forming polymer matrix. This photoreceptor is used in a xerographic copier/printer machine and contributes to a longer operating life of the machine by providing continuous lubrication, decreased friction and decreased wear of the interaction of the photoreceptor and other machine parts. This photoreceptor is prepared by incorporating silicone oil and at least one film forming polymer in at least one solvent, removing the solvent and forming a dried outer layer in which the silicone oil is phase separated from the other components of the top layer forming small vesicles which are uniformly dispersed in the continuous film forming polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roger T. Janezic, William W. Limburg, Mark Petropoulos, Rachael A. Forgit, Mark S. Thomas, Russell N. Gillmeister
  • Patent number: 5932321
    Abstract: The invention provides electrographic imaging sheets comprising a substrate carrying a layer of dielectric material which has abhesive properties suitable for the release of a multicolored toner image from the dielectric surface during image transfer, while also having good toning properties during the several development stages of a multicolor toner imaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John F. Eisele, Valdis Mikelsons, Gaye K. Lehman, Paul J. Wang, Patricia J. A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 5928828
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method using an electrophotographic photoconductor includes the steps of charging the photoconductor to a predetermined polarity using a charger which may be disposed in contact with the photoconductor, exposing the charged photoconductor to light images to form latent electrostatic images thereon, developing the latent electrostatic images into visible images with a toner, and transferring the visible toner images formed on the photoconductor to an image receiving member using an image transfer charger which may be disposed in contact with the photoconductor, with the photoconductor comprising a surface top layer which contains a compound of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a lower alkyl group; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently methylene group which may have a substituent or ethylene group which may have a substituent; Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5923925
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus has an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on an electroconductive support, a charging means provided in contact with the photosensitive member, and image exposure means, a development means, and an image transfer means. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer containing electroconductive particles having particle surface treated with a fluorine-containing compound, and a binder resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushige Nakamura, Akio Maruyama, Noboru Kashimura, Shoji Amamiya
  • Patent number: 5912098
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is constituted by at least a support, a photosensitive layer disposed on the support, and a protective layer disposed on the photosensitive layer. The protective layer comprises a cured product obtained from a condensation product between a silyl acrylate compound and colloidal silica. The protective layer is effective in providing the photosensitive member with improved potential stability against a change in environmental conditions and an excellent durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takakazu Tanaka, Hideki Anayama, Akira Yoshida, Hidetoshi Hirano, Wataru Kitamura
  • Patent number: 5910386
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member is disclosed which has a photosensitive layer and a protection layer. The protection layer contains a particulate colloidal silica and a siloxane resin to have a contact angle of water of not less than 90.degree.. The photosensitive member has a lowered surface energy and excellent mechanical and electrical durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Shunichiro Nishida, Masataka Kawahara, Keiko Hiraoka, Nobuo Kushibiki, Hideki Kobayashi, Kikuko Takeuchi, Toru Masatomi
  • Patent number: 5905008
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a photosensitive layer formed on a support. A surface layer (or the outermost layer) of the photosensitive layer contains a fluorine-modified organic silicone resin represented by the following average unit formula:{F(CF.sub.2).sub.a1 -Q.sub.1 -R.sub.1.m1 SiO.sub.(3-m1)/2 }.sub.X1 {F(CF.sub.2).sub.a2 -Q.sub.2 -R.sub.2.m2 SiO.sub.(3-m2)/2 }.sub.X2 . . . {F(CF.sub.2).sub.ap -Q.sub.p -R.sub.p.mp SiO.sub.(3-mp)/2 }.sub.Xp {R.sub.1 '.sub.n1 SiO.sub.(4-n1)/2)}.sub.y1 {R.sub.2 '.sub.n2 SiO.sub.4-n2)/2 }.sub.y2 . . . {R.sub.q '.sub.nq SiO.sub.(4-nq)/2 }.sub.yqwhere R.sub.1 -R.sub.p and R.sub.1 '-R.sub.q ' are each an alkyl or aryl group; Q.sub.1 -Q.sub.p are each an alkylene group; m1-mp are each an integer of 0 to 2; n1-nq are each an integer of 0 to 3; a1-aq are each an integer; x1-y1 are each a number larger than 0; and X2-Xp and Y2 are each respectively a number of 0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Shunichiro Nishida, Keiko Hiraoka, Yayoi Nagao, Hideki Kobayashi, Toru Masatomi
  • Patent number: 5900342
    Abstract: There is provided an electrophotographic element and method of making the electrophotographic element comprising a conductive support, a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, said electrophotographic element having thereon a protective layer of a fluorinated diamond-like carbon wherein the fluorine content of the outermost surface of the fluorinated diamond-like carbon layer is between about 25 and about 65 atomic percent based on the total composition of the outermost surface of the protective layer. The protective layer provides for a low surface energy coating having a long process lifetime without causing latent image spread or degradation of photosensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Susan A. Visser, Paul M. Borsenberger
  • Patent number: 5882830
    Abstract: A photoconductive element comprising: an electrically conductive base; at least one active layer comprising an organic material, said at least one active layer being capable of charge generation and charge transport; and an outermost multilayer protective overcoat comprising at least one sol-gel layer and at least one outermost diamond-like carbon layer comprising fluorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Susan A. Visser, Robin J. Cowdery-Corvan, David S. Weiss
  • Patent number: 5879847
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a substrate and a photosensitive layer thereupon, wherein a surface protecting layer of the photosensitive member contains a resin which is obtained by curing a curable organosilicon polymer and an organosilicon-modified positive hole transporting compound; a process-cartridge which has, in addition to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, at least one from among a primary charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means placed into a housing, and which can be reversibly mounted to an image forming apparatus; and the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Yuichi Hashimoto, Shunichiro Nishida
  • Patent number: 5874191
    Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element including a support, at least one image-forming layer and an auxiliary layer. The auxilary layer is formed by providing a coating composition of fluoroolefin-vinyl ether copolymer latex in an aqueous medium, coating the coating composition of the support and drying the coating composition. The present invention also includes a coating composition for use in an imaging element including a fluoroolefin-vinyl ether copolymer latex dispersed in an aqueous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles C. Anderson, Yongcai Wang, Mario D. DeLaura