Abstract: In an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support at least the surface of which is conductive, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon containing an amorphous material composed chiefly of silicon, the photoconductive layer has two or more layer regions, and protuberances in a layer region adjoining to a layer region that is closest to the free surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member have been stopped from growing at the surface of that layer region in which the protuberances occur. The protuberances has been stopped from growing not to become so large as to appear as image defects on images. Also disclosed is a process for producing such an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: A light-receiving member comprising a conductive substrate, and formed superposingly thereon a photosensitive layer and a surface protective layer in order. The light-receiving member has a surface roughness Ra of from 15 nm to 100 nm. Also disclosed is an image-forming apparatus having such a light-receiving member, and an image-forming method of rendering visible an electrostatic pattern formed on the light-receiving member. The light-receiving member promises stable formation of images over a long period of time.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member production process is provided having the steps of placing a cylindrical substrate having a conductive surface in a first film-forming chamber, and decomposing a source gas with high-frequency power to deposit on the cylindrical substrate a first layer formed of a non-single-crystal material, taking out of the first film-forming chamber the cylindrical substrate with the first layer deposited thereon, and placing the cylindrical substrate with the first layer deposited thereon in a second film-forming chamber, and decomposing a source gas with a high-frequency power to deposit on the first layer a second layer having an upper-part blocking layer formed of a non-single-crystal material. Even where abnormal growth portions called spherical protuberances are present on the photosensitive member surface, they can be made not to appear on images, and image defects can vastly be remedied.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member such that even if abnormal grown portions called spherical protrusions 203 exist on the surface of the photosensitive member, they do not appear on images, thus making it possible to considerably alleviate image defects.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member production process is provided having the steps of placing a cylindrical substrate having a conductive surface in a first film-forming chamber, and decomposing a source gas with high-frequency power to deposit on the cylindrical substrate a first layer formed of a non-single-crystal material, taking out of the first film-forming chamber the cylindrical substrate with the first layer deposited thereon, and placing the cylindrical substrate with the first layer deposited thereon in a second film-forming chamber, and decomposing a source gas with a high-frequency power to deposit on the first layer a second layer having an upper-part blocking layer formed of a non-single-crystal material. Even where abnormal growth portions called spherical protuberances are present on the photosensitive member surface, they can be made not to appear on images, and image defects can vastly be remedied.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising the steps of depositing a non-single crystal material composed basically of silicon atoms, on a cylindrical substrate in a deposition chamber, thereafter once taking the substrate with film out of the deposition chamber, then returning it to the deposition chamber, and thereafter again depositing thereon a non-single-crystal material composed basically of carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the process comprises the steps of depositing on a cylindrical substrate a photoconductive layer formed of a non-single crystal material, subjecting to surface processing the deposited film having protrusions present at its surface, and depositing on the processed surface a surface protective layer formed of a non-single-crystal material. Also disclosed is the electrophotographic photosensitive member thus obtained, and an electrophotographic apparatus having that member.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support at least the surface of which is conductive, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon containing an amorphous material composed chiefly of silicon, the photoconductive layer has two or more layer regions, and protuberances in a layer region adjoining to a layer region that is closest to the free surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member have been stopped from growing at the surface of that layer region in which the protuberances occur. The protuberances has been stopped from growing not to become so large as to appear as image defects on images. Also disclosed is a process for producing such an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member such that even if abnormal grown portions called spherical protrusions 203 exist on the surface of the photosensitive member, they do not appear on images, thus making it possible to considerably alleviate image defects.

Abstract: There is provided an electrophotographic method, in which influence on an image quality attributable to the conditions of the photoreceptor surface is reduced and much sharper and high image quality having high resolution is obtained, when a spot size of the exposure light is made finer as progress is made in high resolution. In a digital exposure system electrophotographic method of a BAE system which performs scan-exposing for an image formation on a photoreceptor, a photoreceptor comprising a supporting member 401 comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a photosensitive layer 402 deposited on the supporting member surface by applying surface treatment using water on its surface, on which a convex structure is formed corresponding to a boundary portion of a crystal grain boundary of the supporting member surface is used.

Abstract: A light-receiving member comprising a conductive substrate, and formed superposingly thereon a photosensitive layer and a surface protective layer in order. The light-receiving member has a surface roughness Ra of from 15 nm to 100 nm. Also disclosed is an image-forming apparatus having such a light-receiving member, and an image-forming method of rendering visible an electrostatic pattern formed on the light-receiving member. The light-receiving member promises stable formation of images over a long period of time.

Abstract: A light-receiving member comprising a conductive substrate, and formed superposingly thereon a photosensitive layer and a surface protective layer in order. The light-receiving member has a surface roughness Ra of from 15 nm to 100 nm. Also disclosed is an image-forming apparatus having such a light-receiving member, and an image-forming method of rendering visible an electrostatic pattern formed on the light-receiving member. The light-receiving member promises stable formation of images over a long period of time.

Abstract: To provide a Si photosensitive member and an image forming apparatus which prevents toner adherence at the time of cleaning and forms an excellent image, an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a photoconductive layer including amorphous Si and a surface protective layer which are formed on an electroconductive substrate has a difference in the height of concave and convex corresponding to 90% and 50% of a cumulative frequency of the height of concave and convex with respect to the most deepest point of surface roughness concave and convex within a range of 10 &mgr;m×10 &mgr;m of the photosensitive member as a standard which is set within a range of 3 nm to 200 nm.

Abstract: An a-Si photosensitive member and an image forming apparatus are provided which prevent fusion bonding in digital copying machines and attain satisfactory image formation. Specifically, in order that even when uneven abrasion occurs on a drum surface layer, it may not substantially affect the image, a photosensitive member formed by successively stacking on a conductive substrate a photoconductive layer comprising amorphous Si and a surface protective layer comprised of an amorphous material is provided such that the spectral reflectance (%) satisfies the relation of 0≦(Max−Min)/(Max+Min)≦0.20, and a center line average roughness Ra1 of the interface on the surface side of the photoconductive layer and the center line average roughness Ra2 of the outermost surface of the surface layer, within the range of 10 &mgr;m×10 &mgr;m, satisfy the relations of Ra1/Ra2≧1.3 and 22 nm≦Ra1≦100 nm.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that has an image bearing body, charging device for charging the image bearing body, and exposing device for exposing the image bearing body charged by the charging device, wherein the exposing device illuminates a light beam for each of pixels corresponding to a non-imaged portion of a pixel matrix having plural rows and plural columns, and wherein, when it is assumed that a width of one pixel in the pixel matrix is A and a distribution width in a half value of a maximum potential value of potential distribution formed in OFF of light beam illumination of one pixel is Wv, a following relationship is satisfied: 0.6≦Wv/A≦1.4.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising the steps of depositing a non-single crystal material composed basically of silicon atoms, on a cylindrical substrate in a deposition chamber, thereafter once taking the substrate with film out of the deposition chamber, then returning it to the deposition chamber, and thereafter again depositing thereon a non-single-crystal material composed basically of carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the process comprises the steps of depositing on a cylindrical substrate a photoconductive layer formed of a non-single crystal material, subjecting to surface processing the deposited film having protrusions present at its surface, and depositing on the processed surface a surface protective layer formed of a non-single-crystal material. Also disclosed is the electrophotographic photosensitive member thus obtained, and an electrophotographic apparatus having that member.

Abstract: There is provided an electrophotographic method, in which influence on an image quality attributable to the conditions of the photoreceptor surface is reduced and much sharper and high image quality having high resolution is obtained, when a spot size of the exposure light is made finer as progress is made in high resolution. In a digital exposure system electrophotographic method of a BAE system which performs scan-exposing for an image formation on a photoreceptor, a photoreceptor comprising a supporting member 401 comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a photosensitive layer 402 deposited on the supporting member surface by applying surface treatment using water on its surface, on which a convex structure is formed corresponding to a boundary portion of a crystal grain boundary of the supporting member surface is used.

Abstract: To provide a Si photosensitive member and an image forming apparatus which prevents toner adherence at the time of cleaning and forms an excellent image, an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a photoconductive layer including amorphous Si and a surface protective layer which are formed on an electroconductive substrate has a difference in the height of concave and convex corresponding to 90% and 50% of a cumulative frequency of the height of concave and convex with respect to the most deepest point of surface roughness concave and convex within a range of 10 &mgr;m×10 &mgr;m of the photosensitive member as a standard which is set within a range of 3 nm to 200 nm.

Abstract: An a-Si photosensitive member and an image forming apparatus are provided which prevent fusion bonding in digital copying machines and attain satisfactory image formation. Specifically, in order that even when uneven abrasion occurs on a drum surface layer, it may not substantially affect the image, a photosensitive member formed by successively stacking on a conductive substrate a photoconductive layer comprising amorphous Si and a surface protective layer comprised of an amorphous material is provided such that the spectral reflectance (%) satisfies the relation of 0≦(Max−Min)/(Max+Min)≦0.20, and a center line average roughness Ra1 of the interface on the surface side of the photoconductive layer and the center line average roughness Ra2 of the outermost surface of the surface layer, within the range of 10 &mgr;m×10 &mgr;m, satisfy the relations of Ra1/Ra2≧1.3 and 22 nm≦Ra1≦100 nm.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that has an image bearing body, charging device for charging the image bearing body, and exposing device for exposing the image bearing body charged by the charging device,

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus includes a photosensitive body and electrostatic image forming device for forming an electrostatic image on the photosensitive body. The electrostatic image forming device includes an exposing device for exposing the photosensitive body by a digital light in accordance with image information. The exposing device exposes a portion that is a background for an image. A developing device develops the electrostatic image using a developer, wherein a rate throughout the developer of the contained particles have a diameter equal to or smaller than 1 &mgr;m is 5 to 40 number %, and wherein, when A denotes a one-pixel width and Wv denotes a width at half value of a peak in a potential distribution of the electrostatic image formed by exposing the photosensitive drum using the digital light of one pixel, 0.6≦Wv/A≦1.0 is satisfied.