Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge have a charge unit for charging the surface of a photosensitive member by direct injection of electrical charge from a contact charging member to the photosensitive member. The charging unit also functions as a unit for supporting residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive member after transfer, for normalizing the electrical charge of the residual toner, and for returning the normalized residual toner to the surface of the photosensitive member. A developing unit also functions as a unit for recovering the normalized residual toner returned to the surface of the photosensitive member. The absolute value of the difference in charged potential between a first rotation and a second rotation of the photosensitive member is higher than 5 V and lower than 70 V.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has, in this order, a support, a photosensitive layer and a protective layer. The thickness d (&mgr;m) of the protective layer, the universal hardness Hu-1 (N/mm2) of the protective layer, and the universal hardness Hu-2 (N/mm2) of the photosensitive layer after peeling off the protective layer satisfy the following expression (1): 5.8×d+Hu-2≦Hu-1≦−2.45×d2+44.4×d+Hu-2  (1). Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the above electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member exhibiting a good durability and stable electrophotographic performances regardless of environmental change is provided by coating the photosensitive layer with a specific protective layer. The protective layer comprises a cured phenolic resin and a charge-transporting compound having at least one group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl groups, hydroxyalkoxy groups and hydroxyphenyl groups capable of having a substituent.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus, includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging device. The charging device includes a conductor particle-carrying member having an electroconductive and elastic surface, and conductor particles having a particle size of 10 nm-10 &mgr;m and carried on the carrying member so as to be disposed in contact with the photosensitive member, thereby directly injecting charges to the photosensitive member to charge the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member exhibiting a good durability and stable electrophotographic performances regardless of environmental change is provided by coating the photosensitive layer with a specific protective layer. The protective layer comprises a cured phenolic resin and a charge-transporting compound having at least one group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl groups, hydroxyalkoxy groups and hydroxyphenyl groups capable of having a substituent.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has, in this order, a support, a photosensitive layer and a protective layer.

Abstract: A surface layer of a photosensitive layer contains a resin comprising a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1), and at least one compound of a triarylamine compound represented by the following general formula (2) and a styryl compound represented by the following general formula (3): ##STR1## wherein, X is --CR.sub.13 R.sub.14 --, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylidene, substituted or unsubstituted .alpha.,.omega.-alkylene, single bond, --O--, --S--, --SO-- or --SO.sub.2 --, wherein R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 are each hydrogen, trifluoromethyl, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl, and R.sub.1 to R.sub.12 are each hydrogen, halogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl; ##STR2## wherein Y is hydrogen, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy, or ##STR3## wherein R.sub.15 ' to R.sub.24 ' are each hydrogen, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy, R.sub.15 to R.sub.