Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, wherein an outermost layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is a crosslinked layer, including: a urethane oligomer having a radical polymerizing functional group; and a radical polymerizing compound having one functional group with a charge transporting structure, or a radical polymerizing oligomer having a polyester structure; a radical polymerizing compound having three or more functional groups without a charge transporting structure; and a radical polymerizing compound having one functional group with a charge transport structure, and wherein the outermost layer has an elasticity power not less than 41%.

Abstract: This invention relates to image bearing member and an image forming apparatus that employs the image bearing member. The image bearing member contains an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer; a charge transport layer; a cross-linking surface protective layer, and a monomer having one radical polymerizable functional group with a charge transport structure. The cross-linking surface protective layer is formed by curing a monomer having at least three radical polymerizable functional groups without a charge transport structure. For the image bearing member, the ratio of the layer thickness of the cross linking surface protective layer to the layer thickness of the charge transport layer is from 0.7 to 1.3.

Abstract: An optical filter and a lighting device using the same wherein the suppression of the melatonin secretion by the reception of light in the nighttime is prevented and the color of light is maintained desirable are provided. The optical filter has a mean transmissivity of a light beam in a wavelength range of about 480˜550 nm is about 30% or less. The optical filter is formed by at least molding a transparent resin and a resin composition material containing an orange color series fluorescent dye material, and, for 100 weight part of the transparent resin, the resin composition material containing about 0.005˜0.2 weight part of the orange color series fluorescent dye material is molded. This can prevent the suppression of the melatonin secretion in the nighttime. The color of light is maintained desirable. The optical filter may be applied to a lighting apparatus.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having at least a photoconductive layer on an electrically conductive support, in which a surface layer of the photoconductive layer can be obtained by curing at least a free-radical-polymerizable monomer having no charge transporting structure, represented by general formula (A) and a one-functional free-radical-polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure, wherein R71, R72, R73, R74, R75, and R76 are described in the specification.

Abstract: An image forming method, includes: forming a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image carrier; developing the latent electrostatic image with a toner to thereby form a visible image; transferring the visible image to a recording medium; and fixing the image transferred to the recording medium. The latent electrostatic image carrier includes: a support, a photoconductive layer on the support, and a surface protective layer on the support. The surface protective layer includes a reactant made by cross-linking the following: an electric charge transporting material which comprises a reactive functional group, a cross-linking resin, and a fluorine surfactant. The toner comprises an inorganic fine particle which defines an effective inorganic fine particle amount in a range of 0.8% by mass to 3.

Abstract: A server computer searches for at least one printing-service providing store based on printing-condition information sent form an information terminal, and sends information representing the searched printing-service providing store to the information terminal. After a user selects one printer device based on the information representing the at least one printing-service providing store, the information terminal sends document data to be printed to the server computer. The server computer sends printing data to be printed to the user-selected printer device.

Abstract: An object is to provide a latent electrostatic image bearing member that can provide high-quality images for prolonged periods, owing to photosensitive layers and crosslinked surface layers having excellent flaw and wear resistance and appropriate electric properties, image forming method, image forming apparatus and process cartridge that employ latent electrostatic image bearing member respectively. Accordingly, provided is a latent electrostatic image bearing member that comprises a support and at least a photosensitive layer and a crosslinked surface layer disposed on the support, wherein the crosslinked surface layer comprises a reactant from radical polymerizable compounds having three or more functionalities with no charge transport structure and radical polymerizable compounds having one functionality with charge transport structure, and at least two different antioxidants.

Abstract: An image forming method, includes: forming a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image carrier; developing the latent electrostatic image with a toner to thereby form a visible image; transferring the visible image to a recording medium; and fixing the image transferred to the recording medium. The latent electrostatic image carrier includes: a support, a photoconductive layer on the support, and a surface protective layer on the support. The surface protective layer includes a reactant made by cross-linking the following: an electric charge transporting material which comprises a reactive functional group, a cross-linking resin, and a fluorine surfactant. The toner comprises an inorganic fine particle which defines an effective inorganic fine particle amount in a range of 0.8% by mass to 3.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer; and a charge transport layer in this order, a charger; an irradiator; an image developer; and a transferer applying an electric current not less than 65 ?A to the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the charge generation layer comprises titanylphthalocyanine crystals having a CuK? 1.542 ? X-ray diffraction spectrum having plural diffraction peaks, wherein a maximum diffraction peak is observed at a Bragg (2?) angle of 27.2°; main peaks are observed at 9.4°, 9.6° and 24.0°; and a minimum diffraction peak is observed at 7.3°; and no diffraction peak is observed at an angle greater than 7.3° and less than 9.4°, wherein said angles may vary by ±0.2° and the minimum interval where no peak is observed between required peaks at 7.3 and 9.4 is 2.0 degrees absolute or more.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor includes an electroconductive substrate, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer formed by using a halogen-free solvent, arranged in this order, in which the charge generation layer contains a charge generation material having an average particle diameter smaller than a surface roughness of a plane where the electroconductive substrate is arranged, and a polyvinyl acetal resin having a ratio Mw/Mn of a weight-average molecular weight Mw to a number-average molecular weight Mn is 2.2 or more.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor includes an electroconductive substrate, a photoconductive layer arranged over the electroconductive layer with or without the interposition of an undercoat layer, and a surface top layer containing a crosslinkable resin arranged over the photoconductive layer, the photoconductive layer includes a charge generation layer containing a charge generating material, and a charge transport layer containing a charge transporting material, in which the surface top layer is substantially free from hydroxyl groups and residual uncured portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an electrophotographic photoreceptor including: an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer and serving as an outermost layer, wherein the protective layer has an average abraded thickness not greater than 1 ?m after the electrophotographic image forming apparatus produces 100,000 images; a charger charging the electrophotographic photoreceptor; an irradiator irradiating the electrophotographic photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; an image developer developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image on the electrophotographic photoreceptor; a transferer transferring the toner image onto a transfer sheet; and a cleaner cleaning a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the cleaner comprises a cleaning brush impregnated with a resin.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus containing an electrophotographic photoconductor, a charging unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit and a cleaning unit, wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor contains a support and at least a photosensitive layer disposed on the support, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a charge generating material and a compound expressed by the following Structural Formula (1), and wherein, in the Structural Formula (1), “R1” and “R2” may be identical to each other or different, and represent any one of hydrogen atom, alkyl group which may be substituted, cycloalkyl group which may be substituted and aralkyl group which may be substituted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a latent electrostatic image bearing member which includes a support, a charge generating layer, and a charge transporting layer, the charge generating layer and the charge transporting layer being arranged in this order on or above the support, wherein the charge transporting layer comprises at least a charge transporting material and a binder resin and has a thickness of 30 ?m to 50 ?m; and the distribution representing the relation between the absorbance ratio of the charge transporting material and the binder resin measured by infrared spectroscopy and the distance from the surface of the charge transporting layer toward the thickness direction thereof represents a generally linear shape without having inflection points within 20 ?m from the surface of the charge transporting layer toward the thickness thereof.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor, including an electroconductive substrate; an intermediate layer, located overlying the electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer, located overlying the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer includes a N-alkoxymethylated nylon including a component having a molecular weight not greater than 5,000 in an amount of from 3 to 10% by weight.

Abstract: An image bearing member including an electroconductive substrate, a charge blocking layer disposed overlying the electroconductive substrate, a moire prevention layer disposed overlying the charge blocking layer, and a photosensitive layer disposed overlying the moire prevention layer. The charge blocking layer contains N-alkoxymethylized nylon and optionally at least one of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic tricarboxylic acid. The moire prevention layer contains a titanium oxide having a purity not less than 99.0% and a cross-linking resin.

Abstract: A coating liquid including an N-alkoxymethylated nylon and a solvent, wherein the N-alkoxymethylated nylon includes one or more ions in an amount of from 200 to 500 ppm based on a weight of the N-alkoxymethylated nylon or one or more alkylamines in an amount of from 15 to 100 ppm based on a weight of the N-alkoxymethylated nylon. A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a charge blocking layer located overlying the substrate; a moiré preventing layer located overlying the charge blocking layer; and a photosensitive layer located overlying the moiré preventing layer, wherein the charge blocking layer is formed using the coating liquid.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer; and a charge transport layer in this order, a charger; an irradiator; an image developer; and a transferer applying an electric current not less than 65 ?A to the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the charge generation layer comprises titanylphthalocyanine crystals having a CuK? 1.542 ? X-ray diffraction spectrum having plural diffraction peaks, wherein a maximum diffraction peak is observed at a Bragg (2?) angle of 27.2°; main peaks are observed at 9.4°, 9.6° and 24.0°; and a minimum diffraction peak is observed at 7.3°; and no diffraction peak is observed at an angle greater than 7.3° and less than 9.4°, wherein said angles may vary by ±0.2° and the minimum interval where no peak is observed between required peaks at 7.3 and 9.4 is 2.0 degrees absolute or more.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer; and a charge transport layer in this order, a charger; an irradiator; an image developer; and a transferer applying an electric current not less than 65 ?A to the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the charge generation layer comprises titanylphthalocyanine crystals having a CuK? 1.542 ? X-ray diffraction spectrum having plural diffraction peaks, wherein a maximum diffraction peak is observed at a Bragg (2 ?) angle of 27.2°; main peaks are observed at 9.4°, 9.6° and 24.0°; and a minimum diffraction peak is observed at 7.3°; and no diffraction peak is observed at an angle greater than 7.3° and less than 9.4°, wherein said angles may vary by ±0.2° and the minimum interval where no peak is observed between required peaks at 7.3 and 9.4 is 2.0 degrees absolute or more.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material has an average crystal particle size of at most 50 nm and has a relative density of at least 85%. A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric material includes the steps of preparing a fine powder and sintering or compacting the fine powder under a pressure of at least 1.0 GPa and at most 10 GPa.