Abstract: A cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member having concave portions on a surface thereof includes a region A having concave portions at an end portion in an axial direction of the photosensitive member and a region B having concave portions different from those in the region A in a direction toward a center of the axial direction of the photosensitive member from the region A, wherein in the region A, an average value L1 is 20 to 200 ?m, an average value W1 satisfies W1?L1, an average value d1 is 1.7 to 4.0 ?m, and an area ratio a1 is 5 to 65%; and in the region B, an average value L2 is 20 to 200 ?m, an average value W2 satisfies W2?L2, an average value d2 is 0.3 to 1.5 ?m, and an area ratio a2 is 5 to 65%.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer body includes a base layer and a surface layer disposed on the base layer, in which surface layer includes a sea-island structure that includes a sea phase and an island phase, in which the sea phase includes a resin, the island phase including an organopolysiloxane.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a positive charging electrophotographic photoreceptor having high sensitivity, low residual potential, and excellent chargeability, and relates to a positive charging electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive support, a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer in this order, the photosensitive layer containing a charge generation substance, a positive hole transport substance, and an electron transport substance in the same layer, in which the positive hole transport substance includes at least one of the compounds represented by any one of the following formulas (1) to (5), and a binder resin of the protective layer is an alcohol-soluble thermoplastic resin, providing that the symbols in the formula are defined in the specification.

Abstract: A resin molded product includes: (I) a thermoplastic urethane resin: 80 to 99.9% by weight; and (II) a silicone acrylic graft copolymer resin: 0.1 to 20% by weight, the silicone acrylic graft copolymer resin comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane represented by the specific formula; and (B) an acrylic ester unit or a methacrylic ester unit, wherein a weight ratio of these components is (A):(B)=50:50 to 90:10.

Abstract: Provided are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each of which is reduced in fogging for reducing a toner consumption. Specifically, provided is a process cartridge, which is removably mounted onto a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge including: a developing unit containing a toner; and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the toner is a toner including a toner particle, and has a polyvalent acid metal salt on at least part of a surface of the toner particle, wherein the polyvalent acid metal salt includes at least one kind of metal element selected from metal elements belonging to from Group 3 to Group 13, and wherein a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a resin including a siloxane segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member that suppresses electric potential fluctuations in repeated use. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support, a photosensitive layer and a protective layer, in this order, wherein the photosensitive layer includes a compound having a structure represented by formula (1), and the protective layer includes a resin having a structure represented by formula (2) and a structure represented by formula (3).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member including a conductive substrate, a photosensitive layer, and a protection layer; a charging unit; an electrostatic image forming unit; a developing unit that includes an electrostatic image developer having a toner and develops the electrostatic image to form a toner image; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image; and a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning blade. The toner includes toner particles and silica particles having a number average particle size of 110 nm to 130 nm, a large-diameter-side number particle size distribution index (upper GSDp) of less than 1.080, and an average circularity of 0.94 to 0.98, wherein 80 number % or more of the silica particles have a circularity of 0.92 or more.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical substrate; and a surface layer located on an outer surface of the cylindrical substrate. At least a substrate central portion in a cylindrical axial direction of the outer surface of the cylindrical substrate is formed as a rough surface, and a surface roughness of a surface-layer central portion in the cylindrical axial direction of an outer surface of the surface layer is larger than that of at least one of two surface-layer end portions in the cylindrical axial direction of the outer surface of the surface layer. An image forming apparatus includes the electrophotographic photoreceptor; and a peripheral member capable of contacting a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a surface layer containing: a copolymerization product of a composition containing a hole-transportable compound having a chain-polymerizable functional group and a compound having a specific structure; and metal oxide particles.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer disposed on the conductive substrate.

Abstract: An improved organic photoconductor drum having a protective overcoat layer and method to make the same is provided. The protective overcoat layer is prepared from a curable composition including nano metal oxide particles sized less than 400 nm in combination with an urethane acrylate resin having at least 6 functional groups.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical substrate; and a surface layer located on an outer surface of the cylindrical substrate. At least a substrate central portion in a cylindrical axial direction of the outer surface of the cylindrical substrate is formed as a rough surface, and a surface roughness of a surface-layer central portion in the cylindrical axial direction of an outer surface of the surface layer is larger than that of at least one of two surface-layer end portions in the cylindrical axial direction of the outer surface of the surface layer. An image forming apparatus includes the electrophotographic photoreceptor; and a peripheral member capable of contacting a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor.

Abstract: An improved organic photoconductor drum having a protective overcoat layer and method to make the same is provided. The protective overcoat layer is prepared from a curable composition including nano metal oxide particles sized less than 400 nm in combination with an urethane acrylate resin having at least 6 functional groups.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an outermost layer formed of a polymerized cured product of a composition containing a polymerizable monomer and metal oxide particles surface-treated with a surface treatment agent having a silicone chain, wherein a ratio (r/r?) between a number average primary particle diameter (r) of metal oxide particles which are untreated base particles of the metal oxide particles surface-treated with the surface treatment agent having a silicone chain and a sphere equivalent particle diameter (r?) of the untreated base particles calculated from a specific surface area measured by a nitrogen adsorption method is 1.5 or more and 6.0 or less, and a surface treatment amount with the surface treatment agent having a silicone chain per surface area of the untreated base particles is 0.0005 g/m2 or more and 0.0015 g/m2 or less.

Abstract: Provided is an image-forming apparatus including: an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer in the stated order; a charging unit; an exposing unit; a developing unit; a transferring unit; and a cleaning unit configured to clean off the toner, which remains on the electrophotographic photosensitive member after the transfer of the toner image from the electrophotographic photosensitive member by the transferring unit, with a cleaning blade, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes, on a surface thereof, a fatty acid metal salt-supplying unit configured to supply a fatty acid metal salt having 16 or more and 18 or less carbon atoms, and wherein the protective layer has a triphenylamine structure, one of an acryloyloxy group and a methacryloyloxy group, and a specific structure.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor is provided. The electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive substrate, a photosensitive layer, and a surface layer containing fluororesin particles, non-fluororesin particles, and a cured resin. The fluororesin particles have an average particle diameter of from 0.01 to 0.3 ?m in a cross-sectional image of the surface layer as observed by a scanning electron microscope with a magnification of 5,000 times, and when the cross-sectional image is segmented into uniform regions each being 1 ?m×4 ?m, a standard deviation of areas each of which is occupied by the fluororesin particles and the non-fluororesin particles in each of the regions is 0.2 ?m2 or less.

Abstract: Provided are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each suppressed in fluctuation in charging potential at the time of its long-term use. The process cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer containing a resin and a charge-transporting substance; and a charging member configured to charge the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein an average of Martens hardnesses of the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member measured at a pushing force of 7 mN is 245 N/mm2 or more, and wherein in a core defined by three-dimensional surface texture standards (ISO 25178-2:2012) of the surface of the charging member, an average of Martens hardnesses measured at a pushing force of 0.04 mN is 2 N/mm2 or more and 20 N/mm2 or less, and an average of adhesivenesses measured with a scanning probe microscope in a field of view of 2-micrometer square is 70 mV or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides: an electrophotographic photosensitive member which can achieve both of abrasion resistance and electrical characteristics; a production method of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a cured product and a specific amount of an alcohol or carboxylic acid having a specific structure, wherein the cured product is a polymerized product of a hole transporting compound having an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group.

Abstract: An average value of a hydrogen content ratio of a surface layer made of hydrogenated amorphous carbon is set to be 0.40 or less and a maximum value of an sp2 bonding ratio in an outermost surface region of the surface layer made of the hydrogenated amorphous carbon is set to be 0.50 or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a surface layer containing a charge transporting material and a polyester resin having a specific structure.

Abstract: Electronic devices are disclosed including hydrophobic or oleophobic coatings that control coolant flow therein or thereon. In at least one embodiment, an electric machine is provided including a stator core defining a cavity, windings disposed within the cavity and including end windings protruding from the cavity, and one or more layers of an oleophobic coating overlying the end windings and configured to control a flow of coolant over the end windings. A method may include applying one or more layers of a oleophobic coating to end windings of an electric machine stator such that the one or more layers control a flow of coolant over the end windings. The one or more layers may define coolant flow paths, which may direct coolant to areas of the electric machine requiring additional cooling, such as hot spots or neutral points.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is achieved by an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing a conductive support sequentially laminated thereon with at least a photosensitive layer and a protective layer in that order, wherein the protective layer includes a cured composition having a radical polymerizable compound for a binder, a charge transport agent having a radical polymerizable functional group, and a photopolymerization initiator; the charge transport agent having a radical polymerizable functional group has a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 405±50 nm; and the charge transport agent having a radical polymerizable functional group and the photopolymerization initiator satisfy Formula (A), ?G=Eox(D/D+)?Ered(A?/A)?E*??0.2 (eV).

Abstract: An improved organic photoconductor drum having a protective overcoat layer and method to make the same is provided. The protective overcoat layer is prepared from a curable composition including nano metal oxide particles sized less than 400 nm in combination with an urethane acrylate resin having at least 6 functional groups.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes a visible image forming unit (50), a display control unit (101) that causes the visible image forming unit (50) to form a visible image representing a display screen containing an image to be formed, an operation detection unit (54), a reception unit (104), and an image processing unit (105). The operation detection unit (54) detects a user's operation performed in the air, on the display screen displayed as the visible image by the visible image forming unit (50). The reception unit (104) identifies, when the user's operation detected by the operation detection unit (54) is a predetermined user's operation, a gradient to be applied to the image to be formed, according to the predetermined user's operation. The image processing unit (105) performs a perspective processing with respect to the image to be formed, according to the gradient identified by the reception unit (104).

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive support, a photosensitive layer on the conductive support, and a protective layer on the photosensitive layer. The protective layer includes a binder resin, metal oxide particles, and fluororesin particles. The metal oxide particles include, on a surface thereof, a first surface-treating agent including fluorine atoms, and a second surface-treating agent including a polymerizable reactive group and a hydrophobic group. At least some of the metal oxide particles are supported on a surface of the fluororesin particles. The fluororesin particles are fixed to the binder resin via the at least some of the metal oxide particles supported on the surface of the fluororesin particles.

Abstract: A photoreceptor for electrophotography includes a photosensitive layer provided on a conductive substrate that contains at least a resin binder, a charge transport material, and an additive. The photoreceptor exhibits high photoresponsivity, stable electrical properties regardless of repeated use thereof, and high durability. The resin binder contains a polycarbonate resin composed of a copolymer having structural units expressed by general formulae (1) and (2) below. The charge transport material contains at least one type of stilbene compound expressed by general formulae (3), (4), and (5) below. The additive contains at least one type of diester compound expressed by general formula (6) below.

Abstract: A transfer assist member comprising a plurality of layers, one of the layers being a check film layer comprised of a hydroxyl terminated poly(oxetane) based fluorinated polyether.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor has a charge generating layer, a charge transporting layer, and an outermost surface layer laminated in this order on a conductive support, wherein the outermost surface layer contains composite structural particles obtained by coating inorganic particles with oxygen-deficient conductive tin oxide, and the composite structural particles have an L value of 80 to 95, and primary particles thereof have an average particle diameter of 35 to 200 nm.

Abstract: A polycarbonate resin includes a repeat unit represented by Formula 1; a repeat unit represented by Formula 2; and a repeat unit represented by Formula 3, wherein the polycarbonate resin has a weight average molecular weight of about 15,000 g/mol to about 60,000 g/mol and a melt index of about 3 g/10 min to about 40 g/10 min.: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, a, b, c, and d are the same as defined in the specification. The polycarbonate resin for film can exhibit excellent scratch resistance, elongation, chemical resistance and heat resistance, and can be used to prepare a film in roll form without any protective film.

Abstract: The photoconductor includes a conductive support, a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer. The protective layer is a polymer of a radical-polymerizable composition containing a perfluoropolyether compound including a radical-polymerizable functional group, a radical-polymerizable monomer including a radical-polymerizable functional group, and an inorganic fine particle including a radical-polymerizable functional group. The radical-polymerizable functional group of the perfluoropolyether compound is different from the radical-polymerizable functional group of the radical-polymerizable monomer and identical to the radical-polymerizable functional group of the inorganic fine particle.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an electric charge generating layer and an electric charge transport layer are laminated on a conductive support body in this order, a layer configuring an outermost surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor contains composite structure particles in which a core material is inorganic particles, and the inorganic particles are coated with tin oxide doped with aluminum, and an average particle diameter of primary particles of the composite structure particles is 50 nm to 200 nm.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer contains a compound having a structure represented by general formula (I) below: where R1 and R2 each independently represent a C1-12 alkyl group or a C5-12 cycloalkyl group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkoxyl group, a C6-20 aryl group or a heterocycle group; X and Z each represent a single bond or a C1-6 alkylene group which may be substituted; and Y represents a OCO group or COO group. A method for manufacturing the photoreceptor and an electrophotographic device including the photoreceptor are additionally provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor provides sufficient stain resistance and is less affected by temperature and humidity environments while maintaining various advantageous characteristics of photoreceptors.

Abstract: In the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention, a plurality of convex portions having a longest diameter L1 in the generatrix direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of 30 ?m or more arid a height H1 of 1 ?m or more are formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a plurality of convex portions corresponding to the convex portions formed on the surface of the surface layer are formed at the interface between the surface layer and a layer immediately below the surface layer, and the rate of fitting of the convex portions formed on the surface of the surface layer to the convex portions formed at the interface between the surface layer and the layer immediately below the surface layer is 20% or more and 200% or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member including a surface layer containing a specific polyester resin is provided. The polyester resin contains specific structures.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a charging unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a lubricant supply unit, a cleaning unit and a lubricant removal unit. The lubricant supply unit supplies a lubricant to a surface of the photoreceptor and is disposed at a point which is an upstream side of the cleaning unit and a downstream side of the developing unit in a rotation direction of the photoreceptor. The lubricant removal unit removes the lubricant from the surface of the photoreceptor and is disposed at a point which is the downstream side of the cleaning unit and the upstream side of the developing unit in the rotation direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes at least a photosensitive layer and a protective layer sequentially layered on a conductive support, wherein the protective layer contains a cured product of a curable composition containing p-type semiconductor fine particles, an n-type organic semiconductor, and a polymerizable compound.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes: a conductive support; a photosensitive layer disposed on the conductive support; and a protective layer disposed on the photosensitive layer, wherein the protective layer is formed of a polymerized and cured product of a radically polymerizable composition containing a radically polymerizable monomer, a perfluoropolyether compound having a radically polymerizable group, and metal oxide fine particles having a radically polymerizable group.

Abstract: A conductive support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical member containing aluminum, wherein the cylindrical member has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of 1.3 ?m or less, a maximum height of roughness profile Rz of 5.0 ?m or less, and a mean width of roughness profile elements RSm in an axial direction of 80 ?m to 400 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-photon-type organic electroluminescent element including a charge generation layer using a material that is difficult to be degraded even at around normal atmospheric pressure. In an organic electroluminescent element (10) including a pair of electrodes consisting of an anode (32) and a cathode (34), a plurality of light-emitting layers (50) provided between the electrodes, and a charge generation layer (70) provided between the light-emitting layers adjacent to each other, the charge generation layer contains an ionic polymer generating at least any one of an electron and a hole.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to apparatuses and methods that include a coated photoconductive substrate. The coated photoconductive substrate can include a photoconductive substrate with a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, and can also have a coating adhered to the photoconductive substrate. The coating can have a thickness ranging from 1 nm to 200 nm.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive support; and a photoconductive layer that contains at least a charge generation material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material and a binder resin, and that is provided on the conductive support, wherein the photoconductive layer has an outermost layer that contains a charge generation material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, a binder resin and a highly branched polymer that is obtained by polymerizing, in the presence of a polymerization initiator, a monomer having, in a molecule, two or more radically polymerizable double bonds and a monomer having, in a molecule, a long-chain alkyl group or an alicyclic group and at least one radically polymerizable double bond. The electrophotographic photoconductor exhibits superior operational stability and stably high image quality, without problems with image memory, a contact member, or image defects due to cracks caused by contamination by oils/fats or sebum.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor including a support, an undercoat layer overlying the support, and a photosensitive layer overlying the undercoat layer is provided. The undercoat layer includes zinc oxide particles and a binder resin. The undercoat layer has a voltage (V)-current (I) characteristics such that, when S1 is a value obtained by integrating current (I [A]) in terms of voltage (V [V]) from 0 to a distribution voltage VUL [V] distributed to the undercoat layer, and S2 is a value obtained by integrating a line connecting two points at a voltage (V [V]) of 0 and the distribution voltage VUL [V] in terms of voltage (V [V]) from 0 to the distribution voltage VUL [V], S1 is within a range of from 1.0×10?4 to 1.0×10?2 and a ratio (S1/S2) of S1 to S2 is 0.50 or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive support; a charge generation layer provided on the conductive support; and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material, a binder resin, and a highly branched polymer having a long-chain alkyl group or an alicyclic group, provided on the charge generation layer as an outermost layer. The electrophotographic photoconductor has excellent contamination resistance against sebum or the like, stable electrical characteristics even upon repeated use, as well as superior transfer resistance and gas resistance. A method for producing the electrophotographic photoconductor is disclosed, as well as an electrophotographic apparatus including the electrophotographic photoconductor.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, including: a support; and a photosensitive layer formed on the support, in which a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a polymerized product of a compound represented by the following structural formula (1).

Abstract: An organic photoreceptor including a photosensitive layer disposed on an electrically conductive substrate; and a protective layer disposed on the photosensitive layer, wherein the protective layer includes a cured product of a multifunctional acrylic oligomer including a urethane group and a multifunctional curable compound including a dendrimeric structure.

Abstract: A surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a change region in which a ratio of the number of carbon atoms with respect to the sum of the number of silicon atoms and the number of carbon atoms gradually increases toward a surface side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member from a photoconductive layer side, wherein the change region has an upper charge injection prohibiting portion containing a Group 13 atom, and a surface-side portion which is positioned closer to the surface side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member than the upper charge injection prohibiting portion and does not contain the Group 13 atom, and the distribution of the Group 13 atom in a boundary portion between the surface-side portion and the upper charge injection prohibiting portion is precipitous.

Abstract: Provided are a method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, particularly, a method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member and an organic device by which, in a method of forming a charge transporting layer, the stability of an application liquid for the layer after long-term storage is improved while the usage of an organic solvent in the application liquid is curtailed, and the layer having high uniformity is formed. The method is a method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member which includes a support and a charge transporting layer formed thereon, the method including: preparing a solution including: a first liquid whose solubility in water under 25° C. and 1 atmosphere is 1.0 mass % or less; a second liquid whose solubility in water under 25° C. and 1 atmosphere is 5.

Abstract: A surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a change region in which a ratio of the number of carbon atoms with respect to the sum of the number of silicon atoms and the number of carbon atoms gradually increases toward a surface side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member from a photoconductive layer side, wherein the change region has an upper charge injection prohibiting portion containing a Group 13 atom, and a surface-side portion which is positioned closer to the surface side of the electrophotographic photosensitive member than the upper charge injection prohibiting portion and does not contain the Group 13 atom, and the distribution of the Group 13 atom in a boundary portion between the surface-side portion and the upper charge injection prohibiting portion is precipitous.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy curable coating composition for roll coating, a product, and continuous process of applying the energy curable coating composition to a substrate. The energy curable coating composition has a substantially constant viscosity and includes an energy curable resin having plurality of texturing particles suspended therein. The substantially constant viscosity of the energy curable coating composition remains at least less than about 1500 centipoise at approximately 15° C. to approximately 40° C., during recirculation, in a coating pan, and prior to application using a roll coating apparatus. The plurality of texturing particles provide a predetermined texture to a cured energy coating composition. The continuous process of applying the energy curable coating to a substrate allows the process to continuously operate until the energy curable coating composition is depleted from the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to self-coalescing latexes that incorporate film fat ing polymers that are low molecular weight polymers that are compatible with the latex and act as thin plasticizers penetrating through the remainder of the latex particle and aiding in the coalescence of the remaining polymers. In a preferred embodiment, the self-coalescing latex is a sequentially polymerized polymer having at least a core, a shell and a skin. The film forming polymers are formed of monomers substantially the same as the monomers of the shell but having average weighted molecular weights substantially less than the polymers of the shell. The present invention also relates to the method of polymerizing the self-coalescing latex of the current invention, which largely results from the addition of a substantial amount of chain transfer agent to a remaining portion, about 15% or less, of the monomer pre-emulsion prior to polymerization.