Electrostatic imaging member and methods for using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9002237-B2
Application number	US-201113182346-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2011
Priority date	Jul 13, 2011
Publication date	Apr 7, 2015
Grant date	Apr 7, 2015

Abstract

Embodiments pertain to a novel imaging member, namely, an electrostatic latent image generating member, and methods for using the same, that can generate an electrostatic latent image through charge acceptance control and without the need for conventional post charging photodischarge, eliminating process steps and avoiding limitations in system speed due to the transit time of charge carriers after light exposure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium comprising:
a) an electrostatic imaging device having a charge retentive-surface for receiving an electrostatic latent image thereon, wherein the electrostatic imaging device comprises
an electrostatic imaging member comprising
a substrate,
a charge generation layer disposed on the substrate, and

a charge transport layer comprising a charge transport molecule disposed on the charge generation layer, wherein electrostatic imaging member is light-sensitive;
wherein the charge transport molecule is selected from the group consisting of

wherein X is an alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, and mixtures thereof;

wherein X is an alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, and mixtures thereof;

wherein X, Y and Z are independently alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, or mixtures thereof, and wherein at least one of Y and Z are present;

wherein X, Y and Z are independently alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, or mixtures thereof, and wherein at least one of Y and Z are present; and mixtures thereof;
a single exposing device for selectively exposing a surface of the electrostatic imaging member to light; and
a single electrostatic charging device for charging the surface of the electrostatic imaging member,

wherein charge is not accepted by the exposed surface of the electrostatic imaging member and the charge is accepted by the unexposed surface of the electrostatic imaging member, further wherein the exposing device is located before the electrostatic charging device such that the exposing the surface of the electrostatic imaging member to light precedes the charging the surface of the electrostatic imaging member;
b) a development component for applying a developer material to the charge-retentive surface to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the charge-retentive surface;
c) a transfer component for transferring the developed image from the charge-retentive surface to a copy substrate; and
d) a fusing component for fusing the developed image to the copy substrate;
wherein the electrostatic charging device is located between the exposing device and the development component.

2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charge transport molecule is present in the charge transport layer in an amount of from about 30% to about 50%.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charge transport molecule further comprises a polymer binder.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charge transport layer has a thickness of from about 2 microns to about 40 microns.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charge transport layer has a thickness of from about 20 microns to about 30 microns.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charge transport molecule comprises N,N,N′,N′-tetra(4-methylphenyl)-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charge transport molecule is present in the charge transport layer in an amount of from about 1% to about 60%.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the exposing device is selected from the group consisting of a raster output scanner (ROS) and light-emitting diode (LED) array.

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic charging device is selected from the group consisting of a corotron, scorotron and biased charge roller.

10. An image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium comprising:
a) an electrostatic imaging device having a charge retentive-surface for receiving an electrostatic latent image thereon, wherein the electrostatic imaging device comprises
an electrostatic imaging member comprising
a substrate,
a charge generation layer disposed on the substrate, and

a charge transport layer comprising a charge transport molecule disposed on the charge generation layer, wherein electrostatic imaging member is light-sensitive;
wherein the charge transport molecule is selected from the group consisting of

wherein X is an alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, and mixtures thereof;

wherein X is an alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, and mixtures thereof;

wherein X, Y and Z are independently alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, or mixtures thereof, and wherein at least one of Y and Z are present;

wherein X, Y and Z are independently alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a halogen, or mixtures thereof, and wherein at least one of Y and Z are present; and mixtures thereof;
an exposing device for selectively exposing a surface of the electrostatic imaging member to light; and
an electrostatic charging device for charging the surface of the electrostatic imaging member;

wherein charge is not accepted by the exposed surface of the electrostatic imaging member and the charge is accepted by the unexposed surface of the electrostatic imaging member, wherein the exposing device is located before the electrostatic charging device such that the exposing the surface of the electrostatic imaging member to light precedes the charging the surface of the electrostatic imaging member, further wherein the electrostatic charging device is the only charging device present in the electrostatic imaging device and no other electrostatic charging device is located before the exposing device;
b) a development component for applying a developer material to the charge-retentive surface to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the charge-retentive surface;
c) a transfer component for transferring the developed image from the charge-retentive surface to a copy substrate; and
d) a fusing component for fusing the developed image to the copy substrate;
wherein the electrostatic charging device is located between the exposing device and the development component.

Assignees

• Mcguire Gregory
• Liu Yu
• Klenkler Richard A
• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Mcguire Gregory
• Liu Yu
• Klenkler Richard A

Classifications

• G03G5/026

  Layers in which during the irradiation a chemical reaction occurs whereby electrically conductive patterns are formed in the layers, e.g. for chemixerography · CPC title

• G03G15/0291

  corona discharge devices, e.g. wires, pointed electrodes, means for cleaning the corona discharge device · CPC title

• G03G5/04

  Photoconductive layers; Charge-generation layers or charge-transporting layers; Additives therefor; Binders therefor · CPC title

• G03G5/047

  characterised by the charge-generation layers or charge transport layers {(G03G5/0433 and G03G5/0436 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G03G15/0216 Primary

  by bringing a charging member into contact with the member to be charged, e.g. roller, brush chargers · CPC title