JP2007225679A - Coating device, method for manufacturing photoreceptor, photoreceptor, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the generation of air bubbles for dip coating during a coating process and to fully practically avoid the occurrence of coating film defects in various kinds of application objects, such as photoreceptors. <P>SOLUTION: The coating device has a coating tank 1 for dip coating of an object to be applied, an application liquid tank 2 storing an application liquid, a liquid feed pump 4 supplying the application liquid stored in the application liquid tank 2 and return piping 6 leading the application liquid overflowing from the coating tank 1 to the application liquid tank 2, in which liquid supply piping 9 between the liquid feed pump 4 supplying the application liquid to the coating tank 1 and an application liquid supply port 1h disposed in the lower part of the coating tank 1 is made lower on the discharge side of the liquid feed pump 4 and higher on the liquid suction port side 1h of the liquid feed pump 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coating apparatus, a method for producing a photoreceptor, a photoreceptor, and an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, a dip coating method is widely known as a method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor.
This dip coating method is a method in which an object to be coated is dipped in a coating solution in a coating tank installed in the lower portion and then raised.
In this method, generally, a coating tank and a predetermined coating solution tank are connected by piping, and the coating solution is circulated using a liquid feed pump.

  In the dip coating method described above, bubbles may be generated depending on the type of coating liquid, the circulation type, and the like. For example, when applying a coating liquid containing resin, it has viscosity, so the air in the coating liquid tank is affected by the flow of the coating liquid, the share of the pump, the circulation flow rate, the temperature, etc. It is known that air bubbles are generated by entrainment and there is a possibility that a coating film defect may occur due to this.

  In contrast to the above-described problems of the prior art, conventionally, a cylindrical substrate having both ends opened as an object to be coated, only the lower end of the substrate is infiltrated into the coating solution in a state where the upper end of the substrate is closed, There has been disclosed a coating method in which the state is maintained until the generation of bubbles from the lower end of the substrate accompanying the increase of the vapor pressure inside the substrate is substantially not observed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

However, it is difficult to completely remove very fine bubbles accompanying the generation of bubbles in the process, and it has not been possible to sufficiently prevent the occurrence of coating film defects.
In addition, there is a problem that it takes time until bubbles are generated due to an increase in vapor pressure, and it takes too much time for the entire coating process.

Further, conventionally, there has been disclosed a dip coating apparatus in which a filter is provided in a pipe connecting the coating tank and the coating liquid tank, and the filter and the coating liquid tank are communicated with each other through the pipe (for example, In addition, with the opening of the object to be coated facing down, the object to be coated is dipped in a coating solution in a state where air is contained in the object to be coated, and the object to be coated is applied. There is also disclosed a dip coating method in which the inside of an object to be coated is opened immediately before the opening and the liquid surface are separated from each other (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
Moreover, the dip coating apparatus which has an at least 1 notch part or a cough part in the upper end part of a coating tank is disclosed (for example, refer patent document 4), Furthermore, as a to-be-coated body, it is disclosed. Immersion with a solvent outlet for allowing the solvent of the coating solution to flow out and adhere to the inner surface of the cylinder body with the upper end held by the cylinder holding device with the lower end of the cylinder open and the upper end sealed. A coating apparatus is also disclosed (for example, refer to Patent Document 5).

  Further, as a liquid circulation type dip coating apparatus, a dip having an overflow liquid receiving toy that has a coating liquid discharge port at the bottom at the top outer edge of the coating tank and has a downward slope toward the coating liquid discharge port. A coating device has also been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 6), and further, based on a signal from the liquid level detection means, a shut-off valve interposed in the piping for returning the coating liquid is opened and closed, There has also been disclosed a coating apparatus that keeps the liquid surface height of the coating liquid overflowing from the coating tank body to the eaves member within a certain range to prevent air from entering the pipe (for example, see Patent Document 7). ).

  In addition, a conventionally disclosed method for producing a photoconductor is a method for producing an electrophotographic photoconductor by laminating n photoconductor material layers on the surface of a cylindrical substrate. Under the condition that the viscosity of the liquid is larger than the viscosity of any of the n-2th layer coating liquid and the nth layer coating liquid, the n-2th layer and the n-1th layer are at least an upper part of the outer peripheral wall. It is formed by dip coating using a dip coating apparatus provided with a dip coating tank having a leakage enclosure and a stretchable hood surrounding the side of the cylindrical substrate, and the nth layer is formed by spray coating. It is known (for example, see Patent Document 8).

  However, in any of the conventional methods, when the liquid is fed from the coating liquid to the coating tank, minute bubbles are generated, and it is extremely difficult to completely prevent this from being caught in the pipe. However, the generation of coating film defects has not been sufficiently avoided.

Japanese Patent No. 3286684 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-244195 JP 2003-140367 A JP 2002-323778 A JP 2000-61374 A Japanese Patent No. 3497570 JP 11-72932 A JP 2003-149836 A

  Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, a coating apparatus that can easily remove bubbles generated in the coating process, and further, manufacture of a photoreceptor using such a coating apparatus. The present invention provides a method, a photoconductor manufactured by using the photoconductor manufacturing method, and an image forming apparatus having the photoconductor.

  In the present invention, at least a coating tank for dip-coating the object to be coated, a coating liquid tank for storing a coating liquid, and the coating liquid stored in the coating liquid tank are supplied to the coating tank. A coating apparatus having a liquid feed pump and a return pipe for guiding the coating liquid overflowed from the coating tank to the coating liquid tank, the liquid feeding pump supplying the coating liquid to the coating tank, The liquid supply piping between the coating liquid supply port provided at the lower part of the coating tank provides a coating apparatus in which the discharge side of the liquid feeding pump is low and the liquid suction port side of the lower part of the coating tank is high To do.

  In invention of Claim 2, the coating apparatus of Claim 1 which made the inclination-angle of the liquid supply piping provided between the said coating liquid pump and the said coating tank lower part 10 degrees or more is provided.

  In invention of Claim 3, the coating apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 with which the filter was provided in the liquid supply piping between the said coating liquid pump and the said coating tank is provided.

  In invention of Claim 4, the aperture diameter of the said filter is 10 micrometers or less, The coating apparatus of Claim 3 provided is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the coating apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein a bubble vent is provided at an upper portion of the filter.

  In the invention of claim 6, the bubble vent provided in the upper part of the filter and the coating solution tank are connected by a filter return pipe, so that a small amount of coating solution and bubbles can be sent from this pipe. The coating apparatus according to claim 5 is provided.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a photosensitive member, wherein a photosensitive material is produced by applying a photosensitive material using the coating apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. .

  In the invention of claim 8, the photoconductor has a structure in which at least an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer are laminated, and the undercoat layer, the charge generation layer, and The method for producing a photosensitive member according to claim 7, wherein the coating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is used when forming at least one of the charge transport layers.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photoconductor produced using the method for producing a photoconductor according to the seventh or eighth aspect of the invention.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising the photosensitive member according to the ninth aspect of the invention.

  According to the present invention, the generation of bubbles can be effectively suppressed during the coating process, and the occurrence of coating film defects in various coated bodies such as a photoreceptor can be avoided sufficiently in practice.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a coating apparatus 20 of the present invention.
In this coating apparatus 20, a coating tank 1 in which an object to be coated is dip coated, a coating liquid is stored, a coating liquid tank 2 having a stirrer 3, and a coating liquid stored in the coating liquid tank 2. Is supplied to the coating tank 1, and a return pipe 6 that guides the coating liquid overflowing from the coating tank 1 to the coating liquid tank 1.
In this apparatus, an object to be coated held by a coating substrate holding jig is lowered into the coating tank 1, lowered to a predetermined position, and then stopped or raised. When the substrate is lowered, the coating liquid in the coating tank 1 overflows and is collected in the coating liquid tank 2 through the return pipe 6.
The recovered liquid is homogenized by the stirrer 3 and adjusted to predetermined liquid physical properties, and then sent to the coating tank 1 through the liquid supply pipe 9 by the liquid feed pump 4.

  The liquid supply pipe 9 between the liquid feed pump 4 supplied to the coating tank 1 and the liquid supply port 1h below the coating tank 1 has a relatively low discharge side of the liquid feed pump 4, and the coating tank 1 Lower liquid supply port 1h is higher.

  According to the coating apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1, the liquid supply pipe 9 between the liquid supply pump 4 supplied to the coating tank 1 and the liquid supply port 1 h at the lower part of the coating tank 1 is provided with the liquid supply pump 4. Since the discharge side is low and the liquid supply port 1h at the bottom of the coating tank 1 is high, it is possible to suppress the trapping of bubbles in the pipe, and furthermore, the bubbles generated by the trapped bubbles falling off Generation | occurrence | production can be suppressed and a coating nonuniformity can be prevented.

In addition, in the coating apparatus 20 of this invention, it is preferable that inclination | tilt angle (theta) of the liquid supply piping 9 between the liquid feeding pump 4 and the coating tank 1 lower part is 10 degrees or more.
It was confirmed that by setting the inclination angle θ of the pipe to 10 ° or more, it is possible to reliably suppress the generation of bubbles due to the catching of the bubbles in the liquid supply pipe 9 and the dropping of the caught bubbles.

In the coating apparatus of the present invention, a filter 5 may be provided in the liquid supply pipe 9 between the liquid feed pump 4 and the coating tank 1.
According to this, generation | occurrence | production of the bubble in the liquid supply piping 9 can further be suppressed.

The diameter of the filter 5 is preferably 10 μm or less.
By setting the aperture of the filter 5 to 10 μm or less, the generation of bubbles on the wall surface of the liquid supply pipe 9 can be more effectively suppressed.

It is preferable to install an air bubble outlet 11 at the top of the filter 5.
By installing the bubble removal port 11, the bubbles accumulated in the filter 5 can be extracted to the outside air.

  It is preferable that the bubble removal port 11 at the top of the filter 5 and the coating liquid tank 2 are connected by a filter return pipe. As a result, a small amount of coating liquid and bubbles can be sent out from the pipe, the generation of bubbles can be prevented, and the bubbles can be returned to the coating tank 1 together with the coating liquid. The coating liquid in which the air bubbles accumulated in the piping wall and the air bubbles accumulated in the coating liquid are repeatedly removed can be used.

The coating apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1 can be used to form various conventionally known photoreceptors.
By using the coating apparatus 20 of the present invention, for example, the undercoat layer 102, the charge generation layer 103, and the charge transport layer 104 are formed on the photoreceptor 100 having a conventionally known structure as shown in FIG. Since the generation of bubbles can be suppressed when forming a laminated layer, the film forming characteristics of each layer can be made good and the number of coating defects can be made extremely small.

In addition, the photoreceptor can be applied to various conventionally known image forming apparatuses, and by using this, a high-quality image can be formed.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus.
In the image forming apparatus 40, the photoconductor 41 has a drum shape, but is not limited thereto, and may be an endless belt. For the charging charger 43, the pre-transfer charger 47, the transfer charger 50, the separation charger 51, and the pre-cleaning charger 53, known means such as a corotron, a scorotron, a solid state charger (solid state charger), a charging roller or the like are used.

  Generally, the above charger can be used as the transfer means, but a combination of a transfer charger and a separation charger is preferable as shown in the figure.

In addition, as a light source such as the image exposure unit 45 and the charge removal lamp 42, a general luminescent material such as a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a sodium lamp, a light emitting diode, a semiconductor laser, and electroluminescence can be used.
Various light filters may be used to irradiate only light in a desired wavelength range.

  The toner developed on the photoreceptor 41 by the developing unit 46 is transferred to a predetermined transfer paper 49. At this time, the remaining toner is removed by the fur brush 54 and the blade 55.

The image forming means as described above may be fixedly incorporated in a copying machine, facsimile, printer, or the like, but may be incorporated in the apparatus in the form of a process cartridge.
Here, the process cartridge is an apparatus including a photosensitive member and including other charging means, exposure means, developing means, transfer means, cleaning means, and static elimination means.

Hereinafter, although a specific example is given and demonstrated, this invention is not limited to the following examples.
[Example 1]
90 parts by weight of titanium dioxide, 15 parts by weight of alkyd resin (Beckosol 1307-60-EL (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals)), melamine resin (Super Becamine G-821-60 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals)) A coating solution for forming an undercoat layer constituting an electrophotographic photoreceptor was prepared using 10 parts by weight and 600 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone.

By using the coating apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and applying the above-mentioned coating solution to the aluminum cylindrical substrate (diameter 100 mm) as the support 101 according to the structure of the photoreceptor 100 shown in FIG. The undercoat layer 102 was formed.
At this time, the liquid supply pipe 9 between the liquid feeding pump 4 and the coating tank 1 is relatively higher than the coating tank 1 side and relatively higher than the liquid feeding pump side 4 on the basis of the gravity direction. Is provided.
In such an apparatus configuration, it was confirmed that the state of the coating liquid in the coating tank 1 was good and coating unevenness due to bubbles did not occur.

[Comparative Example 1]
The liquid supply pipe 9 between the liquid feed pump 4 and the coating tank 1 was attached in parallel without being inclined.
Under other conditions, the undercoat layer 101 constituting the photoreceptor 100 was formed in the same manner as in Example 1.
In such an apparatus configuration, fine bubbles floated in the coating solution in the coating tank 1, and the occurrence of coating unevenness due to this was confirmed.

[Example 2]
A coating solution for forming the charge generation layer 103 was prepared using the following materials.
Azo dye represented by the following formula (1): 45 parts by weight

Polyvinyl butyral resin (Butvar B-90 Monsant Company) 4.5 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone: 2400 parts by weight

Using the coating apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1, a charge having a film thickness of 0.5 μm is formed on the undercoat layer 102 of the photoreceptor 100 shown in FIG. A generation layer 103 was formed.
In this example, the inclination angle θ of the liquid supply pipe of the coating apparatus 20 in FIG. 1 was set to 15 ° or more.
In such an apparatus configuration, the state of the coating liquid in the coating tank 1 was good, and the occurrence of coating unevenness due to bubbles was not confirmed.

[Comparative Example 2]
In the first comparative example, the cylindrical substrate (support 101) on which the undercoat layer 102 is formed, the pipe inclination angle θ in FIG. 1 is set to 5 °, and the charge generation layer 103 is formed in the same manner as in the second example. A film was formed.
In such an apparatus configuration, it was confirmed that fine bubbles floated in the coating solution of the coating tank 1 and coating unevenness due to this occurred.

Example 3
A coating solution for forming the charge transport layer 104 constituting the photoreceptor 100 shown in FIG. 2 was prepared using the following materials.
Charge generation material represented by the following formula (2): 180 parts by weight

Polycarbonate resin (TS-2050 Teijin Chemicals): 250 parts by weight Tetrahydrofuran: 1520 parts by weight Silicone oil (KF-50-100CS Shin-Etsu Silicone): 0.04 parts by weight

A cylinder in which the charge generation layer 103 is formed on the undercoat layer 102 in Example 2 by the dip coating method using the coating apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1 and the charge transport layer coating solution prepared as described above. A charge transport layer 104 having a film thickness of 30 μm was formed on the substrate (support 101) to produce a photoreceptor 100.
In this example, the pipe inclination angle θ of the coating apparatus 20 was set to 15 °.

An image was formed using the photoconductor 100 produced as described above.
The quality of this image was evaluated using a digital copier (Imagio Neo600).
In terms of appearance, coating film unevenness was not confirmed in any of the undercoat layer 102, the charge generation layer 103, and the charge transport layer 104, and the printed halftone image was in a very good state with no density unevenness detected. It was.

[Comparative Example 3]
Using the cylindrical base body (support 101) in which the charge generation layer 103 is formed on the undercoat layer 102 in the comparative example 2, the pipe inclination angle θ in FIG. 1 was set to 5 °. Otherwise, the charge transport layer 104 was formed in the same manner as in Example 3, and the photoreceptor 100 was produced.

An image was formed using the photoconductor 100 produced as described above.
The quality of this image was evaluated using a digital copier (Imagio Neo600).
In appearance, a point-like coating film due to fine bubbles was confirmed in the charge generation layer 103. Further, density unevenness was detected in the printed halftone image.

Example 4
Using the coating apparatus 30 having the configuration shown in FIG. 4 and the coating liquid for preparing the undercoat layer 102 prepared in Example 1, the film thickness of 5 μm is formed on the cylindrical substrate (support 101) by the dip coating method. The undercoat layer 102 was formed.
At this time, the pipe inclination angle θ in FIG. 4 was set to 15 °, and the filter 5 was provided between the liquid feed pump 4 and the coating tank 1.
In such an apparatus configuration, the state of the coating liquid in the coating tank 1 was good, and the occurrence of coating unevenness due to bubbles was not confirmed.

[Comparative Example 4]
The filter 5 was not provided, but under the other conditions, the undercoat layer 102 of the photoreceptor shown in FIG.
In such an apparatus configuration, when the coating liquid is supplied to the coating tank 1, the generation of bubbles present in the pipe is confirmed and flows into the coating tank 1 because it is not caught by the filter 5. Uneven coating due to air bubbles has occurred.

Example 5
The undercoat layer 102 and the charge generation layer 103 prepared in Example 4 are formed by dip coating using the coating apparatus 30 in FIG. 4 and the coating liquid for forming a charge transport layer prepared in Example 3 above. A charge transport layer 104 having a film thickness of 30 μm was formed on the laminated cylindrical substrate (support 101) to produce a photoreceptor 100.
At this time, the pipe inclination angle θ was set to 15 °, and the filter aperture installed in the filter 5 was set to 5 μm.
An image was formed using the produced photoreceptor, and the quality of the image was evaluated using a digital copying machine (Imagio Neo600).
In terms of appearance, in all of the undercoat layer 102, the charge generation layer 103, and the charge transport layer 104, generation of bubbles was not confirmed and was in a good state. Further, even in the printed halftone image, the image density unevenness could not be detected, which was good.

[Comparative Example 5]
The cylindrical substrate (support 101) formed with the undercoat layer 102 and the charge generation layer 103 prepared in Comparative Example 4 was used. Regarding the filter 5, the charge transport layer 104 was formed under the same conditions as in Example 5 except that the filter aperture was set to 20 μm, and the photoreceptor 100 was produced.
An image was formed using the obtained photoreceptor 100. The quality of this image was evaluated using a digital copier (Imagio Neo600).
In the photoreceptor 100, concave coating unevenness due to bubbles was observed in the undercoat layer 102 and the charge generation layer 103, and convex bubbles were attached to the charge transport layer 104.
Further, in the printed halftone image, unevenness in image density and image loss were detected.

Example 6
Using the coating apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 4 and the coating solution for forming the charge generation layer prepared in Example 2, the cylinder in which the undercoat layer 102 is formed as shown in Example 5 by the dip coating method. A charge generation layer 103 having a film thickness of 0.5 μm was formed on the substrate (support 101).
At this time, the pipe inclination angle θ was set to 15 °, the diameter of the filter 5 was set to 10 μm, and the air vent 11 was installed above the filter 5.
The air vent 11 was opened and circulated until the liquid was discharged from the air vent 11.
According to such an apparatus configuration, the state of the coating solution in the coating tank 1 was good, and the occurrence of coating unevenness due to bubbles was not confirmed.

[Comparative Example 6]
Using the cylindrical base body (support 101) formed with the undercoat layer 102 produced in Comparative Example 5, the air vent 11 in FIG. 4 was closed. The other conditions were the same as in Example 6 to form the charge generation layer 103.
When the coating liquid is circulated in the coating tank 1, bubbles gradually accumulate in the filter, and when the filter is circulated after the inside of the filter is filled with bubbles, it is confirmed that bubbles start to be generated in the coating tank 1, Uneven coating due to bubbles occurred.

Example 7
The air vent 11 installed above the filter 5 was connected by the coating liquid tank 2 and the filter return pipe 10. The other conditions were the same as in Example 6 to fabricate the photoreceptor 100.
An image was formed using the obtained photoreceptor, and the image quality was evaluated using a digital copying machine (Imagio Neo600).
In terms of appearance, no bubbles were generated in all of the undercoat layer 102, the charge generation layer 103, and the charge transport layer 104, and even in a printed halftone image, image density unevenness could not be detected, which was good.

[Comparative Example 7]
The air vent 11 installed above the filter 5 was not connected between the coating liquid tank 2 and the filter return pipe 10.
The other conditions were the same as in Example 7 to fabricate the photoreceptor 100.
An image was formed using the photoreceptor 100 thus obtained, and the image quality was evaluated using a digital copying machine (Imagio Neo600).
The filter is filled with air bubbles and liquid, and many bubbles are gradually generated. Air bubbles are mixed into the coating tank, resulting in coating irregularities, convex film defects, and concave film defects caused by bubbles bursting. There has occurred.
Further, in the printed halftone image, density unevenness and image loss were detected.

The schematic block diagram of an example of the coating apparatus of this invention is shown. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a photoreceptor. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. The schematic block diagram of another example of the coating apparatus of this invention is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coating tank 2 Coating liquid tank 3 Stirrer 4 Liquid feed pump 6 Return piping 7 Overflow liquid receiver 8 Liquid receiving plate 9 Liquid supply piping 10 Filter return pipe 11 Bubbling port 20 Coating apparatus 30 Coating apparatus 40 Image forming apparatus 41 Photoconductor 42 Static elimination lamp 43 Charger charger 45 Image exposure unit 46 Development unit 47 Charger before transfer 49 Transfer paper 50 Transfer charger 51 Separation charger 53 Charger before cleaning 54 Fur brush 55 Blade 100 Photoreceptor 101 Support 102 Undercoat layer 103 Charge generation Layer 104 charge transport layer

Claims (10)

At least a coating tank for dip-coating the object to be coated, a coating liquid tank for storing a coating liquid, a liquid feed pump for supplying the coating liquid stored in the coating liquid tank to the coating tank, A coating apparatus having a return pipe for guiding the coating liquid overflowed from the coating tank to the coating liquid tank,
The liquid supply pipe between the liquid feed pump that supplies the coating liquid to the coating tank and the coating liquid supply port provided in the lower part of the coating tank has a low discharge side of the liquid feeding pump, and the coating liquid supply port. A coating apparatus characterized in that the liquid suction port side at the bottom of the tank is made high.   The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of a liquid supply pipe provided between the coating liquid pump and the lower part of the coating tank is 10 ° or more.   The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a filter is provided in a liquid supply pipe between the coating liquid pump and the coating tank.   The diameter of the said filter is 10 micrometers or less, The coating apparatus of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The coating apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a bubble vent is provided at an upper part of the filter. The bubble vent provided in the upper part of the filter and the coating liquid tank are connected by a filter return pipe,
The coating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a small amount of coating liquid and bubbles are sent from the filter return pipe.   A method for producing a photoreceptor, comprising: applying a photosensitive material on a support using the coating apparatus according to claim 1 to produce a photoreceptor. The photoreceptor has a configuration in which at least an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer are stacked.
The coating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the undercoat layer, the charge generation layer, and the charge transport layer is formed. Item 8. A method for producing a photoreceptor according to Item 7.   A photoconductor produced using the method for producing a photoconductor according to claim 7 or 8. An image forming apparatus comprising the photosensitive member according to claim 9.

Images