Electrophotographic apparatus, process cartridge, and cartridge set

A process cartridge disposed detachably to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

• a charging unit configured to charge a surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging unit comprising a conductive member disposed to be contactable with the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a toner to form a toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing unit containing toner comprising a toner particle that contains a binder resin, a colorant and a crystalline material, wherein
• the conductive member comprises a support having a conductive outer surface, and a conductive layer disposed on the outer surface of the support,
• the conductive layer comprises a matrix containing a first rubber, and a plurality of domains dispersed in the matrix,
• each of the domains contains a second rubber and an electronic conductive agent, at least a portion of the domains being exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member,
• the outer surface of the conductive member comprises the matrix and the domains exposed therein,
• the matrix has a volume resistivity R1 of at least 2.00×1012 Ω·cm,
• the domains have a volume resistivity R2 that is smaller than R1,
• G1<G2, and G1 and G2 are both within 1.0 to 10.0 N/mm2 where G1 is Martens hardness measured on the matrix that is exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member, and G2 is Martens hardness measured on the domains that are exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member, and
• T(A) is not more than 80.0° C. where T(A) is an onset temperature of the storage elastic modulus E of the toner according to powder dynamic viscoelastic measurement.

A cartridge set, comprising:

• a first cartridge and a second cartridge that are disposed detachably to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus;
• the first cartridge comprising a charging unit configured to charge a surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member and having a first frame supporting the charging unit, the charging unit comprises a conductive member disposed to be contactable with the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• the second cartridge comprising a toner container that accommodates a toner for forming a toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein
• the conductive member comprises a support having a conductive outer surface, and a conductive layer disposed on the outer surface of the support,
• the conductive layer comprises a matrix containing a first rubber, and a plurality of domains dispersed in the matrix,
• each of the domains contains a second rubber and an electronic conductive agent, at least a portion of the domains being exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member,
• the outer surface of the conductive member comprising the matrix and the domains exposed therein,
• the matrix has a volume resistivity R1 of at least 2.00×1012 Ω·cm,
• the domains have a volume resistivity R2 that is smaller than R1,
• G1<G2, and G1 and G2 are both within 1.0 to 10.0 N/mm2 where G1 is Martens hardness measured on the matrix that is exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member, and G2 is Martens hardness measured on the domains that are exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member, and
• T(A) is not more than 80.0° C. where T(A) is an onset temperature of the storage elastic modulus E′ of the toner according to powder dynamic viscoelastic measurement.