Electrophotographic drum-shaped photoconductor and image forming method and apparatus using the same

An image formation method using an electrophotographic drum-shaped photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon, with a lubricating material being applied to the surface thereof in the shape of a plurality of bands spaced therebetween, constituting band-shaped lubricating material applied areas, extending along a circumference of said drum-shaped photoconductor in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said drum-shaped photoconductor, said image formation method comprising the steps of:

• uniformly charging said drum-shaped photoconductor,
• exposing said charged photoconductor to light images to form latent electrostatic images thereon,
• developing said latent electrostatic images to visible toner images using a developer,
• transferring said toner images to a transfer member,
• fixing said toner images onto said transfer sheet, and
• cleaning the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor.

An image formation method using an electrophotographic drum-shaped photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon, comprising the steps of:

• uniformly charging said drum-shaped photoconductor,
• exposing said charged photoconductor to light images to form latent electrostatic images thereon,
• developing said latent electrostatic images to visible toner images using a developer,
• transferring said toner images to a transfer member,
• fixing said toner images onto said transfer sheet, and
• cleaning the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor, wherein said image formation method further comprises the step of applying a lubricating material to the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor, said lubricating-material applying step being performed prior or posterior to any of said steps or simultaneously with any of said steps, so as to apply said lubricating material to the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor in the shape of a plurality of bands spaced therebetween, constituting band-shaped lubricating material applied areas, extending along a circumference of said drum-shaped photoconductor in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said drum-shaped photoconductor.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic drum-shaped photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon, with a lubricating material being applied to the surface thereof in the shape of a plurality of bands spaced therebetween, constituting band-shaped lubricating material applied areas, extending along a circumference of said drum-shaped photoconductor in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said drum-shaped photoconductor,
• means for uniformly charging said drum-shaped photoconductor,
• means for exposing said charged photoconductor to light images to form latent electrostatic images thereon,
• means for developing said latent electrostatic images to visible toner images using a developer,
• means for transferring said toner images to a transfer member,
• means for fixing said toner images onto said transfer sheet, and
• means for cleaning the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic drum-shaped photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon,
• means for uniformly charging said drum-shaped photoconductor,
• means for exposing said charged photoconductor to light images to form latent electrostatic images thereon,
• means for developing said latent electrostatic images to visible toner images using a developer,
• means for transferring said toner images to a transfer member,
• means for fixing said toner images onto said transfer sheet, and
• means for cleaning the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor, wherein said image forming apparatus further comprises means for applying a lubricating material to the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor, said lubricating material applying means being provided anywhere around said drum-shaped photoconductor so as to apply said lubricating material to the surface of said photoconductor in the shape of a plurality of bands spaced therebetween, constituting band-shaped lubricating material applied areas, extending along a circumference of said drum-shaped photoconductor in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said drum-shaped photoconductor.