Electrophotographic method and apparatus which employs light beam irradiation to form an electrostatic image on a surface of a photosensitive member

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

• a photosensitive member comprising a photoconductive layer, charging means for charging the photosensitive member, and light beam irradiation means for irradiating the charged photosensitive member for forming an electrostatic image thereon with light,
• wherein the apparatus further comprises:
• means for measuring an amount of potential attenuation of the photosensitive member;
• and latent image depth control means for controlling a latent image depth based on the measured amount of the potential attenuation, and
• wherein the latent image depth control means is adapted to control the latent image depth based on the amount of potential attenuation at the light beam irradiation for one pixel of the photosensitive member and the amount of potential attenuation at the continuous light beam irradiation.

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

• pre-exposure means;
• a stray light preventing plate provided on at least a part of a circumference of a light source of the pre-exposure means at a photosensitive member side of the light source of the pre-exposure means;
• a photosensitive member comprising a photoconductive layer;
• charging means for charging the photosensitive member;
• and
• light beam irradiation means for irradiating the charged photosensitive member for forming an electrostatic image thereon with light,
• wherein the apparatus further comprises:
• means for measuring an amount of potential attenuation of the photosensitive member;
• and latent image depth control means for controlling a latent image depth based on the measured amount of the potential attenuation, and
• wherein the latent image depth control means is adapted to control the latent image depth based on the amount of potential attenuation at the light beam irradiation for one pixel of the photosensitive member and the amount of potential attenuation at the continuous light beam irradiation.

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

• pre-exposure means;
• a photosensitive member comprising a photoconductive layer;
• charging means for charging the photosensitive member;
• and
• light beam irradiation means for irradiating the charged photosensitive member for forming an electrostatic image thereon with light,
• wherein the apparatus further comprises:
• means for measuring an amount of potential attenuation of the photosensitive member;
• and latent image depth control means for controlling a latent image depth based on the measured amount of the potential attenuation,
• wherein the latent image depth control means is adapted to control the latent image depth based on the amount of potential attenuation at the light beam irradiation for one pixel of the photosensitive member and the amount of potential attenuation at the continuous light beam irradiation, and
• wherein a light beam from the pre-exposure means is inclined toward a moving direction of the photosensitive member with an incident angle smaller than 60° with respect to a surface of the photosensitive member.