Electrophotographic photoconductor, process for forming an image, image forming apparatus and a process cartridge for the same

An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising:

• a conductive support;
• a photoconductive layer which contains a charge generating substance and a charge transporting substance on the conductive support;
• wherein the charge generating substance is an azo compound expressed by a following general formula <<1>>:
• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<1>>
• wherein in the general formula <<1>>, Ar is a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series hydrocarbon group or an aromatic series heterocyclic ring group, which can be bonded by way of a bonding group;
• Cp is a coupler residual group;
• n represents an integer of any one of 1, 2, 3, and 4;
• and at least one of the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from one of a general formula <<2>>, general formula <<3>>, and general formula <<4>>:
• wherein in the general formula <<2>>, the general formula <<3>>, and the general formula <<4>>, each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 is one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, and a cyano group;
• X represents one of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series hydrocarbon group, a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring group, and a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• and
• Y represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group expressed by —CO—Z—, in which Z represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group.

An azo compound comprising an azo compound expressed by a general formula <<1′>>, wherein at least one of the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from following general formulae <<2′>>, <<3′>> and <<4′>>:

• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<1′>>
• wherein in the formula <<1′>>, Ar expresses one of a substituted or non-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and an heterocyclic ring aromatic series group, which can be combined by way of a bonding group;
• and Cp expresses a coupler residual group;
• n expresses an integer of any of 1, 2, 3, and 4,
• wherein in the formulae <<2′>>, <<3′>> and <<4′>>, each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, and a halogen atom;
• X represents one of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series hydrocarbon group, and a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring group;
• and
• Y represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a —CO—Z— carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group, in which Z represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group.

An apparatus for forming an image comprising:

• an electrophotographic photoconductor;
• means for charging an electrophotographic photoconductor;
• means for exposing the electrophotographic photoconductor charged by the means for charging and forming a latent electrostatic image;
• means for developing the latent electrostatic image, visualizing the latent electrostatic image, and forming a developed image;
• and
• means for transferring the developed image formed by the means for developing onto a transferring substance,
• wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor comprises a photoconductive layer which contains an azo compound expressed by a general formula <<1>> on a photoconductive layer:
• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<1>>
• wherein in the general formula <<1>>, Ar expresses one of a substituted or non-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and an heterocyclic ring aromatic series group which can be combined by way of a bonding group;
• Cp expresses a coupler residual group;
• n expresses an integer of any one of 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein at least one of the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from general formulae <<2>>, <<3>>, and <<4>>:
• wherein in the general formulae <<2>>, <<3>>, and <<4>>, each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, and a cyano group;
• X represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series hydrocarbon group, a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring group, and a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• and
• Y represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group expressed by —CO—Z—, in which Z represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group.

A process cartridge freely attachable and detachable to an apparatus for forming an image, comprising an electrophotographic photoconductor and at least one means selected from:

• means for charging;
• means for image exposing;
• means for developing;
• means for transferring;
• and means for cleaning,
• wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor comprises a photoconductive layer which contains an azo compound expressed by a general formula <<1>> formed on a conductive support:
• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<1>>
• wherein in the general formula <<1>>, Ar expresses one of a substituted or non-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and an heterocyclic ring aromatic series group which can be combined by way of a bonding group;
• and Cp expresses a coupler residual group;
• n expresses an integer of any one of 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein at least one of the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from general formulae <<2>>, <<3>>, and <<4>>:
• wherein in the general formulae <<2>>, <<3>>, and <<4>>, each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, and a cyano group;
• X represents one of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series hydrocarbon group, a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring group, and a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• and
• Y represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group expressed by —CO—Z—, in which Z represents one of a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, and a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group.