Electrophotographic photoconductor, process for forming an image, image forming apparatus and 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 <<101>>
• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<101>>
• wherein in general formula <<101>>, Ar is a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series hydrocarbon group, and 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 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• more than one element of the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from the group consisting of a general formula <<102>>, general formula <<103>>, and general formula <<104>>:
• wherein in the general formulae <<102>>, <<103>>, and <<104>>, each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group,
• a hydroxy group, a nitro group, or 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, or a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• Y represents 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, or —CO—Z— carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group, wherein Z represents a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, or a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group, each of the alkyl groups R1 and R2 may form a ring.

An azo compound comprising an azo compound expressed by a general formula <<101′>>, wherein at least the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from the group consisting the following general formulae <<102′>>, <<103′>> and <<104′>>

• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<101′>>
• wherein in the formula <<101′>>, Ar expresses a substituted or non-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, or 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 1, 2, 3, or 4
• wherein in the formulae, each of R1, R2, R3, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a halogen atom;
• 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, or a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• Y represents 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, or a —CO—Z— carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group, wherein Z is a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, or 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 <<141>>,

• wherein at least the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from the group consisting of the general formulae <<102′>>, <<103′>> and <<104′>>
• wherein in the formulae, each of R1, R2, R3, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a halogen atom;
• 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, or a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• Y represents 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, or a —CO—Z— carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group, wherein Z is a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, or 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 <<142>>

• wherein at least the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from the group consisting of the general formulae <<102′>>, <<103′>> and <<104′>>
• wherein in the formulae, each of R1, R2, R3, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a halogen atom;
• 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, or a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• Y represents 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, or a —CO—Z— carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group, wherein Z is a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, or 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 <<101>>on a photoconductive layer
• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<101>>
• wherein in general formula <<101>>, 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 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• at least the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from the group consisting of a general formula <<102>>, general formula <<103>>, and general formula <<104>>
• wherein in the general formulae <<102>>, <<103>>, and <<104>>, each of R1, R2, R3, and R4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, or 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, or a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• Y represents 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, or a carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group expressed by —CO—Z—, wherein Z represents a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, or a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group, each of the alkyl groups R1 and R2 may form a ring.

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 the group consisting of 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 <<101>> formed on a conductive support
• ArN═N—Cp)n general formula <<101>>
• wherein in the general formula <<101>>, 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 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• at least the Cp is a coupler residual group selected from the group consisting of a general formula <<102>>, general formula <<103>>, and general formula <<104>>
• wherein in the general formulae <<102>>, <<103>>, and <<104>>, each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group,
• a hydroxy group, a nitro group, or 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, or a substituted or non-substituted amino group;
• Y represents 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, or a carbonyl group containing divalent organic residual group expressed by —CO—Z—, wherein Z represents a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, a substituted or non-substituted aromatic series divalent organic residual group, or a substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic ring aromatic series divalent organic residual group, each of the alkyl groups R1 and R2 may form a ring.