Electrophotographic photoconductor for liquid development, image forming apparatus having the same, and image forming method

An image-forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photoconductor;
• an electrostatic latent image forming unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photoconductor;
• a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image by means of a toner to form a visible image;
• a transferring unit configured to transfer the visible image on a recording medium;
• and
• a fixing unit configured to fix the transferred image on the recording medium,
• wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor comprises:
• a support;
• and
• a photosensitive layer on or above the support,
• wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a charge-generating material, a charge-transporting material and an acceptor compound,
• wherein the charge-transporting material comprises a charge-transporting polymer represented by the following General Formula (1):
• where, in the General Formula (1), R1 and R2 may be the same or different and represent an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 may be the same as or different from each other and represent an unsubstituted or substituted arylene group;
• “k” and “j” represent a composition ratio and 0.1≦k≦1, 0≦j≦0.9;
• “n” represents a recurring unit and is an integer of 5 to 5,000;
• “X” represents a divalent aliphatic group, a divalent cyclic aliphatic group, or a divalent group represented by the following General Formula (A):
• where, in the General Formula (A), R11 and R12 may be the same or different and represent an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, or a halogen atom;
• “l” and “m” represents an integer of 0 to 4;
• “Y” represents a single bond, a straight, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having a carbon number of 1 to 12, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, —CO—, —CO—O-Z-O—CO— (in the formula, “Z” represents a divalent aliphatic group), or a group represented by the following General Formula (B):
• where, in the General Formula (B), “a” represents an integer of 1 to 20, and “b” represents an integer of 1 to 2,000;
• and R21 and R22 may be the same or different and represent an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, or unsubstituted or substituted aryl group.

An image forming method comprising:

• forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic photoconductor;
• developing the electrostatic latent image by means of a toner to form a visible image;
• transferring the visible image on a recording medium;
• and
• fixing the transferred image on the recording medium,
• wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor comprises:
• a support;
• and
• a photosensitive layer on or above the support,
• wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a charge-generating material, a charge-transporting material and an acceptor compound,
• wherein the charge-transporting material comprises a charge-transporting polymer represented by the following General Formula (1):
• where, in the General Formula (1), R1 and R2 may be the same or different and represent an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 may be the same as or different from each other and represent an unsubstituted or substituted arylene group;
• “k” and “j” represent a composition ratio and 0.1≦k≦1, 0≦j≦0.9;
• “n” represents a recurring unit and is an integer of 5 to 5,000;
• “X” represents a divalent aliphatic group, a divalent cyclic aliphatic group, or a divalent group represented by the following General Formula (A):
• where, in the General Formula (A), R11 and R12 may be the same or different and represent an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, or a halogen atom;
• “l” and “m” represents an integer of 0 to 4;
• “Y” represents a single bond, a straight, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having a carbon number of 1 to 12, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, —CO—, —CO—O-Z-O—CO— (in the formula, “Z” represents a divalent aliphatic group), or a group represented by the following General Formula (B):
• where, in the General Formula (B), “a” represents an integer of 1 to 20, and “b” represents an integer of 1 to 2,000;
• and R21 and R22 may be the same or different and represent an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, or unsubstituted or substituted aryl group.