With a plasma being generated between a cathode electrode to which a high-frequency power is applied and an electrically conductive substrate opposed to the electrode in a reaction vessel the pressure of which can be reduced, a photoconductive layer having the matrix of silicon atoms is deposited on a substrate to be processed, a surface layer comprised of non-monocrystal carbon containing hydrogen is provided on the photoconductive layer, a surface of the surface layer is etched to fluorinate the surface, the surface roughness Rz by etching is controlled below 1000 .ANG., the fluorine contained in the surface layer is made present within 50 .ANG. from the surface, and the concentration of fluorine to carbon in that region is 20% or more, thereby providing a photosensitive member for electrophotography that can obtain high-quality images free of image faintness and image smearing without using a heating means for the photosensitive member, that has high durability, that shows less change in potential characteristics, that can obtain high-quality images on a stable basis, and that is free of the ghost phenomenon and providing a fabrication process of the photosensitive member.
The present invention relates to a sealing arrangement which is formed between a rotating assembly (4, 6) and a static assembly (3, 14, 15). In this sealing arrangement, the rotating assembly (4, 6, 16) has at least one cutting element (1) which engages in a counterpart surface on the static component. The present sealing arrangement is distinguished by the fact that the cutting element (1) is designed as a chipping device with a geometrically determined cutting edge with respect to the counterpart surface (2) or forms a chipping device of this type when the rotating assembly is rotating. The proposed sealing arrangement reduces the wear to the cutting element even in the event of adverse rotation or temperature conditions.
For achieving satisfactory electrical characteristics and high image quality without peeling, damage or abrasion in a long use term the present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member which comprises, on a conductive substrate, a photoconductive layer composed of a non-single-crystalline material containing silicon atoms as a matrix, and a surface layer composed of non-single-crystalline carbon containing at least hydrogen, wherein the surface layer has a surface roughness Rz within a range from 500 .ANG. to 2000 .ANG. for a reference length of 5 .mu.m and contains at least oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine and boron atoms.
A photosensitive member to be used for an image-forming apparatus effectively suppresses the effect of wetting the foreign matters adhered to the surface thereof, reduces the load of the cleaning unit and prolong the service life of the photosensitive member so that the image-forming apparatus may be down-sized. In the photosensitive member, the surface free energy (.gamma.) on the uppermost surface of the photosensitive member is made between 35 and 65 mN/m and the variation of the surface free energy .DELTA..gamma. is made less than 25 mN/m during long operation.
A light-receiving member comprising a conductive substrate, and formed superposingly thereon a photosensitive layer and a surface protective layer in order. The light-receiving member has a surface roughness Ra of from 15 nm to 100 nm. Also disclosed is an image-forming apparatus having such a light-receiving member, and an image-forming method of rendering visible an electrostatic pattern formed on the light-receiving member. The light-receiving member promises stable formation of images over a long period of time.
A light-receiving member comprising a conductive substrate, and formed superposingly thereon a photosensitive layer and a surface protective layer in order. The light-receiving member has a surface roughness Ra of from 15 nm to 100 nm. Also disclosed is an image-forming apparatus having such a light-receiving member, and an image-forming method of rendering visible an electrostatic pattern formed on the light-receiving member. The light-receiving member promises stable formation of images over a long period of time.
