Patent ID: 6706459
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image formation method comprising:applying a plurality of bands of a lubricating material on the surface of an electrophotographic drum-shaped photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer present thereon, wherein a plurality of band-shaped lubricating material applied areas extend along a circumference of said drum-shaped photoconductor in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said drum-shaped photoconductor: uniformly charging said drum-shaped photoconductor, exposing said charged photoconductor to light images to form latent electrostatic images thereon, developing said latent electrostatic images to visible toner images with a developer, transferring said toner images to a transfer member, fixing said toner images onto said transfer member, and cleaning the surface of said drum-shaped photoconductor, wherein said band-shaped lubricating material applied areas satisfy a dimensional and positional relationship of: B/10A1+A2)<2Bâ€ƒâ€ƒ(1) wherein A1 is the width of one of two adjacent band-shaped lubricating material applied areas, A2 is the width of the other band-shaped lubricating material applied area, and B is the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent band-shaped lubricating material applied areas in the direction of said circumference of said drum-shaped photoconductor, and wherein B is between 10 &mgr;m and 500 &mgr;m.