JP2000010334A - Dry toner and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dry toner stably realizing a high grade image over a long period and exerting no adverse influence on a developer carrier and a photoreceptor, and an image forming method using this toner. SOLUTION: In a dry toner having toner particles containing at least a binding resin, a coloring agent and a wax component, a circle corresponding number average diameter D1 of the toner is 2 to 8 μm in a circle corresponding diameter-circularity scattergram of a number reference measured by a flow type particle image measuring device, the toner contains rough particles of 0.02-5 number % having a circle corresponding diameter exceeding 10 μm, and in the dry toner, average circularity of the rough particles is 0.900 to 0.990.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dry toner (hereinafter referred to as "toner") used in a recording method utilizing an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, a magnetic recording method, a toner jet method, and the like. The present invention relates to an image forming method used. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toner used in an image recording apparatus that can be used in a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a plotter, and the like, and an image forming method using the toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many methods are known as electrophotography. In general, a photoconductive substance is used to form an electric latent image on a photoreceptor by various means. The latent image is developed with a toner to form a visible image, and if necessary, the toner image is transferred to a transfer material such as paper.
The final image is obtained by fixing the toner image on the transfer material by pressure.

Various developing methods for visualizing an electrostatic latent image using toner have been known. For example, U.S. Pat.
74,063, a magnetic brush method,
Cascade development described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,552 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,221,776.
Many development methods are known, such as a powder cloud method, a fur brush development method, and a liquid development method described in the specification. Among these developing methods, in particular, a magnetic brush method, a cascade method, a liquid developing method and the like using a developer mainly composed of a toner and a carrier have been put to practical use. All of these methods are excellent methods for obtaining a good image relatively stably, but have the problems associated with the two-component developer such as deterioration of the carrier and fluctuation of the mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier.

In order to solve such a problem, various developing methods using a one-component developer consisting only of toner have been proposed.

In recent years, such a copying apparatus has begun to be used not only as a copy machine for office work for simply copying an original document, but also as a printer as a computer output or a personal copy for an individual. .

[0006] Therefore, miniaturization, weight reduction, high speed, and high reliability have been strictly pursued, and machines have been constituted by simple elements in various points.

Particularly, in printers and facsimile machines, since it is desired to reduce the size of the image forming device, a developing device using one-component toner is often used.

[0008] Under these circumstances, demands for high resolution are increasing in printers and facsimile machines as described above. For example,
Initially 200-300 dpi (dot per inc
The resolution of h) is becoming 400 to 800 dpi, and further 1200 dpi. Similarly, copiers have advanced in function by digitalization, and there is a strong demand for a high-resolution and high-definition developing method.

Therefore, in particular, in a digital printer, a copying machine, and the like, the photosensitive layer has been made thinner in order to increase the definition of an electrostatic latent image. When such a thin film photoreceptor is used, the potential contrast of the electrostatic latent image is reduced.
It is desired that the toner used for development has higher developability and has durability enough to maintain the high developability.

In the one-component developing method, the toner is developed in a chain state (generally called "spikes") at the time of development, so that the resolution in the horizontal direction of the image is likely to be worse than that in the vertical direction. In addition, the flying amount of the toner on the line image becomes excessive as compared with the solid black image, so that the toner consumption increases and the faithful reproducibility of the image and the economy tend to be inferior. On the other hand, when a visible image is formed by the toner, a tailing phenomenon in which the toner runs out of the image part in a spike state and a phenomenon in which the toner is scattered to the peripheral part of the image occur, which causes a reduction in resolution.

Therefore, as a method of improving image reproducibility, it is necessary to make the toner application on the toner carrier (developing sleeve) extremely thin, and to shorten the spike of the toner. However, in the conventional toner, since a large stress is applied to the toner particles and the surface of the toner carrier in this method, deterioration of the toner surface, contamination of the surface of the toner carrier, fixation of the toner, and matching with the image forming apparatus are performed. Had a problem.

On the other hand, in response to the demand for a high-resolution and high-definition developing method, JP-A-1-112253 and JP-A-1-19 have been proposed.
JP-A-1156, JP-A-2-214156, JP-A-2-284158, JP-A-3-181952, JP-A-4-162048 and the like propose a small particle size toner having a specific particle size distribution. However, there is still a problem of image quality deterioration and transferability due to toner deterioration and the like as described above.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-160283,
The average particle size is 6 to 10 μm, and the average circularity is 0.85 to
A toner having a ratio of particles of 0.98 and a circularity of 0.85 or less and a content of 10% by weight or less has been proposed. However, the fluidity and charge rising property of the toner, and the cleaning property with a cleaning blade have been proposed. However, no consideration is given to the durability and environmental stability of the toner accompanying the reduction in the particle size of the toner, and high-definition development has not been achieved.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-197714, the ratio B / A of the 50% average diameter A to the 10% average diameter B of the developer particles is 40 to 80%, and the average circularity is 0.93 to 1 .
A developer has been proposed that comprehensively considers the toner shape by controlling the shape of the toner so that the ratio of 0 and the circularity of 0.85 or less is 3.0% or less. However, although there is some improvement in the stability of the image density of the developer and the like, no consideration has been given to a toner having a 50% average diameter of more than 0.96 and a 50% average diameter of 8 μm or less. In fact, there is room for improvement for the above-mentioned problems.

On the other hand, in recent years, from the viewpoint of environmental protection, the primary charging and transfer process using a corona discharge, which has been conventionally used, to the primary charging and transfer process using a photosensitive member contact member are becoming mainstream.

For example, JP-A-63-149669 and JP-A-2-123385 have been proposed. These are related to a contact charging method and a contact transfer method. However, when a conductive elastic roller is brought into contact with an electrostatic latent image carrier and a voltage is applied to the conductive roller, the electrostatic latent image carrier is The toner is uniformly charged, and then a toner image is obtained through an exposure and development process. After that, while pressing another conductive roller to which a voltage has been applied to the electrostatic latent image carrier, the transfer material is passed while the roller is pressed. After the toner image on the latent image carrier is transferred to a transfer material, a transferred image is obtained through a fixing process.

However, in such a roller transfer method that does not use corona discharge, the transfer member is brought into contact with the photosensitive member via the transfer material at the time of transfer, so that the toner image formed on the photosensitive member is transferred to the transfer material. When the toner image was transferred, the toner image was pressed against the toner image, and a partial transfer failure called so-called “missing during transfer” occurred.

Further, as the particle size of the toner decreases, the adhesion force (mirror image force, van der Waals force, etc.) of the toner particles to the photoreceptor becomes larger than the Coulomb force applied to the toner particles during transfer. As a result, the transfer residual toner tends to increase.

Further, in the roller charging system, the physical and chemical action on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier due to the discharge generated between the charging roller and the electrostatic latent image carrier is larger than in the corona charging system. In particular, in the combination with the organic photoreceptor / blade cleaning, abrasion due to deterioration of the photoreceptor surface is liable to occur, and there is a problem in life.

Therefore, it is required that the toner and the photoreceptor used in such an image forming method have excellent releasability.

By the way, the untransferred toner remaining on the photoreceptor without being transferred so far is cleaned and removed by various methods, and then collected and discharged as so-called “waste toner”. Did not. Since the waste toner is treated as waste (waste plastic), the waste toner is reused from the viewpoint of effective use of resources, reduction of the waste, and consideration for the living environment. Considerations have been widely conducted. If the waste toner can be reused, other merits such as not only effective use of the toner as described above but also downsizing of the image forming apparatus can be considered.

However, in practice, when the waste toner is reused, the image quality is adversely affected due to a reduction in image density or a fogging phenomenon, or a problem occurs in matching with an image forming apparatus.

Therefore, the toner applicable to the toner reuse as described above includes the developing property, environmental stability, low-temperature fixing property, anti-offset property, and developing property conventionally desired for the toner.
In addition to the properties such as storability, it is also required to have excellent mechanical strength and durability against external force, and excellent transportability of waste toner to a developing portion.

The various properties required for the above-mentioned toners are often contradictory to each other, and it is increasingly desired in recent years to satisfy both of them with high performance. Under such circumstances, each toner constituent material plays a large role, and it is required to have high functionality, and it is important to design an image forming system that brings out excellent characteristics of the toner. However, there is not yet enough comprehensive response to comprehensively address the above issues.

[0025]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to significantly improve the drawbacks of the prior art, improve developability and environmental stability, and stably realize high-quality images for a long period of time. It is another object of the present invention to provide a dry toner which is highly applicable to an electrophotographic process which does not adversely affect a toner carrier and a photoreceptor, and an image forming method using the toner.

[0026]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides at least:
A dry toner containing a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax component, wherein the number of circles equivalent to the number of circles of the toner in a number-based circle equivalent diameter-circularity scattergram measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device of the toner. Average diameter D1 is 2 to 8 μm
Wherein the toner contains 0.02 to 5% by number of coarse particles having an equivalent circle diameter of more than 10 μm, and the average circularity of the coarse particles is 0.900 to 0.990. To dry toner.

Further, the present invention relates to an image forming method using the toner.

As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that by precisely controlling the shape distribution of the toner, it is possible to impart desirable developability and transferability as well as durability and environmental stability to the toner. .

That is, the circle-equivalent diameter based on the number of toners−
In the circularity scattergram, the toner has a circle-equivalent number average diameter of 2 to 8 μm, contains 0.02 to 5% by number of coarse particles having a circle-equivalent diameter exceeding 10 μm, and has an average circularity of 0%. By precisely controlling the particle shape of the toner so as to be in the range of from .900 to 0.990, the developability and the transferability are improved in a well-balanced manner. In particular, the durability of the toner is improved, and the image scattering of the toner and the dot reproducibility under high temperature and high humidity are excellent.

The toner has a circle-equivalent number average diameter of 2 to 8 μm,
By setting the thickness to preferably 2 to 6 μm, a good image can be obtained. In particular, the average diameter of the circle-equivalent number is 2-5 μm
By reducing the particle size, the reproducibility of the contour portion of the image, particularly, the development of a character image or a line pattern can be improved. However, conventionally, when the toner particles are reduced in particle size, the existence ratio of the toner having a small particle size inevitably increases, so that it becomes difficult to uniformly charge the toner, and not only image fog occurs but also the toner surface Since they are susceptible to deterioration, they tend to cause problems in durability and environmental stability.
Further, matching with the image forming apparatus is not sufficient.

However, the toner of the present invention contains 0.02 to 5% by number of particles having a circle equivalent diameter exceeding 10 μm in the circle equivalent diameter-circularity scattergram, and the average circularity of the coarse particles is By setting the ratio to 0.900 to 0.990, problems relating to the developing property and durability of the toner, as well as environmental stability, etc. can be significantly improved. The reason for this is that the presence of coarse particles having a specific shape in the toner normally reduces the regulating force of the toner layer thickness regulating member when forming a thin layer of toner on the toner carrier in the developing step. Even if it is stronger, it is possible to minimize the deterioration of the toner surface caused by strongly pressing the regulating member while maintaining a sufficient toner coating amount. In addition, since the charge amount of the toner can be made higher than usual, even under high temperature and high humidity where a decrease in developability is apt to appear as an image defect, image scattering and dot reproducibility are improved and become good. . Furthermore, the toner has a circle-equivalent number average diameter of 2
Even when the particle diameter is reduced to 5 μm, the average circularity of the toner is 0.1 μm.
Developability is improved by making 0.02 to 3% by number of coarse particles having an equivalent circle diameter of more than 10 μm in addition to 960 to 0.995, and setting the average circularity of the coarse particles to 0.930 to 0.975. In addition to improving the balance between transferability and transferability, the chargeability of the toner becomes uniform, so that a high-resolution and high-definition image can be reproduced.

When the content of coarse particles having an equivalent circle diameter of more than 10 μm is less than 0.02% by number, the toner surface is significantly deteriorated, and the above-mentioned improvement effect cannot be expected.
On the other hand, if the content of coarse particles exceeds 5% by number, selectivity is generated between particles having an average particle size during development and coarse particles are easily consumed and accumulated, resulting in poor image quality. Etc. are likely to occur. Such coarse particles often differ in mechanical strength and thermal characteristics as compared with those having an average particle diameter, and are likely to cause a problem in matching with an image forming apparatus.

The average circularity of the coarse particles is 0.900 to
Must be 0.990. Average circularity is 0.90
If the value is less than 0, the shape of the toner surface becomes non-uniform, adversely affecting the chargeability of the entire toner, and causing a problem in matching with the image forming apparatus. The average circularity is 0.99
If it exceeds 0, the deterioration of the coarse particles themselves is promoted, which causes problems such as deterioration of image quality.

Since the above-mentioned problems become apparent as the particle size of the toner becomes smaller, the number average diameter of the toner equivalent to a circle is 2 to 5 times.
In the case of μm, the average circularity of the toner coarse powder particles is preferably 0.930 to 0.975.

The circle equivalent diameter, circularity, and frequency distribution of the toner in the present invention are used as a simple method for quantitatively expressing the shape of the toner. The measurement was performed using a measuring device FPIA-1000 type (manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.), and calculated using the following equation. Equivalent circle diameter = (projected area of particle / π) ^1/2 × 2

[0036]

[Outside 1]

Here, the “particle projection area” is the area of the binarized toner image, and the “perimeter of the particle projection image” is
It is defined as the length of a contour obtained by connecting the edge points of the toner image.

The circularity in the present invention is an index indicating the degree of unevenness of the toner. The circularity is 1.00 when the toner is perfectly spherical, and the circularity becomes smaller as the surface shape becomes more complicated. Become.

In the present invention, the circle-equivalent number average diameter D1, which means the average value of the particle size frequency distribution based on the number of toners, is:
Assuming that the particle size (central value) at the dividing point i of the particle size distribution is di and the frequency is fi, it is calculated from the following equation.

[0040]

[Outside 2]

The average circularity c, which means the average value of the circularity frequency distribution, is calculated from the following equation, where the circularity (center value) at the dividing point i of the particle size distribution is ci and the frequency is fci.

[0042]

[Outside 3]

As a specific measuring method, 10 ml of ion-exchanged water from which impure solid matter has been removed in advance is prepared in a container, and a surfactant, preferably an alkylbenzene sulfonate, is added as a dispersing agent thereto. Further, 0.02 g of a measurement sample is added and uniformly dispersed. As a means for dispersing, a dispersing treatment is performed for 5 minutes by using an ultrasonic dispersing UH-50 type (manufactured by SMT Co., Ltd.) with a 5φ titanium alloy chip as a vibrator to obtain a dispersion for measurement. At this time, the dispersion is appropriately cooled so that the temperature of the dispersion does not become 40 ° C. or higher.

The shape of the toner is measured using the above-mentioned flow type particle image measuring device, and the toner concentration at the time of measurement is 3000 to 1
The concentration of the dispersion is readjusted to be 10,000 particles / μl, and 1,000 or more toner particles are measured. After the measurement, a two-dimensional frequency distribution diagram (scattergram) of the circle equivalent diameter and the circularity of the toner is obtained using this data.

Examples of the binder resin used in the toner of the present invention include commonly used styrene- (meth) acrylic copolymers, polyester resins, epoxy resins, and styrene-butadiene copolymers. In a method of directly obtaining toner particles by a polymerization method, a monomer for forming them is used. Specifically, styrene; o
Styrene-based monomers such as (m-, p-)-methylstyrene and m (p-)-ethylstyrene; methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, propyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) ) Butyl acrylate, octyl (meth) acrylate, dodecyl (meth) acrylate, stearyl (meth) acrylate, behenyl (meth) acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, (meth)
(Meth) acrylate monomers such as dimethylaminoethyl acrylate and diethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate; ene monomers such as butadiene, isoprene, cyclohexene, (meth) acrylonitrile, and acrylamide are preferably used. Can be These can be used alone or generally in the published Polymer Handbook, 2nd Edition, III-P 139-192 (John Wiley).
& Sons Corporation) theoretical glass transition temperature (Tg)
However, monomers are appropriately mixed and used so as to show a temperature of 40 to 50 ° C. If the theoretical glass transition temperature is lower than 40 ° C., problems tend to occur in terms of the storage stability and durability stability of the toner, while if it exceeds 75 ° C., the fixing point of the toner increases. In particular, in the case of a color toner for forming a full-color image, it is not preferable because the color mixing property of each color toner at the time of fixing decreases, the color reproducibility is poor, and the transparency of the OHP image decreases.

The molecular weight of the binder resin is measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). In the case of a toner having a core-shell structure, specific GPC
The method of measurement is to extract the toner in advance using a Soxhlet extractor with a toluene solvent for 20 hours, and then distill off the toluene with a rotary evaporator to obtain an extract. An organic solvent that does not dissolve the resin (eg, chloroform or the like) is added to the extract, and the extract is sufficiently washed.
A sample (THF solution) obtained by filtering a solution dissolved in HF) through a solvent-resistant membrane filter having a pore size of 0.3 μm is measured using Waters 150C. The column configuration is A-801, 802, 803, 8 manufactured by Showa Denko
04, 805, 806, and 807 are linked, and the molecular weight distribution can be measured using a standard polystyrene resin calibration curve. The main peak molecular weight of the binder resin according to the present invention is 5,000 to 10
10,000, weight average molecular weight (Mw) and number average molecular weight (Mn)
The ratio (Mw / Mn) of 2 to 100 is preferable in the present invention.

The coloring agents used in the present invention include the following yellow coloring agents, magenta coloring agents and cyan coloring agents. As black coloring agents, carbon black, magnetic substances or the following yellow coloring agents / magenta coloring agents / A mixture of a cyan colorant and a black color is used.

Examples of the yellow colorant include condensed azo compounds, isoindolinone compounds, anthraquinone compounds,
Compounds represented by azo metal complexes, methine compounds and allylamide compounds are used. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 6
2, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 109, 110,
111, 128, 129, 147, 168, 180 and the like are preferably used.

Examples of the magenta colorant include condensed azo compounds, diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds, anthraquinones, quinacridone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, naphthol compounds, benzimidazolone compounds, thioindigo compounds and perylene compounds. Specifically, C.I.
I. Pigment Red 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 23, 4
8; 2, 48; 3, 48; 4, 57; 1, 81; 1, 1
44, 146, 166, 169, 177, 184, 18
5, 202, 206, 220, 221, 254 are particularly preferred.

As the cyan coloring agent, copper phthalocyanine compounds and derivatives thereof, anthraquinone compounds, basic dye lake compounds and the like can be used. Specifically, C.I. I.
Pigment Blue 1, 7, 15, 15; 1, 15; 2,
15; 3, 15; 4, 60, 62, 66 and the like can be particularly preferably used.

These colorants can be used alone or as a mixture or in the form of a solid solution. The colorant is selected from the viewpoints of hue, saturation, lightness, weather resistance, OHP transparency, and dispersibility in toner particles. The amount of the colorant added is
It is preferable to use 1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin component.

When a magnetic material is used as a black colorant, unlike other colorants, 40 parts per 100 parts by weight of resin is used.
It is preferred to use up to 150 parts by weight.

Examples of the wax component according to the present invention include petroleum waxes such as paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax and petrolactam and derivatives thereof, montan wax and derivatives thereof, hydrocarbon waxes and derivatives thereof by the Fischer-Tropsch method, and polyethylene. Polyolefin waxes and their derivatives, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, etc., natural waxes and their derivatives, etc. Derivatives include oxides, block copolymers with vinyl monomers, and graft-modified products. Alcohols such as aliphatic alcohols; fatty acids such as stearic acid and palmitic acid or compounds thereof; acid amides, esters, ketones, hydrogenated castor oil and derivatives thereof, vegetable waxes, animal waxes, etc. It can be used anywhere as long as it is ~80 ℃.

Among these, when polyolefin, hydrocarbon wax according to Fischer-Tropsch method, petroleum wax, higher alcohol, or higher ester, the effect of improving developability and transferability is further enhanced.

The above-mentioned wax component is used as binder resin 100
It is preferable to use 1 to 30 parts by weight based on parts by weight.

Further, an antioxidant may be added to the wax component as long as it does not affect the chargeability of the toner.

The wax component according to the present invention can be used for observation of a tomographic surface of a toner using a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
In a state where the wax component is not compatible with the binder resin, the wax component is practically dispersed in a spherical and / or spindle shape in an island shape.

In the present invention, the dispersion state of the wax component as described above is defined as follows. In other words, the circle-equivalent weight average diameter D means the average value of the weight-based particle size frequency distribution of the toner measured by the above-mentioned flow type particle image measuring apparatus.
4 (μm), D4 × 0.9 or more, and D4 ×
Ten tomographic planes of toner particles having a major axis of 1.1 or less are selected. Then, the major axis R of the tomographic plane of each toner particle
And the largest major axis r in the phase separation structure caused by the wax component existing in the tomographic plane of the toner particles having the major axis R is measured, and the average value of r / R is determined. When the average value of r / R is in a dispersed state that satisfies the average value of 0.5 ≦ r / R ≦ 0.95, the wax component is substantially spherical and / or spindle-shaped without being compatible with the binder resin. Have an island-like dispersion state.

By dispersing the wax component as described above and incorporating the wax component in the toner, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the toner and contamination of the image forming apparatus. In particular, when the average value of r / R is in a dispersion state satisfying 0.25 ≦ r / R ≦ 0.90, good chargeability is maintained and a toner image excellent in dot reproduction can be formed for a long time. It is preferable because it becomes possible. In addition, since the wax component acts efficiently during heating, low-temperature fixability and offset resistance are satisfied. Further, when a desired shape distribution of the toner is obtained, even if the shape and surface of the toner particles are processed by an impact-type powder processing apparatus using a rotating blade as described later, the performance of the toner is deteriorated and the processing performance of the processing apparatus is reduced. It is possible to prevent the fusion of the toner beforehand, and it is possible to give the toner desired characteristics by precisely controlling the shape distribution of the toner.

In the present invention, as a specific method for observing the tomographic plane of the toner particles, the toner particles are sufficiently dispersed in an epoxy resin curable at ordinary temperature, and then cured at an ambient temperature of 40 ° C. for 2 days. The obtained cured product is stained with ruthenium tetroxide and, if necessary, osmium tetroxide in combination, and a flaky sample is cut out using a microtome with diamond teeth, and a transmission electron microscope (TEM) is used.
Is used to measure the tomographic morphology of the toner particles. In the present invention, it is preferable to use a ruthenium tetroxide dyeing method in order to give a contrast between materials by utilizing a slight difference in crystallinity between the wax component used and the resin constituting the outer shell. FIG. 7 shows a typical example. In the toner particles obtained in Examples described later, it was observed that the wax component was included in the outer shell resin.

The charge control agents used in the present invention include:
Known ones can be used, but the charging speed is fast, and
A charge control agent capable of stably maintaining a constant charge amount is preferable. Further, when the toner particles are directly polymerized, a charge control agent having no polymerization inhibition and having no soluble matter in an aqueous dispersion medium is particularly preferable. Specific examples of the compound include a metal compound of an aromatic carboxylic acid such as salicylic acid, naphthoic acid, and dicarboxylic acid as a negative charge control agent; a polymer compound having a sulfonic acid or carboxylic acid group in a side chain; a boron compound; Compound; silicon compound; curryxarene and the like. Examples of the positive charge control agent include a quaternary ammonium salt; a polymer compound having the quaternary ammonium salt in a side chain; a guanidine compound; and an imidazole compound. The charge control agent is preferably used in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin. However, in the present invention, the addition of a charge control agent is not essential, and in the case of using a two-component developing method, utilizing triboelectric charging with a carrier, and in the case of using a non-magnetic one-component blade coating developing method, By positively utilizing frictional charging with the blade member and the sleeve member, it is not always necessary to include a charge control agent in the toner particles.

The addition of an inorganic fine powder to the toner of the present invention is a preferred embodiment for improving developability, transferability, charging stability, fluidity, and durability. Known inorganic fine powders can be used.
It is preferable to be selected from alumina, titania or a composite oxide thereof. Furthermore, silica is more preferable. For example, as the silica, both a so-called dry method produced by vapor phase oxidation of a silicon halide and an alkoxide, and a so-called wet silica produced from an alkoxide, a water glass and the like, and a dry silica called a fumed silica can be used. However, there are few silanol groups on the surface and inside the silica fine powder, and Na ₂ O,
Towards less dry silica of manufacture residues of SO ₃ ^2-like. In the case of fumed silica, it is also possible to obtain a composite fine powder of silica and another metal oxide by using another metal halide such as aluminum chloride and titanium chloride together with a silicon halide in the manufacturing process. Is also included.

[0063] Inorganic fine powder used in the present invention is the specific surface area by nitrogen adsorption measured by BET method is 30 m ² / g or more, particularly given good results in the range of 50 to 400 m ² / g, the toner 100 mass It is particularly preferable to use 0.1 to 8 parts by mass, preferably 0.5 to 5 parts by mass, more preferably more than 1.0 to 3.0 parts by mass of the silica fine powder with respect to parts.

The inorganic fine powder used in the present invention comprises:
Silicon varnish, various modified silicone varnishes, silicone oil, various modified silicone oils, silane coupling agents, silane coupling agents having functional groups, other organosilicon compounds, organic It is possible and preferable to use a treating agent such as a titanium compound or a combination of various treating agents.

The specific surface area was determined according to the BET method by adsorbing nitrogen gas on the sample surface using a specific surface area measuring device, Auto Soap 1 (manufactured by Yuasa Ionics), and calculating the specific surface area using the BET multipoint method.

In order to maintain a high charge amount and achieve a low consumption and a high transfer rate, it is more preferable that the inorganic fine powder is treated with at least a silicone oil.

In the toner of the present invention, other additives such as lubricant powders such as Teflon powder, zinc stearate powder and polyvinylidene fluoride powder; cerium oxide powder, silicon carbide Powder, abrasive such as strontium titanate powder; fluidity imparting agent such as titanium oxide powder, aluminum oxide powder; anti-caking agent; or conductivity imparting agent such as carbon black powder, zinc oxide powder, tin oxide powder, Further, organic fine particles and inorganic fine particles having opposite polarities can be used in a small amount as a developing property improver.

The method for producing the toner of the present invention includes:
After uniformly dispersing a resin, a release agent composed of a low softening point substance, a colorant, a charge control agent, and the like using a pressure kneader, an extruder, or a media disperser, the resin is caused to collide with a target mechanically or under a jet stream. After finely pulverizing to a desired toner particle diameter (if necessary, a step of smoothing and spheroidizing the toner particles is added), and further passing through a classification step to sharpen the particle size distribution to obtain a toner by a pulverization method. In addition to the method described in JP-B-56-13945, a method of atomizing the molten mixture into air using a disk or a multi-fluid nozzle to obtain a spherical toner,
No. 10231, JP-A-59-53856 and JP-A-59-61842, in which a toner is directly produced using a suspension polymerization method, or a method in which a toner is soluble in a monomer. Either a dispersion polymerization method of directly producing a toner using an aqueous organic solvent in which the resulting polymer is insoluble, or an emulsion polymerization method typified by a soap-free polymerization method of producing a toner by directly polymerizing in the presence of a water-soluble polar polymerization initiator. It is possible to produce a toner.

In a method of producing a toner using a pulverization method, it is difficult to keep the shape of the toner within a desired range of circularity frequency distribution.
Although a certain degree of circularity can be obtained, the particle size distribution of the obtained toner tends to be widened, and it is difficult to control the surface state of the toner. On the other hand, in the dispersion polymerization method, the obtained toner has an extremely sharp particle size distribution, but the production equipment is not suitable from the viewpoints of narrow selection of materials to be used and utilization of organic solvents in terms of treatment of waste solvents and flammability of solvents. It is complicated and easy to be complicated. Emulsion polymerization methods typified by soap-free polymerization are effective because the particle size distribution of the toner is relatively uniform, but when the used emulsifier or polymerization initiator terminal is present on the surface of the toner particles, the environmental characteristics tend to deteriorate.

In the present invention, the frequency distribution of circularity of the toner can be controlled, and the emulsifier polymerization method or the suspension polymerization method under normal pressure or pressure can be used to obtain a toner having a small particle diameter relatively easily. By using a medium to the polymer obtained in advance using a medium, or by directly colliding the polymer with a pressure impingement plate, furthermore, the obtained polymer is frozen in an aqueous system, An aggregation method in which particles having opposite surface charges are united, aggregated and united in consideration of conditions such as pH is particularly preferable. Further, a seed polymerization method in which a monomer is further adsorbed on the obtained polymer particles and then polymerized using a polymerization initiator can also be suitably used in the present invention.

When a direct polymerization method is used as a method for producing a toner, the control of the circularity frequency distribution and the particle size distribution of the toner is performed by changing the type and amount of a poorly water-soluble inorganic salt or a dispersing agent acting as a protective colloid. Predetermined toner particles can be obtained by controlling the method and mechanical device conditions (for example, the peripheral speed of the rotor, the number of baths, stirring conditions such as the shape of stirring blades and the shape of the container), or the solid content concentration in the aqueous solution. it can.

When a toner is produced by the direct polymerization method, examples of the polymerization initiator used include 2,2'-azobis- (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile, 1,1'-azobis (cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile), 2,2'-azobis-4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile,
Azo-based or diazo-based polymerization initiators such as azobisisobutyronitrile; peroxide-based polymerization initiators such as benzoyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, diisopropyl peroxycarbonate, cumene hydroperoxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide and lauroyl peroxide Is used. The amount of the polymerization initiator varies depending on the desired degree of polymerization, but is generally used in an amount of 0.5 to 20% by weight based on the polymerizable monomer. The type of the polymerization initiator varies slightly depending on the polymerization method, but is used alone or in combination with reference to the 10-hour half-life temperature.

For controlling the degree of polymerization, known crosslinking agents, chain transfer agents, polymerization inhibitors and the like may be further added and used.

When a suspension polymerization method using a dispersion stabilizer is used as a method for producing a toner, the dispersion stabilizer to be used includes:
As inorganic compounds, tricalcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, aluminum phosphate, zinc phosphate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, calcium metasilicate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, bentonite , Silica, alumina and the like. As organic compounds,
Polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, methylcellulose,
Examples include methylhydroxypropylcellulose, ethylcellulose, sodium salts of carboxymethylcellulose, polyacrylic acid and its salts, starch and the like. These can be used by dispersing them in an aqueous phase. It is preferable to use 0.2 to 20 parts by weight of these dispersion stabilizers based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable monomer.

When an inorganic compound is used as the dispersion stabilizer, a commercially available one may be used as it is, but fine particles of the inorganic compound may be produced in a dispersion medium in order to obtain fine particles. For example, in the case of tricalcium phosphate,
It is preferable to mix an aqueous solution of sodium phosphate and an aqueous solution of calcium chloride under high-speed stirring.

For fine dispersion of these dispersion stabilizers,
0.001 to 0.1 parts by weight of a surfactant may be used in combination. This is to promote the intended action of the dispersion stabilizer, for example, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfate, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sodium pentadecyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, sodium oleate, sodium laurate, Potassium stearate, calcium oleate and the like can be mentioned.

When a direct polymerization method is used as a method for producing the toner used in the present invention, the following production methods are possible.

A wax component composed of a low softening point substance, a colorant, a charge control agent, a polymerization initiator and other additives are added to the polymerizable monomer, and the mixture is uniformly dissolved or dispersed by a homogenizer, an ultrasonic disperser or the like. The resulting monomer composition is dispersed in an aqueous phase containing a dispersion stabilizer using a conventional stirrer, homomixer, homogenizer, or the like. Preferably, the granulation is performed by adjusting the stirring speed and the stirring time so that the droplets of the monomer composition have a desired size of the toner particles. After that, due to the action of the dispersion stabilizer, the particle state is maintained,
In addition, stirring may be performed to such an extent that settling of particles is prevented.
The polymerization is preferably performed at a polymerization temperature of 40 ° C. or higher, generally 50 to 90 ° C. The temperature may be raised in the latter half of the polymerization reaction, and furthermore, in order to improve the durability in the image forming method of the present invention, the second half of the reaction to remove unreacted polymerizable monomers, by-products, etc. Alternatively, a part of the aqueous medium may be distilled off from the reaction system after the completion of the reaction. After completion of the reaction, the generated toner particles are collected by washing and filtration, and dried. In the suspension polymerization method, it is usually preferable to use 300 to 3000 parts by weight of water as a dispersion medium with respect to 100 parts by weight of the monomer composition.

On the other hand, one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is to apply a treatment to the shape and surface of the toner particles by an impact type powder processing apparatus using a rotary blade in order to obtain a desired shape distribution of the toner. It is.

As an impact type powder processing apparatus using a rotating blade, Y. Takayama, Y .; Kikuchi
and K. Ono: ZAIRYO GIJUTSU
Vol. 8, No. 8, 10, (1990), a known manufacturing apparatus such as a hybridization system manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd. or an impact-type pulverizer manufactured by Turbo Kogyo Co., Ltd. can be used. In order to perform a precise treatment to precisely control the desired shape distribution and to achieve high productivity, FIGS.
It is preferable to use the powder processing apparatus shown in (1).

An impact type powder processing apparatus using a rotary blade suitable for the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 11 shows a powder processing apparatus A suitable for the present invention.
Is an example of a powder shape processing apparatus system incorporating
FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the powder processing apparatus A, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a rotary drive shaft having four stages of rotary rotors.

The powder processing apparatus A shown in FIG. 12 has first to fourth cylindrical processing chambers 79a to 79a in a cylindrical casing 51.
The rotary rotors 52a to 52d each having ten blades are contained in a state fixed to the rotary drive shaft 53. Rotary drive shaft 5
3 is supported by bearings 61 and 62, the rotation of the electric motor 84 is transmitted by a belt hung on a pulley 54 at the lower end, and rotates at high speed in the direction of the arrow.

The toner particles in the fixed quantity supply device 66 shown in FIG. 11 pass through the hopper 82 and the powder supply pipe 81 via the vibration feeder 65 and the center of the front wall 83 of the first cylindrical processing chamber 79a. Is introduced into the first cylindrical processing chamber 79a together with air by the suction force of the suction probe 74 from the powder supply port 80 provided in the first processing chamber. The toner particles introduced into the first cylindrical processing chamber 79a are generated by the rotation of the rotating rotor 52a having ten blades, and the air flows from the center direction to the side wall 57a to the side wall of the first cylindrical processing chamber. 5
7a, undergoes surface treatment while convection in the space of the first cylindrical processing chamber 79a, and sequentially passes through the gap between the side wall 57a and the blade 59a, and the back surface of the rotating rotor 52a and the first rear wall 58a. (Also referred to as a guide plate or a second front wall) and is discharged from a first powder discharge port 60a provided in a central portion of the first rear wall 58a. In the processing apparatus A, the first powder discharge port 60a also serves as a powder supply port of the second cylindrical processing chamber 79b, and the toner particles pass through the first powder discharge port 60a to the second powder discharge port 60a. It is introduced into the center of the cylindrical processing chamber 79b. Second cylindrical processing chamber 7
In 9b, the toner particles surface-treated in the first cylindrical processing chamber 79a are further surface-treated by the rotation of the rotating rotor 52b having ten blades in the same manner as in the first cylindrical processing chamber 79a. . Further, the toner particles having been subjected to the surface treatment in the second cylindrical processing chamber 79b continue to flow into the third cylindrical processing chamber 79c and the fourth cylindrical processing chamber 79d.
Surface treated.

The toner particles surface-treated in the fourth cylindrical processing chamber 79d pass through a fourth powder outlet 60d provided at the center of the guide plate 58d, and pass through the cylindrical casing 51.
Is stored in the cyclone 70 through the connection pipe 67 via the discharge port 63a of the discharge pipe 63 provided in the tangential direction of. The surface-treated toner particles stored in the cyclone 70 are appropriately taken out from the valve 71.

[0086] The shape distribution of the toner can be determined in the cylindrical processing chamber in addition to the shape of the cylindrical processing chamber of the powder processing apparatus, the shape and the number of blades fixed to the rotating rotor, the fixed position, the number of rotations of the rotating rotor. It can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the residence time of the toner particles, the particle concentration, the ambient temperature during processing, and the like.

Next, an image forming method to which the toner of the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the apparatus system shown in FIG. 1, the developing units 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, and 4-4 respectively include a developer having a cyan toner and a developer having a magenta toner.
A developer having a yellow toner and a developer having a black toner are introduced, and an electrostatic charge image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier (for example, a photosensitive drum) 1 by a magnetic brush developing method or a non-magnetic one-component method is used. After development, toner images of each color are formed on the photosensitive drum 1.

The toner of the present invention can be mixed with a magnetic carrier and developed using, for example, a developing means as shown in FIG. Specifically, it is preferable to perform development in a state where the magnetic brush is in contact with the photosensitive drum 13 while applying an alternating electric field. Developer carrier (development sleeve) 1
The distance (distance between S-D) B between 1 and the photosensitive drum 13 is 10
A thickness of 0 to 1000 μm is favorable in preventing carrier adhesion and improving dot reproducibility. If it is smaller than 100 μm, the supply of the developer tends to be insufficient and the image density is reduced. If it is larger than 1000 μm, the magnetic field lines from the magnet S1 are widened and the density of the magnetic brush is reduced, resulting in poor dot reproducibility or restrained carrier. And the carrier is likely to adhere.

The voltage (Vpp) between the peaks of the alternating electric field is 5
00 to 5000 V is preferable, and the frequency (f) is 500 to
It is 10,000 Hz, preferably 500 to 3000 Hz, and each can be appropriately selected and used for the process. In this case, the waveforms are triangular, rectangular, sine,
Alternatively, various types of waveforms such as a waveform with a changed duty ratio can be used. If the applied voltage is lower than 500 V, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient image density, and it may not be possible to satisfactorily collect fog toner in the non-image area. 5000
When the voltage exceeds V, the electrostatic image is disturbed via the magnetic brush, and the image quality may be deteriorated.

By using a two-component developer having a well-charged toner, the fog removal voltage (Vback) can be reduced.
And the primary charge of the photoconductor can be reduced, so that the life of the photoconductor can be extended. Vbac
k is preferably 150 V or less, more preferably 100 V or less, depending on the developing system.

As the contrast potential, 200 V to 500 V is preferably used so that a sufficient image density can be obtained.

When the frequency is lower than 500 Hz, although it depends on the process speed, the charge may be injected into the carrier, so that the image quality may be deteriorated due to the adhesion of the carrier or the disturbance of the latent image. If the frequency exceeds 10,000 Hz, the toner cannot follow the electric field, and the image quality is likely to deteriorate.

In order to obtain a sufficient image density, achieve excellent dot reproducibility, and perform development without carrier adhesion, the contact width (developing nip C) of the magnetic brush on the developing sleeve 11 with the photosensitive drum 13 is preferably set. 3 to 8 mm. If the developing nip C is narrower than 3 mm, it is difficult to sufficiently satisfy a sufficient image density and dot reproducibility.
If the width is larger than mm, packing of the developer occurs to stop the operation of the machine, and it is difficult to sufficiently suppress the adhesion of the carrier. As a method of adjusting the developing nip, the nip width is appropriately adjusted by adjusting the distance A between the developer regulating member 18 and the developing sleeve 11 or adjusting the distance B between the developing sleeve 11 and the photosensitive drum 13.

In the output of a full-color image in which halftone is particularly important, three or more developing units for magenta, cyan, and yellow are used, and the developer and the developing method of the present invention are used. By combining with a developing system that forms a latent image, it is possible to develop the dot latent image faithfully without being affected by the magnetic brush and disturbing the image. In the transfer step, a high transfer rate can be achieved by using the toner of the present invention, so that high image quality can be achieved in both the halftone portion and the solid portion.

Furthermore, by using the toner of the present invention together with the initial improvement of the image quality, the effect of the present invention without deterioration in image quality can be sufficiently exerted even when copying a large number of sheets.

The toner of the present invention can be suitably used for one-component development. An example of an apparatus for developing an electrostatic image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier is shown, but the invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 25 denotes an electrostatic latent image carrier (photosensitive drum), and the latent image is formed by an electrophotographic process means or an electrostatic recording means. Reference numeral 24 denotes a toner carrier (developing sleeve), which is formed of a non-magnetic sleeve made of aluminum, stainless steel, or the like.

The substantially right half peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 24 is always in contact with the toner reservoir in the toner container 21, and the toner near the developing sleeve surface is brought into contact with the developing sleeve surface by the magnetic force of the magnetic generating means in the sleeve and / or. Adhered and held by electrostatic force.

In the present invention, the surface roughness Ra of the toner carrier is
(Μm) is set to 1.5 or less. Preferably it is 1.0 or less. More preferably, it is 0.5 or less.

By controlling the surface roughness Ra to 1.5 or less, the ability of the toner carrier to transport toner particles is suppressed.
Since the toner layer on the toner carrier is made thinner and the number of times of contact between the toner carrier and the toner is increased, the chargeability of the toner is also improved, so that the image quality is synergistically improved.

When the surface roughness Ra of the toner carrier exceeds 1.5, not only is it difficult to reduce the thickness of the toner layer on the toner carrier, but also the chargeability of the toner is not improved. Can not hope.

In the present invention, the surface roughness Ra of the toner carrier is measured based on JIS surface roughness “JIS B0601” using a surface roughness measuring device (Surfcoder SE-30H, manufactured by Kosaka Laboratory Co., Ltd.). It corresponds to the measured center line average roughness. Specifically, a 2.5 mm portion is extracted from the roughness curve in the direction of the center line as the measurement length a,
The center line of the extracted portion is the X axis, and the direction of the vertical magnification is Y.
When an axis and a roughness curve are represented by y = f (x), a value obtained by the following equation is represented by a micrometer (μm).

[0104]

[Outside 4]

As the toner carrier used in the present invention, a cylindrical or belt-like member made of, for example, stainless steel, aluminum or the like is preferably used. If necessary, the surface may be coated with metal, resin, etc.
A resin in which fine particles such as a resin, metals, carbon black, and a charge control agent are dispersed may be coated.

In the present invention, the surface moving speed of the toner carrier is set to be 1.05 to 3 times the surface moving speed of the electrostatic latent image carrier.
By setting it to be 0 times, the toner layer on the toner carrier receives an appropriate stirring effect, so that the faithful reproduction of the electrostatic latent image is further improved.

If the surface moving speed of the toner carrier is less than 1.05 times the surface moving speed of the electrostatic latent image carrier, the stirring effect of the toner layer becomes insufficient, and good image formation is achieved. Can not hope. Also, when developing an image that requires a large amount of toner over a large area, such as a solid black image, the amount of toner supplied to the electrostatic latent image is insufficient and the image density is reduced. On the other hand, when it exceeds 3.0, in addition to the various problems caused by excessive charging of the toner as described above,
Deterioration of the toner due to mechanical stress and sticking of the toner to the toner carrier occur and are promoted, which is not preferable.

The toner T is stored in the hopper 21, and is supplied onto the developing sleeve by the supply member 22. As the supply member, a supply roller made of a porous elastic body, for example, a foamed material such as a soft polyurethane foam is preferably used. The supply roller is rotated with respect to the developing sleeve in a forward or reverse direction at a relative speed other than 0 to supply the toner onto the developing sleeve and also remove the developed toner (undeveloped toner) on the sleeve. At this time, the contact width of the supply roller to the developing sleeve is
Considering the balance between toner supply and stripping,
2.0 to 10.0 mm is preferable, and 4.0 to 6.0 mm
Is more preferred. On the other hand, excessive stress on the toner is unavoidable, and the aggregation of the toner due to the deterioration of the toner is increased, or the fusion and fixation of the toner to the developing sleeve, the supply roller, and the like are easily caused. Is excellent in fluidity and releasability, and has durability stability. Therefore, is preferably used in a developing method having the supply member. Further, a brush member made of a resin fiber such as nylon or rayon may be used as the supply member. These supply members use a non-magnetic one-component toner that cannot use a magnetic binding force. It is extremely effective in a one-component developing method, but may be used in a one-component developing method using a magnetic one-component toner.

The toner supplied onto the developing sleeve is thinly and uniformly applied by the regulating member. The toner thinning regulating member is a doctor blade such as a metal blade or a magnetic blade disposed at a predetermined gap from the developing sleeve. Or instead of a doctor blade, a metal,
Rigid rollers or sleeves made of resin, ceramic, or the like may be used, and a magnet generating means may be provided inside them.

Further, an elastic member such as an elastic blade or an elastic roller for press-applying the toner may be used as a regulating member for thinning the toner. For example, in FIG. 3, the elastic blade 23 has its base, which is the upper side, fixed and held on the developer container 21 side, and its lower side flexes in the forward or reverse direction of the developing sleeve 24 against the elasticity of the blade. In this state, the inner surface of the blade (the outer surface in the opposite direction) is brought into contact with the surface of the sleeve 24 with an appropriate elastic pressure. According to such an apparatus, a dense toner layer that is stable against environmental fluctuations can be obtained. Although the reason is not clear, it is presumed that the elastic body is forcibly rubbed against the surface of the developing sleeve, so that charging is always performed in the same state regardless of a change in behavior due to a change in toner environment.

On the other hand, the toner is apt to be excessively charged and the toner is easily fused to the developing sleeve or the elastic blade. However, the toner used in the present invention has excellent releasability and stable triboelectric charging. It is preferably used.

For the elastic body, it is preferable to select a material of a triboelectric series suitable for charging the toner to a desired polarity, and a rubber elastic body such as silicone rubber, urethane rubber and NBR; and a synthetic material such as polyethylene terephthalate. Resin elastic body: Metal elastic bodies such as stainless steel, copper, and phosphor bronze can be used. Further, a composite thereof may be used.

When durability is required for the elastic body and the toner carrier, it is preferable that a resin or rubber is bonded to the metal elastic body so as to hit the sleeve contact portion, or the metal elastic body is coated.

Further, an organic substance or an inorganic substance may be added to the elastic body, may be melted and mixed, or may be dispersed. For example, the chargeability of the toner can be controlled by adding metal oxides, metal powders, ceramics, carbon allotropes, whiskers, inorganic fibers, dyes, pigments, surfactants, and the like. Particularly, when the elastic body is a molded body such as rubber or resin, fine particles of metal oxide such as silica, alumina, titania, tin oxide, zirconia, and zinc oxide, carbon black, a charge control agent generally used for toner And the like.

Further, by applying a DC electric field and / or an AC electric field to the developing blade as the regulating member, the supply roller as the supplying member, and the brush member, the regulating portion on the developing sleeve due to the action of loosening the toner. In this case, the uniform thin layer coating property and the uniform charging property are further improved, and the supply / stripping of the toner is more smoothly performed at the supply portion, so that a sufficient image density can be achieved and a good quality image can be obtained.

The contact pressure between the elastic body and the toner carrier is
The linear pressure in the generatrix direction of the toner carrier is 0.1 kg / m
Above, preferably 0.3 to 25 kg / m, more preferably 0.5 to 12 kg / m is effective. As a result, the aggregation of the toner can be effectively released, and the charge amount of the toner can be instantaneously increased. If the contact pressure is less than 0.1 kg / m, it becomes difficult to apply the toner uniformly, and the charge amount distribution of the toner becomes broad, causing fogging and scattering. On the other hand, if the contact pressure exceeds 25 kg / m, a large pressure is applied to the toner, and the toner is undesirably deteriorated and a toner aggregate is generated. Further, a large torque is required to drive the toner carrier, which is not preferable.

Gap α between electrostatic latent image carrier and toner carrier
Is preferably set to 50 to 500 μm, and the gap between the doctor blade and the toner carrier is preferably set to 50 to 400 μm.

It is most preferable that the layer thickness of the toner layer on the toner carrier is smaller than the gap α between the electrostatic latent image carrier and the toner carrier. Among them, the layer thickness of the toner layer may be restricted to such an extent that a part of the toner layer contacts the electrostatic latent image carrier.

On the other hand, a bias power supply 2
By applying an alternating electric field between the toner carrying member and the electrostatic latent image carrying member, the transfer of the toner from the toner carrying member to the electrostatic latent image carrying member can be facilitated, and a higher quality image can be obtained. Vpp of the alternating electric field is 100 V or more, preferably 20 V
0-3000V, more preferably 300-2000V
It is good to use it. F is 500 to 5000 Hz;
The waveform used in this case, which is preferably used at 1000 to 3000 Hz, more preferably 1500 to 3000 Hz, can be a rectangular wave, a sine wave, a sawtooth wave, a triangular wave, or the like. Also, asymmetrical AC biases having different positive and reverse voltages and times can be used. It is also preferable to superimpose a DC bias.

The electrostatic latent image carrier is made of a-Se, Cds, Zn
A photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt having a photoconductive insulating material layer such as O ₂ , OPC, or a-Si.

As the latent electrostatic image bearing member, a photosensitive member having an amorphous silicon photosensitive layer or an organic photosensitive layer is preferably used.

As the organic photosensitive layer, the photosensitive layer contains a charge generating substance and a substance having charge transporting ability in the same layer.
It may be a single-layer type or a function-separated type photosensitive layer having a charge transport layer as a component of the charge transport layer. A laminated photosensitive layer having a structure in which a charge generation layer and then a charge transport layer are laminated on a conductive substrate in this order is one of preferred examples.

The binder resin for the organic photosensitive layer is preferably a polycarbonate resin, a polyester resin, or an acrylic resin, particularly having good transferability and cleaning properties, poor cleaning, fusion of a toner to a photoreceptor, and filming of an external additive. Less likely.

In the charging step, there are a system that is not in contact with the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 using a corona charger, and a contact system that uses a roller or the like, and both systems are used. For efficient uniform charging, simplification and low ozone generation, a contact type as shown in FIG. 1 is preferably used.

The charging roller 2 basically has a core 2b at the center and a conductive elastic layer 2a forming the outer periphery thereof. The charging roller 2 is pressed against the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 with a pressing force, and is driven to rotate as the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 rotates.

The preferable process conditions when the charging roller is used are that the contact pressure of the roller is 5 to 500 g / cm.
When a DC voltage with an AC voltage superimposed is used, the AC voltage is 0.5 to 5 kVpp and the AC frequency is 50 kVpp.
Hz to 5 kHz, the DC voltage is ± 0.2 to ± 1.5 kV, and when only the DC voltage is used, the DC voltage is ± 0.2 to ± 0.5 kV.
2 to ± 5 kV.

Other charging means include a method using a charging blade and a method using a conductive brush. These contact charging means are effective in that high voltage is not required and generation of ozone is reduced.

The material of the charging roller and the charging blade as the contact charging means is preferably conductive rubber, and a release coating may be provided on the surface thereof. Nylon-based resin, PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride), or the like can be used as the release coating.

The toner image on the electrostatic latent image carrier is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 5 to which a voltage (for example, ± 0.1 to ± 5 kV) is applied. The surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier is cleaned by cleaning means 9 having a cleaning blade 8.

The intermediate transfer member 5 is made of a pipe-shaped conductive core 5.
b and a medium resistance elastic layer 5a formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The metal core 5b may be formed by applying a conductive plating to a plastic pipe.

The medium resistance elastic layer 5a is made of silicone rubber, Teflon rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber,
A conductive material such as carbon black, zinc oxide, tin oxide, and silicon carbide is mixed and dispersed in an elastic material such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) to obtain an electric resistance value (volume resistivity) of 10 ^5. It is a solid or foamed layer adjusted to have a medium resistance of 〜11 ¹¹ Ω / cm.

The intermediate transfer member 5 is provided in parallel with the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier 1. It rotates in the same direction at the contact portion at the same peripheral speed.

The first color toner image formed and carried on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 passes through a transfer nip portion where the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 and the intermediate transfer body 5 are in contact with each other. The image is transferred to the outer surface of the intermediate transfer member 5 by an electric field formed in the transfer nip area by the transfer bias applied to the member 5,
The second color, the third color, and the fourth color are sequentially transferred.

If necessary, the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5 is cleaned by the detachable cleaning means 10 after the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer material. When there is a toner image on the intermediate transfer member, the cleaning unit 10 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer member so as not to disturb the toner image.

Transfer means is provided in parallel with the intermediate transfer member 5 and is brought into contact with the lower surface of the intermediate transfer member 5, and the transfer means 7 is, for example, a transfer roller or a transfer belt. It rotates clockwise with the same peripheral speed as the arrow. The transfer unit 7 may be disposed so as to directly contact the intermediate transfer member 5, or a belt or the like may be disposed so as to contact between the intermediate transfer member 5 and the transfer unit 7.

In the case of the transfer roller, the basic configuration is a core metal 7b at the center and a conductive elastic layer 7a forming the outer periphery thereof.

For the intermediate transfer member and the transfer roller, general materials can be used. By setting the volume resistivity of the elastic layer of the transfer roller smaller than the volume resistivity of the elastic layer of the intermediate transfer body, the voltage applied to the transfer roller can be reduced, and a good toner image can be formed on the transfer material. In addition, it is possible to prevent the transfer material from being wound around the intermediate transfer member. In particular, it is particularly preferable that the volume resistivity of the elastic layer of the intermediate transfer member is at least 10 times the volume resistivity of the elastic layer of the transfer roller.

For example, the conductive elastic layer 7b of the transfer roller 7
Is polyurethane, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) in which conductive material such as carbon is dispersed
It is made of an elastic material having a volume resistance of about 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁰ Ωcm. A bias is applied to the metal core 7a from a constant voltage power supply. The bias conditions are ± 0.2 to ±
10 kV is preferred.

The toner of the present invention has a high transfer efficiency in the transfer step, a small amount of untransferred toner, and an excellent cleaning property. Therefore, filming hardly occurs on the electrostatic latent image carrier. Furthermore, even when a multi-sheet durability test is performed, the toner of the present invention has less embedding of the external additive on the surface of the toner particles and is less likely to cause deterioration of the toner surface than the conventional toner. I can do it. In particular, FIG.
It is preferably used in an image forming apparatus having a so-called reuse mechanism for removing transfer residual toner on an electrostatic latent image carrier or an intermediate transfer member by a cleaning means such as a cleaning blade and reusing the recovered transfer residual toner. Can be

Next, the toner image on the transfer material 6 is fixed by the heat and pressure fixing means. As the heating and pressing fixing means, a heating roller having a built-in heating element such as a halogen heater and an elastic pressing roller pressed against the heating roller with a pressing force as a basic configuration, or a heating roller through a film. A method of heating and fixing (FIGS. 5 and 6) can be cited, but the toner of the present invention is excellent in fixability and anti-offset properties, and thus exhibits good matching with the above-mentioned heating and pressing fixing means.

[0141]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

(Production Example of Toner and Comparative Production Example)
Production examples of the toner of the present invention and comparative production examples will be described.

Toner Production Example 1 High-speed stirrer TK homomixer ( manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
650 g of ion-exchanged water and 50 mol of 0.1 mol / l-Na ₃ PO _{4 in} a two-liter four-necked flask equipped with
0 g, the rotation speed was adjusted to 12000 rpm, and 7 g
Warmed to 0 ° C. Here, 1 mol / l-CaCl ₂
70 parts by weight of an aqueous solution was gradually added to prepare an aqueous dispersion medium containing a minute water-insoluble dispersion stabilizer Ca ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ .

On the other hand, as dispersoids, 78 parts by weight of styrene 22 parts by weight of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 0.2 parts by weight of divinylbenzene 5 parts by weight of carbon black (BET specific surface area = 125 m ² / g) 5 parts by weight of polyester resin (Peak molecular weight = 8100, Tg = 65 ° C.) 3 parts by weight ・ Negative charge control agent (salicylic acid-based iron complex) 2 parts by weight ・ Ester wax (melting point = 69 ° C.) 4 parts by weight

After the above mixture was dispersed for 3 hours using an attritor (manufactured by Mitsui Kinzoku Co., Ltd.), 5 parts by weight of 2,2′-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) was added, and the polymerizable monomer composition was added. Was prepared.

Next, the polymerizable monomer composition was charged into the aqueous dispersion medium, and a high-speed stirrer was maintained at 12,000 rpm in an N ₂ atmosphere at an internal temperature of 70 ° C. while maintaining the rotation speed at 12,000 rpm.
After stirring for minutes, the polymerizable monomer composition was granulated. Thereafter, the agitator was replaced with a propeller stirring blade, and the mixture was maintained at the same temperature for 10 hours while stirring at 50 rpm to complete the polymerization.

After the completion of the polymerization, the suspension was cooled, and then dilute hydrochloric acid was added to remove the dispersion stabilizer. Further, after repeating water washing several times and drying, the surface treatment of the polymer particles is performed by using a powder processing apparatus system shown in FIG. 11 and provided with four rotating rotors having ten blades. Was. At this time, the rotation speed of the rotating rotor of the powder processing apparatus system was 7900 rpm (the peripheral speed at the outermost edge: 100 m /
sec), the treatment amount of the polymer particles was 10 kg / hr, and the atmosphere temperature during the treatment was 35 ° C.

The polymer particles (A) thus obtained have a circle-equivalent number average diameter of 4.9 μm and an average circularity of 0.989.
And the content of coarse particles whose equivalent circle diameter exceeds 10 μm is 1.
And the average circularity of the coarse particles is 0.965.
And the peak molecular weight by GPC was 16,000, and Mw / Mn
Was 35.

100 parts by weight of the above polymer particles (A) and hydrophobic oil-treated silica fine powder (BET; 200 m ² / g)
2 parts by weight were dry-mixed with a Henschel mixer to obtain the toner (A) of the present invention, and then 6 parts by weight of the toner (A) and a resin-coated magnetic ferrite carrier (average particle size: 45 μm)
m) was mixed with 94 parts by weight to prepare a two-component developer (A) for magnetic brush development.

The obtained toner (A) had the same particle size distribution and shape distribution as the polymer particles (A).
Further, the dispersion state of the wax component in the toner (A) is determined by TE
When observed with M, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 7 (a), it was substantially spherical and dispersed without being compatible with the binder resin. At this time, r / R was 0.61.

Toner Production Examples 2 to 4 By adjusting the preparation conditions of the aqueous dispersion medium, the number of rotations of the rotating rotor of the powder processing apparatus system, the processing amount of the polymer particles, and the ambient temperature during the processing, the weight was reduced. After obtaining the polymer particles (B) to (D) in the same manner as in Production Example 1 of the toner except that the particle diameter and shape of the coalesced particles were controlled, the toners (B) to (D), and Developer (B)-
(D) was prepared.

Comparative Production Example 1 of Toner : 100 parts by weight of styrene-2-ethylhexyl acrylate-divinylbenzene terpolymer (peak molecular weight = 190000, Mw / Mn = 39, Tg = 50 ° C.) 5 parts by weight of carbon black used in Production Example 1-3 parts by weight of polyester resin used in Production Example 1 of toner-2 parts by weight of negative charge control agent used in Production Example 1 of Toner-Used in Production Example 1 of Toner 7 parts by weight of ester wax

The above mixture was melt-kneaded with a twin-screw extruder, and the cooled kneaded material was coarsely pulverized with a hammer mill, and the coarsely pulverized material was finely pulverized with a jet mill. After mixing with a Henschel mixer, the obtained powder mixture is poured into a container containing water, and further dispersed in water using a homomixer. The temperature of the water is gradually raised, and the mixture is heated at a temperature of 60 ° C. for 2 hours. Was.
Thereafter, diluted hydrochloric acid was added to the container to sufficiently dissolve the calcium phosphate on the surface of the finely pulverized product particles. This was washed after filtration, dried, and then passed through a 400-mesh sieve to remove aggregates, and then classified to obtain a classified powder (a). Using the classified powder (a), a comparative toner (a) and a comparative developer (a) were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

Incidentally, the wax component in the comparative toner (a) was contained in a finely dispersed state. At that time, r / R was 0.01 or less.

Comparative Production Example 2 of Toner The same procedure as in Comparative Production Example 1 of the toner was carried out except that the particle size and shape of the classified powder were controlled by changing the conditions of the fine pulverization and the powder processing system. After obtaining (b), a comparative toner (b) and a comparative developer (b)
Was prepared.

Production Example 5 of Toner A modified polypropylene wax (melting point = 105 ° C.) was used instead of the ester wax, and the stirring conditions during granulation and the processing conditions of the powder processing system were adjusted.
Polymer particles (E) in the same manner as in Production Example 1 of the toner described above.
After that, the toner (E) and the developer (E) were prepared.

Comparative Production Example 3 of Toner The polymer particles (c) were obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 5 of the toner, except that the powder processing system was not used. ) And comparative developer (c)
Was adjusted.

Table 1 shows properties of the toners (A) to (E) obtained above and comparative toners (a) to (c).

[0159]

[Table 1]

(Examples and Comparative Examples) Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 The image forming apparatus used in this example will be described. FIG.
2 and 3 are a schematic explanatory view of a cross section of an image forming apparatus applied to the present embodiment and an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a developing device for a two-component developer.

The photosensitive drum 1 has a photosensitive layer 1b having an organic optical semiconductor on a base material 1a, and rotates in the direction of the arrow to rotate in contact with and rotate against the conductive roller 2 (conductive elastic layer 2a, core metal 2b). ) To charge the photosensitive drum 1 to a surface potential of about -600 V. The exposure 3 is turned on and off on the photoreceptor by a polygon mirror in accordance with digital image information, thereby forming an electrostatic image having an exposure portion potential of -100 V and a dark portion potential of -600 V. When a full-color image is formed, a plurality of developing units 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, and 4-4 are used to invert a yellow toner, a magenta toner, a cyan toner, or a black toner on the photoreceptor 1 by a reversal developing method. To obtain a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 5 (elastic layer 5a, core metal 5b as a support), and a four-color superimposed developed image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 5. The transfer residual toner on the photoreceptor 1 is collected in a residual toner container 9 by a cleaner member 8.

The intermediate transfer member 5 was formed by coating a pipe-shaped core metal 5b with an elastic layer 5b in which a carbon black conductive member was sufficiently dispersed in nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). The hardness of the coat layer 5b is determined according to “JIS
K-6301 "and a volume resistivity of 10 ⁹ Ω · cm. The transfer current required for the transfer from the photoreceptor 1 to the intermediate transfer member 5 was about 5 μA, which was obtained by applying +500 V from the power supply to the cored bar 5b.

The outer diameter of the transfer roller 7 is 20 mm and the diameter is 10 m.
An elastic layer 7a formed by coating a core material 7b having a carbon conductivity imparting member sufficiently dispersed in an ethylene-propylene-diene-based terpolymer (EPDM) foam on a metal core 7b having an elastic layer 7a. The elastic layer 7a has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ Ω · cm, which is described in “JIS K-630”.
The reference hardness of "1" used was a value showing a value of 35 degrees. A voltage was applied to the transfer roller, and a transfer current of 15 μA was passed.

As the heat fixing device H, a heat roll type fixing device having no oil application function was used. At this time, the upper roller,
The lower roller used had a surface layer of a fluororesin, and the diameter of the roller was 60 mm. The fixing temperature was set at 160 ° C. and the nip width was set at 7 mm.

[0165] Under the above setting conditions, a continuous mode (mode in which toner consumption is promoted without stopping the developing device) in a single color continuous mode, at a printout speed of 12 sheets (A4 size) per minute, and at room temperature Normal humidity (25 ° C / 60% RH)
A printout test of 1,000 sheets was performed in an environment, and then, a printout test of 9000 sheets was performed in a high temperature and high humidity (30 ° C./80% RH) environment. During the printout test, the toners (A) to (E)
The comparative developers (a) to (c) were successively supplied. The obtained printout image and the image forming apparatus after the completion of the printout test were observed, and the following items were evaluated.

Table 2 shows the evaluation results.

[0167]

[Table 2]

Example 6 and Comparative Example 4 In this example, a commercially available laser beam printer LBP-
EX (manufactured by Canon Inc.) was remodeled with a reuse mechanism attached to it and used again. That is, in FIG. 4, after the untransferred toner on the photosensitive drum 40 is scraped off by the elastic blade 42 of the cleaner 41 in contact with the photosensitive drum, the toner is sent into the cleaner by the cleaner roller, and further passes through the cleaner screw 43. Hopper 45 by a supply pipe 44 provided with a conveying screw.
And a system utilizing the collected toner is attached again, and a rubber roller (diameter: 12 mm, contact pressure: 50 g / cm) in which conductive carbon coated with nylon resin is dispersed as the primary charging roller 47. use,
Laser exposure (600 dpi) on the electrostatic latent image carrier causes dark portion potential V _D = −700 V and bright portion potential V _L = −200 V.
Was formed. A developing sleeve 48 having a surface roughness Ra of 1.1 coated with a resin in which carbon black is dispersed on the surface as a toner carrier is set to be 1.1 times the moving speed of the photosensitive drum surface, Next, the gap (between SD) between the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve is set to 270 μm.
A urethane rubber blade was used in contact with the toner regulating member. An AC bias component was superimposed on a DC bias component as a developing bias. The fixing device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is used as the heat fixing device H. The surface temperature of the temperature detecting element 31d of the heating member 31 is 130 ° C., and the heating member 21 is made of a sponge having a silicone rubber foam as a lower layer. The total pressure between the pressure rollers 33 is 10 kg, the nip between the pressure rollers and the film is 7 mm, and the fixing film 32 has a low resistance in which a conductive material is dispersed in PTEF (high molecular weight type) on a contact surface with a transfer material. A heat-resistant polyimide film having a thickness of 50 μm and having a release layer was used.

Under the above set conditions, room temperature and normal humidity (25 ° C., 6
0% RH), high temperature and high humidity (30 ° C, 80% RH) environment
At a printout speed of 12 sheets (A4 size) / minute, the toner (A) and the comparative toner (a) are sequentially replenished while the intermittent mode (that is, the developing unit is stopped for 10 seconds each time one sheet is printed out) Then, a printout test of 5,000 sheets was performed in a mode in which the deterioration of the toner is promoted by the preliminary operation at the time of restarting), and the printout image obtained was evaluated for the items described below.

The matching between the image forming apparatus used at the same time and the toner was also evaluated.

Table 3 shows the above evaluation results.

[0172]

[Table 3]

Example 7 Example 5 was repeated except that the toner reuse mechanism in FIG. 4 was removed and the printout speed was changed to 16 sheets (A4 size) / min.
In the same manner as described above, a printout test was performed on 10,000 sheets in a continuous mode (that is, a mode in which the consumption of toner is promoted without stopping the developing device) while the toner (A) is sequentially supplied.

The obtained printout image was evaluated for the following items, and the matching with the used image forming apparatus was also evaluated. As a result, all items were good.

The evaluation items described in the examples of the present invention and the comparative examples and the evaluation criteria will be described.

(Evaluation of Printout Image) <1> Image Density The image density was evaluated by maintaining the image density when a predetermined number of printouts were completed on ordinary paper for copying machines (75 g / m ² ). The image density was measured by using a "Macbeth reflection densitometer" (manufactured by Macbeth Co., Ltd.) with respect to a printout image of a white background portion having a document density of 0.00. A: 1.40 or more B: 1.35 or more and less than 1.40 C: 1.00 or more and less than 1.35 D: less than 1.00

<2> Image fog The difference between the whiteness of the white background portion and the whiteness of the transfer paper measured by a "reflectometer" (manufactured by Tokyo Denshoku Co., Ltd.) using a predetermined number of printout images after printout. , The fog density (%) was calculated, and the image fog was evaluated. A: less than 1.5% B: 1.5% or more, less than 2.5% C: 2.5% or more, less than 4.0% D: 4.0% or more

<3> Image Scattering After a predetermined number of printouts have been completed, the “den” character pattern shown in FIG. 9A is printed on plain paper (75 g / m ² ) and thick paper (105 g / m ² and 135 g / m ² ). ² ) Toner scattering around the character when printed in ( ² ) (state of FIG. 9 (b))
Was visually evaluated. A: Almost no occurrence. B: Slight scattering is observed. C: Slight scattering is observed. D: Remarkable scattering is observed.

<4> Image Missing After a predetermined number of printouts have been completed, the character missing when the “surprise” character pattern shown in FIG. 10A is printed on thick paper (128 g / m ² ) 10 (b)) was visually evaluated. A: Almost no occurrence. B: Slight hollowing is observed. C: A slight hollow is seen. D: A noticeable hollow is observed.

<5> Dot Reproducibility After a predetermined number of printouts are completed, the checker pattern shown in FIG. 8 is replaced with plain paper (75 g / m ² ) and thick paper (105 g / m ² ).
m ² ), and the dot reproducibility was evaluated. A: 2 or less defects / 100 B: 3 to 5 defects / 100 C: 6 to 10 defects / 100 D: 11 or more defects / 100 defects

(Evaluation of Matching of Image Forming Apparatus) <1> Matching with Developing Sleeve After completion of the printout test, the state of fixation of the residual toner on the surface of the developing sleeve and the effect on the printout image were visually evaluated. A: Not generated. B: Almost no occurrence. C: There is sticking, but there is little effect on the image. D: Many adhesions cause image unevenness.

<2> Matching with Photoreceptor Drum After the printout test was completed, the occurrence of scratches on the surface of the photoreceptor drum and adhesion of residual toner and the effect on the printout image were visually evaluated. A: Not generated. B: Slight scratching is observed, but there is no effect on the image. C: There is sticking or damage, but there is little effect on the image. D: A large amount of sticking occurs, causing a vertical streak-like image defect.

<3> Matching with Intermediate Transfer Body After the completion of the printout test, the surface of the intermediate transfer body was scratched and the state of fixation of residual toner was visually evaluated. A: Not generated B: The presence of residual toner on the surface is recognized, but there is no effect on the image. C: There is sticking or damage, but there is little effect on the image. D: Many adhesions cause image defects.

<4> Matching with Fixing Device After the completion of the printout test, the surface of the fixing film and the state of fixation of the residual toner were visually evaluated. A: Not generated B: Although slight adhesion is observed, there is no effect on the image. C: There is sticking or damage, but there is little effect on the image. D: Many adhesions cause image defects.

[0185]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By precisely controlling the particle shape distribution of the toner particles, it is possible to impart desirable developability and transferability to the toner. That is, the content of coarse particles having an average diameter of 2 to 8 μm and an equivalent circle diameter exceeding 10 μm is set to 0.02 to 5% by number, and the average circularity of the coarse particles is 0.900 to 0.99.
By setting the value to 0, the durability of the toner is prevented from being deteriorated, and a high-quality image having excellent environmental stability can be formed for a long period of time. Further, matching with the image forming apparatus is also preferable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an image forming apparatus suitable for the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a developing device for a two-component developer.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a developing device for a one-component developer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus that reuses untransferred toner.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the fixing device used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a film state when the fixing device used in the embodiment of the present invention is not driven.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a cross section of toner particles including a wax component.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a checker pattern for checking development characteristics of toner.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a character image is hollow;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which character images are scattered.

FIG. 11 is a schematic external view of a powder processing apparatus system suitable for the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of a main part of a powder processing apparatus suitable for the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a rotating rotor of a powder processing apparatus suitable for the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor (electrostatic latent image carrier) 2 Charging roller 3 Exposure 4 4-color developing device (4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4) 5 Intermediate transfer body 6 Transfer material 7 Transfer roller 11 Development Agent carrier 13 Photoreceptor drum 30 Stay 31 Heater 31a Heater substrate 31b Heater 31c Surface protection layer 31d Temperature sensor 32 Fixing film 33 Pressure roller 34 Coil spring 35 Film end regulating flange 36 Power supply connector 37 Disconnecting member 38 Inlet Guide 39 Exit guide (separation guide)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme court ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 326 (72) Inventor Keiji Kawamoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Satoshi Handa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Michihisa Magome 3-30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (Reference) 2H003 BB11 CC05 2H005 AA06 AA15 CA14 DA06 EA05 EA10 2H033 BB01 BE03 2H034 AA00 2H077 AD02 AD06 AD13 AD36 AE03 FA01 FA19 FA21

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. A dry toner having toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax component, wherein the toner has a circle-based diameter-circle based on the number measured by a flow type particle image measuring apparatus. In the degree scattergram, the toner has a circle-equivalent number average diameter D1 of 2 to 8 μm, and the toner contains 0.02 to 5% by number of coarse particles having a circle-equivalent diameter exceeding 10 μm. A dry toner having an average circularity of 0.900 to 0.990. 2. The toner according to claim 2, wherein the toner has a circle-equivalent number average diameter D1 of 2
5 μm, the average circularity is 0.960 to 0.995,
2. The toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner contains 0.02 to 3% by number of coarse particles having a circle equivalent diameter exceeding 10 μm, and the coarse particles have an average circularity of 0.930 to 0.975. The dry toner as described in the above. 3. In a tomographic observation of the toner particles using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) of the toner, a circle-equivalent weight average diameter D4 based on the weight of the toner measured by the flow type particle image measuring device is defined as: Twenty cross-sectional layers of toner particles exhibiting a long diameter R satisfying the relationship of 0.9 ≦ R / D4 ≦ 1.1 were selected, and among the phase separation structures caused by the wax component present on the tomographic plane of the toner particles, The major axis r of the largest one is measured for the tomographic plane of each toner particle,
The obtained arithmetic mean value of r / R satisfies the arithmetic mean value of 0.05 ≦ r / R ≦ 0.95, and the wax component is substantially spherical and / or spindle-shaped in the binder resin. The dry toner according to claim 1, wherein the dry toner is dispersed in an island shape. 4. The arithmetic mean of r / R is 0.25 ≦
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein an arithmetic average of r / R satisfies 0.90 and said wax component is dispersed in the binder resin in substantially spherical and / or spindle-shaped islands. The dry toner according to any one of the above. 5. A charging step of applying a voltage to a charging member from the outside to charge an electrostatic latent image carrier, and a latent image forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged electrostatic latent image carrier. A forming step, a developing step of developing the electrostatic image with toner to form a toner image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and a transfer step of transferring the toner image on the electrostatic latent image carrier to a transfer material, A fixing step of heating and fixing a toner image on a transfer material, wherein the toner is a dry toner having toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax component. In the number-based circle equivalent diameter-circularity scattergram measured by the flow type particle image measurement device,
The circle-equivalent number average diameter D1 of the toner is 2 to 8 μm,
An image forming method, wherein the toner contains 0.02 to 5% by number of coarse particles having a circle equivalent diameter exceeding 10 μm, and the coarse particles have an average circularity of 0.900 to 0.990. 6. The toner has a toner-equivalent number average diameter D1 of 2 to 6.
5 μm, the average circularity is 0.960 to 0.995,
It contains 0.02 to 3% by number of coarse particles having an equivalent circle diameter of more than 10 μm, and has an average circularity of 0.930 to 0.9.
The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein the number is 75. 7. In a tomographic observation of the toner particles using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) of the toner, a circle-equivalent weight average diameter D4 based on the weight of the toner measured by the flow type particle image measuring device is defined as: Twenty cross-sectional layers of toner particles exhibiting a long diameter R satisfying the relationship of 0.9 ≦ R / D4 ≦ 1.1 were selected, and among the phase separation structures caused by the wax component present on the tomographic plane of the toner particles, The major axis r of the largest one is measured for the tomographic plane of each toner particle,
The obtained arithmetic mean value of r / R satisfies the arithmetic mean value of 0.05 ≦ r / R ≦ 0.95, and the wax component is substantially spherical and / or spindle-shaped in the binder resin. The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein the image is dispersed in an island shape. 8. The arithmetic mean of the r / R of the toner is:
An arithmetic mean of 0.25 ≦ r / R ≦ 0.90 is satisfied, and the wax component is dispersed in the binder resin in a substantially spherical and / or spindle-shaped island shape. Item 5
An image forming method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. In the developing step, the moving speed of the toner carrier surface in the developing area is 1.5 to 3.0 times the moving speed of the electrostatic latent image carrier. 9. The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein the surface roughness Ra (μm) is 1.5 or less. 10. The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein a ferromagnetic metal blade is opposed to said toner carrier at a very small interval. 11. The toner carrier according to claim 5, wherein a blade made of an elastic material is opposed to and abuts against said toner carrier.
10. The image forming method according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 12. The image according to claim 5, wherein the electrostatic latent image carrier and the toner carrier have a certain distance, and are developed while applying an alternating electric field. Forming method. 13. In the charging step, the charging member is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image carrier, and a voltage is externally applied to the charging member to charge the electrostatic latent image carrier. 13. The image forming method according to any one of 5 to 12. 14. In a transfer step of electrostatically transferring a toner image on an electrostatic latent image carrier to a transfer material using a transfer device, the electrostatic latent image carrier and the transfer device are contacted via the transfer material. 14. The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein the image forming method is in contact with the image forming apparatus. 15. The method according to claim 5, wherein in the heat fixing step, the toner image is heat-fixed to the transfer material by a heat fixing device having no supply of an offset preventing liquid or having no fixing device cleaner. 15. The image forming method according to any one of claims 1 to 14. 16. In the heating and fixing step, a toner image is transferred to a transfer material by a fixedly supported heating body and a pressing member which is in pressure contact with the heating body and closely adheres to the heating body via a film. The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein the image is fixed by heating. 17. A toner reuse mechanism for cleaning and recovering untransferred residual toner on the electrostatic latent image carrier after the transfer step, and using the recovered toner again for development in the development step. Claims 5 to 16
The image forming method according to any one of the above. 18. A charging step of applying a voltage to a charging member from the outside to charge an electrostatic latent image carrier, and a latent image forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged electrostatic latent image carrier. A forming step, a developing step of developing the electrostatic charge image with toner to form a toner image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and a first step of transferring the toner image on the electrostatic latent image carrier to the intermediate transfer body A transfer step, and a second step of transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer body to a transfer material.
And a fixing step of heating and fixing the toner image on the transfer material, wherein the toner is a dry toner having toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax component. In the scattergram of the toner-based circle-equivalent diameter-circularity scattergram measured by the flow type particle image measuring device for the toner, the toner has a circle-equivalent number average diameter D1 of 2 to 8 μm and a toner of 10
It contains 0.02 to 5% by number of coarse particles having a circle equivalent diameter exceeding μm, and has an average circularity of 0.900
To 0.990. 19. The toner has a circle-equivalent number average diameter D1 of 2
Coarse particles having an average circularity of 0.960 to 0.995 and an equivalent circle diameter of more than 10 μm
%, And the average circularity of the coarse particles is 0.930 to
The image forming method according to claim 18, wherein the value is 0.975. 20. A transmission electron microscope (TEM) of the toner.
In the tomographic plane observation of the toner particles using the method, the relationship of 0.9 ≦ R / D4 ≦ 1.1 with respect to the weight-based circle equivalent weight average diameter D4 of the toner measured by the flow type particle image measuring device is described. The tomographic plane of the toner particles having the major axis R that satisfies
Locations are selected, and the longest diameter r of the largest phase separation structure among the phase separation structures caused by the wax component existing in the tomographic plane of the toner particles is measured for each of the tomographic planes of the toner particles. The average value is 0.05 ≦ r /
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein an arithmetic mean value of R ≦ 0.95 is satisfied, and the wax component is dispersed in the binder resin in a substantially spherical and / or spindle-shaped island shape. Image forming method. 21. The arithmetic mean of the r / R of the toner satisfies the arithmetic mean of 0.25 ≦ r / R ≦ 0.90, and the wax component is substantially contained in the binder resin. Spherical and / or
21. The image forming method according to claim 18, wherein the image is dispersed in a spindle-shaped island shape. 22. In the developing step, the moving speed of the toner carrier surface in the developing area is 1.05 to 3.0 times the moving speed of the electrostatic latent image carrier. 22. The image forming method according to claim 18, wherein the surface roughness Ra (μm) is 1.5 or less. 23. The image forming method according to claim 18, wherein a ferromagnetic metal blade is opposed to said toner carrier at a small interval. 24. An image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a blade made of an elastic material is opposed to and abuts on said toner carrier.
23. The image forming method according to any one of the above items. 25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said electrostatic latent image carrier and said toner carrier have a certain interval, and are developed while applying an alternating electric field. Image forming method. 26. In the charging step, the charging member is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image carrier, and a voltage is externally applied to the charging member to charge the electrostatic latent image carrier. 26. The image forming method according to any one of 18 to 25. 27. In a transfer step of electrostatically transferring a toner image on an electrostatic latent image carrier to a transfer material using a transfer device, the electrostatic latent image carrier and the transfer device are contacted via the transfer material. The image forming method according to claim 18, wherein the image forming apparatus is in contact with the image forming apparatus. 28. The method according to claim 18, wherein in the heat fixing step, the toner image is heat-fixed to the transfer material by a heat fixing device having no supply of an offset preventing liquid or having no fixing device cleaner. 28. The image forming method according to any one of the above items. 29. A transfer material for transferring a toner image to a transfer material by a heating member fixed and supported in the heating and fixing step and a pressing member which is in pressure contact with the heating member and closely adheres to the heating member via a film. The image forming method according to claim 18, wherein the image is fixed by heating. 30. A toner reuse mechanism used for development in the developing step in which the untransferred residual toner on the electrostatic latent image carrier after the first transfer step is collected by cleaning. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
30. The image forming method according to any one of items 8 to 29.