JP2000254589A - Classifier and production of toner using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a classifier which recovers solids of at least a desired particle size to a fine powder recovery side, or solids of a desired particle size or below to a coarse powder recovery side and is small in classification errors and high in classification precision and a method for producing toner using the classifier. SOLUTION: An apparatus is composed of a solid supply means 1 for supplying solids, a classification chamber 4 formed from a guide member 2 in a main body 0a and a classification member 3 arranged below the guide member 2, a fine powder discharging means 5 for discharging fine powder from a middle part in the fine powder recovery direction for recovering the fine powder of the solids by a revolving flow formed in the classification chamber 4, a coarse powder discharging means 6 for discharging coarse powder from a clearance in the coarse powder recovery direction for recovering the coarse powder of the solids by a revolving flow formed in the classification chamber 4, and a coarse powder flow hindrance means 7 for hindering the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder recovery direction on the lower part wall surface 2a of the guide member 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a classification device,
When manufacturing a dry toner used in an image forming apparatus for developing a solid material, in particular, a latent image of an electrostatic image in electrophotography, electrostatic recording, electrostatic printing, etc., it is rotated into a classifying chamber. The present invention relates to a classifying apparatus for forming a flow and classifying a solid substance toner by centrifugal separation, and a method for producing a toner using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a multifunction machine of an image forming apparatus based on an electrophotographic copying method, a classifier is a static image formed on a drum photosensitive member of an image carrier. Toner is attached to the charge image, the latent image of the electrostatic charge image is visualized, developed with toner, and the toner image is transferred to transfer paper to form an image. Usually, a toner used in such an image forming apparatus is pulverized in a state where raw materials of a solid substance are kneaded and solidified, and a predetermined toner is classified by a classifier.

[0003] The toner used in such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is formed by removing coarse particles and paper dust from the toner through a screen at the final stage of the manufacturing process. It is known to prevent the occurrence of abnormal images such as sand-like fog, vertical streak-like unevenness, and transfer failure on an image when formed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2934).
No. 43).

[0004] In FIG. 6, conventionally, a classifier 100 for separating a micron-order solid substance (T) into a coarse powder (Tl) and a fine powder (Ts) is provided. It is supplied to a classifying chamber 104 formed by a guide member 102 of a conical member in a cylindrical shape and a classifying plate 103, receives a dispersion action by a swirling flow formed inside the dispersion chamber 101, and is further guided to the classifying chamber 104. By centrifugal separation, the solid substance (T) is discharged to the fine powder discharge port 105 and the coarse powder discharge port 106, and the fine powder (Ts) and the coarse powder (T
l).

In such a classifier, it is also known that, when air is sucked into a classifying chamber, the classifying limit particle diameter is changed by changing the position and direction of air flow (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-1994). No. 154709 and JP-A-10-2021
No. 91, etc.).

[0006] In such a conventional classifier, the particle size of the recovered solid substance varies in a predetermined distribution width. For example, in the conventional classifier shown in FIG. 6, a mixture of 85 parts by weight of a styrene-acrylic copolymer resin and 15 parts by weight of carbon black is melt-kneaded, cooled, roughly crushed by a hammer mill, and then jet-milled. Is supplied with a finely pulverized solid material at an exhaust blower pressure of 1620 mmAq.
Under the conditions described above, the particles were classified so as to have a volume average particle size of 7.8 μm as measured by a Coulter counter. As a result, the content (% by weight) of fine powder having a volume average particle size of 7.88 μm and 4 μm or less was 10.71. The ideal distribution is that all the solid substances having a desired particle size or more are collected to the coarse powder collecting side, and all the solid substances having a desired particle size or less are collected to the fine powder collecting side. However, in such a conventional classifier, the classification error in which solid substances having a desired particle size or more are collected to the fine powder collection side and solid substances having a desired particle size or less are collected to the coarse powder collection side is large. A problem that accuracy was low occurred.

[0007]

In the above-described conventional classifying apparatus and the method for producing a toner using the same, a solid substance having a desired particle size or more is transferred to a fine powder collecting side or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is used. There has been a problem that the classification error in which the substance is recovered to the coarse powder recovery side is large and the classification accuracy is low.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem. That is, a solidifying material having a desired particle size or more is collected on the fine powder collecting side, or a solid material having a desired particle size or less is collected on the coarse powder collecting side. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a toner.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a swirling flow is formed in a classification chamber.
In a classifier that classifies a solid substance by centrifugation, a solid substance supply means for supplying a solid substance to be classified, a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, A classifying member arranged, a classifying chamber formed by the guide member and the classifying member in the main body, and a central portion in a fine powder collecting direction in which fine powder of a solid substance is collected by a swirling flow formed in the classifying chamber. Fine powder discharging means for discharging fine powder, coarse powder discharging means for discharging coarse powder from a gap in a coarse powder collecting direction in which coarse powder of a solid substance is recovered by a swirling flow formed in the classification chamber, The most main feature of the present invention is a classification device including a coarse powder flow preventing means for preventing the flow of coarse powder in the direction of collecting fine powder on the lower wall surface.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the classifying apparatus according to the first aspect, the coarse powder flow preventing means is a classifying apparatus comprising a ring-shaped member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the classification apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the coarse powder flow preventing means is a classification apparatus including a plurality of ring-shaped members.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the classification device according to the second or third aspect, the height of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is not more than 1/2 of the height of the classification chamber. Is the main feature.

The present invention of claim 5 is the invention of claim 2, 3 or 4.
In the classification device described above, the main feature is that the thickness of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is 30% or less of the radius of the lower wall surface of the guide member.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the classification device according to the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, the diameter of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is a convex formed at the center of the lower wall surface of the guide member. The main feature is that it is a classification device having a diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the shape portion.

The present invention according to claim 7 is based on claims 2, 3, 4,
7. The classification device according to 5 or 6, wherein the upper outer side of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is a classification device including a curved surface portion.

The present invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claims 2, 3, 4,
The classification device according to 5, 6, or 7, is characterized in that the inside of the upper portion of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is a classification device having a curved surface portion.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the classification device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the coarse powder flow preventing means comprises:
The main feature is that it is a classifier that can be attached to and detached from the guide member by attaching and detaching means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the method for producing a toner for visualizing a latent image used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, any one of the first to ninth aspects after pulverizing a solid substance. The most main feature of the present invention is a method for producing a toner in which a toner is produced by classifying with a classifying apparatus described in (1).

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a classifying apparatus and a method of manufacturing a toner using the classifying apparatus, wherein a guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means and a guide member below the guide member are provided. Fine powder of solid material is recovered by a swirling flow formed in a classification chamber formed by the disposed classification member, the guide member in the main body, and the classification member. The coarse powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is discharged from the gap in the coarse powder collection direction in which the coarse powder of the solid substance is recovered by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. By blocking the flow in the fine powder collection direction with coarse powder flow prevention means,
It is possible to provide a classification apparatus in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or more is collected to a fine powder collecting side or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected to a coarse powder collecting side, and the classification error is small and the classification accuracy is high. To

In a second aspect, a classifying chamber formed by a guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, a classifying member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means prevents the coarse powder from flowing in the fine powder collecting direction on the lower wall surface of the guide member, and the solid substance having a desired particle size or more has a simple structure. Or a classifier having a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is recovered to a coarse powder recovery side.

In a third aspect, a classifying chamber formed by a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, a classifying member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The solid material having a desired particle size or more has a simple structure in which the flow of coarse powder in the direction of collecting fine powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is blocked by the plurality of ring-shaped members of the coarse powder flow blocking means. It is possible to provide a classification device having a smaller classification error and a higher classification accuracy, in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is recovered to a coarse powder collection side.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a classification chamber formed by a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, a classification member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body, and the classification member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The flow of the coarse powder in the direction of collecting the fine powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is prevented by the ring-shaped member of the coarse-flow preventing means, and the height of the ring-shaped member is not more than half the height of the classification chamber. In such a manner, the swirl flow inside the classification chamber is largely changed and the solid matter recovery rate is not reduced, and the solid matter having a desired particle size or more is supplied to the fine powder collection side with a simple structure, or
A classification apparatus which has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is recovered to a coarse powder recovery side can be provided.

In a fifth aspect, a classification member formed by a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, a classification member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body and the classification member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The flow of the coarse powder in the direction of collecting the fine powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is prevented by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means, and the thickness of the ring-shaped member is 30% or less of the radius of the lower wall surface of the guide member. So that the swirl flow inside the classification chamber changes greatly and the solid matter recovery rate does not decrease,
Provides a classification device that has a simple structure and has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance with a desired particle size or more is collected to the fine powder collection side or a solid substance with a desired particle size or less is collected to the coarse powder collection side. To be able to

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a classification chamber formed by a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, a classification member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body, and the classification member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The flow of coarse powder in the direction of collecting fine powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is prevented by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means, and the diameter of the ring-shaped member is formed at the center of the lower wall surface of the guide member. By making the diameter of the solid portion larger than the diameter of the shape portion, the swirling flow along the lower wall surface of the guide member does not greatly change and the movement of the solid material hardly changes, and the solid material having a simple structure and a desired particle size or more is obtained. To the fine powder collection side, or
A classification apparatus which has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is recovered to a coarse powder recovery side can be provided.

In a seventh aspect, a classifying chamber formed by a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, a classifying member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The ring-shaped member of the coarse-particle flow preventing means prevents the coarse powder from flowing in the fine powder collecting direction on the lower wall surface of the guide member, and the upper outer side of the ring-shaped member is formed of a curved surface portion. Prevents stagnation of swirling flow outside the mounting part on the top of the shaped member and solid material accumulation during continuous operation, improves the recovery rate of solid material, improves cleanability, has a simple structure, and has a desired particle size It is possible to provide a classification apparatus which has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which the solid substance is collected on the fine powder collection side or the solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected on the coarse powder collection side.

In a preferred embodiment, a classifying chamber formed by a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, a classifying member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The flow of coarse powder in the direction of collecting fine powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is prevented by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means, and the inside of the upper portion of the ring-shaped member is formed of a curved surface portion. Prevents stagnation of swirling flow inside the upper part of the shaped member and accumulation of solid substances during continuous operation, improves the recovery rate of solid substances, improves cleanability, has a simple structure, and has a desired particle size. It is possible to provide a classification apparatus which has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which the solid substance is collected on the fine powder collection side or the solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected on the coarse powder collection side.

In a ninth aspect, a classifying chamber formed by a guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, a classifying member disposed below the guide member, a guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the fine powder. The fine powder is discharged from the central part in the fine powder recovery direction by the fine powder discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirl flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the powder collecting direction,
The flow of coarse powder in the direction of collecting the fine powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is prevented by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow prevention means, and the coarse powder flow prevention means can be detachably attached to the guide member by the detachable means. In addition, the work of switching the attachment of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow prevention means to the lower wall surface of the guide member is also shortened, and the height of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow prevention means can be easily adjusted. Provided is a classifier having a simple structure, a solid substance having a desired particle size or more is collected to a fine powder collecting side, or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected to a coarse powder collecting side, the classification error is small and the classification accuracy is high. To be able to

In the tenth aspect, after the solid substance is pulverized, the toner is produced by classifying the solid substance with the classifier according to the first to ninth aspects. To provide a toner production method for producing a toner having a small classification error and high classification accuracy in which a solid substance is collected on a fine powder collection side or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected on a coarse powder collection side. I do.

[0029]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the classifying apparatus 0 is configured such that gaseous air is supplied from the supply pipe 1 a and the secondary gas inlet 1 b of the solid substance supply means 1 in the directions of arrows A and B shown in FIG. 1c, gaseous air is discharged from the fine powder discharge port 5a of the fine powder discharge means 5 and the coarse powder discharge port 6a of the coarse powder discharge means 6 in the illustrated arrow C direction, the illustrated arrow D direction, and the illustrated arrow E direction. The conical guide member 2 in the dispersion chamber 1d and the main body 0a
A swirling flow field is formed inside the classification chamber 4 formed by the classification plate of the classification member 3.

A solid substance (T) having a particle size on the order of microns is supplied from the supply pipe 1a in the direction of the arrow A shown in the drawing, guided into the dispersion chamber 1d, and subjected to centrifugal separation. The substance (T) rotates while the arrow F shown in the figure.
Fall in the direction. At this time, the fine powder having a very small particle diameter of the solid substance (T) is guided toward the center of the dispersion chamber 1d,
It is discharged from the exhaust pipe 1c in the direction of arrow C shown in the figure.

The solid substance (T) that has fallen while rotating from the dispersion chamber 1d passes through the gap 4a and is guided into the classification chamber 4, where the solid substance (T) is also subjected to a centrifugal separation action, and the solid substance (T) is coarsened. The powder (Tl) passes through the gap 4b between the end of the classifying plate of the classifying member 3 and the inner wall surface of the main body 0a in the coarse powder collecting direction in the direction of arrow G shown in the figure, which moves away from the center of the classifying chamber 4 by centrifugal force. Then, the powder is discharged from the coarse powder discharge port 6a of the coarse powder discharging means 6.

On the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2, a coarse powder flow preventing means 7 for preventing the coarse powder (Tl) from flowing in the fine powder recovery direction in the direction of arrow H shown in the figure, preferably in the form of a perfect circular ring. A ring-shaped member 7a is arranged. Due to the arrangement of the ring-shaped member 7 a of the ring shape of the coarse powder flow preventing means 7 on the lower wall surface 2 a of the guide member 2, a distributed flow is formed in the classification chamber 4,
In particular, near the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2, the speed of the flow in the direction of the arrow H shown in the figure is higher than in other places,
The solid substance (T) introduced into the classifying chamber 4 is easily guided in the direction of the fine powder collection in the direction of the arrow H shown in the drawing approaching the center of the classifying chamber 4 and is collected in the direction of the coarse powder collection in the direction of the arrow G. The flow of the coarse powder (Tl) of the solid substance (T) to be guided to the fine powder collection direction in the direction of the arrow H shown in the drawing is prevented, and the fine powder (Ts) of the solid substance (T) is centrifugally applied to the classification chamber 4.
And is discharged from the fine powder discharge 5a of the fine powder discharge means 5 to perform classification.

The solid substance (T) is, for example, 85 parts by weight of a styrene-acrylic copolymer resin and 15 parts of carbon black 15
The mixture of parts by weight is melt-kneaded, cooled, coarsely pulverized by a hammer mill (not shown), finely pulverized by a jet mill (not shown), and then supplied with the solid material supply means of the classifier 0. If the exhaust blower pressure is 1620 mmAq and the height of the ring-shaped member 7a is too high, the swirling flow inside the classification chamber 4 changes greatly, and the solid substance (T) recovery rate is increased. When the thickness of the ring-shaped member 7a is too large, the swirling flow inside the classifying chamber 4 is greatly changed, and the solid is formed. Since the recovery rate of the substance (T) decreases, the radius of the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2 is preferably 30% or less and 1.5 m
m, if the diameter of the ring-shaped member 7a is set to be equal to or less than the diameter of the convex portion 2b formed at the center of the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2, the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2
And the movement of the solid substance (T) hardly changes, so that the diameter is equal to or larger than the diameter of the convex portion 2b.
As a result of classification under the condition of 0 mm so that the volume average particle size becomes 7.8 μm as measured by a Coulter counter, the volume average particle size was 7.66 μm and 4 μm or less for a feed amount of 10.5 kg / h. The fine powder content (% by weight) is 6.67, the particle size distribution is sharper than that of the conventional classifier 100, the classification error is small, and the classification device 0 for classifying the toner with high classification accuracy and the production of the toner using the same. A method can now be provided.

Therefore, the solid substance (T) having a desired particle size or more
Classifier 0 having high classification accuracy with a small classification error in which solid substance (T) having a desired particle size or less is collected in the coarse powder collection direction, and a method of manufacturing a toner using the same. Can now be provided.

In FIG. 3, preferably, the coarse powder flow preventing means 7 for preventing the coarse powder (Tl) from flowing in the fine powder collecting direction in the direction indicated by arrow H on the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2 is preferable. The plurality of ring-shaped members 7a ₁ and 7a _{2 having} a perfect circular ring shape are arranged on the inside and outside as shown in the figure.

The solid substance (T) is, for example, 85 parts by weight of a styrene-acrylic copolymer resin and 15 parts of carbon black 15
The mixture of parts by weight is melt-kneaded, cooled, coarsely pulverized by a hammer mill (not shown), finely pulverized by a jet mill (not shown), and then supplied with the solid material supply means of the classifier 0. 1 is supplied to the classification chamber 4 by an exhaust blower pressure 1620MmAq, the diameter of the plurality of the ring-shaped member 7a ₁ is 150mm and the ring-shaped member 7a ₂ diameter of 170mm and height of the classifying chamber 4 high About one-half of the ring-shaped members 7
The diameter of a ₁ is 150mm and the diameter of the ring-shaped member 7a ₂ of 170mm under conditions of thickness 1.5 mm, the volume average particle diameter measured by a Coulter counter is 7.80μm
As a result, the feed amount was 10.5 kg /
With respect to h, the content of fine powder having a volume average particle size of 7.70 μm and 4 μm or less (weight%) is 4.59, and a sharper particle size distribution is obtained, and a classification error is small and a classification accuracy is high. It has become possible to provide a classifier 0 and a method for producing a toner using the same.

Therefore, a solid substance (T) having a desired particle size or more
Is smaller in the direction of collecting fine powder or solid substance (T) having a desired particle size or less is collected in the direction of collecting coarse powder. Manufacturing methods can now be provided.

In FIG. 4, preferably, the coarse powder flow preventing means 7 for preventing the coarse powder (Tl) from flowing in the fine powder collection direction in the direction of arrow H shown in the drawing on the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2. An R-shaped curved surface portion 7b is provided on the upper outer side of the ring-shaped member 7a having a perfect circular shape, and an R-shaped curved surface portion 7c is provided on the upper inner side. Therefore, the stagnation of the swirl flow at the upper portion of the ring-shaped member 7a of the coarse powder flow preventing means 7 on the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2 and the accumulation of the solid substance (T) during continuous operation are prevented. As a result, the recovery rate of the solid substance (T) is improved and the cleaning property is also good, and the solid substance (T) having a desired particle size or more is moved toward the fine powder collection direction or the solid substance (T) having a desired particle size or less. ) Can provide a classification device 0 having a smaller classification error collected in the coarse powder collection direction and a higher classification accuracy, and a method for producing a toner using the same.

In FIG. 5, preferably, the coarse powder flow preventing means 7 for preventing the coarse powder (Tl) from flowing in the fine powder collecting direction in the direction indicated by arrow H on the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2 is preferable. The above-mentioned ring-shaped member 7a having a perfect circular ring shape
But detachment of the detachable unit 7d Hadakako 7d ₁ and detachable Hadakako hole 7d ₂
It can be attached and detached by attaching and detaching. Accordingly, the coarse powder flow preventing means 7 is provided on the lower wall surface 2a of the guide member 2.
The work of switching the mounting of the ring-shaped member 7a is also shortened, the height of the ring-shaped member 7a of the coarse powder flow preventing means 7 can be easily adjusted, and a solid substance having a desired particle size or more can be obtained. (T) is collected in the fine powder collection direction, or a solid substance (T) having a desired particle size or less is collected in the coarse powder collection direction. It is possible to provide a method for producing a toner that is less susceptible.

[0040]

According to the present invention, as described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, and a guide member provided below the guide member. Fine powder of solid material is recovered by a swirling flow formed in a classification chamber formed by the disposed classification member, the guide member in the main body, and the classification member. The coarse powder on the lower wall surface of the guide member is discharged from the gap in the coarse powder collection direction in which the coarse powder of the solid substance is recovered by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. Since the flow in the fine powder recovery direction is blocked by the coarse powder flow prevention means, solid substances having a desired particle size or more are directed to the fine powder recovery side, or solid substances having a desired particle diameter or less are directed to the coarse powder recovery side. Recovered classification error is small and classification accuracy is high It has become possible to provide a classification device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction at the lower wall surface of the guide member is performed by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means. Since it is prevented, solid substances with a desired particle size or more are collected to the fine powder collection side or solid substances with a desired particle size or less are collected to the coarse powder collection side with a simple structure. Providing a highly accurate classification device Theft has become to be able to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction on the lower wall surface of the guide member is formed by a plurality of ring shapes of coarse powder flow preventing means. Since the material is blocked by a member, the classification error in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or more is collected to the fine powder collecting side or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected to the coarse powder collecting side with a simple structure. Classification smaller and higher classification accuracy It has become to be able to provide a location.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction at the lower wall surface of the guide member is performed by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means. So that the height of the ring-shaped member is 1 / the height of the classification chamber.
2 or less, so that the swirl flow inside the classification chamber does not greatly change and the solid matter recovery rate does not decrease. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a classification device having a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is recovered to a coarse powder recovery side.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction at the lower wall surface of the guide member is performed by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means. Since the thickness of the ring-shaped member is set to be 30% or less of the radius of the lower wall surface of the guide member, the swirling flow inside the classification chamber is greatly changed, and the solid matter recovery rate is reduced. No simple structure Thus, it is possible to provide a classification device in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or more is collected to a fine powder collecting side, or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected to a coarse powder collecting side and the classification error is small and the classification accuracy is high. I can do it.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction at the lower wall surface of the guide member is performed by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means. Since the diameter of the ring-shaped member is made larger than the diameter of the convex portion formed in the center of the lower wall surface of the guide member, the swirling flow along the lower wall surface of the guide member does not change significantly and Movement of matter The solid material with the desired particle size or more is collected to the fine powder collection side or the solid material with the desired particle size or less is collected to the coarse powder collection side with a simple structure. It has become possible to provide a highly accurate classification device.

According to the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction at the lower wall surface of the guide member is performed by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means. The upper part of the ring-shaped member is formed with a curved surface so as to prevent stagnation of the swirling flow outside the mounting part of the upper part of the ring-shaped member and the accumulation of solid substances during continuous operation. Solid May be cleaning of the recovery rate is improved,
Provides a classification device that has a simple structure and has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance with a desired particle size or more is collected to the fine powder collection side or a solid substance with a desired particle size or less is collected to the coarse powder collection side. Now you can do it.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid material supplied by the solid material supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction at the lower wall surface of the guide member is performed by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means. The upper part of the ring-shaped member is made of a curved surface so as to prevent stagnation of the swirling flow inside the upper part of the ring-shaped member and the accumulation of solid matter during continuous operation. Solid May be cleaning of the recovery rate is improved,
Provides a classification device that has a simple structure and has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance with a desired particle size or more is collected to the fine powder collection side or a solid substance with a desired particle size or less is collected to the coarse powder collection side. Now you can do it.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the guide member is formed by the guide member for guiding the solid substance supplied by the solid substance supply means, the classifying member disposed below the guide member, the guide member in the main body, and the classifying member. The fine powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The fine powder is discharged from the center in the fine powder collection direction by the fine discharge means, and the coarse powder of the solid substance is collected by the swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. The coarse powder is discharged by the coarse powder discharging means from the gap in the coarse powder collecting direction, and the flow of the coarse powder in the fine powder collecting direction at the lower wall surface of the guide member is performed by the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means. In addition, the coarse powder flow preventing means can be attached to and detached from the guide member by the attaching / detaching means, so that the work of switching the attachment of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means to the lower wall surface of the guide member is also shortened. Is The height of the ring-shaped member of the powder flow prevention means can be easily adjusted, and the solid substance having a desired particle size or more is transferred to the fine powder collecting side or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less with a simple structure. It has become possible to provide a classification device which has a small classification error and a high classification accuracy collected to the coarse powder collection side.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, after the solid substance is pulverized, the toner is produced by classifying the solid substance with the classifying apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects. Thus, it is possible to produce a toner having a small classification error and a high classification accuracy in which a solid substance having a desired particle size or more is collected to a fine powder collecting side or a solid substance having a desired particle size or less is collected to a coarse powder collecting side. A method for producing a toner can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a classification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of a classification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory view for explaining a main part of a classification device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view illustrating a main part of a collected toner classification device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view illustrating a main part of a collected toner classification device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a classifier according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

0 classifier, 0a main body 1 solid substance supply means, 1a supply pipe, 1b secondary gas inlet, 1c exhaust pipe, 1d dispersion chamber 2 guide member, 2a lower wall surface, 2b convex shape 3 classification member 4 classification chamber, 4a Gap 4b gap 5 fine powder discharge means, 5a fine powder discharge port 6 coarse powder discharge means, 6a coarse powder discharge port 7 coarse powder flow prevention means, 7a ring-shaped member, 7a ₁
Ring-shaped member, 7a ₂ ring-shaped member, 7a _n ring-shaped member, 7b curved portion, 7c curved portion,
7d attachment / detachment means, 7d ₁ attachment / detachment element, 7d ₂ attachment / detachment hole 100 Classifier, 100a Main body 101 Dispersion chamber 102 Guide member 103 Classification plate 104 Classification chamber 105 Fine powder discharge port 106 Coarse powder discharge port

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuyoshi Morii 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Eiji Sugisawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (reference) 2H005 AB04 EA05 4D021 FA25 GA02 GA03 GA05 GA06 GA08 GA18 GA29 GA30 HA01 HA10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A classifying device for forming a swirling flow in a classifying chamber and centrifuging and classifying a solid substance, wherein the solid substance supply means for supplying a solid substance to be classified and the solid substance supply means. A guide member for guiding the solid substance, a classifying member disposed below the guide member, a classifying chamber formed by the guide member and the classifying member in the main body, and a swirling flow formed in the classifying chamber. A fine powder discharging means for discharging fine powder from a central portion in a fine powder collecting direction in which fine powder of solid substance is collected, and a gap in a coarse powder collecting direction in which coarse powder of solid substance is recovered by a swirling flow formed in the classification chamber. A classifier comprising: a coarse powder discharging means for discharging coarse powder; and a coarse powder flow preventing means for preventing a flow of coarse powder in a direction of collecting fine powder on a lower wall surface of the guide member. 2. The classification device according to claim 1, wherein the coarse powder flow preventing means comprises a ring-shaped member. 3. A classifier according to claim 1, wherein the coarse powder flow preventing means comprises a plurality of ring-shaped members. 4. The classification device according to claim 2, wherein the height of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is equal to or less than half the height of the classification chamber. 5. The classification device according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is not more than 30% of the radius of the lower wall surface of the guide member. apparatus. 6. The classifier according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the diameter of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is:
A classifier characterized in that the diameter is equal to or greater than the diameter of a convex portion formed in the center of the lower wall surface of the guide member. 7. The classifying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an upper outer side of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means comprises a curved surface portion. 8. The classification device according to claim 2, wherein the inside of the upper part of the ring-shaped member of the coarse powder flow preventing means is formed of a curved surface portion. . 9. The classifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coarse powder flow preventing means is detachable from the guide member by attaching and detaching means. 10. A method for producing a toner for visualizing a latent image used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: A method for producing a toner, comprising producing a toner by classification.