JP2003107905A - Developing device, image forming device, toner, and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a developing device, etc., for forming a high quality image by the use of toner comprising toner particles of a small particle diameter. SOLUTION: In toner particles composing toner, the weight concentration of an additive agent relative to mother particles for the toner particles in which the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles satisfies D<=|R1-R2| is higher than the weight concentration of the additive agent relative to mother particles for the toner particles in which the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles satisfies D>|R1-R2|, wherein R1 is ten-point average coarseness in the direction of the movement of a toner carrier and R2 is ten- point average coarseness in the direction toward the leading end of the layer thickness regulation side of a layer thickness regulating member.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of devices such as printers, copiers and facsimiles are known as image forming devices for forming images on various media such as paper, cloth, film and the like. In some cases, toner is used to form an image on a medium.

There are various methods for producing this toner, such as a pulverization method and a polymerization method. However, no matter what production method is used, the particle diameter of the toner particles produced is within a certain range. Some toner particles have a relatively large particle size, and some have a relatively small particle size. If the toner particles have different particle diameters, the charging characteristics,
Various characteristics such as heat absorption characteristics are different.

Therefore, in order to form a high quality image by using toner, it is necessary to firmly manage the state of each toner particle including the toner particles having a small particle diameter of about 1 micron.

From this point of view, the particle size distribution of toner is widely measured, and a method called a small hole passage method (Coulter method) is often used as the measuring method. As a device employing this measuring method, Coulter Multisizer, etc. are commercially available. In this small hole passage method, toner particles are dispersed and suspended in an electrolyte solution to form partition walls with pores as shown in FIG. 7, and voltage is applied to both ends of the partition walls to suspend them in the measurement pores (aperture). When the turbid liquid is passed, the electrolyte in the pores is reduced by the volume of the toner particles in the liquid when passing through the pores, so that the electric resistance is increased. This resistance change is observed as a voltage pulse, and the volume-based particle size distribution is obtained by measuring this pulse.

In addition, a scanning electron microscope (SEM: Scan)
It is also widely used to observe the state of each toner particle using a ning electron microscope).

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned small hole passage method is merely a method for measuring the particle size of toner particles, and moreover, it is more than the size of the measuring pores (aperture size). If the toner particles are too small, the measurement will be inaccurate. Depending on the size of the pores, the particle size is 1
For toner particles smaller than micron, it may not appear on the data at all.

Further, a scanning electron microscope (SEM: Scan)
The ning electron microscope) is merely an apparatus for observing toner particles from the outside, and is not suitable for quantitatively analyzing the physical properties of each toner particle.

Therefore, in order to form a high-quality image using a toner containing toner particles having a small particle diameter, it is necessary to accurately analyze toner particles having a particle diameter of about 1 μm. Furthermore, for each toner particle including such small toner particles, not only the particle size but also the physical properties such as the adhesion state of the external additive to the mother particles are quantitatively analyzed to obtain a preferable state as a whole toner. Need to be.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is a developing device for forming a high quality image by using a toner containing toner particles having a small particle diameter, It is to realize an image forming apparatus, a toner, and a computer system.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the main invention is to provide a toner having mother particles and an external additive externally added to the mother particles, and a toner carrying the toner and moving. In a developing device having a carrier and a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried by the toner carrier, a ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier Is R1 and the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side used for the layer thickness regulation of the layer thickness regulating member is R2, the equivalent of mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner The particle size D is D ≦ | R1-R2
For toner particles satisfying |, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles is such that the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles is D> | R1-
It is characterized in that the toner particles satisfying R2 | are higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS At least the following will be made clear by the description in the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A toner having mother particles and an external additive externally added to the mother particles, a toner carrier carrying the toner and moving, and a layer thickness of the toner carried on the toner carrier. In a developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness regulating member, the ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier is R1, and the side of the layer thickness regulating member used for regulating the layer thickness is Of the toner particles constituting the toner, where the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles satisfies D ≦ | R1-R2 |, where R2 is the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip. The weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles is such that the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles is D> | R1-R2 |
The developing device is characterized in that the toner particles satisfying the conditions are higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles.

According to such a developing device, the toner, which is positioned as so-called fine powder toner in relation to the surface roughness of the toner carrier and the surface roughness of the layer thickness regulating member, adheres strongly to the surface of the toner carrier. It will be suppressed.

Further, in such a developing device, the mother particles may contain a release agent.

According to such a developing device, it is possible to prevent the fine powder toner having high adhesiveness from strongly adhering to the surface of the toner carrier.

In the developing device, the release agent may be incompatible with the mother particles.

According to such a developing device, it is possible to prevent the fine powder toner, which has incompatibility with the mother particles and thus has higher adhesiveness, from strongly adhering to the surface of the toner carrier. Is possible.

In the developing device, the mother particles may be manufactured by a pulverizing method.

When mother particles having an incompatible mold release agent (WAX) are manufactured by a pulverization method, the mold release agent is easily exposed on the surface of the mother particles, and the exposed mold release agent causes the fine powder toner. Tend to adhere strongly to the surface of the toner carrier, but since the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles in the fine powder toner is high, the fine powder toner adheres strongly to the surface of the toner carrier. Can be suppressed.

Further, in such a developing device, the tip of the layer thickness regulating member is not in contact with the toner carrier, and the portion apart from the tip by a predetermined distance is in contact with the toner carrier. The contact position may be below the rotation center position of the toner carrier.

The tip of the layer thickness regulating member is not in contact with the toner carrier, and the portion apart from the tip by a predetermined distance is in contact with the toner carrier, and the contact position is the toner carrier. When it is below the rotation center position of the holding body, strong adhesion of the fine powder toner to the surface of the toner holding body is promoted. However, as described above, since the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles is high in the fine powder toner,
It becomes possible to prevent the fine powder toner from strongly adhering to the surface of the toner carrier.

Further, such a developing device has a rotatable toner supply member for supplying toner particles to the toner carrier, and the rotation direction of this toner supply member is the rotation direction of the toner carrier. It may be in the opposite direction.

When the rotation direction of the toner supply member is opposite to the rotation direction of the toner carrier, the strong adhesion of the fine powder toner to the surface of the toner carrier is promoted. However, as described above, since the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles in the fine powder toner is high, it is possible to prevent the fine powder toner from strongly adhering to the surface of the toner carrier.

Further, in such a developing device, there is provided a seal member which is in contact with the toner carrier for preventing the leakage of the toner in the developing device, and the contact position is at the contact position of the toner carrier. It may be above the rotation center position of.

When the contact position of the seal member with the toner carrier is above the rotation center position of the toner carrier, the fine powder toner adheres strongly to the surface of the toner carrier. Is promoted. However, as described above, since the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles in the fine powder toner is high, it is possible to prevent the fine powder toner from strongly adhering to the surface of the toner carrier.

Further, in such a developing device, there is provided a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner, the toner supply member is arranged below the toner accommodating portion, and the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion is It may be a developing device that is supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply member below the toner storage portion.

A toner supply member is disposed below the toner storage portion, and the toner stored in the toner storage portion is supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply member below the toner storage portion. In that case, the strong adhesion of the fine powder toner to the surface of the toner carrier is promoted. However, as described above, since the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles in the fine powder toner is high, it is possible to prevent the fine powder toner from strongly adhering to the surface of the toner carrier.

Further, a toner having a mother particle and an external additive externally added to the mother particle, a toner carrier carrying the toner and moving, and a toner carried on the toner carrier. In a developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness, the ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier is R1, and is used for the layer thickness regulating of the layer thickness regulating member. When the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side is R2, the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner is D ≦ | R1-R2 |
For the toner particles satisfying the above conditions, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles is such that the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles is D> | R1-R
2 | higher than the weight concentration of the external additive to the mother particles for the toner particles, the mother particles have a release agent that is incompatible with the mother particles, and the mother particles are pulverized. It is manufactured by a method, the tip of the layer thickness regulating member is not in contact with the toner carrier, the portion away from the tip a predetermined distance is in contact with the toner carrier, The contact position is below the rotation center position of the toner carrier, and has a rotatable toner supply member that supplies toner particles to the toner carrier, and the rotation direction of the toner supply member is It has a seal member that is in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the toner carrier and is in contact with the toner carrier in order to prevent toner leakage in the developing device, and the contact position is Above the center of rotation of the toner carrier A toner storage unit for storing toner is provided, the toner supply member is disposed below the toner storage unit, and the toner stored in the toner storage unit supplies the toner at the lower portion of the toner storage unit. A developing device, which is supplied to the toner carrier by a member.

According to such a developing device, the surface roughness of the toner carrier and the surface of the layer thickness regulating member are formed even though the fine powder toner is very likely to adhere to the surface of the toner carrier. Adhesion of toner, which is positioned as so-called fine powder toner in relation to roughness, to the surface of the toner carrier is suppressed.

An image forming apparatus equipped with such a developing device can also be realized.

According to such an image forming apparatus, the toner, which is positioned as so-called fine toner in relation to the surface roughness of the toner carrier and the surface roughness of the layer thickness regulating member, adheres strongly to the surface of the toner carrier. As a result, it is possible to form a high-quality image.

Further, it is used in a developing device having a toner carrier for carrying toner and moving it, and a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried by the toner carrier. A toner having mother particles and an external additive externally added to the mother particles, wherein a ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier is R1, and the layer thickness regulation member is configured to regulate the layer thickness. When the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side used for is R2, the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner is D ≦ | R1-R
For toner particles satisfying 2 |, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles is such that the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles is D> | R1.
A toner characterized in that the toner particles satisfying -R2 | are higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles.

According to such a toner, the toner, which is positioned as so-called fine powder toner in relation to the surface roughness of the toner carrier and the surface roughness of the layer thickness regulating member, adheres strongly to the surface of the toner carrier. It will be suppressed.

Further, a computer main body, a display device, an input device, a toner having mother particles and an external additive externally added to the mother particles, and a toner carrier for carrying the toner and moving the toner. In a computer system provided with an image forming apparatus having a developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried on the toner carrier, the moving direction of the toner carrier Where R1 is the ten-point average roughness in R, and R2 is the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side used for the layer thickness regulation of the layer thickness regulating member, the toner particles constituting the toner are Among these, for toner particles in which the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles satisfies D ≦ | R1-R2 |, the equivalent concentration D of the mother particles is D> | R1- R2 |
The computer system is characterized in that the toner particles satisfying the conditions are higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles.

According to such a computer system, the toner, which is positioned as so-called fine powder toner in relation to the surface roughness of the toner carrier and the surface roughness of the layer thickness regulating member, adheres strongly to the surface of the toner carrier. As a result, it is possible to form a high-quality image, and as a result, it is possible to realize a computer system superior to the conventional one.

=== Outline of Image Forming Apparatus (Laser Beam Printer) === Next, with reference to FIG. 1, an outline of the laser beam printer 10 will be described as an image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the main constituent elements of the laser beam printer 10. Note that, in FIG. 1, the up and down directions are indicated by arrows, and for example, the paper feed tray 92 is
The fixing device 90 is arranged below the laser beam printer 10, and the fixing device 90 is arranged above the laser beam printer 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser beam printer 10 according to the present embodiment has a charging device 30, which is arranged along the rotation direction of a photoconductor 20 which is a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image.
It has an exposure device 40 and a YMCK developing device 50.
Primary transfer device 60, intermediate transfer member 70, secondary transfer device 8
0 and the fixing device 90.

The photoconductor 20 has a cylindrical conductive base material and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable about the central axis. In the present embodiment, it is shown in FIG. Rotate clockwise as shown by the arrow.

The charging device 30 is a device for charging the photoconductor 20, and the exposure device 40 is a device for forming a latent image on the charged photoconductor 20 by irradiating a laser. The exposure device 40 has a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like, and charges a modulated laser based on an image signal input from a host device (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor. The exposed photoconductor 20 is irradiated.

The YMCK developing device 50 develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 using yellow (Y) toner, magenta (M) toner, cyan (C) toner, and black (K) toner. It is a device for.

The YMCK developing device 50 includes a black developing device 52a containing black (K) toner, a magenta developing device 52b containing magenta (M) toner, and
A cyan developing device 52c containing cyan (C) toner,
Further, it has a yellow developing device 52d containing a yellow (Y) toner. These four developing devices are configured so as to be rotatable about the central axis.
Each time 0 rotates one revolution, the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 is selectively opposed to the photoconductor 20 by the toner contained in each developing device. The details of each developing device will be described later.

The primary transfer device 60 is a device for transferring the monochromatic toner image formed on the photosensitive member 20 to the intermediate transfer member 70. The intermediate transfer member 70 is an endless belt, and is rotationally driven at the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive member 20. The secondary transfer device 80 is a device for transferring the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 70 to a recording medium such as paper, film, cloth or the like. The fixing device 90 is a device for fusing a full-color toner image transferred onto a recording medium to a medium such as paper to form a permanent image.

Next, the operation of the laser beam printer 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to other components.

First, when an image signal from a host device (not shown) is input to the laser beam printer 10, the photoconductor 2
0, the developing roller as a toner carrier provided in each developing device, and the intermediate transfer body 70 rotate. Photoconductor 20
Are sequentially charged by the charging device 30 at the charging position while rotating.

The charged area of the photoconductor 20 is equal to that of the photoconductor 2.
With the rotation of 0, the exposure position is reached, and the exposure device 40 forms a latent image corresponding to the image information of the first color, for example, yellow Y, in the area. In addition, the YMCK developing device 5
0 positions the yellow developing device 52d containing the yellow (Y) toner at the developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the developing position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is developed with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 52d. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor 20.

The yellow toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates,
The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70 by the primary transfer device 60. At this time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer device 60. During this time, the secondary transfer device 80 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70.

By repeating the above processing for the second color, the third color, and the fourth color, the toner images of four colors corresponding to the respective image signals are overlapped on the intermediate transfer member 70. Transcribed. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70.

The full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer member 70 rotates, and is transferred to the recording medium by the secondary transfer device 80. The recording medium is conveyed from the paper feed tray 92 to the secondary transfer device 80 via the paper feed roller 94 and the registration roller 96. When performing the transfer operation, the secondary transfer device 8
0 is pressed by the intermediate transfer member 70 and a secondary transfer voltage is applied.

The full-color toner image transferred to the recording medium is heated and pressed by the fixing device 90 and fused to the recording medium.

The photoconductor 20 is unitized together with the charging device 30, and this unit is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the laser beam printer 10. Further, the black developing device 52a, the magenta developing device 52b, the cyan developing device 52c, and the yellow developing device 52d can be respectively attached to and detached from the main body of the laser beam printer 10.

=== Outline of Developing Device === Next, an outline of the developing device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the main components of the developing device. Note that, similarly to FIG. 1, in FIG. 2 as well, the up and down directions are indicated by arrows. For example, the central axis of the developing roller 510 is
It is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, in FIG. 1, the yellow developing device 52d is shown in a state of being located at the developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

The YMCK developing device 50 includes a black developing device 52a containing black (K) toner, a magenta developing device 52b containing magenta (M) toner, and
A cyan developing device 52c containing cyan (C) toner,
Also, a yellow developing device 52d containing yellow (Y) toner is provided, but since the configuration of each developing device is the same, the yellow developing device 52d will be described below.

The yellow developing device 52d includes a developing roller 510 as a developer carrier, a seal member 520, a toner storage portion 530, a frame 540, a toner supply roller 550 as a toner supply member, and a regulation blade as a layer thickness regulation member. 560, and a blade backing member 570 for urging the regulation blade.

Developing roller 510 as a toner carrier
Carries the toner T and conveys it to a developing position facing the photoconductor 20. The developing roller 510 is made of aluminum,
It is made of stainless steel, iron, etc., and is plated with nickel, chrome, etc., if necessary.
Further, the developing roller 510 can rotate about the central axis, and as shown in FIG. 2, in a direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2) opposite to the rotation direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 2) of the photoconductor 20. Rotate. The central axis is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the yellow developing device 52d faces the photoconductor 20, there is a gap between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20. That is, the yellow developing device 52d develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 in a non-contact state. When developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20,
An alternating electric field is formed between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 10.

The seal member 520 is used for the yellow developing device 5.
The toner T in 2d is prevented from leaking out of the device, and the toner T on the developing roller 510 which has passed the developing position is also prevented.
Are collected in the developing device without being scraped off. The seal member 520 is a seal made of polyethylene film or the like. The seal member 520 is a seal support metal plate 522.
Supported by the seal support sheet metal 522 and attached to the frame 540. Further, a seal urging member 524 made of maltoprene or the like is provided on the opposite side of the seal member 520 from the developing roller 510 side, and the seal member 520 is developed by the elastic force of the seal urging member 524. It is pressed against 510. The contact position where the seal member 520 contacts the developing roller 510 is above the central axis of the developing roller 510.

The toner storage portion 530 is a portion for storing the toner T, and is constituted by a part of the frame 540. The toner T stored in the toner storage portion 590
Although a stirring member may be provided to stir the developing device, in the present embodiment, each developing device (black developing device 52a, magenta developing device 52b,
Since the cyan developing device 52c and the yellow developing device 52d are rotated and the toner T in each developing device is agitated, the toner container 530 is not provided with an agitating member.

The toner supply roller 550 supplies the toner T contained in the toner container 530 to the developing roller 510. The toner supply roller 550 is made of polyurethane foam or the like, and is elastically deformed in the developing roller 5
It is in contact with 10. The toner supply roller 550 is disposed below the toner storage unit 530, and the toner T stored in the toner storage unit 530 is the toner storage unit 530.
At the lower part of the developing roller 5 by the toner supply member 530.
Supplied to 10. The toner supply roller 550 is rotatable about a central axis, and the central axis is below the central axis of rotation of the developing roller 510. Further, the toner supply roller 550 rotates in the opposite direction (clockwise in FIG. 2) to the rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) of the developing roller 510. The toner supply roller 550 is
The developing roller 510 has a function of supplying the toner T accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 530 to the developing roller 510, and the toner remaining on the developing roller 510 after development is removed by the developing roller 51.
It also has the function of stripping from 0.

Control blade 560 as a layer thickness control member
Regulates the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510, and gives an electric charge to the toner T carried on the developing roller 510. This regulation blade 560 is provided with a rubber portion 5.
It has 60a and the rubber support part 560b. The rubber portion 560a is made of silicone rubber, urethane rubber, or the like,
The rubber support portion 560b is a thin plate having a spring property such as phosphor bronze and stainless steel. The rubber portion 560a is supported by the rubber supporting portion 560b, and the rubber supporting portion 560b is supported by the blade supporting sheet metal 562 with one end thereof sandwiched and supported by the pair of blade supporting sheet metal 562. Is attached to. Further, a blade backing member 570 made of malt plane or the like is provided on the opposite side of the regulation blade 560 from the developing roller 510 side.

Here, the rubber portion 560a is pressed against the developing roller 510 by the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber supporting portion 560b. Further, the blade back member 570 is
Toner is prevented from entering between the rubber supporting portion 560b and the frame 540, the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber supporting portion 560b is stabilized, and the rubber portion 560a is moved from the back of the rubber portion 560a toward the developing roller 510. By biasing the rubber portion 560a,
Is pressed against. Therefore, the blade back member 570
Improves the uniform contact of the rubber portion 560a with the developing roller 510.

The end of the regulating blade 560 opposite to the side supported by the blade supporting sheet metal 562, that is, the tip, is not in contact with the developing roller 510, and the portion separated from the tip by a predetermined distance. , Is in contact with the developing roller 510 with a certain width. That is, the regulation blade 560 is
The developing roller 510 is not in contact with the edge at the edge but is in contact with the abdomen. Further, the regulation blade 560 is arranged so that its tip end faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, and is in contact with what is called a counter.
The contact position where the regulation blade 560 contacts the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the developing roller 510 and below the central axis of the toner supply roller 550.

The frame 540 is manufactured by joining a plurality of integrally molded frames (upper frame, lower frame, etc.) and has an opening at the bottom. The developing roller 510 is arranged in this opening with a part thereof exposed.

The yellow developing device 5 thus constructed
In 2d, the toner supply roller 550 supplies the toner T stored in the toner storage portion 590 to the developing roller 510. The toner T supplied to the developing roller 510 is
Along with the rotation of the developing roller 510, the regulation blade 560
When reaching the contact position and passing through the contact position, the layer thickness is regulated and an electric charge is applied. The toner T on the developing roller 510 whose layer thickness is regulated is
By further rotation of 0, it reaches a developing position facing the photoconductor 20 and is used for developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 under an alternating electric field at the developing position. Developing roller 510
The toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed the developing position due to the further rotation of
It is collected in the developing device without being scraped off by the seal member 520.

=== Configuration of Toner === Next, the configuration of the toner T according to the present embodiment will be described. The toner T has mother particles and an external additive. The mother particles and the external additive are a Henschel mixer,
They are mutually dry-mixed and adhered to each other by a high-speed fluidized mixer such as Perpenmeier or a mixer such as mechanochemical method. The toner T may be either negative polarity or positive polarity toner.

The mother particles have materials such as a colorant, a charge control agent, a release agent (WAX), and a resin. Using these materials, known kneading and pulverizing method, spray-drying method,
And the mother particles are produced by a polymerization method or the like. The mother particles may further contain a dispersant, a magnetic material, other additives and the like.

As the mother particles, polystyrene and copolymers such as hydrogenated styrene resin, styrene / isobutylene copolymer, ABS resin, ASA resin, AS resin, A
AS resin, ACS resin, AES resin, styrene / P-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene / propylene copolymer,
Styrene / butadiene crosslinked polymer, styrene / butadiene / chlorinated paraffin copolymer, styrene / allyl /
Alcohol copolymer, styrene / butadiene rubber emulsion, styrene / maleic acid ester copolymer, styrene / isobutylene copolymer, styrene / maleic anhydride copolymer, acrylate resin or methacrylate resin and its copolymer, Styrene / acrylic resin and its copolymer, for example, styrene / acrylic copolymer, styrene / diethylamino / ethylmethacrylate copolymer, styrene / butadiene / acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene / methylmethacrylate copolymer , Styrene / n-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / n-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / butyl arylate / N- (ethoxymethyl) acrylamide copolymer Styrene / glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / butadiene / dimethyl / aminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / acrylic acid ester / maleic acid ester copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / 2-ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer Coal, styrene / n-butyl arylate / ethyl glycol methacrylate copolymer, styrene / n-
Butylmethacrylate / acrylic acid copolymer, styrene / n-butylmethacrylate / maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene / butylacrylate / isobutylmaleic acid half ester / divinylbenzene copolymer, polyester and its copolymer, Polyethylene and its copolymer, epoxy resin, silicone resin, polypropylene and its copolymer, fluororesin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyurethane resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, etc., one kind or a blend of two or more kinds. Can be used.

As the colorant, carbon black, spirit black, nigrosine, rhodamine, triaminotriphenylmethane, cationic, dioxazine, copper phthalocyanine, berylylene, azo, gold-containing azo pigment, azochrome complex, carmine, Benzidine,
Solar Pure Yellow 8G, quinacridone, polytungstophosphoric acid, induslen blue, sulfonamide derivative and the like can be used.

As the charge control agent, an electron-accepting organic complex, chlorinated polyester, nitrofunnic acid, quaternary ammonium salt, pyridinyl salt and the like can be used.

As the release agent (WAX), low molecular weight polypropylene, low molecular weight polyethylene, ethylene bisamide, paracrystalline wax such as microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, etc. are preferably used. It is not particularly limited as long as it is incompatible and has a releasing property. In the present embodiment, “not compatible” means a state in which the wax is dispersed in the mother particles in an island shape and is not incorporated in the molecular chain of the resin when melt-kneaded.

Note that oil may be applied to the fixing roller in order to prevent the toner T from adhering to the fixing roller in the fixing process, but in the present embodiment, such oil application is unnecessary. Therefore, a large amount of release agent is included in the mother particles. The content of the release agent is 3 to 10% by weight based on the resin. Is.

As the dispersant, metal soap, polyethylene glycol or the like can be used. Other additives include
Zinc stearate, zinc oxide, cerium oxide and the like can be used.

As the magnetic agent, Fe, Co, Ni, C
Metal powder such as r, Mn, Zn, Fe3O4, Fe2O3, Cr
A metal oxide such as 2O3 or ferrite, an alloy that exhibits ferromagnetism by heat treatment such as an alloy containing manganese and an acid, or the like can be used, and a pretreatment such as a coupling agent may be performed in advance.

As the external additive, various ones having a surface subjected to a hydrophobic treatment can be used. In the toner T according to the present embodiment, silica is used as the external additive, but in addition to silica, fine particles of metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, strontium titanate, cerium oxide, magnesium oxide, and chromium oxide, Fine particles of nitride such as silicon nitride,
Fine particles of a carbide such as silicon carbide, fine particles of a metal salt such as calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate and the like, inorganic fine particles such as a composite thereof, and organic fine particles such as acrylic fine particles can be used. As the surface treatment agent, a silane coupling agent, a titanate coupling agent, a fluorine-containing silane coupling agent, a silicone oil, or the like can be used. The hydrophobicity of the external additive treated with these treating agents is preferably 60% or more according to the conventional methanol method. When it is less than this range, adsorption of water tends to cause deterioration of chargeability and fluidity at high temperature and high humidity, which is not preferable. The particle size of the external additive is 0.001 to 1 μ from the viewpoint of transportability and chargeability.
It is preferably m. Further, the external additive is not limited to one kind, and a mixture of two or more kinds can be used.

=== Toner Analysis Method === Next, a toner analysis method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the toner according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a toner analysis method used for analyzing the adhesion state of mother particles and an external additive. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a true spherical particle made only of the element C contained in the mother particle and a true spherical particle made only of the element Si contained in the external additive. FIG. 5 is an equivalent particle size distribution chart of the toner particles according to the present embodiment.

The toner analysis method according to the present embodiment can also analyze toner particles having a particle size of 1 micron or less, unlike the above-described small hole passage method. Furthermore, the above-mentioned scanning electron microscope (SEM: Scanning Electron)
Unlike Microscope), the physical properties of each toner particle can be quantitatively analyzed. In these respects, it is an extremely excellent toner analysis method.

In the present embodiment, as a method of analyzing the adhesion state of the mother particles of the toner T and the external additive, the Electrophotographic Society of Japan Annual Meeting (total 95 times), “Japan Hardcopy '97.
"Toner analysis method disclosed in Toshiyuki Suzuki, Toshio Takahara, The Electrophotographic Society of Japan, July 9-11, 1997." ing. As a particle analyzer, for example, Yokogawa Denki PT1
There are 000 mag.

In this toner analysis method, particles of toner T formed by adhering an external additive made of silica or the like containing element Si to mother particles made of resin or the like and containing element C are introduced into plasma. Is used to excite the particles of the toner T and obtain an emission spectrum as shown in FIG. 3 associated with this excitation, thereby performing elemental analysis. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis of the emission spectrum shows the time axis.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the particles of the toner T in which the external additive is attached to the mother particles of the toner T are introduced into the plasma, the element C contained in the mother particles and the external additives are added. The element Si contained in the agent emits light together.

At this time, since the mother particles and the external additive are simultaneously introduced into the plasma, the element C contained in the mother particle and the element Si contained in the external additive come to emit light at the same time. In this way, when the element C contained in the mother particle and the element Si contained in the external additive emit light at the same time, the mother particle and the external additive are said to be synchronized. In other words, the state in which the mother particles and the external additive are synchronized represents the state in which the external additive is attached to the mother particles.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the mother particles to which the external additive is not adhered or the external additive released from the mother particle are introduced into the plasma, the mother particles are treated in the same manner as described above. The element C contained in the external additive and the element Si contained in the external additive both emit light, but at this time, since the mother particle and the external additive are introduced into the plasma at different times, the element C contained in the mother particle. And the element Si contained in the external additive emits light at a different time (for example, when the mother particles are introduced into the plasma before the external additive, the element C contained in the mother particles emits light first). , And the element Si contained in the external additive emits light after that).

As described above, when the mother particles and the external additive emit light at different times, it is said that the mother particle and the external additive are not synchronized (that is, asynchronous). In other words, the state where the mother particles and the external additive are asynchronous is present as a free external additive in a state where the external additive is not attached to the mother particles.

Further, in FIG. 3, the height of the luminescence signal represents the intensity of the luminescence, but the luminescence intensity is not the size or shape of the particle, but the element contained in the particle ( It is proportional to the number of C, Si) atoms.

Therefore, when light emission of the element C contained in the mother particles and the element Si contained in the external additive is obtained, as shown in FIG. 4, the emission intensity of each element is expressed as the size of the particles. , A spherical particle having a particle size according to the emission intensity of the element C, which is made of only the element C contained in the mother particles, and a particle size according to the emission intensity of the element Si, included in the external additive It is assumed that the particle is a true sphere made only of the element Si.

Such a true spherical particle made of only the element C contained in the mother particle, which has a particle diameter corresponding to the emission intensity of the element C, is called an equivalent particle of the mother particle, and its particle diameter (diameter )
Is called the equivalent particle size of the mother particles. In addition, a true spherical particle having a particle diameter corresponding to the emission intensity of elemental Si and made of only elemental Si contained in the external additive is called an equivalent particle of the external additive, and its particle diameter (diameter) is This is called the equivalent particle size of the additive. Since the external additive is very small, the particles cannot be detected one by one. Therefore, the detected emission signals of the external additive are added together and converted into one equivalent particle for analysis.

The cube root voltage is used to indicate the size of the equivalent particle size. In order to perform data processing of the emission intensity of a certain element, it is necessary to convert the emission intensity into a voltage value, but if the emission intensity is simply converted into a voltage value, the range of the numerical value becomes too wide. Therefore, the cube root of the voltage value obtained by converting the light emission intensity into a voltage is taken, and the cube root voltage is used to indicate the size of the equivalent particle diameter.

Regarding the toner according to the present embodiment, the element C contained in the mother particles and the element Si contained in the external additive
By plotting the cube root voltage values obtained according to the respective light emission intensities for each particle of the toner T, an equivalent particle size distribution chart of the toner particles as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis (X axis) represents the cube root voltage of the equivalent particles of the mother particles, and the vertical axis (Y axis) represents the cube root voltage of the equivalent particles of the external additive.

The toner particles on the horizontal axis (X axis) represent the toner particles composed of asynchronous mother particles to which no external additive is attached, and the toner particles on the vertical axis (Y axis) are the mother particles. The toner particles are composed of non-synchronized external additives (free external additives). Further, the toner particles that are not on the horizontal axis and the vertical axis represent synchronous toner particles in which the external additive is attached to the mother particles.

By using the equivalent particle size distribution chart of the toner particles shown in FIG. 5, it becomes possible to analyze the attachment state of the external additive to the mother particles of the toner T. In FIG. 5, for toner particles P1, the equivalent particle diameter of the mother particles is P1B, the equivalent particle diameter of the external additive is P10, and for toner particles P2, the equivalent particle diameter of the mother particles is P2B and the equivalent particle diameter of the external additive. Is P20, then (P1O / P1B)> (P2O / P2B). This means that the toner particles P1 are
It means that more external additive is attached than No. 2. Details of the equivalent particle size distribution chart of the toner shown in FIG. 5 will be described later.

In the above example, the toner analysis method disclosed in the above-mentioned paper collection is used as a method for analyzing the adhesion state between the toner mother particles and the external additive. Any toner analysis method can be used as long as it is a toner analysis method that can analyze the adhesion state of the particles and the external additive.

=== Weight Concentration of External Additives to Base Particles =
== Next, the characteristics of the toner according to the present exemplary embodiment regarding the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the regulation blade 560 regulates the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510.

As shown in FIG. 6, the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is regulated in layer thickness by the regulating blade 560 and is also given an electric charge.

The surface of the developing roller 510 has a predetermined surface roughness, and mainly carries toner particles between convex portions (mountain portions) and conveys them. Toner particles
When the regulating blade 560 is conveyed to the position where it is in contact with the developing roller 510, the regulating blade 560 rubs the surface of the developing roller 510 and is frictionally charged.
Note that, as shown in FIG. 6, the side of the regulation blade 560 used for regulating the layer thickness of the toner T also has a predetermined surface roughness.

Therefore, of the toner particles shown in FIG. 6, for example, relatively large toner particles PL are rubbed against the surface of the developing roller 510 by the regulating blade 560 and effectively triboelectrically charged. On the other hand, of the toner particles shown in FIG. 6, for example, a relatively small toner particle P
S is not easily rubbed against the surface of the developing roller 510 by the regulation blade 560, and is less likely to be triboelectrically charged.

Such relatively small toner particles, that is, toner particles that are difficult to be triboelectrically charged, are not suitable for developing a latent image under an alternating electric field. Therefore, the developing roller 5
When the toner is returned to the toner storage portion 530 with the rotation of 10, the toner supply roller 550 causes the developing roller 51 to move.
Need to be stripped from zero.

However, the easiness of peeling the toner particles from the developing roller 510 depends on the amount of the external additive contained in the toner particles. That is, toner particles having a large amount of external additive attached to the mother particles are easily peeled off from the developing roller 510, and conversely, toner particles having a small amount of external additive attached to the mother particles are easily removed from the developing roller 510. It is difficult to remove. The toner particles having a larger amount of the external additive adhering to the mother particles have a lower adhesiveness, and therefore have a smaller adhesive force to the developing roller 510.

Hereinafter, in the relatively small toner particles, that is, the toner particles that are difficult to be triboelectrically charged, the toner according to the present embodiment in which a large amount of the external additive is attached to the mother particles (hereinafter, also referred to as “the present toner”). And a toner in which the external additive is not much attached to the mother particles (hereinafter, also referred to as “reference toner”) will be described in detail.

<<< Differences in Configuration of Toner of Present Case and Reference Toner >>> First, differences in configuration of toner of the present case and reference toner will be described.

As described above, the equivalent particle size distribution of the toner particles contained in the toner of the present invention is as shown in FIG.

Here, the ten-point average roughness in the direction of rotation of the developing roller 510 is R1, and the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side of the regulating blade 560 used for regulating the layer thickness is R2. = | R1-R2 |.
Further, the cube root voltage of a mother particle having an equivalent particle diameter (diameter) of ΔR is DX (see FIG. 5).

Further, in order to analyze the toner of the present case, approximate straight lines α1 and α2 as shown in the figure are obtained. Approximate straight line α
1 and α2 are approximate straight lines for toner particles that are not on the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, that is, synchronous toner particles in which the external additive is attached to the mother particles.
Among toner particles constituting the toner, the cube root voltage of the equivalent particle of the mother particle is DX or less, that is, the equivalent particle diameter of the mother particle is ΔR or less. The distribution of these toner particles should be at least 2
The approximate straight line α2 is a straight line passing through the origin approximated by the multiplication method, and the cube root voltage of the equivalent particle of the mother particle among the toner particles constituting the toner is larger than DX, that is, the mother particle. Is a straight line obtained by approximating the distribution of these toner particles by the method of least squares, targeting toner particles having an equivalent particle diameter of larger than ΔR.

Here, the slope of the approximate straight line α1 (tan θ
1) is a toner particle in which the equivalent particle diameter of the mother particle is ΔR or less among the toner particles constituting the toner,
The weight concentration of the synchronous external additive with respect to the mother particles is shown. Further, the slope (tan θ2) of the approximate straight line α2 is such that the equivalent particle diameter of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner is Δ above.
5 shows the weight concentration of the synchronous external additive with respect to the mother particles in toner particles larger than R.

In the present toner, as shown in FIG. 5, the relationship of θ1> θ2 is established. That is,
Of the toner particles constituting the toner, for the toner particles whose mother particles have an equivalent particle diameter of | R1-R2 |
The weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the base particles is higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the base particles for the toner particles in which the equivalent particle diameter of the base particles is larger than | R1-R2 |.

The toner of the present invention can be manufactured by various methods. For example, it can be manufactured by a method in which a large amount of an external additive is added to a toner composed of toner particles having a small particle diameter, and then this toner is mixed with another toner.

In contrast to such a toner of the present invention, as the reference toner, a toner having an equivalent particle size distribution in which the above relationship of θ1> θ2 is not established is used.

<<< Differences in Action between Toner of the Present Case and Reference Toner >>> Next, when the developing device is actually operated by using the toner of the present case and the reference toner having the above-mentioned differences in constitution, , What kind of difference in operation occurs will be explained.

First, the reference toner was put into the toner containing portion 590. Next, when the toner supply roller 550 and the developing roller 510 are rotated, the reference toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 590 is supplied to the developing roller 510, and with the further rotation of the developing roller 510, the regulation blade 560 causes The layer thickness is regulated to reach the developing position facing the photoconductor 20 and then returned to the toner storage unit 590,
The toner supply roller 550 removed the toner from the developing roller 510 and supplied the toner to the developing roller 510.

However, when the developing roller 510 was rotated several times, whitish particles adhered to the surface of the developing roller 510. Further, when the developing roller 510 continued to rotate, the toner adhering in the form of streaks appeared along the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510. Further, when the developing roller 510 continues to rotate, streaky toner becomes noticeable, and when the streaky toner comes into contact with the seal member 520, the toner scatters. Further, when the developing roller 510 continues to rotate, toner is fused to the developing roller 510, which is a so-called filming phenomenon.

The reason why such an unfavorable phenomenon occurs is that when the developing roller 510 rotates several times, the developing roller 5
The whiteish particles adhered to the surface of No. 10.

Then, when the whiteish particles were analyzed, the particle size was about 1 μm and the release agent (WA
The toner particles contained a large amount of X). It should be noted that the reason why the appearance was white is because the release agent (WAX) itself is white.

The whiteish toner particles have a high adhesiveness because they contain a large amount of a release agent (WAX). Therefore, once attached to the developing roller 510, the toner supply roller 55
Depending on 0, it is not peeled off from the developing roller 510 and remains on the developing roller 510. Therefore, the toner supply roller 550 will supply the toner onto the remaining whitish particles. The toner supplied onto the remaining whitish particles is difficult to contact the surface of the developing roller 510, so that even if the toner passes through the regulation blade 560, sufficient charge is not imparted, and the layer thickness is not regulated properly. As a result, as described above, the toner adhered in the form of stripes appears along the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510.

Next, the toner of the present case was put into the toner containing portion 590. Next, when the toner supply roller 550 and the developing roller 510 are rotated, the toner of the present case accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 590 is supplied to the developing roller 510, and with further rotation of the developing roller 510, the regulation blade 560 causes The layer thickness is regulated to reach the developing position facing the photoconductor 20 and then returned to the toner storage unit 590,
The toner supply roller 550 removed the toner from the developing roller 510 and supplied the toner to the developing roller 510.

In the case of the present toner, whitish particles did not appear on the surface of the developing roller 510 even when the developing roller 510 continued to rotate, and as a result, as described above, the appearance of the toner adhering in stripes, The toner scattering phenomenon and the filming phenomenon did not occur.

In the present toner, as described above,
Of the toner particles constituting the toner, for the toner particles whose mother particles have an equivalent particle diameter of | R1-R2 |
The weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the base particles is higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the base particles for the toner particles in which the equivalent particle diameter of the base particles is larger than | R1-R2 |. That is, in a so-called fine particle toner of about 1 μm, many external additives are attached to the mother particles.

Therefore, even if the toner particles containing a large amount of release agent (WAX) and having high adhesiveness are supplied to the developing roller 510 by the toner supply roller 550, the toner accommodating portion 5
When the toner is collected in 90, it is effectively peeled off from the developing roller 510 by the toner supply roller 550. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the phenomenon in which the particulate toner containing a large amount of the release agent (WAX) and having high adhesiveness remains on the developing roller 510.

Further, when the developing roller 510 having conductivity is used as in the present embodiment, the toner particles having a small particle diameter adhere strongly to the surface of the developing roller 510 due to the action of the image force. In order to reduce the mirror image force, titanium oxide may be used as an external additive in order to prevent the toner particles from being triboelectrically charged. When titanium oxide is used as the external additive, the emission spectrum of Ti may be detected and processed.

=== Other Embodiments === The developing apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on some embodiments. However, the above-described embodiments of the present invention should be understood as an understanding of the present invention. It is for the purpose of facilitation and does not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

The present invention can be applied to all developing devices and the like as long as it can prevent so-called fine powder toner of about 1 μm from adhering to the toner carrier.

For example, the present invention is particularly effective for a toner having a release agent (WAX) because the release agent (WAX) itself has high adhesiveness, but it has a release agent (WAX). The present invention can also be applied to non-toner.

Further, according to the present invention, the tip of the regulating blade is not in contact with the toner carrier, and the portion apart from the tip by a predetermined distance is in contact with the toner carrier. Is particularly effective for a developing device whose position is below the rotation center position of the toner carrier, but the developing device in which the tip of the regulating blade is in contact with the toner carrier, or the contact position is the toner carrier. It is also applicable to a developing device located above the rotation center position of the holding body.

Further, the present invention has a rotatable toner supply member for supplying toner particles to the toner carrier, and the rotation direction of the toner supply member is opposite to the rotation direction of the toner carrier. However, it is also applicable to a developing device in which the rotation direction of the toner supply member is the same as the rotation direction of the toner carrier.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a seal member which is in contact with the toner carrier for preventing the leakage of the toner in the developing device, and the contact position is the rotation of the toner carrier. This is particularly effective for the developing device located above the center position, but is also applicable to the developing device where the contact position is below the rotation center position of the toner carrier.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner, the toner supply member is disposed below the toner accommodating portion, and the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion is the toner. It is particularly effective for a developing device in which the toner carrier is supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply member in the lower part of the storage part, but the toner supply member is arranged in the upper part of the toner storage part. It is also applicable to the developing device in which the toner accommodated in the toner container is supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply member above the toner container.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment,
Although an intermediate transfer type full-color laser beam printer has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus, the present invention is applicable to various image forming apparatuses such as a full-color laser beam printer other than the intermediate transfer type, a monochrome laser beam printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like. Applicable.

Further, the photosensitive member is not limited to a so-called photosensitive roller formed by providing a photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical conductive base material, and a photosensitive layer is provided on the surface of a belt-shaped conductive base material. A so-called photosensitive belt configured as described above may be used.

Further, the developing device according to the present invention is not limited to the device having the structure described in the above-mentioned embodiment, and at least a toner carrier for carrying toner and moving the toner carrier. A developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried on the toner carrier can be applied to any developing device.

For example, as the toner carrier, any of magnetic, non-magnetic, conductive, insulating, metal, rubber, resin and the like can be used as long as it can constitute the toner carrier. For example, in terms of materials, metals such as aluminum, nickel, stainless steel, iron, natural rubber, silicon rubber, urethane rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, neoprene rubber, rubbers such as NBR, styrene resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyurethane resin Resins such as polyethylene resin, methacrylic resin, and nylon resin can be used. It goes without saying that the upper layer of these materials can be coated and used. In that case, as the coating material, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyester, nylon, acrylic or the like can be used. Further, as for the form, all of non-elastic body, elastic body, single layer, multi-layer, film, roller and the like can be used.

The same applies to the toner supply member, and as the material, in addition to the polyurethane foam described above, polystyrene foam, polyethylene foam, polyester foam, ethylene propylene foam, nylon foam, silicon foam, etc. can be used. . The foam cells of the toner supply means may be either single cells or open cells. The material is not limited to the foam material, and a rubber material having elasticity may be used. For more information,
Silicone rubber, urethane rubber, natural rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, acrylic rubber with conductive agents such as carbon dispersed and molded Can be used.

As the layer thickness regulating member, a member having a rubber portion and a rubber supporting portion is used as described above. The material of the rubber portion is natural rubber in addition to the silicone rubber and urethane rubber described above. Carbon can be used for isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, acrylic rubber. Further, the rubber supporting portion and the rubber portion may not be separately manufactured and then joined to each other. For example, a material obtained by integrally molding these materials alone or a stainless thin plate alone having a layer thickness What constituted the control member can be used similarly. Further, it can be used by coating the upper layer portion of the above-mentioned material with a resin. As the coating material,
Polyethylene, polystyrene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, etc. can be used.

Further, the developing device according to the above-mentioned embodiment,
A computer system including a computer main body, a display device such as a CRT, and an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard can also be realized, and the computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system. Becomes

[0131]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a developing device, an image forming device, a toner, and a computer system for forming a high quality image by using a toner containing toner particles having a small particle diameter. Is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing main components constituting a laser beam printer 10.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing main components of a developing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a toner analysis method used for analyzing a state of attachment of mother particles and an external additive regarding the toner according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a true spherical particle made of only element C contained in a mother particle and a true spherical particle made only of element Si contained in an external additive.

FIG. 5 is an equivalent particle size distribution diagram of toner particles according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a regulation blade 560 regulates the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the small hole passage method.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Laser beam printer 20 ... Photoreceptor 30 ... Charging device 40 ... Exposure device 50 ... YMCK developing device 52a ... Black developing device 52b ... Magenta developing device 52c ... Cyan developing device 52d ... Yellow developing device 60 ... Primary transfer device 70 ... Intermediate transfer member 80 ... Secondary transfer device 90 ... Fixing device 92 ... Paper feed tray 94 ... Paper feed roller 96 ... Register roller 510 ... Developing roller 520 ... Sealing member 522 ... Seal support sheet metal 524 ... Seal biasing member 530 ... Toner storage unit 540 ... Frame 550 ... Toner supply roller 560 ... Regulation blade 560a ... rubber part 560b ... rubber support 562 ... Blade support sheet metal 570 ... Blade backing member T ... toner

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme code (reference) G03G 9/08 365 G03G 9/08 371 371 15/08 507L 9/087 9/08 381 F term (reference) 2H005 AA06 AA08 AB04 CA14 CB13 EA05 2H077 AA12 AA15 AB13 AB15 AC04 AD02 AD06 AD13 AD17 AD18 AD23 AE03 BA03 BA08 CA12 EA03 FA01 FA13 FA22 FA26 FA27 GA13

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A toner comprising a mother particle and an external additive externally added to the mother particle, a toner carrier carrying the toner and moving, and a toner carried on the toner carrier. In a developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness, a ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier is set to R1 and used for the layer thickness regulating member of the layer thickness regulating member. Side, the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip is R
2, when the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner satisfies D ≦ | R1-R2 |, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particle is The developing device, wherein the equivalent particle diameter D of the particles is higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles for the toner particles satisfying D> | R1-R2 |. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the mother particles have a release agent. 3. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the release agent has incompatibility with the mother particles. 4. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the mother particles are manufactured by a pulverization method. 5. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the layer thickness regulating member is not in contact with the toner carrier and is apart from the tip by a predetermined distance. A developing device, wherein a portion is in contact with the toner carrier, and the contact position is below the rotation center position of the toner carrier. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotatable toner supply member that supplies toner particles to the toner carrier, and a rotation direction of the toner supply member. Is a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the toner carrier, the developing device. 7. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a seal member that is in contact with the toner carrier to prevent toner leakage in the developing device. The developing device is characterized in that the abutting position is above the rotation center position of the toner carrier. 8. The developing device according to claim 6, further comprising: a toner storage portion that stores toner, wherein the toner supply member is disposed below the toner storage portion and is stored in the toner storage portion. The developing device is characterized in that the toner is supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply member below the toner storage portion. 9. A toner comprising a mother particle and an external additive externally added to the mother particle, a toner carrier carrying the toner and moving, and a toner carried on the toner carrier. In a developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness, a ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier is set to R1 and used for the layer thickness regulating member of the layer thickness regulating member. Side, the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip is R
2, when the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner satisfies D ≦ | R1-R2 |, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particle is The equivalent particle diameter D of the particles is higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles in the toner particles satisfying D> | R1-R2 |, and the mother particles have incompatibility with the mother particles. Having a release agent, the mother particles are manufactured by a pulverization method, the tip of the layer thickness regulating member is not in contact with the toner carrier, the portion away from the tip a predetermined distance , The toner carrier is in contact with the toner carrier, and the contact position is lower than the rotation center position of the toner carrier, and a rotatable toner supply member for supplying toner particles to the toner carrier is provided. The rotation direction of the toner supply member is The toner carrier is in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the toner carrier, and has a seal member that is in contact with the toner carrier to prevent the toner from leaking inside the developing device. It is located above the rotation center position of the toner carrier and has a toner storage part for storing toner, and the toner supply member is arranged below the toner storage part and is stored in the toner storage part. The developing device is characterized in that the toner is supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply member below the toner storage portion. 10. A toner having mother particles and an external additive externally added to the mother particles, a toner carrier carrying the toner and moving, and a toner carried on the toner carrier. An image forming apparatus including a developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness, wherein a ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier is R1, and the layer thickness regulating member is The ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side used for layer thickness regulation is R
2, when the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner satisfies D ≦ | R1-R2 |, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particle is An image forming apparatus, wherein the equivalent particle diameter D of the particles is higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles for the toner particles satisfying D> | R1-R2 |. 11. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 2. 12. A developing device having a toner carrier that carries and moves toner, and a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried by the toner carrier. A toner having mother particles and an external additive externally added to the mother particles, wherein a ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the toner carrier is R1, and the layer thickness regulating member is configured to regulate the layer thickness. The ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side used for
2, when the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner satisfies D ≦ | R1-R2 |, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particle is A toner characterized in that the equivalent particle diameter D of the particles is higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles for the toner particles satisfying D> | R1-R2 |. 13. A computer main body, a display device, an input device, a toner having mother particles and an external additive externally added to the mother particles, and a toner carrier for carrying the toner and moving the toner. In a computer system including an image forming apparatus having a developing device having a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried on the toner carrier, the moving direction of the toner carrier R1 is defined as the ten-point average roughness in R, and R is the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side of the layer thickness regulating member used for the layer thickness regulation.
2, when the equivalent particle diameter D of the mother particles among the toner particles constituting the toner satisfies D ≦ | R1-R2 |, the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particle is A computer system characterized in that the equivalent particle diameter D of the particles is higher than the weight concentration of the external additive with respect to the mother particles for the toner particles satisfying D> | R1-R2 |.