JP2003207922A - Image forming method, non-magnetic one-component toner, and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming method by which an excellent image free from an image defect is obtained even when toner is left as it is for a long period of time under high-temperature environment in a state where developing operation is not performed at all. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier is developed with the non-magnetic one- component toner with which a toner carrier is coated in a thin layer state by a toner regulating member abutting on the toner carrier. Then, the toner regulating member is like a thin plate having spring elasticity and is equipped with at least an elastic body at its abutting part on the toner carrier, and the plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the abutting part is ≥80 nJ and ≤160 nJ, and the non-magnetic one-component toner incorporates at least binding resin, a colorant and wax, and the content of the wax is ≥0.5 mass% and ≤25 mass %, and the melt index of the toner is ≥8 and ≤25, then the weight average diameter of the toner is ≥4 μm and ≤10 μm, and the average circularity of the toner whose particle diameter is ≥10 μm by a flow type particle image analyzing device is ≥0.970 and ≤0.990. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method, a non-magnetic one-component toner and a process cartridge used in a recording method using an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, a toner jet recording method and the like. . More specifically, the present invention relates to a copier, a printer, an image forming method used in a fax machine, a non-magnetic one-component toner, and a process cartridge in which a toner image is previously formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier and then transferred onto a transfer material to form an image. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, devices using electrophotography have been applied to conventional copying machines as well as devices such as printers and fax machines. Especially in printers and fax machines, it is necessary to make the copying machine smaller, so an image forming method using one-component toner is often used.
Particularly for full-color printers, a non-magnetic one-component developing method using a color toner in which a magnetic material is not added to the toner is used.

In the non-magnetic one-component development, a toner regulating member in contact with the toner carrier gives an electric charge due to friction to the toner particles and at the same time thinly coats the toner carrier so that the toner carrier and the latent image carrier are separated from each other. Transport to the opposite development area,
In this method, the electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier is developed and visualized as a toner image.

In the non-magnetic one-component development, the toner is charged with the electric charge necessary for the development by friction with the toner regulating member. Therefore, in order to uniformly apply the sufficient electric charge, the toner regulating member is applied with a certain pressure. Although it has to contact the carrier, there is a problem that the toner is fused to the surface of the toner carrier when the developing operation is continuously performed.

To solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-50185
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-319213 and the like disclose improvement by providing a coat layer on the surface of the toner carrier and optimizing its material and physical properties.

[0006]

However, in the case of the prior art as described above, when the apparatus is left in a high temperature environment for a long time without performing a developing operation (for example, transportation in a distribution process in a market or During storage, the toner may be fused to the surface of the toner regulating member corresponding to the portion that was in contact with the toner carrying member, causing fog on the white background of the image. It was also found that when the degree of fusion is heavy, toner fusion also occurs on some toner carriers, and a black line appears on the halftone image at a location corresponding to the fusion.

This is because the toner in the area sandwiched between the toner carrier and the toner regulating member is exchanged at any time when an appropriate developing operation is performed, whereas the same toner is always applied when the developing operation is not performed. It is thought that because heat will be added, it will be in a more severe condition. Therefore, if the appropriate developing operation is performed or not performed at all, and if exposed to the high temperature condition for the same time, the image defect appears more noticeably in the latter case.

Further, it has been confirmed that the above-mentioned toner fusion is further deteriorated when wax is contained in the toner mainly for improving the fixing property.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the object thereof is to leave it in a high temperature environment for a long time without performing a developing operation at all.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method, a non-magnetic one-component toner and a process cartridge that can obtain a good image without image defects.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned object is to coat an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image bearing member with a thin layer on the toner bearing member by a toner regulating member which is in contact with the toner bearing member. In the image forming method of developing with a non-magnetic one-component toner, the toner regulating member is a thin plate having spring elasticity, and has an elastic body at least in a contact portion with the toner carrier, and the corresponding contact portion. The toner control member has a plastic energy Wr of 80 nJ or more and 160 nJ or less, the non-magnetic one-component toner contains at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the wax content is 0.
5 mass% or more and 25 mass% or less, melt index of toner is 8 or more and 25 or less, weight average diameter of toner is 4 μm or more and 10 μm or less, 10 μm by a flow type particle image analyzer.
This is solved by an image forming method characterized in that a toner having a particle diameter of m or more has an average circularity of 0.970 or more and 0.990 or less.

Further, the above-mentioned object is that the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier is thinly coated on the toner carrier by a toner regulating member in contact with the toner carrier. Developing with component toner, the toner regulating member is
It is a thin plate having spring elasticity and has an elastic body at least in a contact portion with the toner carrier, and the plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the corresponding contact portion is 80 nJ.
A non-magnetic one-component toner used in an image forming method of 160 nJ or less, wherein the non-magnetic one-component toner contains at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the content of the wax is 0.5% by mass or more. 25% by mass or less, the melt index of the toner is 8 or more and 25 or less, the weight average diameter of the toner is 4 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and the average circularity of the toner having a particle size of 10 μm or more by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.970 or more 0. It is solved by a non-magnetic one-component toner characterized by being less than 0.990.

Further, the above object is to provide a process cartridge which is detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus,
At least, a non-magnetic one-component toner, a toner carrier, and a toner regulating member are provided. The toner regulating member is a thin plate having spring elasticity, and an elastic body is provided at least in a contact portion with the toner carrier. And the plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the corresponding contact portion is 80 nJ or more and 160 n or more.
J or less, the non-magnetic one-component toner contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax, the content of the wax is 0.5% by mass or more and 25% by mass or less, and the melt index of the toner is 8 or more and 25 or less. , The toner weight average diameter is 4
The average circularity of the toner having a particle size of 10 μm or more and 10 μm or more by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.970.
It is solved by a process cartridge characterized by being 0.990 or less.

[0013]

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus 10 to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a developing device.

First, the image forming operation by the image forming means will be described.

In FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 11 as an electrostatic latent image carrier rotates in the direction of arrow A. First, the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged by the charging device 12. Then, it is exposed by the laser beam 13 from the laser optical device which is the exposing means, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof.

This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 14 and visualized as a toner image. The visualized toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to the recording medium 16 as a transfer material by the transfer roller 15. Transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 without being transferred is scraped off by a cleaning blade 17 which is a cleaning member, and is stored in a waste toner container 18. The cleaned photosensitive drum 11 repeats the above-mentioned operation to form an image.

On the other hand, the recording medium 16 to which the toner image has been transferred is permanently fixed by the fixing device 19 and then discharged to the outside of the machine.

Next, the developing device 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
Further description will be made.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a developing container for accommodating the non-magnetic one-component toner 22, and the developing device 14 is located at an opening extending in the longitudinal direction in the developing container 21 and faces the photosensitive drum 11. It is provided with a toner carrier 23 and develops and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11.

A toner regulating member 25 is provided above the toner carrier 23 such that the vicinity of the free end side of the toner carrier member 25 is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the toner carrier 23. As for the abutting direction, the tip on the free end side with respect to the abutting portion is in the counter direction, which is located on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the toner carrier 23.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the toner regulating member is a thin plate having spring elasticity and at least an elastic member is provided at a contact portion with the toner carrying member.

Since the toner regulating member is simplified in the developing device,
It is preferable to contact the toner carrier with its own spring elasticity. Further, a blade made of a thin metal plate such as SUS or phosphor bronze is preferable in order to always keep the contact pressure to the toner regulating member constant over time, but since the hardness is high, the stress on the toner is large and externally added. It is not preferable because it causes deterioration of the agent. Therefore, it is preferable to provide an elastic body at least at the contact portion with the toner carrier.

Further, in the present invention, the plastic energy W of the toner regulating member measured at the contact portion with the toner carrying member.
It is preferable that r is 80 nJ or more and 160 nJ or less. The plastic energy is Fisherscope H100
(Manufactured by Fischer Co., Ltd.) and the depth of indentation of the indenter was 15 μm in the environment of 23 ° C./60% RH.

As described above, when left in a high temperature environment for a long time without any developing operation, the same toner always applies force and heat, but on the contrary, the surface of the toner regulating member is always in the same state. Because it takes power and heat while being placed in
It has been found that the elastic body provided on the surface of the toner regulating member is plastically deformed to take in the toner in contact with the elastic body, so that fusion is likely to occur. Even when fusion does not occur, it is difficult to form a uniform toner coat layer on the toner carrier with the toner regulating member that has undergone plastic deformation.

Therefore, when the proper plastic deformation characteristics of the elastic body were examined, the plastic energy Wr was 80 nJ or more.
It is preferably 0 nJ or less, more preferably 9
It was found to be 0 nJ or more and 145 nJ or less. Wr
Is less than 80 nJ, the plastic deformation is too large and the above problems are likely to occur, which is not preferable. Also, Wr is 160 nJ
When it exceeds the above range, the hardness of the elastic body becomes high, so that the stress on the toner becomes large when the developing operation is continuously performed, and the external additive of the toner is deteriorated to prevent normal development (decrease in density, etc.), which is preferable. Absent.

For example, in the case of a toner regulating member obtained by adhering an elastic body on a thin metal plate, it is not preferable to measure the plastic energy of only the elastic body. This is because the behavior at the contact portion between the toner carrier and the toner regulating member is different between the case where only the elastic body is used and the case where the elastic body is adhered to the metal thin plate, and the plastic energy is measured in the present invention. In that case, it is necessary to measure at the contact portion between the toner carrier and the toner regulating member.

Further, in the present invention, in order to suppress the absolute amount of plastic deformation of the elastic body provided at the contact portion between the toner carrier and the toner regulating member, the elastic body has a thickness of 5 μm or more and 10 μm or more.
It is preferably 0 μm or less.

The non-magnetic one-component toner of the present invention has a wax content of 0.5% by mass or more and 25% by mass or less, more preferably 4% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less. If it is less than 0.5% by mass, the effect of preventing offset at the time of fixing cannot be sufficiently obtained, and if it exceeds 25% by mass, it is in contact with the toner carrier when left in a high temperature environment for a long time without any developing operation. This may undesirably promote fusion of the toner to the surface of the toner regulating member corresponding to the open portion.

The melt index of the non-magnetic one-component toner of the present invention is preferably 8 or more and 25 or less, more preferably 8 or more and 20 or less. When left in a high temperature environment for a long time without performing any developing operation, the toner in the portion where the toner carrier and the surface of the toner regulating member come into contact with each other receives heat and pressure, and is deformed so as to come into closer contact with the adjacent toner. Therefore, the fusion of the toner particles is promoted. However, this can be reduced by setting the melt index to 25 or less. If the melt index is less than 8, the fixability may deteriorate, which is not preferable.

The melt index in the present invention is the flow test method JI of the Japanese Industrial Standard for thermoplastics.
Measurement temperature: 135 using the apparatus described in SK7210
℃, load: 21.2N (2.16Kg), sample: 4g,
The measured value was converted into a 10-minute value.

Further, the non-magnetic one-component toner of the present invention has a weight average particle diameter of 4 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and a toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more by a flow type particle image analyzer has an average circularity of 0.970 or more and 0.1. It is preferably 990 or less.

When left in a high temperature environment for a long time without performing any developing operation, the toner at the portion where the toner carrier and the surface of the toner regulating member come into contact with each other receives heat and pressure.
If the weight average diameter of the toner is less than 4 μm, it is not preferable because the toner is likely to be densely packed in the contact portion and promotes fusion between the toner particles, and the weight average diameter of the toner is 10 μm.
If it exceeds, the fine line reproducibility is deteriorated and the image quality is deteriorated, which is not preferable.

10 μm by a flow type particle image analyzer
By setting the average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of m or more to 0.970 or more, the surface of the toner coat layer on the toner carrier can be made smoother, so that the elasticity of the toner regulating member in contact with this surface can be improved. The pressure is evenly applied to the body, and the plastic deformation of the elastic body when left in a high temperature environment for a long time in a static state can be reduced. If the average circularity exceeds 0.990,
Cleaning failure of the latent image carrier may occur, which is not preferable.

The weight average particle diameter of the toner of the present invention is
It measured using Coulter Multisizer II (made by Coulter). Interface to output number distribution and volume distribution to Coulter Multisizer II (made by Nikkaki)
And PC9801 personal computer (NEC
1) is connected, and the electrolyte is 1
% NaCl aqueous solution is prepared. For example, ISOTON
R-II (manufactured by Coulter Scientific Japan) can be used. As the measuring method, the electrolytic aqueous solution 1
0.1 to 5 ml of a surfactant, preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate, as a dispersant in 0 to 150 ml.
In addition, 2 to 20 mg of the measurement sample is further added. The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment for about 1 to 3 minutes by an ultrasonic disperser, and the volume and number of toner particles of 2 μm or more are measured using the 100 μm aperture as an aperture by the Coulter Multisizer. The distribution and number distribution were calculated. Then, the weight average particle diameter on a weight basis (representative value of each channel is a representative value for each channel) determined from the volume distribution according to the present invention was determined.

The average circularity of the present invention is the flow type particle image analyzer FPIA-1 manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
It was measured at 000. Measurements removes the fine dust through a filter, as a result 10 ^-3 cm ³ measuring range in water (e.g., a circle equivalent diameter 0.60μm or more 15
5 mg of toner was added to 10 ml of an aqueous solution prepared by adding a few drops of a nonionic surfactant (Contaminone N manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) to water having a particle number of less than 9.21 μm) of 20 or less to prepare an ultrasonic disperser. The particle size distribution of particles having a circle equivalent diameter of 0.60 μm or more and less than 159.21 μm is measured using a sample dispersion prepared by performing dispersion treatment with UH-50 manufactured by STM.

The outline of the measurement is as follows.

The sample dispersion is passed through a flat and flat transparent flow cell (thickness of about 200 μm) (spreading along the flow direction). The strobe and CCD camera are mounted on opposite sides of the flow cell so as to form an optical path that intersects and passes through the thickness of the flow cell. While the sample dispersion is flowing,
Strobe light is illuminated at 1/30 second intervals to obtain an image of the particles flowing through the flow cell, so that each particle is captured as a two-dimensional image with a range parallel to the flow cell. From the area of the two-dimensional image of each particle, the diameter of a circle having the same area is calculated as the equivalent circle diameter.

The equivalent circle diameter of 1200 or more particles can be measured in about 1 minute, and the number based on the equivalent circle diameter distribution and the proportion (number%) of particles having a prescribed equivalent circle diameter can be measured. .

For the average circularity, the circularity of the particles measured by using the above flow type particle image analyzer FPIA-1000 is obtained from the following formula, and the sum of the circularity of all the measured particles is divided by the total number of particles. The defined value is defined as the average circularity. In the present invention, the following calculation was performed only for a particle size of 10 μm or more. Circularity = (perimeter of a circle with the same projected area as the particle image) /
(Perimeter of projected image of particles)

Further, the non-magnetic one-component toner of the present invention preferably has a toner contact angle of 97 ° or more and 110 ° or less.

When left in a high temperature environment for a long period of time without any developing operation, the toner at the portion where the toner carrier and the surface of the toner regulating member come into contact with each other is subjected to heat and pressure, and added to improve the fixing property. It has been found that the wax seeps out to the toner surface, which may contribute to the toner fusion. As a result of examination, it has been found that it is preferable that the degree of wax exudation when subjected to heat and pressure is such that the contact angle of the toner according to the above measuring method is suppressed to 97 ° or more and 110 ° or less.

The method of measuring the contact angle is as follows. The toner is 250 kN for 3 g of toner by the tablet molding machine.
The sample was pressed at a pressure of / cm ² to give a sample having a diameter of 38 mm. During molding, the NP-Transp is placed between the molding machine and the toner.
It was molded by sandwiching the arency TYPE-D. This sample was left at 100 ° C. for 2 minutes, then returned to room temperature, and the contact angle was measured with a roll material contact angle meter CA-X roll type (manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.). 20 measurements per sample
The measurement was performed once, and the average value of 18 measurement values excluding the maximum value and the minimum value was used.

The method for producing the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited, but the average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more measured by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.970 or more and 0.990.
In the following, it is preferably produced by a suspension polymerization method, a mechanical pulverization method, a spheroidizing treatment, etc., and a suspension polymerization method is particularly preferable.

The method for producing the toner of the present invention in the suspension polymerization method will be described below.

First, wax, polar resin, colorant, charge control agent, polymerization initiator, and other additives are added to the polymerizable monomer and uniformly dissolved or dispersed by a homogenizer, an ultrasonic disperser or the like. The monomer system is dispersed in an aqueous phase containing a dispersion stabilizer by a usual stirrer, homogenizer, homomixer or the like. At this time, preferably, the stirring speed and time are adjusted so that the droplets of the monomer have a desired size of the developer particles, and granulation is performed. After that, stirring may be performed to the extent that the particle state is maintained and the particles are prevented from settling by the action of the dispersion stabilizer. The polymerization temperature is preferably 40 ° C. or higher, generally 50 ° C. to 90 ° C. In addition, the temperature may be raised in the latter half of the polymerization reaction, and further, in order to remove unreacted polymerizable monomers, by-products, etc. that cause odor during fixing of the developer, in the latter half of the reaction or at the end of the reaction. Part of the aqueous medium may be distilled off.
After completion of the reaction, the produced developer particles are washed, collected by filtration and dried. In the suspension polymerization method, usually monomer system 1
It is preferable to use 300 parts by mass to 3000 parts by mass of water as a dispersion medium with respect to 00 parts by mass.

The particle size distribution and particle size of the toner can be controlled by adjusting the pH of the system during granulation, changing the type and amount of the poorly water-soluble inorganic salt or dispersant acting as a protective colloid, and mechanically. It can be carried out by controlling the apparatus conditions, for example, the peripheral speed of the rotor, the number of passes, the stirring conditions such as the shape of stirring blades, and the shape of the container or the solid content concentration in the aqueous solution.

The polymerizable monomer used in the present invention includes styrene, o- (m-, p-) methylstyrene and m.
-(P-) Styrene-based monomers such as ethylene styrene;
Methyl (meth) acrylate, propyl (meth) acrylate, butyl (meth) acrylate, octyl (meth) acrylate, dodecyl (meth) acrylate, stearyl (meth) acrylate, behenyl (meth) acrylate, ( (Meth) acrylic acid ester monomers such as 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, and diethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate; butadiene, isoprene, cyclohexane, (meth) acrylonitrile, acrylic acid Monomers such as amides are preferably used.

The polar resin added during the polymerization is
Styrene (meth) acrylic acid copolymers, maleic acid copolymers, polyester resins and epoxy resins are preferably used.

Further, as the wax used in the present invention, paraffin wax, polyolefin wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, amide wax, higher fatty acid, ester wax and derivatives thereof, or graft / block compounds thereof are preferably used. To be

The charge control agent used in the present invention includes
Known compounds can be used, but a charge control agent that does not inhibit polymerization and has no solubilized product in an aqueous system is particularly preferable. As specific compounds, negative compounds such as salicylic acid, naphthoic acid, dicarboxylic acids, metal compounds of their derivatives, polymer compounds having sulfonic acid in the side chain, boron compounds, urea compounds, silicon compounds, calixarene, etc. are used. As a positive system, a quaternary ammonium salt, a polymer type compound having the quaternary ammonium salt in its side chain, a guanidine compound, an imidazole compound or the like is preferably used. The charge control agent is preferably 0.2 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer.

The polymerization initiator used in the present invention includes
For example, 2,2'-azobis- (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobisisobutylnitrile,
1,1'-azobis (cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile), 2,2'-azobis-4-methoxy-2,4-
Azo-based polymerization initiators such as dimethylvaleronitrile and azobisisobutylnitrile, benzoyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, diisopropyl peroxycarbonate, cumene hydroxyperoxide, 2,
Peroxide-based polymerization initiators such as 4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide and lauroyl peroxide are used.

The amount of the polymerization initiator added varies depending on the desired degree of polymerization, but it is generally used in an amount of 0.5% by mass to 20% by mass based on the monomer. Although the type of the polymerization initiator varies slightly depending on the polymerization method, it may be used alone or in combination with reference to the 10-hour half-life temperature.

As the dispersant used in the case of utilizing suspension polymerization, for example, inorganic oxides such as tricalcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, aluminum phosphate, zinc phosphate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide are used. , Magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, calcium metasilicate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, bentonite, silica, alumina, magnetic material, ferrite and the like. Examples of organic compounds include polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, methyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose,
A sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose, starch or the like is used by dispersing it in an aqueous phase. These dispersants are
It is preferable to use 0.2 to 2.0 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer.

As these dispersants, commercially available products may be used as they are, but in order to obtain finely dispersed particles having a uniform particle size, the inorganic compound is produced by high-speed stirring in a dispersion medium. You can also For example, in the case of calcium phosphate, a dispersant suitable for the suspension polymerization method can be obtained by mixing an aqueous sodium phosphate solution and an aqueous calcium chloride solution under high speed stirring.

In order to make these dispersants finer,
You may use together 0.001-0.1 mass part surfactant. Specifically, commercially available nonion, anion, cationic surfactants can be used, for example, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sodium pentadecyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, sodium oleate, sodium laurate, potassium stearate, Calcium oleate is preferably used.

Next, a method of manufacturing the toner by the pulverization method will be described. Examples of the binder resin used in the pulverized toner of the present invention include polystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-vinyl chloride copolymer, styrene-vinyl acetate. A copolymer, a styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, a styrene-methacrylic acid acrylic copolymer, a vinyl chloride resin, a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a polyurethane resin or the like can be used alone or in combination, but among them, styrene -Acrylic, styrene-methacrylic copolymer resin, and polyester resin are preferable.

When the pulverized toner of the present invention is controlled to have a positive charging property, a modified product thereof with a fatty acid metal salt or the like; tributylbenzyldiammonium-1-hydroxy-4-naphthosulfonate, tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate Such as quaternary ammonium salts, and onium salts such as phosphonium salts which are analogs thereof; amine and polyamine compounds; metal salts of higher fatty acids; acetylacetone metal complexes; dibutyltin oxide, dioctyltin oxide, dicyclohexyltin oxide, and other diamines. Organotin oxide; dibutyltin borate, dioctyltin borate, diorganotin borate such as dicyclohexyltin borate, etc. are added. Further, in the case of controlling to negative chargeability, an organic metal complex and a chelate compound are effective, and a monoazo metal complex, an acetylacetone metal complex, an aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid, and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid type metal complex can be used. The amount used is 0.1 to 15 parts by mass, preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin.

Examples of the wax used in the pulverized toner of the present invention include aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes such as low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, paraffin wax and Fischer-Tropsch wax or oxides thereof; carnauba wax, montanic acid ester wax and the like. Wax containing the aliphatic ester of
Examples include those obtained by deoxidizing a part or all of them. In addition, saturated linear fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, and montanic acid; unsaturated fatty acids such as brassic acid, eleostearic acid, and valinaric acid; stearyl alcohol, aralkyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, carnaubayl alcohol, ceryl alcohol. , Saturated alcohols such as melicyl alcohol; polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol; fatty acid amides such as linoleic acid amide; saturated fatty acid bisamides such as methylenebisstearic acid amide; unsaturated fatty acid amides such as ethylene bisoleic acid amide Aromatic bisamides such as N, N'-distearylisophthalic acid amide; Fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate; Waxes obtained by grafting aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes with vinyl monomers such as styrene; Be A partial esterified product of a fatty acid such as henic acid monoglyceride and a polyhydric alcohol; a methyl esterified product having a hydroxyl group obtained by hydrogenation of vegetable oils and the like can also be used.

Next, the binder resin, wax, charge control agent, colorant and the like are thoroughly mixed by a mixer such as a Henschel mixer or a ball mill, and then a heat kneader such as a heating roll, kneader or extruder is used. Melt and knead to disperse or dissolve the charge control agent and colorant in the mutually compatible resins, cool and solidify, mechanically pulverize to the desired particle size, and further classify to obtain a sharp particle size distribution. To Alternatively, after cooling and solidification, the finely pulverized product obtained by colliding with a target under a jet stream is spheroidized by heat or mechanical impact force.

The toner of the present invention manufactured as described above can be used by externally adding an inorganic fine powder such as silica, alumina or titania. The inorganic fine powder has a specific surface area (B
It is preferable ET) is 20m ² / g~400m ² / g. Further, the surface-treated product of the inorganic fine powder can be used as an external additive. Examples of the surface treatment agent include a silane coupling agent, a silylating agent, a titanium coupling agent, and a silicone oil, but preferably a silane coupling agent, a silylating agent, and a silicone oil are used. You may use together. The amount of the fine powder added to the toner is 0.05 to 100 parts by mass of the toner.
It is 5 parts by mass, preferably 0.1 to 3 parts by mass.

Further, in the present invention, the following inorganic powder may be added in order to improve the developability and durability. Metal oxides such as magnesium, zinc, aluminum, cerium, cobalt, iron, zirconium, chromium, manganese, strontium, tin, antimony; complex metal oxides such as calcium titanate, magnesium titanate, strontium titanate; barium sulfate, Metal salts such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, aluminum carbonate;
Clay minerals such as kaolin; Phosphoric acid compounds such as apatite;
Silicon compounds such as silica, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride; carbon powders such as carbon black and graphite.

The following organic particles and composite particles may be added for the same purpose. Resin particles such as polyamide resin particles, silicone resin particles, silicone rubber particles, urethane particles, melamine-formaldehyde particles, and acrylic particles; rubber, wax, fatty acid compounds, resins, etc. and metals,
Composite particles composed of metal oxides, salts, inorganic particles such as carbon black; fluororesins such as polyfluoroethylene and polyvinylidene fluoride; fluorine compounds such as carbon fluoride; fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate; fatty acids And fatty acid derivatives such as fatty acid esters; molybdenum sulfide, amino acids and amino acid derivatives.

Next, an example of the developing method and process cartridge of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, the shape, and the relative arrangement of them should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a developing container for accommodating the non-magnetic one-component toner 22, and the developing device 14 is located at an opening extending in the longitudinal direction in the developing container 21 and faces the photosensitive drum 11. A toner carrier 23 arranged,
The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed and visualized.

The photosensitive drum 11 is a rigid body having an aluminum cylinder as a base body and a photosensitive layer having a predetermined thickness applied to the periphery thereof. During image formation, for example, in the case of reversal development of negatively charged toner, the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged to a charging potential Vd = -400V to -700V by the charging device, and the portion exposed by the laser in accordance with the image signal is Vl. = −100 to −200V. DC voltage Vdc = -1 is applied to the core of the toner carrier 23 with respect to the Vl portion.
50 to -500 V, or even AC voltage Vpp =
1500 to 2500 V is applied as a developing bias to develop the toner.

At the opening, the toner carrier 23 is provided laterally with its right half half shown in the drawing protruding into the developing container 21 and its left half semi-circular surface exposed from the developing container 21. This developer container 2
The surface exposed from No. 1 faces the photosensitive drum 11 located on the left side of the developing device 14 either in contact with or not in contact with the photosensitive drum 11.

The toner carrier 23 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow B. The surface thereof has appropriate irregularities for favorably carrying the non-magnetic one-component toner 22. When the toner carrier 23 is used in a non-contact manner with the photosensitive drum 11, the surface of the aluminum sleeve which has been subjected to the regular blast treatment with glass beads or the resin coated one is used, and the gap between the toner carrier 23 and the photosensitive drum 11 is 300 μm. To face each other. When the toner carrier 23 is used in contact with the photosensitive drum 11, an elastic roller made of NBR or silicone rubber can be used. The photosensitive drum 11 is rotated at a peripheral speed 1 to 2 times the peripheral speed of the toner carrier 23.

Below the toner carrier 23, an elastic roller 24 is abutted and rotatably supported. The elastic roller 24 has a sponge structure or a fur brush structure in which fibers such as rayon and nylon are planted on a cored bar, and is rotated in the same direction as the toner carrier 23.

A toner regulating member 25 is provided above the toner carrier 23 so as to be supported by a supporting metal plate 28 so that the vicinity of the tip on the free end side comes into surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 23. There is. As for the abutting direction, the tip on the free end side with respect to the abutting portion is in the counter direction, which is located on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the toner carrier 23.

The method of supporting the toner regulating member 25 on the supporting metal plate 28 is not limited to tightening with screws or welding or welding.

The toner regulating member 25 is made by laminating an elastic body 27 on the entire contact surface of the thin metal plate 26 of phosphor bronze with the toner carrier 23, and is 9.8 with respect to the toner carrier 23. To 39.2 N / m (1
The contact pressure is 0 to 40 g / cm).

The case where the developing device, the photosensitive drum, the cleaning blade, the waste toner container, and the charging device are integrally formed and is applied to the process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body has been described above. Applicable to a process cartridge consisting only of a developing device that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, or a process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade, a waste toner container, and a charging device are integrally formed in addition to the developing device. Good.

[0073]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples below. In addition, all "parts" mean parts by mass.

<Production Example 1> Clearmix, a high-speed stirring device
4 liters for 2 liters equipped with (M Technique)
630 parts of ion-exchanged water and 0.1 mol /
Liter Na₃PO_FourAdd 485 parts of aqueous solution and
Adjust the rotation speed of the mix to 14000 rpm and bring it to 65 ° C.
Heated. Here, 1.0 mol / liter of CaCl
₂65 parts of an aqueous solution was gradually added, and 10% hydrochloric acid was added dropwise.
A small, slightly water-soluble dispersant Ca ₃(PO_Four)₂Including p
An aqueous medium with H = 5.8 was prepared.

On the other hand, the dispersoid system was prepared by dispersing 175 parts of styrene monomer, 25 parts of butyl acrylate monomer, 15 parts of carbon black and 1.6 parts of metal salicylate compound using an attritor for 5 hours. The following components were added to the above mixture and dispersed for 2 hours to prepare a dispersoid system.・ Polyester resin 10 parts ・ Ester wax 20 parts ・ Styrene modified polyethylene wax 10 parts ・ Divinylbenzene 0.5 part

Next, a polymerization initiator 2,2 'is added to the dispersoid system.
-Azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) 4.8
After adding 1 part, the mixture was placed in the above dispersion medium and granulated at 17,000 rpm for 15 minutes in a nitrogen atmosphere with an internal temperature of 70 ° C.
After that, replace the stirrer with a propeller stirrer, and rotate at 50 rpm.
Polymerization was carried out for 5 hours while maintaining the temperature at 70 ° C. with stirring, and the internal temperature was further raised to 80 ° C. for 5 hours. After completion of polymerization
The slurry was cooled and dilute hydrochloric acid was added to remove the dispersant.
Further, it was washed with water, dried and classified to obtain colored particles.

Hydrophobic silica (BET = 210 m) obtained by surface-treating 100 parts of silica having a primary particle size of about 7 nm with 15 parts of dimethyl silicone oil based on 100 parts of the above-mentioned colored particles.
Toner A was obtained by externally adding 1.2 parts of ^{2 /} g) using a Henschel mixer FM10B.

The weight average diameter of the toner A is 6.8 μm, the average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more measured by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.978, and the melt index is 1.
The contact angle was 4.5 and the contact angle was 101 °.

<Production Example 2> In Production Example 1, the amount of divinylbenzene was 0.4 parts, and the reaction temperature after the polymerization initiator was added was 75.
The weight average diameter was 6.8 in the same manner as in Production Example 1 except that the temperature was changed to ℃.
Toner B having a particle size of 10 μm and a particle size of 10 μm or more as measured by a flow-type particle image analyzer having a mean circularity of 0.981, a melt index of 23, and a contact angle of 105 ° was obtained.

<Production Example 3> The same procedure as in Production Example 1 except that the amount of divinylbenzene was 0.6 part, the granulation temperature after the polymerization initiator was added, and the reaction temperature was 65 ° C. A toner having a weight average diameter of 6.8 μm and a particle diameter of 10 μm or more measured by a flow type particle image analyzer has an average circularity of 0.98.
A toner C having a 0, a melt index of 9 and a contact angle of 100 ° was obtained.

<Production Example 4> The weight average diameter was 6.8 μm in the same manner as in Production Example 1 except that the amount of ester wax added was 40 parts and the amount of styrene-modified polyethylene wax added was 25 parts. The average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more is 0.97 by the flow type particle image analyzer.
3, melt index 15.2, contact angle 108 °
Toner D was obtained.

<Production Example 5> The same procedure as in Production Example 1 except that the ester wax was added in an amount of 5 parts and the styrene-modified polyethylene wax was not added, and the flow-type particles were used. 10 by image analyzer
Toner E having a particle size of not less than μm and an average circularity of 0.986, a melt index of 13 and a contact angle of 99 ° was obtained.

<Production Example 6> -Styrene acrylic resin 100 parts (styrene-butyl acrylate copolymerization ratio = 80:20) -Carbon black 6 parts-Ester wax 3.5 parts-Salicylic acid metal compound 0.7 parts After mixing with a Henschel mixer, melt-kneading with a twin-screw extrusion kneader, coarsely pulverizing with a hammer mill, finely pulverizing with a jet mill, and further using hybridizer type 1 (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.) 1500 rp
The particles treated for 4 minutes were classified to obtain colored particles.

Production Example 1 with respect to 100 parts of the colored particles
1.2 parts of the hydrophobic silica used in Henschel Mixer F
Toner F was obtained by external addition with M10B.

The weight average diameter of the toner F is 6.8 μm, the average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more measured by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.971, and the melt index is 1.
The contact angle was 4.3 and the contact angle was 97 °.

<Production Example 7> In Production Example 5, the weight average diameter was 6.8 μm and the flow type particle image analyzer was 10 μm or more in the same manner as in Production Example 5 except that the addition amount of the ester wax was 2.5 parts. The average circularity of the toner having the particle diameter of 0.98 is 0.98.
3, toner G having a melt index of 11.2 and a contact angle of 95 ° was obtained.

<Production Example 8> A weight average diameter of 6.8 μm was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 2 except that the amount of ester wax added was 35 parts and the amount of styrene-modified polyethylene wax added was 20 parts. The average circularity of the toner having a particle size of 10 μm or more measured by a flow-type particle image analyzer is 0.
979, melt index 19.5, contact angle 11
2 ° Toner H was obtained.

<Comparative Production Example 1> In the same manner as in Production Example 1 except that neither ester wax nor styrene-modified polyethylene wax was added, a weight average diameter of 6.8 μm and a flow type particle image analyzer were prepared. By 1
The average circularity of toner particles having a particle size of 0 μm or more is 0.980,
Toner I having a melt index of 12.7 and a contact angle of 92.3 ° was obtained.

<Comparative Production Example 2> A weight average diameter of 6.8 μm was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 4, except that the amount of ester wax added was 50 parts and the amount of styrene-modified polyethylene wax added was 30 parts. The average circularity of the toner having a particle size of 10 μm or more is 0.9 by a flow type particle image analyzer.
71, melt index 18.3, contact angle 113
Toner J of ° was obtained.

Comparative Production Example 3 A weight average diameter of 6 was obtained in the same manner as in Production Example 2 except that the amount of divinylbenzene was 0.3 parts and the reaction temperature after the polymerization initiator was added was 78 ° C. Toner K having a particle size of 0.8 μm, a particle size of 10 μm or more by a flow type particle image analyzer, an average circularity of 0.980, a melt index of 26.3, and a contact angle of 103 ° was obtained.

Comparative Production Example 4 A weight average diameter of 6.8 μm and a particle size of 10 μm or more measured by a flow-type particle image analyzer in the same manner as in Production Example 6 except that the treatment with a hybridizer was not performed. Average toner circularity is 0.96
5, melt index 14.4, contact angle 96.5
The toner L of the toner was obtained.

Example 1 Toner A of Production Example 1 was evaluated using a remodeling machine A in which a commercially available color laser printer LBP2160 (manufactured by Canon Inc.) was remodeled as follows.

In the modified machine A of LBP2160, the yellow cartridge was modified as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the process cartridge includes a developing container 14 containing a non-magnetic one-component toner 22, and a toner carrier 23 in an opening extending in the longitudinal direction inside the developing container 14, and the toner carrier 23 is provided. Was used, which was obtained by subjecting an aluminum sleeve surface having a diameter of 16 mm to a regular blast treatment with glass beads (# 800) so that the surface roughness Rz was about 2 μm. The toner carrier 23 is set such that the gap between the toner carrier 23 and the latent image carrier 1 is 280 μm during image formation.
1.7 times the peripheral speed of 204 per peripheral speed of 120 mm / s
It is rotated at mm / s.

Above the toner carrier 23, a toner regulating member 25, which is composed of a thin metal plate of phosphor bronze as a base body and an elastic body bonded to the contact surface side to the toner carrier 23, is used.
Is supported by the blade supporting sheet metal 28, and is provided so as to contact the vicinity of the free end side tip with the outer peripheral surface of the toner carrier 23 by surface contact. The contact direction is relative to the contact portion. The front end side is in the so-called counter direction, which is located upstream in the rotational direction of the toner carrier 23. Also,
The contact pressure on the toner carrier 23 is 29.4 N / m (3
0 g / cm). For the measurement of the linear pressure, three thin metal plates having a known friction coefficient were inserted into the abutting portion, and the central one was pulled out by a spring, which was converted into a value.

The elastic member adhered to the contact surfaces of the toner regulating member 25 and the toner carrier 23 is made of silicone rubber (thickness 25
The surface of (μm) (the surface in contact with the toner carrier) was coated with polycarbonate (coating thickness: 10 μm).

The plastic energy Wr at the contact portion of the toner regulating member with the toner carrier was 125 nJ.

The bias applied to the toner carrier 23 is a DC voltage: Vdc = -350V and an AC: rectangular wave Vpp =
It is a superposition of 1800 V and f = 2000 Hz.

Two yellow cartridges of the above-mentioned modified machine A were prepared by filling 300 g of toner A therein. One is left in a constant temperature bath at 45 ° C for 20 days, then at 23 ° C / 60%
The following images were printed in the RH environment. At this time, the set temperature of the fixing device was 170 ° C.・ Sample A: 1 piece of solid white (A4 size, 80g / m
² sheets) ・ Sample B: One halftone (A4 size, 80
g / m ² paper)

Further, the set temperature of the fixing device is changed from 150 ° C. to the step of 5 ° C. at 200 ° C. Sample C: One fixing evaluation pattern at each fixing device temperature (A3 size, 200 g / m ² paper) Sample D: One fixing evaluation pattern at each fixing device temperature (A4 size, 60 g / m ² paper)

The fixing evaluation pattern is 1 from the leading edge of the paper.
50mm x at 0mm position and 10mm position from the rear edge of the paper
Solid black patch of 50 mm (toner coat amount 0.6 mg /
cm ²(Solid image), solid black patch area
The others are solid white.

Further, the toner regulating member and the toner carrying member were removed from the cartridge on which the above printing was finished, and the respective contact portions were visually confirmed.

The other cartridge is 23 ° C.
A continuous print test (5000 continuous sheets) of a pattern having a print ratio of 2% was performed in an environment of / 60% RH. 50th and 500
The following images were printed on the first sheet. -Sample E: One solid black (A4 size, 80 g / m
² papers) <Examples 2 to 8> Using the modified machine A used in Example 1,
The toners B to H shown in Production Examples 2 to 8 are respectively prepared in Example 1
It evaluated similarly to.

<Embodiment 9> Modified machine A used in Embodiment 1
The surface of the elastic member provided on the toner regulating member is the surface of a silicone rubber (thickness: 35 μm) in which styrene particles of 0.3 μm are dispersed as a filler (a surface in contact with the toner carrier).
Evaluations were made in the same manner as in Example 1 except that urethane resin (thickness 10 μm) was coated on The plastic energy Wr at the contact portion of the toner regulating member with the toner carrier was 85 nJ.

<Embodiment 10> Modified machine A used in Embodiment 1
Then, the evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the elastic body provided in the toner regulating member was changed to a polyamide elastomer (thickness: 80 μm) in which silica treated with dimethyldichlorosilane was dispersed as a filler. The plastic energy Wr at the contact portion of the toner regulating member with the toner carrier was 153 nJ.

Comparative Example 1 The toner I shown in Comparative Production Example 1 was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 using the modified machine A used in Example 1.

Comparative Example 2 The toner J shown in Comparative Production Example 2 was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 using the modified machine A used in Example 1.

Comparative Example 3 The toner K shown in Comparative Production Example 3 was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 using the modified machine A used in Example 1.

Comparative Example 4 The toner L shown in Comparative Production Example 4 was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 using the modified machine A used in Example 1.

<Comparative Example 5> Modified machine A used in Example 1
Then, evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the elastic body provided on the toner regulating member was replaced with a polycarbonate sheet (thickness 120 μm). The plastic energy Wr at the contact portion of the toner regulating member with the toner carrier is 180 nJ.
Met.

<Comparative Example 6> Modified machine A used in Example 1
Then, the evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the elastic body provided on the toner regulating member was changed to a urethane rubber sheet (thickness 140 μm). The plastic energy Wr at the contact portion of the toner regulating member with the toner carrier was 72 nJ.

[Evaluation Method] (1) The reflectances of the fog sample A and the unused paper are respectively TC-6.
DS (manufactured by Tokyo Denshoku Co., Ltd.) was used for measurement (3-point average), and the difference was determined. The ranking of evaluation was performed as follows. A: less than 1.0% B: 1.0% or more and less than 2.0% C: 2.0% or more and less than 3.0% D: 3.0% or more

(2) Black Line It was visually observed whether or not the black line of the toner carrier period was generated in the sample B. In the case of the modified machine A used in the example, the toner carrier period is about 30 mm.

(3) Fixability The patch at the rear end of Sample C at each fixing temperature is set to 9.8k.
Pa (100 g / cm ²) Silbon paper
(Lenz Cleaning Paper "daspe"
R "Ozu Paper Co. Ltd)
The density decrease rate before and after was measured. Concentration reduction rate is 20% or less
According to the fixing temperature TL
It was It can be determined that the lower the TL, the better the fixability. Still thick
The degree is measured with a reflection densitometer RD918 (manufactured by Macbeth).
I'm sorry A: TL = 160 ° C or less B: TL = 165 ° C. to 175 ° C. C: TL = 180 ° C to 190 ° C D: TL = 195 ° C. or higher

(4) Offset In Sample D at each fixing temperature, it was visually evaluated whether or not the offset of the patch at the leading edge occurred on the white background portion.
The following ranks were classified according to the temperature TH at which the offset occurred. It can be judged that the higher the TH, the better the non-offset property. A: TH = 190 ° C. or higher B: TH = 175 ° C. to 185 ° C. C: TH = 160 ° C. to 170 ° C. D: TH = 155 ° C. or lower

(5) Density change At 50 sheets and 5000 sheets, the density of the portion 3 cm from the front end of the paper of sample E is measured at three points at the center and both ends, and the average value is obtained. The density was measured with a reflection densitometer RD918 (manufactured by Macbeth Co.). The density difference between the 50th sheet and the 5000th sheet was calculated, and the following ranking was performed.

The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

[0117]

[Table 1]

[0118]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image forming method, a non-magnetic one-component toner and a process cartridge can be obtained in which a good image having no image defect can be obtained even when left in a high temperature environment for a long time without performing a developing operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of an image forming apparatus and a developing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the developing device in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 image forming apparatus 11 Photosensitive drum 12 Charging device 13 Laser light 14 Developing device 15 Transfer roller 16 recording media 17 Cleaning blade 18 Waste toner 19 Fixing device 21 developer container 22 Non-magnetic single component toner 23 Toner carrier 24 elastic roller 25 Toner regulating member 26 Metal sheet 27 Elastic body 28 Support sheet metal

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yuji Moriki             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Hashimoto             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation F term (reference) 2H005 AA06 AA15 CA13 CA14 EA05                       EA07 EA10 FA07                 2H077 AD02 AD06 AD13 AD17 AD23                       EA14 EA15 EA16 FA01 FA13                       FA22 GA13

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier,
In an image forming method of developing with a non-magnetic one-component toner thinly coated on a toner carrying member by a toner regulating member in contact with the toner carrying member, the toner regulating member is a thin plate having spring elasticity. An elastic body is provided at least in a contact portion with the toner carrier, and a plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the corresponding contact portion is 80 nJ or more and 160 nJ or less, and the non-magnetic one-component toner is at least bound. Contains resin, colorant and wax, and wax content is 0.5% by mass
25 mass% or less, the melt index of the toner is 8
25 or more and the weight average diameter of the toner is 4 μm or more and 10 μ or more.
m or less, the average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more measured by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.970 or more and 0.990 or more.
An image forming method comprising: 2. The plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the contact portion with the toner carrier is 90 nJ or more 145.
The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the image forming method is nJ or less. 3. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the elastic body provided in the contact portion with the toner carrier is 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less. 4. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the contact angle of the toner is 97 ° or more and 110 ° or less. 5. The electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier is
The toner regulating member in contact with the toner carrying member develops with a non-magnetic one-component toner thinly coated on the toner carrying member, and the toner regulating member is a thin plate-like member having spring elasticity and at least the toner. A non-magnetic one-component toner used in an image forming method, wherein an elastic body is provided at a contact portion with a carrier, and a plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the corresponding contact portion is 80 nJ or more and 160 nJ or less, The non-magnetic one-component toner contains at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the content of the wax is 0.5% by mass.
25 mass% or less, the melt index of the toner is 8
25 or more and the weight average diameter of the toner is 4 μm or more and 10 μ or more.
m or less, the average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more measured by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.970 or more and 0.990 or more.
A non-magnetic one-component toner characterized by the following: 6. The plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the contact portion with the toner carrier is 90 nJ or more 145.
The non-magnetic one-component toner according to claim 5, wherein the toner is nJ or less. 7. The non-magnetic one-component toner according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the elastic body provided in the contact portion with the toner carrier is 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less. 8. The non-magnetic one-component toner according to claim 5, wherein the toner contact angle is 97 ° or more and 110 ° or less. 9. A process cartridge detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising at least a non-magnetic one-component toner, a toner carrier, and a toner regulating member, wherein the toner regulating member is a thin plate having spring elasticity. At least the elastic portion is provided at the contact portion with the toner carrier, and the plastic energy Wr of the toner regulating member measured at the corresponding contact portion is 80 nJ or more and 160 nJ or less, and the non-magnetic one-component toner is Contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax, and the content of the wax is 0.5% by mass.
25 mass% or less, the melt index of the toner is 8
25 or more and the weight average diameter of the toner is 4 μm or more and 10 μ or more.
m or less, the average circularity of the toner having a particle diameter of 10 μm or more measured by a flow type particle image analyzer is 0.970 or more and 0.990 or more.
A process cartridge characterized by the following. 10. The toner control member has a plastic energy Wr of 90 nJ or more measured at a contact portion with a toner carrier 14
10. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the process cartridge is 5 nJ or less. 11. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the thickness of the elastic body provided in the contact portion with the toner carrier is 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less. 12. The toner contact angle is 97 ° or more and 110 °.
The process cartridge according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein: