JP2004126627A - Electrophotographic toner, container for storing toner and method for supplying toner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide toner having high fluidity and high discharging propertyies, toner whose adhesiveness among toner particles is reduced while having high discharging properties, a toner storing container in which the toner is stored, an image forming device loaded with the toner storing container, and a toner supplying method capable of almost completely discharging toner stored in the container. <P>SOLUTION: Toner is stored in a cylindrical container having spiral toner guide grooves at least in the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container which is used for a toner supply device of an image forming device provided with a container holding means connected to a toner leading part to a developing part and holding the toner storing container so that its aperture part is turned to the toner leading part and a driving means for rotating the storing container. The adhesive force of one toner particle is ≤ 3.0dyne/contact. This invention includes the toner storing container, the image forming device loaded with the toner storing container and the toner supplying method capable of almost completely discharging toner from the container. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a toner used for developing an electrostatic image in an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, or the like, a container storing the toner, an image forming apparatus equipped with the container, and a toner replenishing method.

(4) With the progress of computerization, copying from manuscripts using an electrophotographic copying machine or the like has been increasing. The electrophotographic copying machine is configured such that a charging section, an exposure section, a development section, a transfer section, a cleaning section, and the like are organically arranged.

ト ナ ー By the way, the toner storage container used in the developing section of the electrophotographic copying machine is classified into a vertical type and a horizontal type according to the structure of the developing section. The vertically disposed toner storage container is suitable for supplying the toner to the developing unit at one time by turning the container upside down.

There are various types of horizontal toner storage containers, which are suitable for supplying the toner little by little to the developing section. A typical example is a cylindrical one having a spiral toner guide groove formed on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall, as shown in, for example, JP-A-7-20705, which is slowly rotated in the circumferential direction. This is a method of supplying the toner to the developing unit by using a method, and is particularly suitable for supplying an appropriate amount of the toner little by little.

時 In recent years, the horizontal type toner storage container has been increasingly used. This is the same in a developing device such as a facsimile.

However, the horizontal type toner storage container has the above-mentioned advantages, but has a problem that the dischargeability from the container is insufficient due to the horizontal type.

On the other hand, recently, since the sharpness of the toner image has been particularly required, it is necessary to reduce the particle diameter of the toner and reduce the use of oil, regardless of whether the toner storage container used is a horizontal type or a vertical type. Advanced toners such as spherical toners and polymerized toners have been used.

However, the toner having such a small particle diameter or a highly functionalized toner is not fully understood, but the fluidity is low, so that the toner is poorly discharged from the container, and even after repeatedly forming an image. In many cases, the toner in the container remains without being used almost completely. Further, in such a toner, the toner may adhere to each other to form a lump, which also causes a reduction in dischargeability.

(4) There has been no fact that these problems which occur particularly when a horizontal type toner storage container is used have been taken up as a problem, and no solution has been proposed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic toner which solves these disadvantages, has excellent dischargeability from a container, and is gradually supplied to a developing unit in an appropriate amount which is neither a small amount nor an excessive amount.

More specifically, a first object of the present invention is to provide a toner having good fluidity and high dischargeability. A second object is to provide a toner having a high discharge property with reduced adhesion between toners. A third object is to provide a toner container in which a toner having a high discharging property is stored. A fourth object is to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner container in which toner having a high discharge property is stored. A fifth object is to provide a toner supply method capable of almost completely discharging toner in a container.

According to the present invention, the following inventions are provided.
(1) Container holding means communicating with the toner introduction section to the developing section and holding the toner storage container with the opening thereof facing the toner introduction section, and drive means for driving the storage container to rotate. Stored in a cylindrical container having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall, which is used in a toner replenishing device of an image forming apparatus, wherein the toner has a particle adhesion of 3.0 dyne / contact. An electrophotographic toner characterized by the following.
(2) Container holding means which communicates with the toner introduction section to the developing section and holds the toner storage container with the opening thereof facing the toner introduction section, and driving means for driving the storage container to rotate. Toner contained in a cylindrical container having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall used in the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus, wherein the toner is non-magnetic and has a loose apparent density. (1) for electrophotography according to (1), wherein the ratio of the apparent density to the loose apparent density / the apparent density is 0.5 to 1.0 and the degree of aggregation is 25% or less. toner.
(3) The toner for electrophotography according to (2), wherein the toner is non-magnetic, has a loose apparent density of 0.30 g / cm ³ or more, and has a repose angle of 35 ° or less. .
(4) The electrophotographic toner according to (3), wherein the angle of repose is 23 ° or less.
(5) A container containing toner, wherein the toner container is detachably attached to a toner replenishing device of the image forming apparatus, and has a cylindrical shape having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall; A container containing a toner, wherein the toner has an adhesion force of one particle of 3.0 dyne / contact or less.
(6) A container for storing toner, wherein the toner storage container is detachably attached to a toner replenishing device of the image forming apparatus, and has a cylindrical shape having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall; The toner is non-magnetic, the ratio of the loose apparent density or the apparent density is loose apparent density / the apparent density = 0.5 to 1.0, and the degree of aggregation is 25% or less. Characteristically, a container containing a toner.
(7) The toner according to (6), wherein the toner is non-magnetic, the loose apparent density is 0.30 g / cm ³ or more, and the angle of repose is 35 ° or less. Container.
(8) The container containing the toner according to (7), wherein the angle of repose is 23 ° or less.
(9) An image forming apparatus including a developing unit and a driving unit that rotationally drives the toner storage container so as to rotate around a central axis thereof at a constant speed, wherein the toner storage container is mounted on the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus, wherein the stored container is any one of (5) to (8).
(10) An image forming apparatus having a developing unit and a driving unit for driving the toner storage container to rotate the toner storage container, wherein the toner storage container is moved around the central axis by the driving unit in the image forming apparatus equipped with the toner storage container. And supplying the toner to the developing unit by rotating the toner so that the toner is rotated at a constant speed, wherein the container storing the toner is any one of (5) to (8). To supply toner to the developing unit.

The present invention provides a cylindrical toner storage container having a spiral groove formed on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall, which is in communication with the toner introduction unit to the developing unit, and container holding means for holding the opening of the container toward the toner introduction unit. The toner filled in the toner container has a volume average particle diameter of not less than 6.0 μm and a half of the number average particle diameter using an image forming apparatus provided with a driving unit for driving the toner container to rotate. Since the cumulative value of the diameter is 10% by number or less and the cumulative value of 1.5 times or more the volume average particle diameter is 15% by volume or less and the fluidity is very high, the flow from the toner container is The discharge of the toner is performed very well.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.
The container for storing the toner of the present invention and the toner replenishing device are not particularly limited, but a cylindrical toner container of a horizontal type (commonly referred to as a VA bottle) provided with a spiral toner guide groove on the inner surface of the above-mentioned container peripheral wall. Since the present invention can be particularly effectively carried out by using, the present invention will be described below using this VA bottle.

The VA bottle communicates with a toner introduction section to the developing section, and has container holding means for holding the opening of the container toward the toner introduction section, and the container is rotated so as to rotate around the central axis thereof. The image forming apparatus is provided with a driving unit that is driven to rotate.

と As shown in FIG. 1, when the VA bottle is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the point A5 on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the VA bottle constantly rotates around the central axis of the VA bottle. Assuming now that the toner particles are placed at point A5, the toner particles move downward from A5 to A4, A3, A2, and A1 with the rotation of the VA bottle, and each time the VA bottle rotates, the opening ( Discharge port). In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a spiral convex portion formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall, 2 denotes an opening, and t denotes toner.

However, even a VA bottle having a peculiar structure in which a spiral toner guide groove is provided on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall, such as a VA bottle, is usually used horizontally so that toner adheres to the inner wall thereof. Emission property is not enough. In particular, recent toners, which tend to have a tendency to reduce the particle size, add wax, and form a sphere, have a strong adhesive force between the toner particles. Therefore, as the container rotates over time, the inner wall of the toner container becomes harder. As the amount of adhered substances increases, the dischargeability is further deteriorated. The VA bottle has a function of transporting toner to the discharge port by providing a spiral toner guide groove on the inner surface of the peripheral wall. However, when the amount of toner adhering to the inner wall increases, this function cannot be sufficiently exerted. The toner cannot be replenished.

The present inventors have found that when the one-particle adhesive force of the toner is 3.0 dyne / contact or less, the fluidity of the toner is further improved, and the toner is prevented from adhering to the inner wall of the container. Was obtained.

This one-particle adhesive force is calculated as follows.
Using POWDER COHERENCY METER ED-2000CH (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation),
Sample size: 10g
Pressing force: 5kg, 10kg
A sample is prepared and measured under the following conditions, extrapolated to a pressure of 0 kg, and determined from the following equations (1) and (2).
In addition, the adhesive force and the void force mean the adhesive force and the void force of the sample in the packed layer.

The method for reducing the adhesion of one particle of the toner to 3.0 dyne / contact or less is not limited. For example, a method of adding a fluidity improver to the toner or performing a treatment of rounding the toner into particles may be used. It is desirable to adjust the adhesion by a method.

The fluidity improver used in the present invention is not limited, but hydrophobized silica and hydrophobized titania are particularly preferably used, as described in detail below, a coloring agent, a binder resin and a charge control agent. It is preferable that the desired toner is obtained by externally adding to the toner base particles mainly containing

(5) The addition amount of the hydrophobized silica is suitably 0.5 to 2.0% by weight, and the addition amount of the hydrophobized titania is suitably 0.5 to 1.5% by weight.

一般 A general method may be employed for producing hydrophobized silica and hydrophobized titania. For example, after treatment with silicone oil or silicone varnish in water, drying and crushing are performed. The size of the silica subjected to the hydrophobic treatment and the titania subjected to the hydrophobic treatment are both 0.01 to 0.2 μm, preferably 0.02 to 0.15 μm.

The above-described conditions of the toner of the present invention can be applied to a magnetic toner containing a magnetic material in toner particles and to a non-magnetic toner containing no magnetic material.

However, in the case of a non-magnetic toner, although the fluidity of the toner is good for about one month after being filled in a container, the fluidity of the toner decreases when the toner is left standing for a while, and as a result, the toner dischargeability deteriorates. May come. This is considered to be due to the fact that toner particles sometimes adhere to each other and aggregate.

The present inventors have studied to solve this problem, and as a result, the non-magnetic toner has a loose apparent density / high apparent density = 0.5 to 1.0 and a toner agglomeration degree of 25%. In the following cases, it was confirmed that the remaining amount of discharged toner in the toner container can be reduced.

Further, when the loose apparent density of the non-magnetic toner is 0.30 g / cm ³ or more and the angle of repose is 35 ° or less, and particularly when the angle of repose is 23 ° or less, more smooth toner discharge is possible. As a result, it was confirmed that the remaining amount of toner discharged from the toner container was extremely small.

(4) If the loose apparent density / hard apparent density is maintained at 0.5 or more and the cohesion degree is 25% or less, poor dischargeability can be prevented. However, when the fluidity of the toner used in the present invention is improved, the ratio of the loose apparent density / the apparent density tends to decrease. Therefore, the ratio of the loose apparent density / the apparent density is taken into consideration in consideration of this point. By setting the value of the degree of aggregation while adjusting the value, it is possible to obtain a toner having good dischargeability.

Apparent density is preferably 0.30 g / cm ³ or more loose, more preferably more 0.30~0.50g / cm ^3. On the other hand, the apparent density is preferably about 0.40 to 0.60 g / cm ³ .

The "aggregation degree" in the present invention means the degree of adhesion (aggregation) between toner particles.

When the non-magnetic toner is stored in a horizontal type container, the loose apparent density and the angle of repose of the toner are also related to the toner discharging property. In particular, when the VA bottle is placed horizontally on the image forming apparatus, the angle of repose of the toner is also an important characteristic value. When the angle of repose of the non-magnetic toner is 35 ° or less, it is effective for discharging toner. Further, when the apparent density of loosening of the toner is 0.30 g / cm ³ or more at the same time as the angle of repose, the toner discharging property is further improved. .

The toner replenishing method of the present invention includes a toner container, and a container holding unit that communicates with the developer introduction unit to the developing unit, and that holds the storage container with its opening facing the developer introduction unit. Using the developer supply device of the image forming apparatus, the plug held by the container holding unit with the opening sealed with a removable plug is opened by the plug removing unit that is removed from the opening. Then, the toner storage container is rotated to discharge toner from the opening.
The developing replenishing device can be used without a bottle cap opening means.

(4) The method for producing the toner of the present invention will be described. That is, the toner of the present invention is mainly composed of additives such as a colorant, a binder resin, and a charge control agent, like the conventional toner. Further, if necessary, an additive such as a fluidity improver is added and uniformly mixed to obtain a toner.

乾 After dry-blending these components, they are melted and kneaded with an extruder and the like, and the kneaded material is cooled and roughly pulverized. Next, fine particles are further classified by a jet mill airflow pulverizer or the like, and then classified into fine powder and coarse powder using a general air classifier so as to obtain a desired particle size distribution.

It is important to adjust the particle size distribution so as to meet the predetermined conditions of the present invention. Further, for example, the type of resin constituting the toner is selected, or the amount of an additive such as a fluidity improver is added. It is done by adjusting.

Examples of the binder resin include polymers of styrene such as polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, and polyvinyl toluene and their substituted polymers; styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, and styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer Styrene-vinyl naphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate Copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, Styrene-butadiene copolymer Styrene copolymers such as styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer; polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, poly Vinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, Aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, paraffin waxes and the like can be mentioned, and these can be used alone or in combination.

As the coloring agent, all known dyes and pigments can be used. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, loess, Graphite, titanium yellow, polyazo yellow, oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), pigment yellow L, benzidine yellow (G, GR), permanent yellow (NCG), Vulcan fast yellow (5G, R) ), Tartrazine lake, Quinoline yellow lake, Anthrazan yellow BGL, Isoindolinone yellow, Bengala, Lead red, Lead red, Cadmium red, Cadmium mercury red, Antimon red, Permanent red 4R, Para red, Faise Red, parachlor ortonit Aniline Red, Risor Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Kahnmin BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Lisor Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlett 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Museum, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake , Thioindigo red B, thioindigo maroon, oil red, quinacridone red, pyrazolone red, Liazo Red, Chrome Vermillion, Benzidine Orange, Perinone Orange, Oil Orange, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Peacock Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Metal-Free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue (RS, BC), indigo, ultramarine, navy blue, anthraquinone blue, fast violet B, methyl violet lake, cobalt violet, manganese violet, dioxane violet, anthraquinone violet, chrome green, zinc green, chromium oxide, pyridian, emerald green, pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Acid Green Lake, Malachite Green Lake, Phthalo Cyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, lithobon and mixtures thereof can be used.

The amount of the colorant used is generally 0.1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

In addition, if necessary, charging for reinforcing charging characteristics such as (1) improving the absolute level of the charging amount, (2) shortening the rise time until saturation charging, and (3) reducing environmental fluctuations, etc. Control agents may be included.

As the charge control agent for reinforcing the charge characteristics, all known charge control agents can be used, and in the case of a color toner, for example, nigrosine dye, triphenylmethane dye, chromium-containing metal complex dye, molybdate chelate pigment, rhodamine Dyes, alkoxyamines, quaternary ammonium salts (including fluorinated quaternary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus alone or compounds, tungsten alone or compounds, fluorine-based activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and salicylic acid derivatives Metal salts and the like. Specifically, bontron 03 of a nigrosine dye, bontron P-51 of a quaternary ammonium salt, bontron S-34 of a metal-containing azo dye, E-82 of an oxynaphthoic acid metal complex, and E-82 of a salicylic acid metal complex 84, phenolic condensate E-89 (all manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries), quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex TP-302, TP-415 (all manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Industry), quaternary ammonium Copy charge of salt PSY @ VP2038, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge of quaternary ammonium salt NEG @ VP2036, copy charge NX @ VP434 (all from Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex (Nippon Carlit), copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinac Don, azo pigments, sulfonate group, carboxyl group, and polymer compounds having a functional group such as a quaternary ammonium salt.

(4) In order to impart a releasing property to the produced toner, a wax can be contained in the produced toner. The melting point of the wax is 40 to 120 ° C, and preferably 50 to 110 ° C. If the melting point of the wax is too high, the fixability at low temperatures may be insufficient, while if the melting point is too low, the offset resistance and durability may be reduced.

The melting point of the wax can be determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). That is, the melting peak value when a few mg of sample is ripened at a constant heating rate, for example (10 ° C./min), is defined as the melting point.

Examples of the wax that can be used in the present invention include solid paraffin wax, micro wax, rice wax, fatty acid amide-based wax, fatty acid-based wax, dead group monoketones, fatty acid metal salt-based wax, fatty acid ester-based wax, and partial ken wax. Fatty acid ester wax, silicone varnish, higher alcohol, carnauba wax and the like. Polyolefins such as low molecular weight polyethylene and polypropylene can also be used. In particular, a polyolefin having a softening point by a ring and ball method of 70 to 150 ° C is preferable, and a polyolefin having a softening point of 120 to 150 ° C is more preferable.

As the external additive, inorganic fine particles other than the fluidity improver described above can also be used. The primary particle size of the inorganic fine particles is preferably from 5 μm to 2 μm, and particularly preferably from 5 μm to 500 μm. Further, the specific surface area by the BET method is preferably from 20 to 500 m ² / g.

使用 The usage ratio of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight, and more preferably 0.01 to 2.0% by weight of the toner.

Specific examples of the inorganic fine particles include, for example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, and diatomaceous Examples include earth, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, red iron oxide, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride.

Next, the method of measuring each characteristic value will be described. The loose apparent density, firm apparent density, degree of cohesion, and angle of repose are measured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation, PT-N type, and the outline is described below based on the contents of the instruction manual.

(1) Particle size distribution Using a Coulter counter TA-II type (manufactured by Coulter), the number distribution and volume distribution were measured. As the electrolyte, a 1% NaCl aqueous solution is prepared using primary sodium chloride. As a measurement method, a small amount of a surfactant is added as a dispersant to a container, and a measurement sample is further added, and the above-mentioned electric field aqueous solution is added. The electrolyte in which the sample was suspended was subjected to a dispersion treatment for about 1 to 3 minutes with an ultrasonic disperser, and the Coulter Counter TA-II was used to obtain particles of 2 to 40 μ on the basis of the number, using a 100 μ aperture as an aperture. The particle size distribution was measured.

(2) Loose apparent density Using a powder tester (manufactured by Hosokawa Milon Co., Ltd., PT-N type), set a 246 μm sieve on the shaking table, put 250 cc of the sample into it, vibrate for 30 seconds, and shake it with the attached plate. After the excess toner on the cup has been scrubbed, the weight is measured. This operation is repeated five times, and the average value is used as a measured value. In the PT-N type, the measured value is automatically displayed.
Loose apparent density = weight (g) / cup volume (100 cc)

(3) Hard apparent density Measured under the same conditions as for loose apparent density, except that tapping is performed 50 times after vibration.

(4) Degree of aggregation Using a powder tester (PT-N type manufactured by Hosokawa Micron), using a sieve with openings of 149 μm, 74 μm, and 44 μm, stacking three sieves, with the coarser sieve facing upward, and toner The ratio of the toner remaining on the sieve to the whole is measured.
Toner amount: 2.0g
Vibration time: 30 seconds Amplitude: 1 mm

(5) Angle of repose Using a powder tester (PT-N type manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), set a 246 μm sieve on a shaking table, put 250 cc of the sample in the sieve, vibrate for 180 seconds, and toner on the table for measuring the angle of repose. Angle of repose is measured by an angle measuring arm. This operation is repeated five times, and the average value is used as a measured value.

本 The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

(Preparation of non-magnetic toner)
Polyester resin (manufactured by Sanyo Chemical) 100 parts by weight Carbon black (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical # 44) 10 parts by weight Charge control agent (TRH manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical) 2 parts by weight Release agent (Viscol 550P manufactured by Sanyo Chemicals) 6 parts by weight The above components are mixed with a Henschel mixer, then melt-kneaded with a uniaxial kneader, pulverized with a jet mill and classified to obtain a toner having a desired particle size distribution.
Next, the fluidity improver is mixed with a Henschel mixer. When the fluidity improver is mixed, the obtained toner is used as the base material particles, and the flowability improver (hydrophobic silica and / or hydrophobic titania, both of which have an average particle diameter of 100 parts by weight of the base material particles) are used. ; About 0.02 μm) were added in an amount of 0.2 part by weight, 0.4 part by weight, 0.6 part by weight, 0.8 part by weight and 1.0 part by weight, respectively, to obtain a non-magnetic toner of the present invention.

(test)
As described above, 700 g of each of the prepared non-magnetic toners is filled in a container (VA bottle) of RICOH Black Toner TYPE 10D using an electrophotographic copying machine (Imagio DA505) manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd. Continuous copying was performed, and the weight of toner remaining in the container when the toner end was displayed on the copying machine was measured. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

(A) is a diagram for explaining how toner is discharged from a cylindrical toner storage container, and (b) is a diagram of the state viewed from an opening.

Explanation of reference numerals

1 Spiral convex part 2 Opening

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus comprising: container holding means communicating with a toner introduction unit to a developing unit and holding an opening of the toner storage container toward the toner introduction unit; and driving means for driving the storage container to rotate. The toner contained in a cylindrical container having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner peripheral wall of the container used in the toner replenishing device of the apparatus, wherein the toner has an adhesive force of one particle of 3.0 dyne / contact or less. A toner for electrophotography, comprising: An image forming apparatus comprising: container holding means communicating with a toner introduction unit to a developing unit and holding an opening of the toner storage container toward the toner introduction unit; and driving means for driving the storage container to rotate. A toner contained in a cylindrical container having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner peripheral surface of the container, which is used for a toner replenishing device of the apparatus, wherein the toner is non-magnetic and has a loose apparent density or apparent apparent density. 2. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the ratio is: loose apparent density / hard apparent density = 0.5 to 1.0, and the degree of aggregation is 25% or less. Toner is a non-magnetic, loose apparent density is not less 0.30 g / cm ³ or more, and wherein the angle of repose is 35 ° or less, toner for electrophotography according to claim 2. 4. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 3, wherein the angle of repose is 23 ° or less. A container containing toner, the toner container being detachably attached to a toner replenishing device of the image forming apparatus, having a cylindrical shape having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall, and A container containing toner, wherein one particle has an adhesive force of 3.0 dyne / contact or less. A container containing toner, wherein the toner container is detachably attached to a toner replenishing device of the image forming apparatus, and has a cylindrical shape having a spiral toner guide groove at least on the inner surface of the container peripheral wall; It is magnetic, and the ratio of loose apparent density or apparent density is loose apparent density / hard apparent density = 0.5 to 1.0, and cohesion is 25% or less. , A container containing toner. 7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the toner is non-magnetic, has a loose apparent density of 0.30 g / cm ³ or more, and has an angle of repose of 35 ° or less. 8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the angle of repose is 23 [deg.] Or less. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit; and a driving unit configured to rotationally drive a toner storage container to rotate around a central axis thereof at a constant speed. An image forming apparatus, wherein the container is one according to any one of claims 5 to 8. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit and a driving unit that rotationally drives the toner storage container. The toner storage container is rotated around the central axis of the toner storage container by the driving unit. 9. A method of replenishing toner to a developing unit by rotating the toner so that the toner is stored in the container, wherein the container storing the toner is the one according to any one of claims 5 to 8. How to replenish the department.

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