JP2004302442A - Toner, developer, toner-containing vessel, process cartridge, image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner capable of reconciling anti-offset properties with low-temperature fixability. <P>SOLUTION: The toner is obtained by dissolving or dispersing a toner composition containing at least a colorant and a resin (i) modified with ≥2.0 groups (per molecule) capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group in an organic solvent and by reacting one of the resulting solution or dispersion with at least one of a crosslinking agent and an extender in an aqueous medium containing fine resin particles, and an amount of an insoluble component G in the toner represented by the expression 1: G (mass%)=R-R<SB>ideal</SB>is 3-20 mass%, wherein R (mass%) represents an amount of residue to the toner when the toner is dissolved in the organic solvent in which the toner composition is dissolved; and R<SB>ideal</SB>(mass%) represents a charge of the above resin (i) and colorant in the toner. A developer using the toner, a toner-containing vessel, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method are also provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner that visualizes an electrostatic charge image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor in electrophotography, electrostatic recording, and the like, a developer using the toner, a container containing the toner, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus And an image forming method.

  Image formation by electrophotography is generally performed by forming an electrical latent image on a photoconductor prepared using a photoconductive substance by various means, developing the latent image using a developer, and then developing the image. An image formed by an agent is transferred onto paper or the like as necessary, and then fixed by heating, pressurization, or solvent vapor (see Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3).

  The methods for developing electrical latent images can be broadly divided into a liquid development method using a liquid developer in which various pigments and dyes are finely dispersed in an insulating organic liquid, a cascade method, a magnetic brush method, and a powder cloud. There is a dry development method using a dry developer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a toner) produced by dispersing a colorant such as carbon black in a natural or synthetic resin as in the method, etc. Widely used. As a fixing method used in the dry development method, a contact heating fixing method such as heat roll fixing or belt fixing is widely used because of its energy efficiency. At that time, if the temperature of the hot roll is too high, a problem that the toner is excessively melted and fused to the hot roll (hot offset) occurs. On the other hand, if the heat roll temperature is too low, there is a problem that the toner is not sufficiently melted and fixing becomes insufficient. Therefore, from the viewpoint of energy saving and apparatus miniaturization, there is a demand for a toner having a higher hot offset generation temperature (hot offset resistance) and a lower fixing temperature (low temperature fixability).

  By the way, in order to satisfy hot offset resistance, it is necessary to use an ultra-high molecular weight resin that is as strong as possible and has sufficient elasticity. It must be a low molecular weight resin with a low transition point. Various attempts have been made to make these compatible. For example, as a binding resin, a method in which two types of a low molecular weight component and a high molecular weight component (such as a cross-branched ultrahigh molecular weight component) are used in combination has been attempted (see Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5). However, the amount of the ultrahigh molecular weight component that is limited in terms of solubility or compatibility, or the ultra high molecular weight component that provides sufficient elasticity, becomes a hindrance to low-temperature fixability, and is sufficient for performance. It could not be said that this is a method that can achieve both.

US Pat. No. 2,297,691 Japanese Patent Publication No.42-23910 Japanese Patent Publication No.43-24748 Japanese Patent No. 29986820 JP 2000-194160 A

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems in response to the above-mentioned demands and achieve the following object. That is, the present invention provides a toner capable of achieving both offset resistance and low-temperature fixability, and a developer, a toner-containing container, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method using the toner. Objective.

  The present inventors have dissolved or dispersed the toner composition in an organic solvent, and reacted the dissolved or dispersed material with at least one of a crosslinking agent and an extender in an aqueous medium containing resin fine particles. Since the polymer is dissolved in a solvent and has a high molecular weight (crosslinking and branching), the low molecular weight component is entangled with the crosslinked network structure, and sufficient elasticity is obtained with a small amount of the high molecular weight component. It was found that the low temperature fixability was not hindered because of the entanglement.

The present invention is based on the above findings of the present inventors, and means for solving the above problems are as follows. That is,
<1> Dissolve or disperse a toner composition containing at least 2.0 resin / i modified with a group capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group in an organic solvent and a colorant; A toner obtained by reacting any of a solution and a dispersion with at least one of a crosslinking agent and an extender in an aqueous medium containing resin fine particles,
The toner is characterized in that the toner-containing insoluble content G represented by the following formula 1 is 3 to 20% by mass.
<Formula 1>
G (mass%) = RR _ideal
In Formula 1, R (mass%) represents the amount of residue with respect to the toner when the toner is dissolved in an organic solvent that dissolves the toner composition. R _ideal (% by mass) represents the charged amount of the resin (i) and the colorant in the toner.
<2> Resin (ii) not modified with a group capable of reacting with a compound having active hydrogen, together with resin (i) modified with 2.0 or more groups capable of reacting with a compound having active hydrogen per molecule The toner according to <1>, wherein the mass ratio of the resin (i) to the resin (ii) (resin (i) / resin (ii)) is 5/95 to 25/75.
<3> The toner according to any one of <1> to <2>, wherein the resin (i) is a resin modified by 2.0 or more per molecule with a group capable of urea bonding.
<4> The toner according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the resin (i) and the resin (ii) are polyester resins.
<5> The toner according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the colorant is added as a master batch by kneading together with an unmodified resin (ii) in advance with an organic solvent or water. .
<6> The weight average particle diameter of the toner is 4 to 8 μm, and the ratio of the weight average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (weight average particle diameter / number average particle diameter) is 1.00 to 1.25. The toner according to any one of <1> to <5>.
<7> The toner according to any one of <1> to <6>, wherein the toner has an average circularity of 0.940 to 0.995.
<8> The toner according to any one of <1> to <7>, further including a wax as a release agent.
<9> The toner according to any one of <1> to <8>, further including a charge control agent.
<10> A developer comprising the toner according to any one of <1> to <9>.
<11> The developer according to <10>, which is one of a one-component developer and a two-component developer.
<12> A toner-containing container, wherein the toner according to any one of <1> to <9> is contained in a container.
<13> An electrostatic latent image carrier and an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier are developed using the toner according to any one of <1> to <9> to be a visible image And a developing means for forming the process cartridge.
<14> An electrostatic latent image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image of <1> to <9> Developing means for developing a visible image by developing using any of the toners, Transfer means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, Fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium, The image forming apparatus is characterized by having at least.
<15> An electrostatic latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and using the toner according to any one of <1> to <9> An image comprising at least a developing step for developing to form a visible image, a transferring step for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, and a fixing step for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium It is a forming method.

The toner of the present invention dissolves or disperses a toner composition containing at least 2.0 resin / i modified with a group capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group in an organic solvent and a colorant. The solution or dispersion is reacted with at least one of a cross-linking agent and an extender in an aqueous medium containing resin fine particles to increase the molecular weight (cross-linking and branching) in a state where the toner composition is dissolved in a solvent. Therefore, a low molecular weight component is entangled with the crosslinked network structure, a sufficient elasticity is obtained with a small amount of the high molecular weight component, and a toner that does not inhibit low-temperature fixability is obtained because the low molecular weight component is entangled. . The toner of the present invention, the residual amount R (mass%) with respect to the toner when dissolved the toner in a solvent for dissolving the toner set component, the charge amount in the toner of the resin (i) and a colorant R _ideal When (mass%), the toner-containing insoluble matter G (mass%) (where G represents RR _ideal ) is 3 to 20 mass%. As a result, a toner that can achieve both offset resistance and low-temperature fixability can be obtained.

  The developer of the present invention contains the toner of the present invention. For this reason, when an image is formed by electrophotography using the developer, both offset resistance and low-temperature fixability can be achieved, and a clear high image quality can be obtained.

  The toner-containing container of the present invention contains the toner of the present invention in a container. For this reason, when an image is formed by electrophotography using the toner contained in the toner-containing container, the anti-offset property and the low-temperature fixability can be balanced and a high image quality can be obtained.

  The process cartridge of the present invention comprises an electrostatic latent image carrier, and developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier using the toner of the present invention to form a visible image. At least. The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, is excellent in convenience, and uses the toner of the present invention, so that both offset resistance and low-temperature fixability can be achieved, and a clear high image quality can be obtained. It is done.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an electrostatic latent image carrier, electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes at least a developing unit that forms a visible image by developing with toner, a transfer unit that transfers the visible image to a recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the transferred image transferred to the recording medium. In the image forming apparatus, the electrostatic latent image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier. The transfer means transfers the visible image to a recording medium. The fixing unit fixes the transferred image transferred to the recording medium. As a result, both offset resistance and low-temperature fixability can be achieved, and high-quality images can be efficiently formed.

  The image forming method of the present invention comprises an electrostatic latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier, and developing the electrostatic latent image with the toner of the present invention to make visible. It includes at least a developing step for forming an image, a transfer step for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, and a fixing step for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium. In the image forming method, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier in the electrostatic latent image forming step. In the transfer step, the visible image is transferred to a recording medium. In the fixing step, the transferred image transferred to the recording medium is fixed. As a result, both offset resistance and low-temperature fixability can be achieved in a balanced manner, and a clear high-quality image is formed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a toner that can solve various problems in the prior art, satisfies good low-temperature fixability, and exhibits sufficient hot offset resistance.

(toner)
The toner of the present invention includes at least a resin (i) modified with 2.0 or more per molecule with a group capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group in an organic solvent, and a colorant, and includes a wax, a charge control agent, Further, if necessary, a toner composition containing other components is dissolved or dispersed, and the solution or dispersion is reacted with at least one of a crosslinking agent and an extender in an aqueous medium containing resin fine particles. It is done.

In the present invention, the toner-containing insoluble content G represented by the following formula 1 is 3 to 20% by mass, and more preferably 5 to 15% by mass.
<Formula 1>
G (mass%) = RR _ideal
In Formula 1, R (mass%) represents the amount of residue with respect to the toner when the toner is dissolved in an organic solvent that dissolves the toner composition. R _ideal (% by mass) represents the charged amount of the resin (i) and the colorant in the toner.

  If the toner insoluble content G is less than 3 (% by mass), a sufficient cross-linked network structure cannot be obtained, so that the entanglement of low molecular weight components is reduced and the elasticity is insufficient, so that hot offset may occur. If it exceeds 20 (% by mass), the ultra-high molecular weight component becomes excessive and the low-temperature fixability may be inhibited.

Here, the toner insoluble matter G can be obtained, for example, by the following method. The desired toner is weighed and encapsulated with a stainless steel wire mesh. This is stirred and eluted with a predetermined solvent for about 6 hours, the amount of toner residue is calculated from the mass after drying, and the amount of residue R (% by mass) relative to the toner is calculated from the weighed toner mass. Can be calculated by Equation 1 below active hydrogen reactive with 2.0 or more modified resin per molecule a group (i) and charged amount when the toner manufacturing a colorant as R _{ideal (wt%)} .
<Formula 1>
G (mass%) = RR _ideal

-Modified resin-
As the resin used in the present invention, any known resin can be used as long as it can be modified with a group capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group, and preferably a polyol resin, a polyacrylic resin, a polyester resin, An epoxy resin or the like, more preferably a polyester resin can be used. Any group capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group can be used as long as it is known, and is preferably an isocyanate group, an epoxy group, a carboxylic acid, or an acid chloride group, and more preferably an isocyanate group. Therefore, a particularly preferred resin used in the present invention is a polyester resin (RMPE) modified with a group capable of urea bonding. Examples thereof include a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group. Examples of the prepolymer (A) include a polycondensate of a polyol (PO) and a polycarboxylic acid (PC) and a polyester having a compound having an active hydrogen group reacted with polyisocyanate (PIC). Can be mentioned.
Examples of the group containing active hydrogen in the polyester include a hydroxyl group (alcoholic hydroxyl group and phenolic hydroxyl group), an amino group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, and the like. Among these, an alcoholic hydroxyl group is preferable. Modified polyester (MPE) is easy to adjust the molecular weight of its polymer component, and is a dry toner, especially oil-less low-temperature fixing characteristics (extensive releasability and fixability without a mechanism for applying a release oil to a fixing heating medium) ).

  Examples of the polyol (PO) include diol (DIO) and trivalent or higher polyol (TO), and DIO alone or a mixture of DIO and a small amount of TO is preferable. Examples of the diol include alkylene glycol (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, etc.); alkylene ether glycol (diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, Dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene ether glycol, etc.); alicyclic diols (1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.); bisphenols (bisphenol A, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, etc.) ); Adducts of alkylene oxides (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.) of the above alicyclic diols; Alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.), etc. adducts. Among these, preferred are alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms and alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols, and particularly preferred are alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols and alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms. It is a combined use. Trivalent or higher polyols (TO) include 3 to 8 or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohols (glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, etc.); trivalent or higher phenols (Tris) Phenol PA, phenol novolak, cresol novolak, etc.); alkylene oxide adducts of the above trivalent or more polyphenols.

  Examples of the polycarboxylic acid (PC) include dicarboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC), and DIC alone or a mixture of DIC and a small amount of TC is preferable. Dicarboxylic acids include alkylene dicarboxylic acids (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.); alkenylene dicarboxylic acids (maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc.); aromatic dicarboxylic acids (phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, etc.) ) And the like. Of these, preferred are alkenylene dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the trivalent or higher valent polycarboxylic acid include aromatic polycarboxylic acids having 9 to 20 carbon atoms (such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid). In addition, as said polycarboxylic acid, you may make it react with a polyol using the acid anhydride or lower alkyl ester (methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, etc.) of the above-mentioned thing. The ratio of the polyol (PO) and the polycarboxylic acid (PC) is usually preferably 2/1 to 1/1 as the equivalent ratio [OH] / [COOH] of the hydroxyl group [OH] and the carboxyl group [COOH]. 1.5 / 1 to 1/1 is more preferable, and 1.3 / 1 to 1.02 / 1 is still more preferable.

  Examples of the polyisocyanate (PIC) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, etc.); alicyclic polyisocyanates (isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); Aromatic diisocyanates (tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); araliphatic diisocyanates (α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); isocyanurates; the polyisocyanates as phenol derivatives, oximes, caprolactam And a combination of two or more of these.

  The ratio of the polyisocyanate (PIC) is usually preferably 5/1 to 1/1 as an equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group. / 1 to 1.2 / 1 is more preferable, and 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1 is still more preferable. When the [NCO] / [OH] exceeds 5, the low-temperature fixability deteriorates.

The content of the polyisocyanate (PIC) component in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group at the terminal is usually preferably 0.5 to 40% by mass, more preferably 1 to 30% by mass, and 2 to 20%. More preferred is mass%. When the content is less than 0.5% by mass, the hot offset resistance deteriorates and may be disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability, and when it exceeds 40% by mass, Low temperature fixability may deteriorate.
The number of isocyanate groups contained per molecule in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 2 to 3 on average, and still more preferably 2.01 to 2.5 on average. .

-Crosslinking agent / extender-
As the crosslinking agent and extender used in the present invention, all known ones can be used. Particularly, as the crosslinking agent and extender for the modified polyester, an active hydrogen compound capable of reacting with a reactive group such as an isocyanate group, preferably Amines (B) can be used. As amines (B), diamine (B1), trivalent or higher polyamine (B2), aminoalcohol (B3), aminomercaptan (B4), amino acid (B5), and amino acids B1 to B5 blocked (B6) etc. are mentioned. Examples of the diamine (B1) include aromatic diamines (phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, etc.); alicyclic diamines (4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dimethyldicyclohexylmethane, diamines). Cyclohexane, isophoronediamine, etc.); and aliphatic diamines (ethylenediane, tetramethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, etc.) and the like. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyamine (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. Examples of amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline. Examples of amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan and aminopropyl mercaptan. Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid. Examples of the compound (B6) in which the amino group of B1 to B5 is blocked include ketimine compounds and oxazolidone compounds obtained from the amines of B1 to B5 and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.). Among these amines (B), preferred are B1 and a mixture of B1 and a small amount of B2.

In the present invention, the modified polyester (MPE) can be used not only alone, but also with the MPE, unmodified polyester (PE) can be contained as a toner binder component. By using PE together, the low-temperature fixability and the gloss when used in a full-color apparatus are improved, which is preferable to single use. Examples of PE include polycondensates of polyol (PO) and polycarboxylic acid (PC) similar to those used for the modified polyester such as UMPE, and the preferred one is also a modified polyester. It is the same. It is preferable that MPE and PE are at least partially compatible in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance.
Therefore, a similar composition is preferable for the polyester component of MPE and PE. When PE is contained, the mass ratio of MPE to PE is usually 5/95 to 25/75, preferably 5/95 to 20/80, more preferably 7/93 to 20/80, and particularly preferably 10/90. ~ 15/85. If the mass ratio of the MPE is less than 5%, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated, and it may be disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability.
The peak molecular weight of the PE is usually preferably 1000 to 30000, more preferably 1500 to 10000, and still more preferably 2000 to 8000. When the peak molecular weight of the PE is less than 1000, the heat-resistant storage stability may be deteriorated, and when it exceeds 10,000, the low-temperature fixability may be deteriorated.
The hydroxyl value of the PE is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 to 120, and still more preferably 20 to 80. If the hydroxyl value is less than 5, it may be disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. The acid value of the PE is usually preferably from 1 to 30, and more preferably from 5 to 20. By having an acid value, it tends to be negatively charged.

In the present invention, the glass transition point (Tg) of the toner binder is usually preferably 50 to 70 ° C, and more preferably 55 to 65 ° C. When the glass transition point is less than 50 ° C., the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner deteriorates, and when it exceeds 70 ° C., the low-temperature fixability becomes insufficient.
As the storage elastic modulus of the toner binder, the temperature (TG ′) at which the measurement frequency is 20 Hz is 10000 dyne / cm ² is usually preferably 100 ° C. or more, and more preferably 110 to 200 ° C. When the temperature (TG ′) is less than 100 ° C., the hot offset resistance may be deteriorated.
As the viscosity of the toner binder, the temperature (Tη) at 1000 poise at a measurement frequency of 20 Hz is usually preferably 180 ° C. or less, and more preferably 90 to 160 ° C. When the temperature (Tη) exceeds 180 ° C., the low-temperature fixability may be deteriorated. That is, TG ′ is preferably higher than Tη from the viewpoint of achieving both low temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. In other words, the difference between TG ′ and Tη (TG′−Tη) is preferably 0 ° C. or higher. More preferably, it is 10 degreeC or more, Most preferably, it is 20 degreeC or more. The upper limit of the difference is not particularly limited. Further, from the viewpoint of achieving both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability, the difference between Tη and Tg is preferably 0 to 100 ° C, more preferably 10 to 90 ° C, and still more preferably 20 to 80 ° C.
The toner of the present invention can be produced by the following method, but is not limited thereto.

(Toner production method in aqueous medium)
The aqueous medium used in the present invention may be water alone, or a solvent miscible with water may be used in combination. Examples of miscible solvents include alcohol (eg, methanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (eg, methyl cellosolve), lower ketones (eg, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.) and the like. It is done.
The toner particles are formed by reacting a dispersion composed of a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group with an amine (B) in an aqueous medium. Examples of the method for stably forming the dispersion composed of the prepolymer (A) in the aqueous medium include a method in which the composition of the toner raw material is added to the aqueous medium and dispersed by shearing force. The prepolymer (A) and other toner components (hereinafter sometimes referred to as toner raw materials), colorants, colorant master batches, release agents, charge control agents, unmodified polyester resins, Although mixing may be performed when forming the dispersion in the medium, it is more preferable to mix the toner raw materials in advance and then add and disperse the mixture in the aqueous medium. In the present invention, other toner materials such as a colorant, a release agent, and a charge control agent do not necessarily have to be mixed when forming particles in an aqueous medium, but after the particles are formed. , May be added. For example, after forming particles not containing a colorant, the colorant can be added by a known dyeing method.

  The dispersion method is not particularly limited. For example, known equipment such as a low-speed shear method, a high-speed shear method, a friction method, a high-pressure jet method, and an ultrasonic wave can be applied. In order to make the particle size of the dispersion 2 to 20 μm, a high-speed shearing type is preferable. When a high-speed shearing disperser is used, the number of rotations is not particularly limited, but is usually preferably 1000 to 30000 rpm, more preferably 5000 to 20000 rpm. The dispersion time is not particularly limited, but in the case of a batch method, it is usually 0.1 to 5 minutes. The temperature during dispersion is usually 0 to 150 ° C. (under pressure), preferably 40 to 98 ° C. Higher temperatures are preferable in that the dispersion of the prepolymer (A) has a low viscosity and is easily dispersed.

  The amount of the aqueous medium used relative to 100 parts by mass of the toner composition containing the prepolymer (A) is usually preferably 50 to 2000 parts by mass, and more preferably 100 to 1000 parts by mass. When the amount used is less than 50 parts by mass, the dispersion state of the toner composition is poor, and toner particles having a predetermined particle diameter may not be obtained. Moreover, a dispersing agent can also be used as needed. It is preferable to use a dispersant because the particle size distribution becomes sharp and the dispersion is stable.

  In the step of synthesizing a modified polyester such as urea-modified polyester from the polyester prepolymer (A), the amine (B) may be added and reacted before dispersing the toner composition in the aqueous medium. After the dispersion, an amine (B) may be added to cause a reaction from the particle interface. In this case, the modified polyester is preferentially produced on the surface of the toner to be produced, and a concentration gradient can be provided inside the particles.

  As a dispersant for emulsifying and dispersing the oily phase in which the toner composition is dispersed in a liquid containing water, anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, and phosphate esters, alkyls Amine salt type such as amine salt, amino alcohol fatty acid derivative, polyamine fatty acid derivative, imidazoline, alkyltrimethylammonium salt, dialkyldimethylammonium salt, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salt, pyridinium salt, alkylisoquinolinium salt, benzethonium chloride, etc. Quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactants, fatty acid amide derivatives, polyhydric alcohol derivatives and other nonionic surfactants such as alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine and N- Al Le -N, amphoteric surfactants such as N- dimethyl ammonium betaine and the like.

  Further, by using a surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group, the effect can be obtained in a very small amount. Preferred anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include fluoroalkylcarboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or metal salts thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonylglutamate, 3- [omega-fluoroalkyl (C6-C11). ) Oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-C4) sodium sulfonate, 3- [omega-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-C8) -N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonic acid sodium, fluoroalkyl (C11-C20) carvone Acid or metal salt thereof, perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid (C7 to C13) or metal salt thereof, perfluoroalkyl (C4 to C12) sulfonic acid or metal salt thereof, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- ( 2-hydroxye B) Perfluorooctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (C6-C16) ethyl phosphate Examples include esters.

  Product names include Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS-101. DS-102 (Daikin Kogyo Co., Ltd.), MegaFuck F-110, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-102 , 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (manufactured by Tochem Products), and Fgentent F-100, F150 (manufactured by Neos).

In addition, as the cationic surfactant, aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts such as aliphatic primary, secondary or secondary amic acid, perfluoroalkyl (C 6 -C 10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt which right the fluoroalkyl group, Benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, trade names include Surflon S-121 (Asahi Glass), Florard FC-135 (Sumitomo 3M), Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Industries) ), Megafuck F-150, F-824 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-132 (Tochem Products Co., Ltd.), Footgent F-300 (Neos Co., Ltd.), and the like.
Further, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, colloidal silica, hydroxyapatite and the like can be used as an inorganic compound dispersant that is hardly soluble in water.

  Further, the dispersed droplets may be stabilized by a polymer protective colloid. For example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-cyanoacrylic acid, α-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, and other (meth) acrylic simple substances Mer, for example, β-hydroxyethyl acrylate, β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, β-hydroxypropyl acrylate, β-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl acrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, acrylic acid 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate , N-methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide, etc., vinyl alcohol or ethers with vinyl alcohol, such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, etc., or esters of compounds containing vinyl alcohol and a carboxyl group Such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or their methylol compounds, acid chlorides such as acrylic acid chloride, methacrylic acid chloride, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole, Homopolymers or copolymers such as those having a nitrogen atom such as ethyleneimine or its heterocyclic ring, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, poly Xylethylene alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ester Polyoxyethylenes such as, celluloses such as methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose can be used.

  In the case where an acid such as calcium phosphate salt or an alkali-soluble material is used as the dispersion stabilizer, the calcium phosphate salt is dissolved from the fine particles by a method such as washing with water after dissolving the calcium phosphate salt with an acid such as hydrochloric acid. Remove. In addition, it can be removed by an operation such as decomposition with an enzyme, but when a dispersant is used, the dispersant can remain on the surface of the toner particles.

Furthermore, in order to lower the viscosity of the liquid containing the toner composition, a modified polyester such as urea-modified polyester or a solvent in which the prepolymer (A) is soluble can be used. The use of a solvent is preferable in that the particle size distribution becomes sharp. The solvent is preferably volatile with a boiling point of less than 100 ° C. from the viewpoint of easy removal.
Examples of the solvent include toluene, xylene, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, chloroform, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethylidene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, Methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and the like can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In particular, aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene and halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride are preferred.
As for the usage-amount of the solvent with respect to 100 mass parts of said prepolymers (A), 0-300 mass parts is preferable normally, 0-100 mass parts is more preferable, and 25-70 mass parts is still more preferable. When a solvent is used, it is removed by heating under normal pressure or reduced pressure after the elongation and / or crosslinking reaction.

  The elongation and / or crosslinking reaction time is selected depending on the reactivity of the prepolymer having active hydrogen such as polyester prepolymer (A) and the combination of the crosslinking agent or amines (B) as the elongation agent. 10 minutes to 40 hours are preferable, and 2 to 24 hours are more preferable. The reaction temperature is usually preferably from 0 to 150 ° C, more preferably from 40 to 98 ° C. Moreover, a well-known catalyst can be used as needed. Specific examples include dibutyltin laurate and dioctyltin laurate.

  In order to remove the organic solvent from the obtained emulsified dispersion (dispersion), a method of gradually raising the temperature of the entire system and completely removing the organic solvent in the droplets by evaporation can be employed. Alternatively, the emulsified dispersion can be sprayed into a dry atmosphere to completely remove the water-insoluble organic solvent in the droplets to form toner fine particles, and the aqueous dispersant can be removed by evaporation together. . As a dry atmosphere in which the emulsified dispersion is sprayed, a gas obtained by heating air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide gas, combustion gas, or the like, in particular, various air currents heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point of the highest boiling solvent used is generally used. Sufficient quality can be obtained with a short treatment such as spray dryer, belt dryer or rotary kiln.

When the particle size distribution at the time of emulsification dispersion is wide and washing and drying processes are performed while maintaining the particle size distribution, the particle size distribution can be adjusted by classifying into a desired particle size distribution.
In the classification operation, the fine particle portion can be removed in the liquid by a cyclone, a decanter, centrifugation, or the like. Of course, the classification operation may be performed after obtaining the powder as a powder after drying. The unnecessary fine particles or coarse particles obtained can be returned to the kneading step and used for the formation of particles. At that time, fine particles or coarse particles may be wet.

The dispersant used is preferably removed from the obtained dispersion as much as possible, but it is preferable to carry out it simultaneously with the classification operation described above.
By mixing the resulting dried toner powder with dissimilar particles such as release agent fine particles, charge control fine particles, fluidizing agent fine particles, and colorant fine particles, or by giving mechanical impact force to the mixed powder By immobilizing and fusing on the surface, it is possible to prevent detachment of the foreign particles from the surface of the resulting composite particle.

  Specific means include a method of applying an impact force to the mixture by blades rotating at high speed, a method of injecting and accelerating the mixture into a high-speed air stream, and causing particles or composite particles to collide with an appropriate collision plate, etc. is there. As equipment, Ong mill (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), I-type mill (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.) has been modified to reduce the pulverization air pressure, hybridization system (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), kryptron System (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.), automatic mortar, etc.

-Colorant-
As the colorant of the present invention, 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 oxidation Iron, ocher, yellow lead, 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, Red Dan, Lead Zhu, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, Para Red, Faisa Red, Parachloro Tonitroaniline Red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carmine B, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Resol Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Tolujing Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake, thioindigo red B, thioindigo maroon, oil red, quinacridone red, pyrazolo Red, Polyazo 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, Indance Ren Blue (RS, BC), Indigo, Ultramarine Blue, Bituminous Blue, Anthraquinone Blue, Fast Violet B, Methyl Violet Lake, Cobalt Purple, Manganese Purple, Dioxane Violet, Anthraquinone Violet, Chrome Green, Zinc Green, Chrome Oxide, Pyridian, Emerald Green , Pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Acid Green Lake, Malachite Green Lake Ki, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, litbon and mixtures thereof can be used.
The content of the colorant is usually preferably 1 to 15% by mass and more preferably 3 to 10% by mass with respect to the toner.

  The colorant used in the present invention can also be used as a master batch combined with a resin. As the binder resin to be kneaded together with the production of the masterbatch or the masterbatch, in addition to the modified and unmodified polyester resins mentioned above, styrene such as polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, and polyvinyltoluene, and polymers of substituted products thereof; Styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene 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, Len-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid Styrene copolymers such as acid ester copolymers; polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, poly Acrylic resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, paraffin wax, etc. The

  The masterbatch can be obtained by mixing and kneading a masterbatch resin and a colorant with a high shear force to obtain a masterbatch. In this case, an organic solvent can be used in order to enhance the interaction between the colorant and the resin. Also, a so-called flushing method called watering paste containing water of a colorant is mixed and kneaded together with a resin and an organic solvent, and the colorant is transferred to the resin side to remove moisture and organic solvent components. Since it can be used as it is, it does not need to be dried and is preferably used. For mixing and kneading, a high shear dispersion device such as a three-roll mill is preferably used.

-Release agent-
The toner of the present invention may contain a wax together with a toner binder and a colorant. Known waxes can be used as the wax of the present invention, for example, polyolefin wax (eg, polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, etc.); long chain hydrocarbon (eg, paraffin wax, sazol wax, etc.); carbonyl group Examples thereof include waxes. Of these, carbonyl group-containing waxes are preferred. Examples of the carbonyl group-containing wax include polyalkanoic acid esters (for example, carnauba wax, montan wax, trimethylolpropane tribehenate, pentaerythritol tetrabehenate, pentaerythritol diacetate dibehenate, glycerin tribehenate, 1 , 18-octadecanediol distearate, etc.); polyalkanol esters (eg, trimellitic trimellitic acid, distearyl maleate, etc.); polyalkanoic acid amides (eg, ethylenediamine dibehenyl amide); polyalkylamides (eg, Trimellitic acid tristearyl amide, etc.); and dialkyl ketones (eg, distearyl ketone, etc.). Among these carbonyl group-containing waxes, polyalkanoic acid esters are preferred.
The melting point of the wax of the present invention is usually preferably 40 to 160 ° C, more preferably 50 to 120 ° C, and still more preferably 60 to 90 ° C. When the melting point is less than 40 ° C., the heat resistant storage stability may be adversely affected. When the melting point exceeds 160 ° C., a cold offset tends to occur during fixing at a low temperature. Further, the melt viscosity of the wax is preferably 5 to 1000 cps, more preferably 10 to 100 cps, as a measured value at a temperature 20 ° C. higher than the melting point. The wax having a melt viscosity exceeding 1000 cps is poor in improving the hot offset resistance and the low-temperature fixability.
The content of the wax in the toner is usually preferably 0 to 40% by mass, and more preferably 3 to 30% by mass.

-Charge control agent-
The toner of the present invention may contain a charge control agent as necessary. Any known charge control agent can be used. For example, nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, chromium-containing metal complex dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (fluorine) Modified quaternary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus simple substances or compounds, tungsten simple substances or compounds, fluorine-based activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives. Specifically, Nitronine-based dye Bontron 03, quaternary ammonium salt Bontron P-51, metal-containing azo dye Bontron S-34, oxynaphthoic acid metal complex E-82, salicylic acid metal complex E- 84, E-89 of a phenol-based condensate (manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), TP-302 of a quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex, TP-415 (manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium Copy charge PSY VP2038 of salt, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge of quaternary ammonium salt NEGVP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex ( Nippon Carlit), copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone, Examples thereof include azo pigments and other polymer compounds having a functional group such as a sulfonic acid group, a carboxyl group, and a quaternary ammonium salt.

  The amount of the charge control agent used is determined by the toner production method including the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of additives used as necessary, and the dispersion method, and is not uniquely limited. However, the range of 0.1-10 mass parts is preferable with respect to 100 mass parts of binder resin, and 0.2-5 mass parts is more preferable. If the amount used exceeds 10 parts by mass, the chargeability of the toner is too high, the effect of the main charge control agent is reduced, the electrostatic attraction force with the developing roller is increased, the flowability of the developer is reduced, This causes a decrease in image density. These charge control agents can be dissolved and dispersed after being melt-kneaded with a masterbatch and resin, and of course, they can be added directly when dissolved and dispersed in an organic solvent. May be.

-Resin fine particles-
The resin fine particles used in the present invention may be any resin as long as it can form an aqueous dispersion, and may be a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. For example, vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins Polyester resin, polyamide resin, polyimide resin, silicon resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, urea resin, aniline resin, ionomer resin, polycarbonate resin and the like. As the resin fine particles, two or more of the above resins may be used in combination. Of these, vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, polyester resins, and combinations thereof are preferred because an aqueous dispersion of fine spherical resin particles can be easily obtained.

  The vinyl resin is preferably a polymer obtained by homopolymerization or copolymerization of a vinyl monomer. For example, a styrene- (meth) acrylic acid ester resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a (meth) acrylic acid-acrylic acid ester heavy polymer. Examples thereof include styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, and styrene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymer.

-External additive-
As the external additive for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the colored particles obtained in the present invention, inorganic fine particles can be preferably used. The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 mμ to 2 μm, more preferably 5 mμ to 500 mμ. The specific surface area by the BET method is preferably 20 to 500 m ² / g. The use ratio of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 0.01 to 5% by mass of the toner, and particularly preferably 0.01 to 2.0% by mass. Examples of the inorganic fine particles include silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, and diatomaceous earth. , Chromium oxide, cerium oxide, pengala, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and the like.

Other polymer fine particles include, for example, polystyrene obtained by soap-free emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization, dispersion polymerization, polycondensation system such as methacrylate ester, acrylate ester copolymer, silicone, benzoguanamine, nylon, heat Examples thereof include polymer particles made of a curable resin.
Such a fluidizing agent can be surface-treated to increase hydrophobicity and prevent deterioration of flow characteristics and charging characteristics even under high humidity. For example, silane coupling agents, silylating agents, silane coupling agents having an alkyl fluoride group, organic titanate coupling agents, aluminum coupling agents, silicone oils, modified silicone oils and the like are preferable surface treatment agents. .

  Examples of the cleaning property improver for removing the developer after transfer remaining on the photoreceptor and the primary transfer medium include, for example, fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, and stearic acid, such as polymethyl methacrylate fine particles, Examples thereof include polymer fine particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization such as polystyrene fine particles. The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution and a volume average particle size of 0.01 to 1 μm.

-Circularity and circularity distribution-
It is important that the toner in the present invention has a specific shape and its distribution. In the case of an irregularly shaped toner having an average circularity of less than 0.90 and far from a spherical shape, the powder fluidity is deteriorated. In addition, satisfactory transfer properties and high-quality images without dust cannot be obtained. As a method for measuring the shape, an optical detection band method is suitable in which a suspension containing particles is passed through an imaging unit detection band on a flat plate, and a particle image is optically detected and analyzed by a CCD camera. . Toner having an average circularity of 0.94 to 0.995, which is a value obtained by dividing the perimeter of an equivalent circle having the same projected area obtained by this method by the perimeter of the actual particle, has a high density with a reproducibility of an appropriate density. It was found to be effective for forming a clear image. More preferably, particles having an average circularity of 0.960 to 0.995 and a circularity of less than 0.94 are 10% or less. When the average circularity exceeds 0.995, in a system that employs blade cleaning or the like, a cleaning failure occurs on the photosensitive member or the transfer belt, causing stain on the image. For example, development / transfer with a low image area ratio results in a small amount of residual toner and poor cleaning does not pose a problem, but images with a high image area ratio such as photographic images, and untransferred images due to poor paper feed, etc. The formed toner may be generated as a transfer residual toner on the photoconductor, and if accumulated, the image may be soiled. In addition, the charging roller that contacts and charges the photosensitive member is contaminated, and the original charging ability cannot be exhibited.

-Ratio of weight average particle diameter / number average particle diameter-
The toner preferably has a weight average particle diameter of 4 to 8 μm, preferably a ratio with the number average particle diameter of 1.00 to 1.25, particularly a dry toner having a ratio of 1.10 to 1.25, such as a full-color copying machine. The two-component developer is excellent in image glossiness, and even if the toner balance for a long time is performed, the fluctuation of the toner particle diameter in the developer is reduced, and long-term agitation in the developing device is performed. In this case, good and stable developability can be obtained. Further, when used as a one-component developer, even if the balance of the toner is performed, the fluctuation of the toner particle diameter is reduced, and the toner filming on the developing roller and the toner thinning are performed. There was no fusion of toner to a member such as a blade, and good and stable developability and images were obtained even during long-term use (stirring) of the developing device.

In general, it is said that the smaller the particle size of the toner, the more advantageous it is to obtain a high-resolution and high-quality image, but it is disadvantageous for transferability and cleaning properties. is there. Further, when the volume average particle diameter is smaller than the range of the present invention, in the case of a two-component developer, the toner is fused to the surface of the carrier during long-term agitation in the developing device, and the charging ability of the carrier is lowered or the one-component development is performed. When used as an agent, toner filming on the developing roller and toner fusion to a member such as a blade for thinning the toner are likely to occur.
Further, these phenomena are the same for the toner having a fine powder content larger than the range of the present invention.

  On the contrary, when the particle diameter of the toner is larger than the range of the present invention, it becomes difficult to obtain a high resolution and high quality image, and when the balance of the toner in the developer is performed, In many cases, the variation of the particle size becomes large. It was also clarified that the same was true when the weight average particle diameter / number average particle diameter was larger than 1.25.

(Developer)
The developer of the present invention contains at least the toner of the present invention, and other components such as a carrier selected as appropriate. The developer may be a one-component developer or a two-component developer. However, when it is used for a high-speed printer or the like corresponding to the recent improvement in information processing speed, the life is improved. In view of the above, the two-component developer is preferable.
In the case of the one-component developer using the toner of the present invention, even if the balance of the toner is performed, there is little fluctuation in the particle diameter of the toner, and the filming of the toner on the developing roller or the toner is made thin. Therefore, the toner is not fused to a member such as a blade, and good and stable developability and image can be obtained even when the developing device is used (stirred) for a long time. Further, in the case of the two-component developer using the toner of the present invention, even if the balance of the toner over a long period of time is performed, the fluctuation of the toner particle diameter in the developer is small, and even in the long-term stirring in the developing device, Good and stable developability can be obtained.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said carrier, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, What has a core material and the resin layer which coat | covers this core material is preferable.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a material of the said core material, It can select suitably from well-known things, For example, 50-90 emu / g manganese-strontium (Mn-Sr) type material, manganese-magnesium (Mn-) Mg) -based materials and the like are preferable, and highly magnetized materials such as iron powder (100 emu / g or more) and magnetite (75 to 120 emu / g) are preferable in terms of securing image density. In addition, a weakly magnetized material such as a copper-zinc (Cu—Zn) -based (30 to 80 emu / g) is advantageous in that it can weaken the contact with the photoconductor in which the toner is in a spiked state and is advantageous in improving the image quality. Is preferred. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The particle size of the core material, the average particle diameter (volume average particle diameter _{(D 50)),} preferably from 10 to 200 [mu] m, 40 to 100 [mu] m is more preferable.
When the average particle diameter (volume average particle diameter (D ₅₀ )) is less than 10 μm, the distribution of carrier particles may increase the number of fine powders, lower the magnetization per particle, and cause carrier scattering. If the thickness exceeds 150 μm, the specific surface area may decrease and toner scattering may occur. In the case of a full color having a large solid portion, the reproduction of the solid portion may be deteriorated.

  The material of the resin layer is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known resins according to the purpose. For example, amino resins, polyvinyl resins, polystyrene resins, halogenated olefin resins, Polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyethylene resin, polyvinyl fluoride resin, polyvinylidene fluoride resin, polytrifluoroethylene resin, polyhexafluoropropylene resin, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic monomer, fluorine And a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and vinyl fluoride, a fluoroterpolymer such as a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride and a non-fluorinated monomer, and a silicone resin. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  Examples of the amino resin include urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, urea resin, polyamide resin, and epoxy resin. Examples of the polyvinyl resin include acrylic resin, polymethyl methacrylate resin, polyacrylonitrile resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, and polyvinyl butyral resin. Examples of the polystyrene resin include polystyrene resin and styrene acrylic copolymer resin. Examples of the halogenated olefin resin include polyvinyl chloride. Examples of the polyester resin include polyethylene terephthalate resin and polybutylene terephthalate resin.

  The resin layer may contain conductive powder or the like as necessary. Examples of the conductive powder include metal powder, carbon black, titanium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide. The average particle diameter of these conductive powders is preferably 1 μm or less. When the average particle diameter exceeds 1 μm, it may be difficult to control electric resistance.

For example, the resin layer is prepared by dissolving the silicone resin or the like in a solvent to prepare a coating solution, and then uniformly coating the coating solution on the surface of the core material by a known coating method, drying, and baking. It can be formed by doing. Examples of the application method include an immersion method, a spray method, and a brush coating method.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said solvent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cersol butyl acetate, etc. are mentioned.
The baking is not particularly limited, and may be an external heating method or an internal heating method. For example, a stationary electric furnace, a fluid electric furnace, a rotary electric furnace, a burner furnace, etc. The method of using, the method of using a microwave, etc. are mentioned.

The amount of the resin layer in the carrier is preferably 0.01 to 5.0% by mass.
When the amount is less than 0.01% by mass, the uniform resin layer may not be formed on the surface of the core material. When the amount exceeds 5.0% by mass, the resin layer becomes thick. In some cases, granulation of carriers occurs, and uniform carrier particles may not be obtained.

When the developer is the two-component developer, the content of the carrier in the two-component developer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, 90 to 98% by mass Is preferable, and 93-97 mass% is more preferable.
The mixing ratio of the toner and carrier of the two-component developer is generally 1 to 10.0 parts by mass of toner with respect to 100 parts by mass of the carrier.

Since the developer of the present invention contains the toner of the present invention, the anti-offset property and the low-temperature fixability can be balanced and a high-quality image can be stably formed.
The developer of the present invention can be suitably used for image formation by various known electrophotographic methods such as a magnetic one-component development method, a non-magnetic one-component development method, and a two-component development method. It can be particularly suitably used for containers, process cartridges, image forming apparatuses and image forming methods.

(Toner container)
The toner-containing container of the present invention comprises the toner or the developer of the present invention contained in a container.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said container, It can select suitably from well-known things, For example, what has a toner container main body and a cap etc. are mentioned suitably.
The size, shape, structure, material and the like of the toner container body are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the shape is preferably a cylindrical shape, A spiral unevenness is formed on the surface, the toner as the contents can be transferred to the discharge port side by rotating, and a part or all of the spiral part has a bellows function, etc. Particularly preferred.
The material of the toner container body is not particularly limited, and those having good dimensional accuracy are preferable. For example, a resin is preferably used. Among them, for example, polyester resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polystyrene resin, polychlorinated resin Preferred examples include vinyl resin, polyacrylic acid, polycarbonate resin, ABS resin, polyacetal resin, and the like.
The toner-containing container of the present invention is easy to store and transport, has excellent handleability, and is preferably used for replenishing toner by being detachably attached to the process cartridge and image forming apparatus of the present invention described later. Can do.

(Process cartridge)
The process cartridge of the present invention develops an electrostatic latent image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image and the electrostatic latent image carried on the electrostatic latent image carrier using a developer to form a visible image. A developing means for forming the image forming apparatus, and further having other means such as a charging means, an exposure means, a developing means, a transfer means, a cleaning means, and a static elimination means, which are appropriately selected as necessary. .
The developing means includes a developer container that contains the toner or developer of the present invention, and an electrostatic latent image carrier that carries and transports the toner or developer contained in the developer container. And a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the thickness of the toner layer to be carried.
The process cartridge of the present invention can be detachably provided in various electrophotographic apparatuses, facsimiles, and printers, and is preferably detachably provided in the image forming apparatus of the present invention described later.

Here, as the process cartridge, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive member 101 is incorporated, and in addition, a charging unit 102, an exposure unit 103, a developing unit 104, a transfer unit 105, a cleaning unit 107, and a charge eliminating unit In addition, other members are included as necessary.
The photoreceptor 101 includes a support and a photosensitive layer including a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a cross-linked charge transport layer in this order on the support. As the charging member 102, a known charging member is used as described above, and an electric field is applied to the photoreceptor.
A light source capable of writing with high resolution is used for the exposure means 103. An arbitrary charging member (preferably scorotron charging) is used for the charging means 102.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is configured by integrally combining the above-described photosensitive member and components such as a developing device and a cleaning device as a process cartridge, and this unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body. Also good. Alternatively, at least one of a charging device, an image exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a separator, and a cleaning device is integrally supported together with a photosensitive member to form a process cartridge, which is a single unit that is detachable from the apparatus main body. Further, it may be configured to be detachable using guide means such as a rail of the apparatus main body.

(Image forming apparatus and image forming method)
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes at least an electrostatic latent image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit, and further appropriately selected as necessary. It has other means, for example, static elimination means, cleaning means, recycling means, control means and the like.
The image forming method of the present invention includes at least an electrostatic latent image forming step, a developing step, a transfer step, and a fixing step, and further other steps appropriately selected as necessary, for example, a static elimination step, a cleaning step, Includes recycling and control processes.

  The image forming method of the present invention can be preferably carried out by the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the electrostatic latent image forming step can be performed by the electrostatic latent image forming means, and the developing step is the developing The transfer step can be performed by the transfer unit, the fixing step can be performed by the fixing unit, and the other steps can be performed by the other unit.

-Electrostatic latent image forming step and electrostatic latent image forming means-
The electrostatic latent image forming step is a step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier.
There are no particular restrictions on the material, shape, structure, size, etc. of the electrostatic latent image carrier (sometimes referred to as “photoconductive insulator” or “photoconductor”), and among the known ones The shape is preferably a drum shape, and examples of the material include inorganic photoconductors such as amorphous silicon and selenium, and organic photoconductors such as polysilane and phthalopolymethine. It is done. Among these, amorphous silicon or the like is preferable in terms of long life.

The formation of the electrostatic latent image can be performed, for example, by uniformly charging the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier and then performing imagewise exposure, and is performed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit. be able to.
The electrostatic latent image forming means includes, for example, at least a charger that uniformly charges the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier and an exposure device that exposes the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier imagewise. Prepare.

The charging can be performed, for example, by applying a voltage to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier using the charger.
The charger is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a known contact charging device including a conductive or semiconductive roll, brush, film, rubber blade, etc. And non-contact chargers using corona discharge such as corotrons and corotrons.

The exposure can be performed, for example, by exposing the surface of the latent electrostatic image bearing member imagewise using the exposure device.
The exposure device is not particularly limited as long as it can expose the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier charged by the charger so as to form an image to be formed, and is appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, various exposure devices such as a copying optical system, a rod lens array system, a laser optical system, and a liquid crystal shutter optical system can be used.
In the present invention, a back light system in which imagewise exposure is performed from the back side of the electrostatic latent image carrier may be employed.

-Development process and development means-
The developing step is a step of developing the electrostatic latent image using the toner or the developer of the present invention to form a visible image.
The visible image can be formed, for example, by developing the electrostatic latent image using the toner or the developer of the present invention, and can be performed by the developing unit.
The developing unit is not particularly limited as long as it can be developed using, for example, the toner or the developer of the present invention, and can be appropriately selected from known ones. For example, the toner of the present invention Preferred examples include a developer containing at least a developer, and at least a developing device capable of contacting or non-contacting the toner or the developer with the electrostatic latent image. More preferred is a developing device.

  The developing unit may be a dry developing type, a wet developing type, a single color developing unit, or a multi-color developing unit. For example, a toner having a stirrer for charging the toner or the developer by frictional stirring and a rotatable magnet roller is preferable.

  In the developing device, for example, the toner and the carrier are mixed and agitated, and the toner is charged by friction at that time, and held on the surface of the rotating magnet roller in a raised state to form a magnetic brush. . Since the magnet roller is disposed in the vicinity of the electrostatic latent image carrier (photoconductor), a part of the toner constituting the magnetic brush formed on the surface of the magnet roller is electrically attracted. It moves to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier (photoconductor) by force. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner, and a visible image is formed with the toner on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier (photoconductor).

  The developer accommodated in the developing device is a developer containing the toner of the present invention, but the developer may be a one-component developer or a two-component developer. The toner contained in the developer is the toner of the present invention.

-Transfer process and transfer means-
The transfer step is a step of transferring the visible image onto a recording medium. After the primary transfer of the visible image onto the intermediate transfer member using an intermediate transfer member, the visible image is transferred onto the recording medium. A primary transfer step of forming a composite transfer image by transferring a visible image onto an intermediate transfer body using two or more colors, preferably full color toner as the toner, and a composite transfer image; A mode including a secondary transfer step of transferring the transfer image onto the recording medium is more preferable.
The transfer can be performed, for example, by charging the latent electrostatic image bearing member (photoconductor) of the visible image using a transfer charger, and can be performed by the transfer unit. The transfer means includes a primary transfer means for transferring a visible image onto an intermediate transfer member to form a composite transfer image, and a secondary transfer means for transferring the composite transfer image onto a recording medium. Embodiments are preferred.
The intermediate transfer member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known transfer members according to the purpose. For example, a transfer belt and the like are preferable.

The transfer means (the primary transfer means and the secondary transfer means) is a transfer for peeling and charging the visible image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier (photoconductor) to the recording medium side. It is preferable to have at least a vessel. There may be one transfer means or two or more transfer means.
Examples of the transfer device include a corona transfer device using corona discharge, a transfer belt, a transfer roller, a pressure transfer roller, and an adhesive transfer device.
The recording medium is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known recording media (recording paper).

The fixing step is a step of fixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium using a fixing device, and may be performed each time the toner of each color is transferred to the recording medium, or for the toner of each color. You may perform this simultaneously in the state which laminated | stacked this.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said fixing device, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, A well-known heating-pressing means is suitable. Examples of the heating and pressing means include a combination of a heating roller and a pressure roller, a combination of a heating roller, a pressure roller, and an endless belt.
The heating in the heating and pressing means is usually preferably 80 ° C to 200 ° C.
In the present invention, for example, a known optical fixing device may be used together with or in place of the fixing step and the fixing unit depending on the purpose.

The neutralization step is a step of performing neutralization by applying a neutralization bias to the electrostatic latent image carrier, and can be suitably performed by a neutralization unit.
The neutralization means is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected from known neutralizers as long as it can apply a neutralization bias to the electrostatic latent image carrier. Preferably mentioned.

The cleaning step is a step of removing the electrophotographic toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and can be suitably performed by a cleaning unit.
The cleaning means is not particularly limited as long as it can remove the electrophotographic toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and can be appropriately selected from known cleaners. Suitable examples include brush cleaners, electrostatic brush cleaners, magnetic roller cleaners, blade cleaners, brush cleaners, web cleaners, and the like.

The recycling step is a step of recycling the electrophotographic color toner removed in the cleaning step to the developing unit, and can be suitably performed by the recycling unit.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said recycling means, A well-known conveyance means etc. are mentioned.

The control means is a process for controlling the respective steps, and can be suitably performed by the control means.
The control means is not particularly limited as long as the movement of each means can be controlled, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include devices such as a sequencer and a computer.

  The recording medium is typically plain paper, but is not particularly limited as long as it can transfer an unfixed image after development, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. PET for OHP A base or the like can also be used.

Here, an aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and a modified example as described later also belongs to the category of the present invention.
A photosensitive member 201 as an electrostatic latent image carrier has a photosensitive layer including at least a photosensitive layer or a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer in this order on a support. The layer contains an azo compound represented by the structural formula (1) as a charge generating substance. Although the photoconductor 201 has a drum shape, it may have a sheet shape or an endless belt shape.
As the charging member 203, a wire-type charging member or a roller-shaped charging member is used. A scorotron charging member is preferably used for high-speed charging. Although the photosensitive member is charged by this charging member, the higher the electric field strength applied to the photosensitive member, the better the dot reproducibility.
The image exposure unit 205 uses a light source that can ensure high luminance and can write at high resolution (600 dpi or higher resolution) such as a light emitting diode (LED), a semiconductor laser (LD), and electroluminescence (EL). .

  A known charger can be used as the transfer means, but a combination of the transfer charger 210 and the separation charger 211 as shown in FIG. 2 is effective. In addition, a transfer belt and a transfer roller can be used, and it is desirable to use a contact type such as a transfer belt or a transfer roller that generates less ozone. As a voltage / current application method at the time of transfer, either a constant voltage method or a constant current method can be used, but the transfer charge amount can be kept constant, and a constant voltage with excellent stability can be used. The current method is more desirable.

The developing member 206 has one developing sleeve, and the toner developed on the photoreceptor 1 is transferred to the transfer paper 209.
Further, the toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred onto the transfer paper to become an image on the transfer paper. At this time, there are two methods. One is a method of directly transferring the toner image developed on the surface of the photoreceptor as shown in FIG. 2 to the transfer paper, and the other is once the toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor to the intermediate transfer body, and this is transferred to the transfer paper. It is the method of transferring to. Either case can be used in the present invention.
As such a transfer member, a known member can be used as long as the structure of the present invention can be satisfied.
When positive (negative) charging is performed on the photosensitive member and image exposure is performed, a positive (negative) electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member. A positive image can be obtained by developing this with negative (positive) toner (electrodetection fine particles), and a negative image can be obtained by developing with positive (negative) toner.

  As a light source such as the static elimination lamp 2, general light emitting materials such as a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a sodium lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), a semiconductor laser (LD), and an electroluminescence (EL) can be used. . Various types of filters such as a sharp cut filter, a band pass filter, a near infrared cut filter, a dichroic filter, an interference filter, and a color temperature conversion filter can be used to irradiate only light in a desired wavelength range.

Such a light source or the like irradiates the photosensitive member with light by providing a process such as a transfer process, a static elimination process, a cleaning process, or a pre-exposure using light irradiation in addition to the process shown in FIG.
This neutralization mechanism can be omitted when the AC component is superposed and used in the previous charging method, or when the residual potential of the photoreceptor is small. Further, instead of optical static elimination, an electrostatic static elimination mechanism (for example, a static elimination brush applied with a reverse bias or grounded) can be used. In FIG. 2, 208 is a registration roller, and 212 is a separation claw.

  In addition, the toner developed on the photoconductor 201 by the developing unit 206 is transferred to the transfer paper 209. When toner remaining on the photoconductor 201 is generated, the fur brush 214 and the blade 215 remove the toner from the photoconductor. Removed. Cleaning may be performed only with a cleaning brush, and a known brush such as a fur brush or a mag fur brush is used as the cleaning brush.

  One mode for carrying out the image forming method of the present invention by the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3 includes a photosensitive drum 10 as the electrostatic latent image carrier (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive member 10”), a charging roller 20 as the charging unit, and exposure as the exposure unit. The apparatus 30 includes a developing device 40 as the developing means, an intermediate transfer member 50, a cleaning device 60 as the cleaning means having a cleaning blade, and a static elimination lamp 70 as the static elimination means.

  The intermediate transfer member 50 is an endless belt, and is designed to be movable in the direction of an arrow by three rollers 51 that are arranged inside and stretched. Part of the three rollers 51 also functions as a transfer bias roller that can apply a predetermined transfer bias (primary transfer bias) to the intermediate transfer member 50. The intermediate transfer body 50 is provided with a cleaning device 90 having a cleaning blade in the vicinity thereof, and for transferring (secondary transfer) a developed image (toner image) to a transfer sheet 95 as a final transfer material. A transfer roller 80 serving as a transfer unit to which a transfer bias can be applied is disposed to face the transfer roller 80. Around the intermediate transfer member 50, a corona charger 58 for applying a charge to the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 50 is arranged between the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer member 50 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 50. It is disposed between the contact portion and the contact portion between the intermediate transfer member 50 and the transfer paper 95.

  The developing device 40 includes a developing belt 41 as the developer carrying member, and a black developing unit 45K, a yellow developing unit 45Y, a magenta developing unit 45M, and a cyan developing unit 45C provided around the developing belt 41. . The black developing unit 45K includes a developer accommodating portion 42K, a developer supplying roller 43K, and a developing roller 44K. The yellow developing unit 45Y includes a developer accommodating portion 42Y, a developer supplying roller 43Y, and a developing roller 44Y. The magenta developing unit 45M includes a developer accommodating portion 42M, a developer supplying roller 43M, and a developing roller 44M, and the cyan developing unit 45C includes a developer accommodating portion 42C and a developer supplying roller 43C. And a developing roller 44C. The developing belt 41 is an endless belt, is rotatably stretched around a plurality of belt rollers, and a part thereof is in contact with the photoconductor 10.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the charging roller 20 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 10. The exposure device 30 performs imagewise exposure on the photosensitive drum 10 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is developed by supplying toner from the developing device 40 to form a visible image (toner image). The visible image (toner image) is transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer member 50 by the voltage applied from the roller 51, and further transferred (secondary transfer) onto the transfer paper 95. As a result, a transfer image is formed on the transfer paper 95. The residual toner on the photoconductor 10 is removed by the cleaning device 60, and the charge on the photoconductor 10 is temporarily removed by the charge eliminating lamp 70.

  Another mode for carrying out the image forming method of the present invention by the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 4 does not include the developing belt 41 in the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 3, and a black developing unit 45K, a yellow developing unit 45Y, a magenta developing unit 45M, and the like around the photoconductor 10. Except that the cyan developing unit 45C is directly opposed, it has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3 and exhibits the same function and effect. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Another mode for carrying out the image forming method of the present invention by the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The tandem image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is a tandem color image forming apparatus. The tandem image forming apparatus includes a copying apparatus main body 150, a paper feed table 200, a scanner 300, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 400.
The copying apparatus main body 150 is provided with an endless belt-like intermediate transfer member 50 at the center. The intermediate transfer member 50 is stretched around the support rollers 14, 15 and 16, and can be rotated clockwise in FIG. 5. An intermediate transfer member cleaning device 17 for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer member 50 is disposed in the vicinity of the support roller 15. The intermediate transfer member 50 stretched between the support roller 14 and the support roller 15 is a tandem type in which four image forming units 18 of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are arranged to face each other along the conveyance direction. A developing device 120 is disposed. An exposure device 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the tandem developing device 120. A secondary transfer device 22 is disposed on the side of the intermediate transfer member 50 opposite to the side on which the tandem developing device 120 is disposed. In the secondary transfer device 22, a secondary transfer belt 24, which is an endless belt, is stretched around a pair of rollers 23, and the transfer paper conveyed on the secondary transfer belt 24 and the intermediate transfer body 50 are in contact with each other. Is possible. A fixing device 25 is disposed in the vicinity of the secondary transfer device 22. The fixing device 25 includes a fixing belt 26 that is an endless belt, and a pressure roller 27 that is pressed against the fixing belt 26.
In the tandem image forming apparatus, a sheet reversing device 28 for reversing the transfer paper for image formation on both sides of the transfer paper is disposed in the vicinity of the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25. Yes.

  Next, formation of a full color image (color copy) using the tandem image forming apparatus will be described. That is, first, a document is set on the document table 130 of the automatic document feeder (ADF) 400, or the automatic document feeder 400 is opened and the document is set on the contact glass 32 of the scanner 300. 400 is closed.

  When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, when the document is set on the automatic document feeder 400, the document is transported and moved onto the contact glass 32, and then the document is set on the contact glass 32. Immediately after that, the scanner 300 is driven, and the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34 travel. At this time, light from the light source is irradiated by the first traveling body 33 and reflected light from the document surface is reflected by the mirror in the second traveling body 34 and is received by the reading sensor 36 through the imaging lens 35 to be color. An original (color image) is read and used as black, yellow, magenta, and cyan image information.

  Each image information of black, yellow, magenta and cyan is stored in each image forming means 18 (black image forming means, yellow image forming means, magenta image forming means and cyan image forming means in the tandem image forming apparatus. ) And black, yellow, magenta and cyan toner images are formed in the respective image forming means. That is, each of the image forming means 18 (black image forming means, yellow image forming means, magenta image forming means, and cyan image forming means) in the tandem image forming apparatus is photosensitive as shown in FIG. On the basis of the body 10 (the black photoreceptor 10K, the yellow photoreceptor 10Y, the magenta photoreceptor 10M, and the cyan photoreceptor 10C), the charger 60 that uniformly charges the photoreceptor, and each color image information. The photosensitive member is exposed to each color image corresponding image (L in FIG. 6), and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color image is formed on the photosensitive member. A developing device 61 that develops using color toner (black toner, yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner) to form a toner image with each color toner, and the toner image is an intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer charger 62 for transferring the image onto 0, a photoconductor cleaning device 63, and a static eliminator 64, and each monochrome image (black image, yellow image, magenta) based on the image information of each color. Image and cyan image) can be formed. The black image, the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image formed in this way are formed on the black photoconductor 10K on the intermediate transfer member 50 that is rotationally moved by the support rollers 14, 15, and 16, respectively. The black image, the yellow image formed on the yellow photoconductor 10Y, the magenta image formed on the magenta photoconductor 10M, and the cyan image formed on the cyan photoconductor 10C are sequentially transferred (primary transfer). Is done. Then, the black image, the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image are superimposed on the intermediate transfer member 50 to form a composite color image (color transfer image).

On the other hand, in the paper feed table 200, one of the paper feed rollers 142 is selectively rotated to feed out a sheet (recording paper) from one of the paper feed cassettes 144 provided in multiple stages in the paper bank 143. Each sheet is separated and sent to the paper feed path 146, transported by the transport roller 147, guided to the paper feed path 148 in the copying machine main body 150, and abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped. Alternatively, the sheet feeding roller 150 is rotated to feed out the sheets (recording paper) on the manual feed tray 51, separated one by one by the separation roller 52, put into the manual feed path 53, and abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped. . The registration roller 49 is generally used while being grounded, but may be used in a state where a bias is applied to remove paper dust from the sheet.
Then, the registration roller 49 is rotated in synchronization with the synthesized color image (color transfer image) synthesized on the intermediate transfer member 50, and a sheet (recording paper) is interposed between the intermediate transfer member 50 and the secondary transfer device 22. The secondary color transfer device 22 transfers the composite color image (color transfer image) onto the sheet (recording paper), thereby transferring the color image onto the sheet (recording paper). Is formed. The residual toner on the intermediate transfer member 50 after image transfer is cleaned by the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 17.

  The sheet (recording paper) on which the color image has been transferred is conveyed by the secondary transfer device 22 and sent to the fixing device 25, where the combined color image (color) is generated by heat and pressure. (Transfer image) is fixed on the sheet (recording paper). Thereafter, the sheet (recording paper) is switched by the switching claw 55 and discharged by the discharge roller 56 and stacked on the discharge tray 57, or switched by the switching claw 55 and reversed by the sheet reversing device 28 and transferred again. After being guided to the position and recording an image on the back surface, the image is discharged by the discharge roller 56 and stacked on the discharge tray 57.

Further, in the fixing step of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the fixing device includes a heating body provided with a heating element, a film in contact with the heating body, and a pressure member in pressure contact with the heating body through the film. And a fixing device that heats and fixes a recording material on which an unfixed image is formed between the film and the pressure member may be used.
The fixing device can efficiently shorten the rise time.

Here, the fixing device shown in FIG. 7 includes a heating roller 1 heated by electromagnetic induction of the induction heating unit 6, a fixing roller 2 arranged in parallel to the heating roller 1, and the heating roller 1 and the fixing roller 2. An endless belt-like heat-resistant belt (toner heating medium) 3 that is stretched and heated by the heating roller 1 and rotated in the direction of arrow A by at least one of these rollers, and a fixing roller via the belt 3 2 and a pressure roller 4 that rotates in the forward direction with respect to the belt 3.
The heating roller 1 is made of, for example, a hollow cylindrical magnetic metal member such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or an alloy of these metals, and has an outer diameter of 30 mm and a thickness of 1 mm, for example, and has a low heat capacity and a high temperature rise. It has become.
The fixing roller 2 includes, for example, a metal core 2a made of stainless steel or the like and an elastic member 2b in which a heat resistant silicone rubber is solid or foamed and covered with the core 2a. In order to form a contact portion having a predetermined width between the pressure roller 4 and the fixing roller 2 by the pressing force from the pressure roller 4, the outer diameter is set to about 40 mm and larger than the heating roller 1. The elastic member 2b has a thickness of about 0.5 to 30 mm and a hardness of about 20 to 80 ° (JIS 6301 hardness). With this configuration, the heat capacity of the heating roller 1 is smaller than the heat capacity of the fixing roller 2, so that the heating roller 1 is rapidly heated and the warm-up time is shortened.
The belt 3 stretched between the heating roller 1 and the fixing roller 2 is heated at the contact portion W1 with the heating roller 1 heated by the induction heating means 6. The inner surface of the belt 3 is continuously heated by the rotation of the rollers 1 and 2, and as a result, the entire belt is heated.

As thickness of the mold release layer 3, about 5-50 micrometers is preferable and about 20 micrometers is especially preferable. By doing so, the toner image T formed on the recording material 13 is sufficiently wrapped by the surface layer portion of the belt 3, so that the toner image T can be uniformly heated and melted.
When the thickness of the release layer 3 is smaller than 5 μm, the heat capacity of the belt 3 becomes small and the belt surface temperature rapidly decreases in the toner fixing step, so that the fixing performance cannot be sufficiently ensured. Further, when the thickness of the release layer 3 is larger than 50 μm, the heat capacity of the belt 3 is increased and the time required for warm-up is increased. In addition, in the toner fixing process, the belt surface temperature is difficult to decrease, the agglomeration effect of the melted toner at the fixing portion outlet cannot be obtained, the belt releasability is reduced, and the toner adheres to the belt. Hot offset occurs.
As a base material for the belt 3, a heat-resistant resin layer such as a fluorine resin, a polyimide resin, a polyamide resin, a polyamideimide resin, a PEEK resin, a PES resin, or a PPS resin is used instead of the heat generating layer 3a made of the metal. May be used.

The pressure roller 4 includes, for example, a metal core 4a made of a metal cylindrical member having a high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum, and an elastic material having high heat resistance and toner releasability provided on the surface of the metal core 4a. It is comprised from the member 4b. In addition to the above metal, SUS may be used for the core metal 4a.
The pressure roller 4 presses the fixing roller 2 via the belt 3 to form the fixing nip portion N, but in this embodiment, the pressure roller 4 is harder than the fixing roller 2. As a result, the pressure roller 4 bites into the fixing roller 2 (and the belt 3), and this bite follows the circumferential shape of the recording material 13 and the pressure roller 4 surface. Has the effect of facilitating. The outer diameter of the pressure roller 4 is about 40 mm, which is the same as that of the fixing roller 2, but the wall thickness is about 0.3 to 20 mm, which is thinner than the fixing roller 2, and the hardness is about 10 to 70 ° (JIS 6301 hardness). As described above, it is harder than the fixing roller 2.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A and B, an induction heating means 6 for heating the heating roller 1 by electromagnetic induction includes an excitation coil 7 as a magnetic field generation means and a coil guide plate 8 around which the excitation coil 7 is wound. And have. The coil guide plate 8 has a semi-cylindrical shape arranged close to the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 1. As shown in FIG. 8B, the excitation coil 7 includes a long excitation coil wire along the coil guide plate 8. Thus, the heating roller 1 is wound alternately in the axial direction.
The exciting coil 7 is connected to a driving power source (not shown) whose oscillation circuit has a variable frequency.
Outside the excitation coil 7, a semi-cylindrical excitation coil core 9 made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite is fixed to the excitation coil core support member 12 and is disposed close to the excitation coil 7. In the present embodiment, the exciting coil core 9 has a relative permeability of 2500.

A high frequency alternating current of 10 kHz to 1 MHz, preferably a high frequency alternating current of 20 kHz to 800 kHz is supplied to the exciting coil 7 from a driving power source, thereby generating an alternating magnetic field. The alternating magnetic field acts on the heating roller 1 and the heat generating layer 3a of the belt 3 in the contact area W1 between the heating roller 1 and the heat-resistant belt 3 and in the vicinity thereof, and the direction B in which the change of the alternating magnetic field is prevented. Eddy current I flows through
This eddy current I generates Joule heat according to the resistance of the heating roller 1 and the heat generating layer 3a, and the belt 3 having the heating roller 1 and the heat generating layer 3a mainly in the contact area between the heating roller 1 and the belt 3 and in the vicinity thereof. Is heated by electromagnetic induction.
The belt 3 heated in this way is detected by temperature detecting means 5 comprising a thermosensitive element such as a thermistor arranged in contact with the inner surface side of the belt 3 in the vicinity of the inlet side of the fixing nip N. The belt inner surface temperature is detected.

  In the image forming apparatus and the image forming method of the present invention, since the toner of the present invention is used, offset resistance and low-temperature fixability can be balanced in a balanced manner, and a clear high-quality image can be obtained efficiently. .

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

-Synthesis of organic fine particle emulsion-
In a reaction vessel in which a stir bar and a thermometer are set, 683 parts by weight of water, 11 parts by weight of sodium salt of an ethylene oxide adduct sulfate (Eleminol RS-30: manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries Ltd.), 138 parts by weight of styrene, When 138 parts by weight of methacrylic acid and 1 part by weight of ammonium persulfate were charged and stirred at 400 rpm for 15 minutes, a white emulsion was obtained. The system was heated to raise the system temperature to 75 ° C. and reacted for 5 hours. Further, 30 parts by mass of a 1% ammonium persulfate aqueous solution was added, and the mixture was aged at 75 ° C. for 5 hours, and an aqueous dispersion of vinyl resin (styrene salt copolymer of styrene-methacrylic acid-methacrylic acid ethylene oxide adduct sulfate) [ A fine particle dispersion 1] was obtained.

-Preparation of aqueous phase-
990 parts by weight of water, 80 parts by weight of [fine particle dispersion 1], 40 parts by weight of 48.5% aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate (Eleminol MON-7: Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and 90 parts by weight of ethyl acetate are mixed Agitation gave a milky white liquid. This is designated as [Aqueous Phase 1].

-Synthesis of prepolymer-
In a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling tube, a stirrer and a nitrogen introduction tube, 410 parts by mass of [Polyester 1], 89 parts by mass of isophorone diisocyanate and 500 parts by mass of ethyl acetate were reacted at 100 ° C. for 5 hours. ] Was obtained.

-Synthesis of ketimine-
In a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, 170 parts by mass of isophoronediamine and 75 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone were charged and reacted at 50 ° C. for 5 hours to obtain [ketimine compound 1].

-Synthesis of master batch-
1200 parts by weight of water, 540 parts by weight of carbon black (manufactured by Printex 35 Dexa) [DBP oil absorption = 42 ml / 100 mg, pH = 9.5], and 1200 parts by weight of polyester resin were added, and a Henschel mixer (manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.) After mixing, the mixture was kneaded at 150 ° C. for 30 minutes using two rolls, rolled and cooled, and pulverized with a pulverizer to obtain [Masterbatch 1].

Example 1
-Preparation of toner-
-Preparation of oil phase-
In a container in which a stir bar and a thermometer are set, [Polyester 1] (functional group number 2.25) 378 parts by mass, synthetic ester wax (pentaerythritol tetrabehenate) 110 parts by mass, CCA (salicylic acid metal complex E-84: (Orient Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 22 parts by mass and 947 parts by mass of ethyl acetate were charged, the temperature was raised to 80 ° C. with stirring, the temperature was maintained at 80 ° C. for 5 hours, and then cooled to 30 ° C. in 1 hour. Next, 500 parts by mass of [Masterbatch 1] and 500 parts by mass of ethyl acetate were charged in a container and mixed for 1 hour to obtain [Raw material solution 1]. [Raw Material Solution 1] Transfer 1324 parts by mass to a container and use a bead mill (Ultra Visco Mill, manufactured by Imex Co., Ltd.) to feed a liquid at a rate of 1 kg / hr, a disk peripheral speed of 6 m / sec, and 80 volumes of 0.5 mm zirconia beads. The pigment and WAX were dispersed under the conditions of% filling and 3 passes. Next, 1324 parts by mass of a 65% ethyl acetate solution of [low molecular weight polyester 1] was added, followed by one pass using a bead mill under the above conditions to obtain [Dispersion 1].

-Emulsification-> Solvent removal-
[Dispersion 1] 664 parts by mass, [Prepolymer 1] 100 parts by mass, and [Ketimine Compound 1] 4.2 parts by mass are placed in a container, and TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika) at 5,000 rpm for 1 minute. After mixing, 1200 parts by mass of [Aqueous Phase 1] was added to the container, and mixed with a TK homomixer at 13,000 rpm for 20 minutes to obtain [Emulsion Slurry 1].
[Emulsified slurry 1] was put into a container equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, and the solvent was removed at 30 ° C. for 8 hours.

−Washing → Drying−
After 100 parts by mass of the emulsified slurry after standing was filtered under reduced pressure, 100 parts by mass of ion-exchanged water was added to the filter cake, mixed with a TK homomixer (at 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes), and then filtered. 100 mass parts of 10 mass% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution was added to the filter cake obtained here, ultrasonic vibration was given, and it mixed with TK homomixer (30 minutes at 12,000 rpm of rotations), Then, it filtered under reduced pressure. This ultrasonic alkali cleaning was performed again (two ultrasonic alkali cleanings). 100 mass parts of 10 mass% hydrochloric acid was added to the filter cake obtained here, it mixed with TK homomixer (10 minutes at 12,000 rpm), and then filtered. 300 parts by mass of ion-exchanged water was added to the obtained filter cake, and the mixture was mixed with a TK homomixer (at a rotation speed of 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes) and then filtered twice to obtain a final filter cake. The final filter cake obtained here was dried at 45 ° C. for 48 hours with a circulating dryer and sieved with a mesh having a mesh size of 75 μm to obtain toner particles.
Then, 100 parts by mass of the obtained toner particles are mixed with 0.5 parts by mass of hydrophobic silica and 0.5 parts by mass of hydrophobic titanium oxide using a Henschel mixer (manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.). Toner 1] was obtained.

(Example 2)
-Preparation of toner-
[Toner 2] was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 100 parts by mass of [Prepolymer 1] in Example 1 was changed to 80 parts by mass.

(Example 3)
-Preparation of toner-
[Toner 3] was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that [Polyester 1] (functional group number 2.25) in Example 1 was changed to [Polyester 2] (functional group number 3.31).

(Example 4)
-Preparation of toner-
[Toner 4] was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 100 parts by mass of [Polyester 1] (functional group number 2.25) in Example 1 was changed to 80 parts by mass of [Polyester 2] (functional group number 3.31). ] Was produced.

(Example 5)
-Preparation of toner-
[Masterbatch 1] In Example 1, the same method as in Example 1 except that 500 parts by mass and 500 parts by mass of ethyl acetate were changed to 200 parts by mass of carbon black (Printex35, manufactured by Dexa) and 800 parts by mass of ethyl acetate. Thus, [Toner 5] was produced.

(Example 6)
-Preparation of toner-
The same method as in Example 1 except that, in the (emulsification → desolvation) step of Example 1, mixing with a TK homomixer for 20 minutes at 13,000 rpm was changed to 10 minutes at 5,000 rpm. Thus, [Toner 6] was produced.

(Example 7)
-Preparation of toner-
[Toner 7] was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the solvent removal at 30 ° C. for 8 hours in the (emulsification → desolvation) step of Example 1 was changed to solvent removal at 45 ° C. for 2 hours. did.

(Comparative Example 1)
-Preparation of toner-
[Comparative toner 1] was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 100 parts by mass of [Prepolymer 1] in Example 1 was changed to 15 parts by mass.

(Comparative Example 2)
-Preparation of toner-
[Comparative toner 2] was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 100 parts by mass of [Prepolymer 1] in Example 1 was changed to 170 parts by mass.

(Comparative Example 3)
-Preparation of toner-
[Comparative toner 3] was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that [Polyester 1] (functional group number 2.25) in Example 1 was changed to [Polyester 3] (functional group number 1.67).

  To 100 parts by mass of the obtained toner, 0.7 part by mass of hydrophobic silica and 0.3 part by mass of hydrophobic titanium oxide were mixed using a Henschel mixer. A developer comprising 5% by mass of a toner subjected to external additive treatment and 95% by mass of a copper-zinc ferrite carrier having an average particle diameter of 40 μm coated with a silicone resin was prepared.

(Evaluation item)
(A) Measurement of Toner-Containing Insoluble Content G (mass%) 1.00 g of toner is weighed and encapsulated with a stainless steel wire mesh. This is stirred and eluted with a predetermined solvent for about 6 hours, the amount of toner residue is calculated from the mass after drying, and the amount of residue R (% by mass) relative to the toner is calculated from the weighed toner mass. The amount of the resin (i) modified with 2.0 or more per molecule with a group capable of reacting with active hydrogen and the amount of colorant charged at the time of preparation of the toner is R _ideal (mass%). The insoluble content G was determined. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
G = R−R _ideal (1)
(B) Particle Size The particle size of the toner was measured with a particle size measuring device “Coulter Counter TAII” (manufactured by Coulter Electronics Co., Ltd.) with an aperture diameter of 100 μm. The volume average particle diameter and the number average particle diameter were determined by the particle size measuring instrument. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

(C) Circularity It can be measured as an average circularity by a flow type particle image analyzer (FPIA-1000, manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.). As a specific measuring method, 0.1 to 0.5 ml of a surfactant, preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of water from which impure solids have been removed in advance, and further measurement is performed. Add about 0.1-0.5g of sample. The suspension in which the sample is dispersed is obtained by performing dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and measuring the shape and distribution of the toner with the above apparatus at a dispersion concentration of 3000 to 10,000 / μl. . The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

(D) Fixability A solid image having an adhesion amount of 1.0 ± 0.1 mg / cm ^{2 on} a copy paper (TYPE6000 <70W>, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) using an image forming apparatus (imageNeo450, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.). The temperature of the fixing roller was changed under the following fixing conditions, and the cold offset temperature (fixing lower limit temperature) and the hot offset temperature (hot offset temperature resistance) were measured.
Fixing machine linear speed: 180 ± 2 mm / sec
Fixing nip width: 10 ± 1 mm
The criteria for each characteristic evaluation are as follows. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
<Low-temperature fixability (5-level evaluation)>
◎: Less than 130 ° C ○: 130-140 ° C
Δ: 140-150 ° C.
X: 150-160 degreeC
XX: 160 ° C. or higher <Hot offset property (five-step evaluation)>
◎: 201 ° C or higher ○: 200-191 ° C
Δ: 190-181 ° C.
X: 180-171 degreeC
XX: 170 ° C. or less

(E) Image granularity A photographic image was output in a single color, and the degree of granularity was visually evaluated. The evaluation criteria were as follows. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
◎: Very good level ○: Good level △: Level with no practical problem ×: Level with practical problem

(F) Agglomeration degree As a measuring device, a powder tester manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd. is used, and attached parts are set on a vibration table in the following procedure.
(I) Vibro chute, (b) Packing, (c) Space ring, (d) Fluey (3 types) Top>Medium> Bottom, (e) Oseva, and then fixed with knob nut to operate the vibration table. The measurement conditions are as follows.
Flute opening (top) 75μm
Flute opening (medium) 45μm
Flute opening (bottom) 22μm
Swing scale 1mm
Sampling amount 10g
Vibration time 30 seconds After measurement, the degree of aggregation is determined from the following formula.

  The total of the above three calculated values is defined as the degree of aggregation (%). That is, the aggregation value (%) = (a) + (b) + (c). The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

  The toner of the present invention is used in a copying machine, a laser printer, a plain paper fax machine, and the like using a direct or indirect electrophotographic developing system. The present invention can be applied to a developer containing the toner, an image forming method using the developer, an image forming method loaded with the developer, and a process cartridge holding the developer. Further, a toner used in a full-color copying machine, a full-color laser printer, a full-color plain paper fax machine, etc. using a direct or indirect electrophotographic multicolor image developing system, a developer containing the toner, and an image formation using the developer It can be used for a method, an image forming method loaded with the developer, and a process cartridge holding the developer.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of the process cartridge of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example in which the image forming method of the present invention is carried out by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing another example in which the image forming method of the present invention is implemented by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example in which the image forming method of the present invention is carried out by the image forming apparatus (tandem color image forming apparatus) of the present invention. 6 is a partially enlarged schematic explanatory diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the excitation coils of the induction heating means in the fixing device of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a side view showing the arrangement of the excitation coils of the induction heating means in the fixing device of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating roller 2 Fixing roller 3 Belt 4 Pressure roller 5 Temperature detection means 6 Induction heating means 7 Excitation coil 8 Coil guide plate 9 Excitation coil core 12 Excitation coil core support member 13 Recording material 10 Photoconductor (photosensitive drum)
10K black photoconductor 10Y yellow photoconductor 10M magenta photoconductor 10C cyan photoconductor 14 support roller 15 support roller 16 support roller 17 intermediate transfer cleaning device 18 image forming means 20 charging roller 21 exposure device 22 secondary transfer device 23 Roller 24 Secondary transfer belt 25 Fixing device 26 Fixing belt 27 Pressure belt 28 Sheet reversing device 30 Exposure device 32 Contact glass 33 First traveling member 34 Second traveling member 35 Imaging lens 36 Reading sensor 40 Developing device 41 Developing belt 42K Developer container 42Y Developer container 42M Developer container 42C Developer container 43K Developer supply roller 43Y Developer supply roller 43M Developer supply roller 43C Developer supply roller 44K Developer roller 44Y Developer roller 44M Developer Roller 44C Developing roller 45K Black developing unit 45Y Yellow developing unit 45M Magenta developing unit 45C Cyan developing unit 49 Registration roller 50 Intermediate transfer member 51 Roller 52 Separating roller 53 Constant current source 55 Switching claw 56 Discharging roller 57 Discharging tray 58 Corona charger 60 Cleaning device 61 Developer 62 Transfer charger 63 Photoconductor cleaning device 64 Static eliminator 70 Static elimination lamp 71 Cleaning blade 72 Support member 80 Transfer roller 90 Cleaning device 95 Transfer paper 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Photoconductor 102 Charging means 103 Exposure 104 Developing means 105 Transfer body 106 Transfer means 107 Cleaning means 120 Tandem type developer 130 Document table 142 Paper feed roller 143 Paper bank 144 Paper feed cassette 145 Separating roller 146 Feeding path 147 Conveying roller 148 Feeding path 150 Copying device main body 200 Feeding table 201 Photosensitive body 202 Static elimination lamp 203 Charger charger 204 Eraser 205 Image exposure unit 206 Developing unit 207 Pre-transfer charger 208 Registration roller 209 Transfer paper 210 Transfer charger 211 Separation charger 212 Separation claw 213 Charger before cleaning 214 Fur brush 215 Cleaning brush 300 Scanner 400 Automatic document feeder (ADF)

Claims (15)

Dissolving or dispersing a toner composition containing at least 2.0 resin / i modified with a group capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group in an organic solvent and a colorant; A toner obtained by reacting any of the dispersions with at least one of a crosslinking agent and an extender in an aqueous medium containing resin fine particles,
A toner having an insoluble content G of toner represented by the following formula 1 of 3 to 20% by mass.
<Formula 1>
G (mass%) = RR _ideal
In Formula 1, R (mass%) represents the amount of residue with respect to the toner when the toner is dissolved in an organic solvent that dissolves the toner composition. R _ideal (% by mass) represents the charged amount of the resin (i) and the colorant in the toner.   Resin (ii) modified with at least 2.0 groups per molecule capable of reacting with a compound having active hydrogen and resin (ii) not modified with a group capable of reacting with a compound having active hydrogen The toner according to claim 1, wherein a mass ratio of the resin (i) to the resin (ii) (resin (i) / resin (ii)) is 5/95 to 25/75.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the resin (i) is a resin modified with 2.0 or more per molecule with a group capable of urea bonding.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the resin (i) and the resin (ii) are polyester resins.   The toner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the colorant is added as a master batch by kneading together with an unmodified resin (ii) in advance with an organic solvent or water.   2. The weight average particle diameter of the toner is 4 to 8 μm, and the ratio of the weight average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (weight average particle diameter / number average particle diameter) is 1.00 to 1.25. The toner according to any one of 5 to 5.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner has an average circularity of 0.940 to 0.995.   The toner according to claim 1, further comprising a wax as a release agent.   The toner according to claim 1, further comprising a charge control agent.   A developer comprising the toner according to claim 1.   The developer according to claim 10, which is either a one-component developer or a two-component developer.   A toner-containing container comprising the toner according to claim 1 contained in the container.   An electrostatic latent image carrier, and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier using the toner according to claim 1 to form a visible image. A process cartridge having at least   An electrostatic latent image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the toner according to claim 1. At least developing means for forming a visible image by developing the toner, transfer means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, and fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium. An image forming apparatus. An electrostatic latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and developing the electrostatic latent image with the toner according to any one of claims 1 to 9 to form a visible image An image forming method comprising: a developing step for forming the image; a transfer step for transferring the visible image to a recording medium; and a fixing step for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium.

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