JP2007187736A - Powder dispersion device, powder processing equipment, and method for manufacturing toner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder dispersion device that can reduce content of powder aggregates included in powder. <P>SOLUTION: Gas is injected by a gas injection means 7 as a swirling flow forming means to produce a swirling flow in a powder dispersion chamber 5. The powder containing powder aggregates supplied from a powder supply means 6 to the powder dispersion chamber 5 swirls within the powder dispersion chamber 5 by the swirling flow produced in the powder dispersion chamber 5, receives centrifugal force by the swirling and collides against the inner circumference surface 4 of the powder dispersion chamber 5, and moves along the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion chamber 2 toward a discharge port 3 in a state in contact with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the chamber 5. The powder aggregates included in the powder are dispersed by the collision force and dynamic frictional force. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder dispersion device, a powder processing facility, and a toner manufacturing method.

  The toner used for image formation is a composition containing at least a binder resin and a colorant. The binder resin is a resin for molding by dispersing a colorant that cannot be molded by itself in the binder resin. The colorant is a colorant such as an organic or inorganic pigment or dye. In addition to the binder resin and the colorant, the toner may contain additives such as a wax and a charge control agent. The toner is produced by a production method such as a pulverization method, a suspension polymerization method or an emulsion polymerization method.

  Among the above-described toner production methods, toner production using a pulverization method that is particularly preferable in terms of production cost is performed, for example, as follows. Mix the raw materials containing the binder resin, colorant and additive using a mixer such as a mixer, then knead while maintaining the temperature of the raw material at or above the softening point of the binder resin, and add the colorant and additive. A melt-kneading step is performed in which the agent is dispersed in the softened or melted binder resin. The melt-kneaded product obtained by the melt-kneading process is pulverized in the next pulverization process. In the pulverization step, the solidified product of the melt-kneaded product is first roughly pulverized with a hammer-type pulverizer or the like to obtain a coarsely pulverized product having a particle size of about 100 μm to 5 mm. Next, a coarsely pulverized material is introduced into a space formed between a rotor (rotor) rotating at a high speed and a stator (liner) for pulverization using a supersonic jet stream or pulverization. Using an impact pulverizer or the like, a powder composed of resin particles having a particle size of about 5 μm to 15 μm is generated. The powder produced in the pulverization step is separated in accordance with, for example, the difference in particle size in the separation step, and powder contained in a desired particle size range to be separated is obtained as toner particles.

  As the toner particles obtained in this manner, toner particles having a smaller particle size, for example, toner particles having a small particle size of 8.0 μm or less, are required for the purpose of achieving high definition of the formed image. Yes. When the particle size of the toner particles is reduced, electrostatic force and intermolecular force acting on the toner particles are larger than gravity and inertial force acting on the toner particles, and the specific surface area of the toner particles is increased and the adhesion force is increased. As a result, toner particles tend to aggregate.

  In the case of manufacturing a color toner, a binder resin having translucency and glossiness and having a softening point lower than that of a binder resin used for black toner is used. When a binder resin having a low softening point is used, the binder resin is softened by frictional heat generated by friction between toner particles, and the toner particles are likely to adhere to each other. Therefore, when color toner is manufactured, toner particles are more likely to aggregate than when black toner is manufactured.

  Such agglomeration of toner particles also occurs after the pulverization process for pulverizing the melt-kneaded product obtained in the melt-kneading process until the separation process is started. The separation step refers to, for example, the resin particles produced in the powder production step including the melt-kneading step and the pulverization step as described above into particles having desired properties and particles not having desired properties. It is a process of separating. The separation step is, for example, a classification step in which the resin particles generated in the powder generation step are classified into a particle group included in a desired particle size range and a particle group not included in a desired particle size range. . When the resin particles in the powder obtained in the powder production process are aggregated, there arises a problem that the separation process performed after the powder production process is not performed correctly.

  When the separation step, for example, the classification step of separating the powder by the difference in particle diameter, is performed in a state where the resin particles in the powder are aggregated, the following problems are specifically caused. For example, when resin particles smaller than the desired particle size range contained in the powder are aggregated and a powder aggregate formed by aggregation of the resin particles is regarded as one resin particle, The regarded powder agglomerates are included in the toner as a product. When such powder aggregates are contained in the toner, the powder aggregates are dispersed by friction between the toner particles, and the content of fine powder particles smaller than the desired particle size becomes high. Uniformity is caused, and an adverse effect on the formed image such as occurrence of image fogging occurs.

  In addition, when the resin particles included in a desired particle size range included in the powder are aggregated and the powder aggregate is regarded as one resin particle, the resin particle having a particle size that should originally be included in the toner is included. Pulverization in which the powder agglomerates are treated as coarse powder larger than the desired particle size and are discarded or pulverized together with the solidified product of the melt-kneaded product before the classification step, for example, to generate resin particles Returned to the process. As a result, the amount of toner obtained after the classification step becomes significantly smaller than the amount of powder obtained in the powder generation step, and the weight of the toner obtained after the classification step relative to the weight of the powder obtained in the powder generation step. The toner yield, which is the ratio of

  Further, in the production of toner, it is required to increase the amount of toner obtained per unit time, that is, to increase the toner production efficiency. In the classification process, in order to prevent the aggregation of the resin particles, the amount of powder input per unit time to be input to the classification device is determined. In order to increase the production efficiency of the toner, it is necessary to increase the amount of powder input per unit time. However, increasing the amount of powder input per unit time increases the amount of resin particles contained in the powder. Increasing the number of times of contact makes it easier for the resin particles to aggregate. Therefore, it is difficult to increase the production efficiency of toner by increasing the amount of powder input per unit time.

  Such a problem is that the powder aggregated between the powder production process and the classification process is introduced into the classification device in a sufficiently dispersed state, that is, in a state where the content of the powder aggregate is reduced. It is thought that it can be solved by. In addition, it is considered that a toner having a low content of fine powder smaller than a desired particle size can be obtained while improving the toner yield and production efficiency.

  As a classification device that performs classification in a state where agglomerated powder is sufficiently dispersed, an airflow type classification device that separates powder according to particle size using an airflow has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). The classifying device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a swirl classifying chamber for classifying powder, and is formed in the lower part of the classifying chamber to collect powder aggregates and particles larger than a predetermined particle size. A coarse powder discharge port that discharges to the outside of the powder, and a powder aggregate that is rotatably supported above the coarse powder discharge port and collides with the side surface of the powder that is supplied to the classification chamber from the outside to be contained in the powder A rotating member that disperses the particles, a coarse powder collecting port that is provided above the rotating member and collects the powder agglomerates floating in the classification chamber and discharges them to the outside of the classification chamber, and an upper portion of the classification chamber. In addition, the swirl classification chamber having a fine powder discharge port for discharging the fine powder formed and dispersed above the rotating member to the outside and the side of the swirling classification chamber having the same height as the rotating member should be classified. The air current is jetted in the same direction as the rotation direction of the rotating member toward the rotating member. Provided at a position facing the powder supply nozzle and the powder supply nozzle on the side of the swivel classification chamber at the same height as the rotating member, and the powder aggregate is directed to the side of the rotating member and is the same as the rotating direction of the rotating member A coarse powder supply nozzle that jets airflow in the direction, and a powder aggregate transport means that transports the powder aggregate discharged from the coarse powder discharge port and the coarse powder recovery port to the coarse powder supply nozzle.

  According to such a classifier, powder is jetted from a powder supply nozzle and collided with a rotating member to disperse powder aggregates contained in the powder. The fine powder in the dispersed powder rides on the air current, moves up in the swirl classification chamber, and is discharged from the fine powder outlet. Powder agglomerates that have not been sufficiently dispersed and particles larger than a predetermined particle size also rise in the swirl classification chamber to a certain extent by riding on the airflow, but descend due to their own weight, and the coarse powder outlet and coarse powder It is discharged from the recovery port to the outside and conveyed to the coarse powder supply nozzle, and is again sprayed and dispersed toward the rotating member. For powder agglomerates, the same cycle is repeated until dispersed to particles having the desired particle size. In this way, toner particles having a narrow particle size distribution can be obtained as a product.

  In the classification device disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if powder agglomeration occurs between the powder generation step and the classification step, the powder agglomerate is generated by a collision force when the powder agglomerate collides with the rotating member. However, it is difficult to sufficiently disperse the powder and reduce the content of the powder aggregate in the powder.

  In the classifying device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since the air current is injected so as to cause the powder to move upward while causing the powder to collide with the rotating member, the collision force between the rotating member and the powder is small. When the collision force between the rotating member and the powder is small, it is difficult to disperse the powder aggregate due to the large aggregation force of the powder aggregate when producing a color toner having a small particle diameter. Also, since it is necessary to raise the powder to the upper part of the swirl classification chamber, it is difficult to increase the number of collisions between the powder and the rotating member, and the powder agglomerated content is reduced. Can not be classified. Therefore, in the classification device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to improve the yield and production efficiency of the toner, and the content of particles smaller than the desired particle size as the powder after the classification process is low. You cannot get a reduced one.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-65652

  An object of the present invention is to provide a powder dispersion device and a powder processing facility that can reduce the content of powder aggregates contained in a powder. Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner production method that can improve the toner production efficiency using a powder processing facility and reduce the content of particles smaller than the particles to be separated in the toner. is there.

The present invention is a powder dispersion container including a supply port for supplying powder and a discharge port for discharging powder, and a peripheral wall having an inner peripheral surface formed in a cylindrical shape,
Powder supply means for supplying powder into the powder dispersion container from the supply port,
The powder dispersion apparatus includes a swirl flow forming means for forming a swirl flow of the gas in the powder dispersion container in the powder dispersion container.

In the present invention, the swirl flow forming means is
It is a gas injection means which injects gas from the gas injection port part formed in a surrounding wall to the direction shifted from the direction which goes to the axis line of a powder dispersion container.

In the present invention, the discharge port is
Formed at one axial end of the powder dispersion container,
The gas injecting means injects gas in a direction inclined toward the other end side in the axial direction with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis of the powder dispersion container.

In the present invention, the gas injection port is
It is characterized by being formed at a position closer to the discharge port with respect to the supply port.

In the present invention, the discharge port is
It is characterized by being formed at a position spaced radially inward from the peripheral wall.

The present invention also provides the powder dispersion device of the present invention,
A powder processing facility comprising: a separation device that separates powder dispersed by a powder dispersion device according to a difference in particle size, density, or shape.

Further, in the present invention, the separation device is formed with an inlet port into which the powder dispersed by the powder dispersion device is charged,
The discharge port portion of the powder dispersion device is mounted on the input port portion of the separation device.

The present invention also provides a powder production step for producing a resin powder containing a binder resin and a colorant,
And a powder processing step of processing the resin powder generated in the powder generation step to obtain a toner using the powder processing facility of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, the powder supplied from the powder supply means through the supply port is swirled in the powder dispersion container by the swirling flow of the gas in the powder dispersion container formed by the swirl flow forming means. To do. Centrifugal force is applied to the powder by swirling, and the powder containing powder aggregates collides with the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container formed into a cylindrical shape by the centrifugal force. The powder aggregate contained in the powder is dispersed by the collision force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface. Further, the powder colliding with the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container, and the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container is formed by the swirl flow formed by the swirl flow forming means. And moves to the discharge port side while swirling in the powder dispersion container. At this time, the powder agglomerate slides on the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container, the powder agglomerate rolls on the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container, and the like. Thus, the powder agglomerates to which a dynamic friction force is applied and are not dispersed even by the collision with the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container are dispersed by this dynamic friction force.

  In this way, the powder aggregates contained in the powder are dispersed by the collision force and the dynamic friction force, so that the content of the powder aggregates in the powder can be reduced. In the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention, a swirling flow of gas is formed to disperse the powder, and the powder is dispersed by swirling the powder in a powder dispersing container and applying a centrifugal force. Since the dynamic friction force from the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container acts on the powder for a longer time than the time when the powder and the powder dispersion container collide, it is more reliable than dispersing the powder only by collision, The content of the powder aggregate in the powder can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, the gas injection means injects the gas from the gas injection port portion formed on the peripheral wall in the direction deviated from the direction toward the axis of the powder dispersion container, thereby forming the inner periphery formed in a cylindrical shape. A swirling flow along the surface can be formed in the powder dispersion container. Further, by using gas injection means as swirl flow forming means, for example, compared with the case where swirl flow is formed by mechanically stirring the gas in the powder dispersion container, the powder swirl region in the powder dispersion container Can be secured greatly.

  According to the invention, the discharge port is formed at one end in the axial direction of the powder dispersion container, and the gas injection means is inclined toward the other end in the axial direction with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis of the powder dispersion container. Since the gas is injected in the direction in which the gas is discharged, a force is applied to the powder so as to go to the side opposite to the side toward the discharge port by the pressure of the gas. As a result, the speed of the powder toward the discharge port is reduced compared to the case where the gas injection means does not incline the gas in the direction of the discharge port of the powder dispersion container, and the powder is reduced in the powder dispersion container. Therefore, the dynamic frictional force can be applied to the powder for a longer time, and the content of the powder aggregate in the powder can be further reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the gas injection port portion is formed closer to the discharge port portion than the supply port portion, the powder is supplied toward the region where the flow velocity of the swirling flow formed by the gas injection means is the highest. can do. When powder is supplied to the region where the swirl flow velocity is the highest, the powder swirl speed can be increased compared to when powder is supplied to the region where the swirl flow velocity is maximum. Since the centrifugal force applied to the body also increases, the collision force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container and the dynamic friction force acting on the powder from the powder dispersion container can be increased, making the powder more reliable. Can be dispersed.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the discharge port portion is formed at a position spaced radially inward from the peripheral wall, the portion from the radially outer edge of the discharge port portion to the peripheral wall of the powder dispersion container Does not discharge the powder. Accordingly, the powder swirling near the peripheral wall of the powder dispersion container and the powder swirling while contacting the inner peripheral surface by the centrifugal force applied to the powder are not easily discharged from the discharge port. Further, the weight of the powder aggregate contained in the powder is larger than the weight of the particles in the non-aggregated powder, and the powder aggregate swirls while contacting the peripheral wall or the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container. Therefore, it is possible to prevent powder agglomerates swirling while coming into contact with the peripheral wall or the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container from being discharged from the discharge port and into the separation device, and the separation accuracy in the separation device is improved. To do.

  According to the present invention, there is also provided a powder comprising a separation device for separating the powder dispersed by the powder dispersion device of the present invention and having a reduced content of powder agglomerates according to the difference in particle size, density or shape. Body treatment equipment is provided. In such a powder processing facility, a powder having a desired density or shape can be separated from a powder having a low content of powder agglomerates, and a plurality of aggregated particles are regarded as one particle and separated. Can be prevented, so that the accuracy of powder separation can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the discharge port of the powder dispersion device is attached to the input port of the separation device that separates the powder charged from the input port, immediately after being dispersed by the powder dispersion device The powder in which the content of the powder aggregate is reduced can be rapidly introduced into the separation apparatus. Therefore, after the powder is dispersed by the powder dispersion device, the dispersed powder is allowed to stand to prevent the powder to be separated from aggregating again. Since the separation process is prevented from being considered as individual particles, the separation accuracy can be further improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the powder processing step of processing the resin powder containing the binder resin and the colorant generated in the powder generation step using the powder processing facility of the present invention is performed, In the powder processing step, the content of the powder aggregate contained in the resin powder can be reduced, and the resin powder with the reduced content of the powder aggregate can be separated. Therefore, the manufactured toner is obtained by separating powder having a low content of powder aggregates according to the difference in particle diameter, density, or shape. As a result, a toner having desired properties can be obtained. For example, when the powder is separated by the difference in particle diameter, a toner having a reduced content of fine powder in the toner can be obtained. Since the toner in which the content of fine powder in the toner is reduced is excellent in charging uniformity, generation of image fog and the like can be suppressed, and an excellent image can be formed.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a powder dispersing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the powder dispersing apparatus 1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a powder dispersion device 1. FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the powder dispersion device 1 taken along a plane perpendicular to the radial direction of a powder dispersion container 5 having an inner peripheral surface 4 formed in a cylindrical shape. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the powder dispersing apparatus 1 taken along the cutting plane line III-III shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, in order to show the positional relationship between the transport pipe 6b of the powder supply means 6 and the spray nozzle 7b of the gas spray means 7 in the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5, the transport pipe 6b and the spray nozzle 7b are shown. Shown with the mounting position changed.

  A powder dispersion apparatus 1 includes a powder distribution container including a supply port 2 for supplying powder and a discharge port 3 for discharging powder, and a peripheral wall 8 having an inner peripheral surface 4 formed in a cylindrical shape. 5, a powder supply means 6 for supplying powder into the powder dispersion container 5 from the supply port 2, and a swirling flow C of the gas in the powder dispersion container 5 is formed in the powder dispersion container 5. And gas injection means 7 which is a swirl flow forming means. Here, the powder means an aggregate of particles, and the powder aggregate means an aggregated powder in which a plurality of particles are aggregated. The powder is composed of a powder aggregate that is a plurality of aggregated particles and non-aggregated particles.

  The powder dispersion container 5 of the present embodiment is a container including a peripheral wall 8 having an inner peripheral surface 4 formed in a cylindrical shape, and a supply port portion 2 through which powder is supplied is formed above the powder dispersion container 5. Then, a discharge port 3 for discharging the powder is formed in the lower part. The supply port portion 2 is formed in the peripheral wall 8 of the powder dispersion container 5, and the discharge port portion 3 is a powder that is a portion where the classifier 10 and the powder dispersion container 5 are connected at the bottom of the powder dispersion container 5. It is formed in the flange 9 portion of the body dispersion container 5.

  The powder supply means 6 supplies powder from the supply port 2 into the powder dispersion container 5. The powder supply means 6 supplies, for example, powder generated by a powder generation device or the like into the powder dispersion container 5. The powder supply means 6 includes a powder supply unit 6a including a storage container for temporarily storing powder generated by the powder generation device and a vibration feeder, and a compression as a gas supply source for pumping the powder. An air introduction nozzle and a transport pipe 6b for introducing the powder in the powder supply unit 6a into the supply port 2 of the powder dispersion device 1 are configured. The transport pipe 6b is connected to the compressed air introduction nozzle, and on the downstream side of the compressed air introduction nozzle in the air introduction direction introduced by the compressed air introduction nozzle, the supply port portion of the powder supply unit 6a and the powder dispersion container 5 2 are connected in this order. The powder dispersion container 5 and the transport pipe 6b may be integrally formed.

  According to the powder supply means 6, first, the compressed air is introduced into the transport pipe 6b from the compressed air introduction nozzle, and the powder stored in the storage container of the powder supply unit 6a is stored in the storage container by the vibration feeder. To the inside of the transport pipe 6b. The powder supplied into the transport pipe 6b is pumped by the compressed air introduced from the compressed air introduction nozzle, and is supplied from the supply port 2 of the powder dispersion device 1 connected to the downstream side of the transport pipe 6b in the air introduction direction. The powder is introduced into the powder dispersion container 5 so as to be directed inward in the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5.

  The difference between the pressure of the compressed air when the powder is introduced by the powder supply means 6 and the pressure of the gas in the powder dispersion container 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as compressed air pressure) is supplied per unit time. For example, when the amount of powder supplied per unit time is 25 kg or more and 35 kg or less per hour, it is preferably 0.1 MPa or more and 0.6 MPa or less, though it depends on the amount of powder.

  When the pressure of the compressed air is in the above range, the supply amount of the powder introduced from the supply port 2 into the powder dispersion container 5 can be made constant. In addition, since the force for pumping the powder in the powder transport pipe 6b does not become too small, the powder can be supplied inward in the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5. As a result, when the powder swirls in a swirling flow C formed by the gas injection means 7 described later, the powder due to centrifugal force applied to the powder collides with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5. The powder agglomerates in the powder can be dispersed with the impact force of. When the pressure of the compressed air is less than 0.1 MPa, the force for pumping the powder radially inward of the powder dispersion container 5 becomes small, and the powder dispersion container when centrifugal force is applied by the swirling flow C Since the distance in the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5 between the inner peripheral surface 4 of 5 and the supplied powder becomes shorter, the collision force between the inner peripheral surface 4 and the powder may be reduced. When the pressure of the compressed air exceeds 0.6 MPa, the powder is scattered in the transport pipe 6b, and it may be difficult to introduce the powder into the powder dispersion container 5 with a uniform supply amount.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the injection speed (hereinafter also referred to as supply injection speed) of the compressed air supply port 2 for supplying the powder is 0.4 m or more and 1.0 m or less per second. Here, since the supply injection speed is the speed of the gas injected from the transport pipe 6b in the supply port 2, the supply injection speed does not necessarily match the speed of the powder supplied from the supply port 2. The actual powder speed is somewhat lower than the supply jet speed. When the supply injection speed is in the above preferred range, the powder can be supplied closer to the axis 5a in the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5, and the swirl flow C formed in the powder dispersion container 5 When the powder swirls and the centrifugal force is applied, the collision force when the powder collides with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 can be increased, and the powder agglomeration contained in the powder Things can be dispersed. When the supply injection speed is less than 0.4 m / s, the speed of the powder going inward in the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5 becomes low, and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 and the supplied powder Since the distance in the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5 becomes shorter, the collision force between the inner peripheral surface 4 and the powder due to the turning of the powder and the application of centrifugal force may be reduced. When the supply injection speed exceeds 1.0 m / s, the airflow of the swirling flow C in the powder dispersion container 5 formed by the gas injection means 7 is disturbed, and the powder is swirled in the powder dispersion container 5. There is a risk that it will not be possible.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the powder dispersion container 5 of the powder dispersion apparatus 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the supply port 2 of the powder dispersion container 5 when cut in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the powder is supplied from the supply port 2 in the direction in which compressed air is introduced, that is, the direction in which the transport pipe 6 b extends, and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 in the supply port 2. When the angle formed by the tangent line 4a (hereinafter referred to as the powder introduction angle) is α, it is preferable that the powder introduction angle α is 10 ° or more and 70 ° or less. More specifically, the powder introduction angle α is more specifically determined in the powder dispersion container 5 at the connection portion between the supply port 2 and the transport pipe 6b on the downstream side in the swirl direction of the swirl flow C formed in the powder dispersion container 5. The angle formed by the tangent line 4a of the inner peripheral surface 4 and a virtual line parallel to the direction in which the transport pipe 6b extends.

  When the powder introduction angle α is in the above preferred range, the powder is swirled by the gas injection means 7 described later, and the powder is dispersed in the powder dispersion container 5 by the centrifugal force acting on the powder by swirling the powder. The collision force when colliding with the inner peripheral surface 4 can be increased, and the powder aggregate present in the powder is dispersed by the collision force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5. Can do. When the powder introduction angle α is less than 10 °, the radial distance between the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 and the supplied powder in the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5 is shortened. There is a possibility that the collision force between the inner peripheral surface 4 and the powder due to the application of the centrifugal force becomes small. If the powder introduction angle α exceeds 70 °, the powder is supplied near the center of the powder dispersion container 5 in the radial direction, and it is difficult to swirl the powder even if the gas is injected by the gas injection means 7. There is a risk.

  A discharge port 3 for supplying the dispersed powder to the classifier 10 is formed in the flange 9 at one end of the powder dispersion container 5 in the direction of the axis 5a. In the present embodiment, the discharge port 3 is formed in the lower part of the powder dispersion container 5. The discharge port 3 is an input port of the classification device 10 which is a separation device that separates the resin powder produced by the powder production device 22 shown in FIG. The flange 11 of the powder dispersion container 5 is attached to the part 11 so that the internal space of the powder dispersion container 5 communicates with the internal space of the powder classification container (not shown) of the classification device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the gas injection means 7 discharges gas from a gas injection port 7 a formed on the peripheral wall of the powder dispersion container 5 in a direction shifted from the direction toward the axis 5 a of the powder dispersion container 5. Spray. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gas injection means 7 injects gas perpendicularly to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5, that is, horizontally in this embodiment. The gas injection means 7 of the present embodiment is formed with an injection hole for injecting air, an injection nozzle 7b in which a gas injection port portion 7a is formed, generates compressed air, and supplies the generated compressed air to the injection nozzle And a gas injection unit 7c including a pipe connecting the injection nozzle 7b and the pump.

  The number of the injection nozzles 7b of the gas injection means 7 is selected according to the supply amount of the powder to be dispersed per unit time, the size of the powder dispersion container 5, and the like. In the present embodiment, four injection nozzles 7b are provided as shown in FIG. The spray nozzles 7 b are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the powder dispersion container 5. Thereby, a swirl flow can be formed in the powder dispersion container 5. In FIG. 1, only two of the four injection nozzles 7b are shown, and the description of the gas injection unit 7c is omitted except for one of them.

  In the present embodiment, the gas injection means 7 is configured such that the distance L1 between the discharge port 3 side end of the gas injection port 7a and the discharge port 3 in the direction of the axis 5a of the powder distribution container 5 5 is provided to be longer than the distance L2 between the end of the supply port 2 on the side of the discharge port 3 and the discharge port 3 in the direction of the axis 5a. When the supply port part 2 is formed in the upper part of the powder dispersion container 5 and the discharge port part 3 is formed in the lower part as in the present embodiment, the gas injection means 7 has a supply port part. 2 so as to be formed on the upper side.

  The distance L1 between the gas injection port 7a and the discharge port 3 is, for example, the pressure of the gas injected from the gas injection means 7, the size of the powder dispersion container 5, and the distance between the gas injection port 7a and the supply port 2 It is determined according to the distance | L1-L2 |. When the distance L1 between the gas injection port portion 7a and the discharge port portion 3 is increased, the time during which the powder remains in the powder dispersion container 5 is increased, and the time for dispersing the powder can be increased. However, if the distance L1 becomes too long, the flow rate of the swirling flow C near the discharge port 3 becomes low, and the powder is contained in the powder dispersion container 5. There is a risk of reaggregation due to aggregation at the inner circumferential surface 4. Therefore, it is preferable that the distance L1 between the gas injection port portion 7a and the discharge port portion 3 is determined in consideration of these.

  When the distance L1 between the gas injection port 7a and the discharge port 3 is longer than the distance L2 between the supply port 2 and the discharge port 3, that is, when L1> L2, the gas injection port 7a and the supply port The distance | L1-L2 | from 2 is preferably 10 cm or less, and more preferably 3 cm or less. When the distance | L1-L2 | between the gas injection port 7a and the supply port 2 is 10 cm or less, the distance between the gas injection port 7a and the supply port 2 is short, and gas is injected from the gas injection means 7. As a result, the powder can be supplied to the portion where the flow velocity of the swirl flow C formed in the powder dispersion container 5 is high, so that the centrifugal force applied to the powder also increases, and the powder has a stronger impact force. Aggregates can be dispersed.

  As the pressure of gas injected from the gas injection means 7 (hereinafter also referred to as gas injection pressure), a swirl flow can be formed in the powder dispersion container 5, and the powder is swirled by the swirl flow, There is no particular limitation as long as an air flow that can bring the swirled powder into contact with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 by centrifugal force can be formed.

Although the specific value of the gas injection pressure depends on the amount of powder supplied, the size of the powder dispersion container 5 and the like, for example, the inner diameter D of the powder dispersion container 5 is 8 cm or more and 30 cm or less. Te, the volume within the powder dispersion vessel 5 is 1500 cm ³ or more 15000 cm ³ or less, when supplying following powder per hour 25kg or 35 kg, is preferably 0.4MPa or more 0.8MPa or less.

  When the gas injection pressure is in the above preferred range, a gas swirl flow C can be formed in the powder dispersion container 5, and the swirl flow C causes the powder to swirl in the powder dispersion container 5. The centrifugal force can be applied to the powder. The powder to which centrifugal force is applied by swirling collides with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5, and then contacts the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5. Move along plane 4. The powder agglomerates contained in the powder by the collision force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 and the dynamic frictional force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5. Can be dispersed.

  If the gas injection pressure is less than 0.4 MPa, the flow velocity of the swirling flow C formed by injecting the gas is small, and there is a possibility that the powder cannot be swirled in the powder dispersion container 5. Even if the powder can be swirled, the centrifugal force acting on the powder is small, and the powder and the powder dispersion container 5 may not collide. When the gas injection pressure exceeds 0.8 MPa, the collision force and dynamic friction force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 become excessively large, and particles that are not aggregated in the powder are crushed and desired. There is a possibility that a large amount of fine powder, which is a particle smaller than the particle size, is contained in the powder.

  Further, it is the flow velocity of the swirl flow C in a portion where the distance from the discharge port portion 3 is equal to the distance L1 between the air flow injection port portion 7a and the discharge port portion 3, and the swirl around the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 The flow rate of the flow C is not particularly limited as long as the powder is swirled by the swirling flow and the swirled powder can be brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 by centrifugal force.

Specific values of the flow velocity of the swirling flow C, for example, the inner diameter D of the powder dispersing container 5 is not more 8cm or 30cm or less, per hour in a powder dispersion vessel 5 is volume 1500 cm ³ or more 15000 cm ³ or less 25kg When supplying a powder of 35 kg or less, it is preferably 0.8 m or more and 1.2 m or less per second. When the flow velocity of the swirl flow C is in such a range, a centrifugal force having a suitable magnitude can be applied to the powder, and the powder aggregate can be dispersed. Even when the discharge port 3 of the powder dispersion container 5 is attached to the input port 11 of the classifier 10, the flow velocity of the swirling flow C near the discharge port 3 is reduced by air resistance. There is no effect on the airflow in the powder classification container of the classification device 10.

  If the flow velocity of the swirling flow C is less than 0.8 m / s, the centrifugal force applied to the powder is small, and the powder aggregates may not be dispersed. When the flow velocity of the swirl flow C exceeds 1.2 m / s, the centrifugal force applied to the powder becomes too large, and there is a possibility that particles that are not aggregated in the powder are crushed. Further, when the discharge port 3 of the powder dispersion container 5 is attached to the input port 11 of the classification device 10, it affects the air flow in the powder classification container of the classification device 10, and the air flow type as the classification device 10. There is a risk that classification may not be performed correctly when using any of the above classification devices.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the powder dispersion container 5 of the powder dispersion apparatus 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the gas injection port 7a of the powder dispersion container 5 when cut along a plane perpendicular to the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the gas injection from the injection nozzle 7b of the gas injection means is performed in the gas injection direction, that is, the direction in which the injection nozzle 7b extends, and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 in the gas injection port portion 7a. When the angle formed by the tangent line 4b (hereinafter referred to as a gas injection angle) is β, the gas injection angle β is smaller than the powder introduction angle α, that is, the gas injection angle β <powder introduction angle α. The gas injection angle β is set so that When the gas injection angle β is smaller than the powder introduction angle α, a swirl flow can be formed in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5, and the powder supplied from the supply port 2 can be used as gas injection means. 7 can be easily swirled in the powder dispersion container 5 by the gas jetted from the nozzle 7. If the gas injection angle β is greater than or equal to the powder introduction angle α, it is difficult to rotate the powder in the powder dispersion container 5.

  The gas injection angle β is preferably less than 40 °, and more preferably 10 ° or more and less than 40 °. If the gas injection angle β is in such a range, the pressure of the gas injected from the gas injection means 7 increases in the direction along the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5, so that the powder is dispersed in the powder dispersion container. 5 can be easily turned. If the gas injection angle β is 40 ° or more, it may be difficult to form a swirl flow C along the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 in the powder dispersion container 5. When the gas injection angle β is less than 10 °, the flow velocity of the swirling flow C decreases from the peripheral wall 8 of the powder dispersion container 5 toward the inside in the radial direction, so that the powder is about the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5. When supplied closer to the axis 5a, there is a possibility that the powder cannot be swung in the powder dispersion container 5.

  In the powder dispersion apparatus 1, first, gas is injected by the gas injection means 7, and a swirl flow C that is a flow of airflow along the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 is generated in the powder dispersion container 5. It is formed. When such a swirl flow C is formed, the powder containing the powder agglomerate granulated by the powder generating device from the powder supply means 6 through the supply port 2 in the powder dispersion container 5 is formed. The body is introduced. The powder containing the powder aggregate supplied from the supply port 2 is swirled in the powder dispersion container 5 by the swirl flow C formed in the powder dispersion container 5, and centrifugal force is applied by the swirl. The The powder to which the centrifugal force is applied collides with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 and then moves downward by gravity while in contact with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5. It moves along the inner peripheral surface 4 of the dispersion container 5. Due to the collision force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 and the dynamic frictional force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5, the powder aggregate contained in the powder is Distributed. The powder thus dispersed and having a reduced powder agglomerate content is swung downward in the powder dispersion container 5 while moving downward due to gravity, and the discharge port 3 is indicated by an arrow 12. Discharged from.

  Such a powder dispersion device 1 is used, for example, for the production of an image forming toner containing a binder resin and a colorant.

  Such a powder dispersion device 1 is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications can be made.

  FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the toner manufacturing apparatus 21 in which the powder dispersion apparatus 1 is provided. The toner manufacturing apparatus 21 includes a powder generation apparatus 22 that generates a resin powder containing a binder resin and a colorant, the powder dispersion apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and the powder dispersed by the powder dispersion apparatus 1. And a classification device 10 which is a separation device that separates according to the difference in particle size. The powder dispersion device 1 and the classification device 10 constitute a powder processing facility 23.

  The powder dispersion device 1 of the present embodiment includes a powder generation device 22 that generates a resin powder containing a binder resin and a colorant, and a resin powder granulated by the powder generation device 22 having a particle size. It is provided between the classification device 10 that separates (hereinafter also referred to as classification) according to the difference. At least the classification device 10 is provided so as to be connected to the powder dispersion device 1. A toner production method using the toner production apparatus 21 will be described later.

  The classification device 10 provided so as to be connected to the powder dispersion device 1 includes classification means for classifying the powder dispersed by the powder dispersion device 1 and powder discharged from the discharge port 3 of the powder dispersion device 1. And a powder classification container having a charging port portion 11 into which is charged.

  In this embodiment, an airflow classifier that classifies the powder charged from the inlet 11 according to the difference in particle size is used as the classifier 10. The airflow classifier is equipped with an impeller-type classification rotor in a powder classification container. Utilizing the fact that the centrifugal force acting on the powder due to the rotation of the classification rotor varies depending on the weight, introduces the powder to be introduced. The powder is classified into a powder having a relatively large particle size and a large weight and a powder having a relatively small particle size and a small weight. The powder having a large particle size swirls at the portion near the outer periphery in the powder classification container because the acting centrifugal force is larger than the centrifugal force acting on the small particle size powder. In addition, the powder having a small particle diameter swirls at a portion closer to the center in the powder classification container because the centrifugal force acting is smaller than the centrifugal force acting on the powder having a large particle diameter. At the bottom of the powder classification container, there are provided a fine powder discharge pipe for discharging the powder existing near the center of the powder classification container and a coarse powder discharge pipe for discharging the powder near the outer periphery of the powder classification container, Each discharge pipe is provided with a collection container for collecting powder discharged from the respective discharge pipe.

  Classification by the classification device 10 is performed as follows. First, the powder dispersed by the powder dispersion device 1 is introduced while the classification rotor is rotating. The powder to be introduced is rotated by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the classification rotor, and the powder having a relatively large particle diameter swirls around the outer periphery of the powder classification container. The powder is separated by swirling the portion near the center in the powder classification container. Here, in the classification device, the powder swirls and is separated in the powder classification container with almost no collision and contact with the inner wall of the powder classification container. The powder separated in this way is lowered by gravity. Of the powder descending due to gravity, the powder swirling around the outer periphery of the powder classification container, that is, the powder having a relatively large particle diameter, is discharged from the coarse powder discharge pipe and collected. Further, among the powder descending due to gravity, the powder swirling around the center portion in the powder classification container, that is, the powder having a relatively small particle diameter is discharged from the fine powder discharge pipe and collected. In this way, powder classification is performed.

  In the powder processing facility 23, the powder having a low content of the powder aggregate dispersed by the powder dispersing device 1 can be classified by the classifying device 10. Therefore, in the classifier 10, since the powder dispersed by the powder dispersion device and the content of the powder agglomerates is reduced is classified, the powder agglomerates obtained by agglomerating particles having a particle diameter less than a desired particle size are obtained. It is possible to prevent the powder agglomerates that are included in the particle group having the desired particle size and the particles having the desired particle size from aggregating from being removed from the particle group having the desired particle size. The accuracy can be improved. Further, when the powder is put into the classifier 10, the powder can be dispersed in the powder dispersion container 5 even if the amount to be fed is increased, and reaggregation of the powder can be prevented. As a result, the amount of powder charged per unit time can be increased, so that the toner production efficiency is improved.

  The classification device 10 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications such as using a sieve type classification device are possible. Moreover, it can replace with the classification apparatus 10 which isolate | separates powder by the difference in a particle size, and the separation apparatus etc. which isolate | separate powder by the difference in a density or a shape can also be used. For example, as a separation device that separates powders containing particles having similar particle diameters but different densities by a difference in density, a device that separates powders using centrifugal force applied to the powders can be used. In addition, for example, as a separation device that separates powders containing particles with similar particle weights but different shapes by a difference in shape, a separation device that separates powders using a sieve or the like can be used. Even when such a separation apparatus is used, a powder having a desired density or shape can be separated from a powder having a low content of the powder agglomerate. It can be prevented that the particles are regarded as one particle, and the powder separation accuracy can be improved.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a powder dispersion device 31 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The powder dispersing apparatus 31 is similar to the powder dispersing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are given to the parts having the same configuration, and the description thereof is omitted. 7, the positional relationship in the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 between the transport pipe 6b of the powder supply means 6 and the injection nozzle 32b of the gas injection means 32 is the same as in the powder dispersion apparatus 1 of FIG. For the sake of illustration, the mounting positions of the transport pipe 6b and the injection nozzle 32b are changed and shown.

  In the powder dispersion device 31 of the present embodiment, the discharge port 3 is formed in the lower part, which is one end of the powder dispersion container 5 in the axis 5a direction, and the gas injection means 32 is perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5. It is characterized in that gas is injected in a direction inclined toward the other end side in the axial direction with respect to a virtual plane, that is, upward.

  When the injection nozzle 32b of the gas injection means 32 is provided so as to inject gas upward, the centrifugal force applied to the powder by swirling is applied to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5. And grow larger on the upper side. Thereby, the speed of the powder flowing down from the supply port 2 toward the discharge port 3 toward the discharge port 3 is reduced, and the time during which the powder stays in the powder dispersion container 5 can be lengthened. . When the time for which the powder stays in the powder dispersion container 5 becomes longer, the time for which the dynamic friction force is applied to the powder in order to disperse the powder aggregate becomes longer. This is preferable because the content can be further reduced.

  Here, the gas injection means 32 injects the gas in the direction inclined to the side opposite to the side where the discharge port 3 is formed with respect to the virtual plane perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5, that is, upward. If it is comprised, it will try to attract | suck powder from the discharge port part 3 so that it may attract | suck in the powder classification container whose pressure is lower than the powder dispersion container 5 in which gas is injected by the gas injection means 32. The powder agglomerate contained in the powder can be prevented from jumping out from the discharge port 3 by the flow velocity in the vicinity of the discharge port 3 and the swirl flow C in the powder dispersion container 5. Therefore, in the case where the gas is jetted upward, the pressure of the gas jetted from the gas jetting means 32 and the flow velocity of the swirling flow C are changed depending on the inclination angle of the jet nozzle. Can be set smaller in the range of 5 to 20% than the flow velocity of the swirling flow C when the gas is injected perpendicularly to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the powder dispersion container 5 of the powder dispersion device 31. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the gas injection port 32a of the powder dispersion container 5 when the powder dispersion container 5 is cut along a plane perpendicular to the radial direction.

  As in this embodiment, the gas is emitted in a direction in which the injection nozzle 32b of the gas injection means 32 is inclined in the direction opposite to the side where the discharge port portion 3 is formed with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5. 8, the gas injection direction, that is, the direction in which the injection nozzle 32b extends, and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 in the portion to which the injection nozzle 32b is connected, as shown in FIG. When the angle formed by (hereinafter referred to as nozzle inclination angle) is θ, the nozzle inclination angle θ is preferably 50 ° or more and 80 ° or less.

  When the nozzle inclination angle θ is in such a range, gas is jetted upward, and the other end of the powder in the direction of the axis 5a with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 Side force is applied. Thereby, the speed of the powder flowing down from the supply port 2 toward the discharge port 3 toward the discharge port 3 is reduced, and the time during which the powder stays in the powder dispersion container 5 can be lengthened. Therefore, the dispersion of the powder aggregate can be performed for a longer time, and the content of the powder aggregate in the powder can be more reliably reduced.

  When the nozzle inclination angle θ is less than 50 °, the swirl flow C of the gas in the powder dispersion container 5 may be formed in the powder dispersion container 5 on the discharge port 3 side of the gas injection port 7a. May be difficult. When the nozzle inclination angle θ exceeds 80 °, the speed of the powder toward the discharge port 3 is not reduced, and there is a possibility that the effect that the powder stays in the powder dispersion container 5 for a long time cannot be obtained.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a powder dispersion device 41 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The powder dispersing apparatus 41 is similar to the powder dispersing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are given to the parts having the same configuration, and the description thereof is omitted. 9, the positional relationship in the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 between the transport pipe 6b of the powder supply means 6 and the injection nozzle 42b of the gas injection means 42 is the same as in the powder dispersion apparatus 1 of FIG. For the sake of illustration, the mounting positions of the transport pipe 6b and the injection nozzle 42b are changed and shown.

  The powder dispersion device 41 of the present embodiment is characterized in that the gas injection port portion 42 a of the injection nozzle 42 b of the gas injection means 42 is formed at a position closer to the discharge port portion 3 with respect to the supply port portion 2. . In the gas injection means 42 of the present embodiment, the distance L1 between the gas injection port 42a and the discharge port 3 in the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 is such that the supply port 2 in the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 is the same. It is provided so that it may become shorter than the distance L2 with the discharge port part 3. The gas injection means 42 has the same configuration as the gas injection means 42 of the first embodiment described above except that the gas injection port portion 42a is formed at a position closer to the discharge port portion 3 with respect to the supply port portion 2. Therefore, explanation is omitted.

  The distance L1 between the gas injection port portion 42a and the discharge port portion 3 is the same as in the first embodiment described above, the pressure of the gas injected from the gas injection means 42, the size of the powder dispersion container 5, the gas injection port It is determined according to the distance | L1-L2 | between the portion 42a and the supply port 2 or the like. The distance | L1-L2 | between the gas injection port portion 42a and the supply port portion 2 is not particularly limited, and is determined according to the size of the powder dispersion container 5 and the like.

  The flow velocity of the swirling flow C formed by the gas injection means 42 is the largest in the vicinity of the gas injection port portion 42a. When the gas injection port portion 42 a of the gas injection means 42 is formed at a position closer to the discharge port portion 3 with respect to the supply port portion 2, the gas injection port portion 42 a is formed closer to the discharge port portion 3 than the supply port portion 2. Therefore, as indicated by an arrow 43, the powder can be supplied to a region where the flow velocity of the swirling flow C formed by the gas injection means 42 is the highest. As a result, the swirling speed of the powder can be increased, and the centrifugal force applied to the powder also increases, so that the collision force of the powder with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 and the powder and powder The dynamic friction force with the inner peripheral surface 4 of the dispersion container 5 can also be increased, and the powder can be more reliably dispersed.

  Further, when the gas injection port portion 42a of the gas injection means 42 is formed at a position near the discharge port portion 3 with respect to the supply port portion 2, that is, below the supply port portion 2, as in the present embodiment, the powder Since the collision force and the dynamic friction force applied to the gas injection means are increased, the powder is more powdery than the case where the supply port portion 2 is formed closer to the discharge port portion 3 with respect to the gas injection port portion 42a of the gas injection means 42. Even if the time for staying in the dispersion container 5 is shortened, the content of the powder aggregate in the powder can be reduced. Therefore, the length dimension of the powder dispersion container 5 in the direction of the axis 5a is made shorter than the case where the supply port portion 2 is formed closer to the discharge port portion 3 with respect to the gas injection port portion 42a of the gas injection means 42. Therefore, the powder dispersion device 1 can be downsized.

  In FIG. 9, the powder is supplied to the vicinity of the axis 5 a of the powder dispersion container 5 by the powder supply means 6 as indicated by an arrow 43, but the powder dispersion container 5 is not limited to this. The radial direction may be supplied closer to the inner peripheral surface 4 than the axis 5a. When the gas injection port part 42a of the injection nozzle 42b of the gas injection unit 42 is formed at a position closer to the discharge port unit 3 with respect to the supply port unit 2 as in the present embodiment, the gas injection unit 42 forms the gas injection unit 42a. Since the powder is supplied to the region where the flow velocity of the swirl flow C is high, the powder is swirled in the powder dispersion container 5 even if it is supplied near the axis 5 a of the powder dispersion container 5 as indicated by an arrow 43. It is possible. It is preferable that the powder is supplied in the vicinity of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 because the collision force between the powder by the centrifugal force and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 can be increased.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a powder dispersion device 51 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The powder dispersing apparatus 51 is similar to the powder dispersing apparatus 31 of the third embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are given to the parts having the same configuration, and the description thereof is omitted. 10, the positional relationship in the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 between the transport pipe 6b of the powder supply means 6 and the injection nozzle 52b of the gas injection means 52 is similar to the powder dispersion device 41 of FIG. For the sake of illustration, the mounting positions of the transport pipe 6b and the injection nozzle 52b are changed and shown.

  In the powder dispersion device 51 of the present embodiment, the gas injection port 52a of the injection nozzle 52b of the gas injection means 52 is formed at a position closer to the discharge port 3 with respect to the supply port 2, and the discharge port 3 is formed in the lower part which is one end of the powder dispersion container 5 in the direction of the axis 5a, and the gas injection means 52 is located on the other end in the axial direction with respect to the virtual plane perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5. It is characterized by injecting gas in a direction inclined upward. According to such a powder dispersion device 51 of the present embodiment, the time during which the powder stays in the powder dispersion container 5 can be lengthened, so that the powder can be more reliably dispersed.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a powder dispersion device 61 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the powder dispersion device 61. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the powder dispersion device 61 taken along a plane perpendicular to the radial direction of the powder dispersion container 5 indicated by a cutting plane line XI-XI shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the powder dispersion device 61 where the terrace 62 is provided on a plane perpendicular to the direction of the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 indicated by a cutting plane line XII-XII shown in FIG. is there.

  The powder disperser 61 is similar to the powder disperser 41 of the third embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are given to portions having the same configuration, and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 11, as in the powder dispersion device 41 of FIG. 9, the positional relationship in the axis 5 a direction of the powder dispersion container 5 between the transport pipe 6 b of the powder supply means 6 and the injection nozzle 42 b of the gas injection means 42 is shown. For the sake of illustration, the mounting positions of the transport pipe 6b and the injection nozzle 42b are changed and shown.

  In the powder dispersion device 61 of the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the flange 9 is perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 on the flange 9 where the discharge port 3 of the powder dispersion container 5 is formed. A terrace 62, which is a donut-shaped, that is, an annular projecting member that protrudes inward in the radial direction from 9a, is provided. As a result, the discharge port 3 is provided at a position spaced radially inward from the peripheral wall of the powder dispersion container 5.

  When the terrace 62 is provided, the swirl flow C formed by the gas jetting means 42 changes to an air flow toward the discharge port 3 as indicated by the arrow 63 in the vicinity of the discharge port 3 as indicated by the arrow 63. . The velocity of the air flow indicated by the arrow 63 is the flow velocity of the swirl flow C formed by the gas injection means 42 because the discharge port portion 3 and the gas injection port portion 42a are separated from each other, and the powder dispersion It becomes lower than the flow velocity of the swirling flow C at the same position as the base injection port portion 42a in the direction of the axis 5a of the container 5. Powder agglomerates that are heavier than non-agglomerated particles in the powder do not move to the discharge port 3 in the air flow indicated by the arrow 63, which is a lower speed than the flow velocity of the swirl flow C, and enter the terrace 62. Remains. The non-aggregated powder having a weight smaller than that of the powder agglomerate moves to the discharge port 3 side by the air flow indicated by the arrow 63 even at a velocity lower than the flow velocity of the swirling flow C. It is thrown into.

  The heavy powder agglomerates remaining on the terrace 62 move along the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 by the swirl flow C while remaining on the terrace 62, and a dynamic friction force is applied from the powder dispersion container 5. Is done. A dynamic friction force is also applied from the terrace 62 to the powder aggregate in contact with the terrace 62. The powder agglomerates remaining on the terrace 62 are dispersed by these dynamic friction forces, and the weight is reduced. When the powder agglomerates are dispersed and the weight is reduced, the powder agglomerates move to the discharge port 3 side by the air flow indicated by an arrow 63 and are introduced into the classification device 10.

  By providing the terrace 62, when the discharge port 3 is formed at a position spaced radially inward from the peripheral wall 8 of the powder dispersion container 5, the powder is dispersed from the outer peripheral edge of the discharge port 3. The powder is not discharged from the portion toward the peripheral wall 8 of the container 5, that is, the portion where the terrace 62 is provided. As a result, for the powder swirling near the peripheral wall of the powder dispersion container 5 by the centrifugal force applied to the powder and the powder swirling while contacting the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5, the discharge port It becomes difficult to be discharged from the portion 3. In addition, among the powders, the powder agglomerates having a large weight rotate while contacting the portion near the peripheral wall 8 of the powder dispersion container 5 or the inner peripheral surface 4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the powder agglomerates swirling while contacting the portion near the peripheral wall 8 or the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 from being put into the classifying device 10, and the separation accuracy in the classifying device 10 can be improved. Reduction is prevented.

  As the terrace 62, a protrusion length X (hereinafter simply referred to as a protrusion length X) that extends radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 9a of the flange 9 includes a peripheral wall in which the inner peripheral surface 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape. It is preferably 5% or more and 30% or less of the radius R which is a half length of the inner diameter D of the powder dispersion container 5. In the terrace 62 of the present embodiment, the protrusion length X is 20% (one fifth) of the radius R of the powder dispersion container 5. When the projection length X of the terrace 62 is 5% or more and 30% or less of the radius R, the powder agglomeration which was not dispersed even by the collision force and dynamic friction force between the powder and the inner peripheral surface 4 of the powder dispersion container 5 A thing can be made to remain on the terrace 62, and it can prevent that a powder aggregate is introduce | transduced into the classification apparatus 10 from the discharge port part 3. FIG. If the projection length X of the terrace 62 is less than 5% of the radius R, there is a possibility that the powder aggregate cannot remain on the terrace 62. When the projection length X of the terrace 62 exceeds 30% of the radius R, the amount of powder aggregate remaining on the terrace 62 becomes excessive, and it becomes difficult to disperse the powder aggregate remaining on the terrace 62. There is a fear. Further, the flow of the air flow toward the powder outlet 3, that is, the speed of the air flow indicated by the arrow 63 is reduced, and the powder may be re-agglomerated.

  The powder dispersion device 61 is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications can be made. In the present embodiment, the terrace 62 is provided perpendicular to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5, but is not limited to this and may be provided inclined. For example, when the outer peripheral edge side of the doughnut-shaped terrace 62 is inclined toward the discharge port 3 with respect to the axis of the powder dispersion container 5, the powder aggregate is discharged from the discharge port 3. Can be more reliably prevented.

  Further, without providing the terrace 62, the size of the discharge port portion 3 formed on the surface parallel to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 is the surface on which the discharge port portion 3 is formed, and the powder dispersion container You may comprise so that it may be made smaller than the magnitude | size of the surface parallel to the 5 axis 5a. In the powder dispersing apparatus configured as described above, the powder agglomerates can remain around the discharge port 3 on the surface parallel to the axis 5a of the powder dispersion container 5 in which the discharge port 3 is formed, It is possible to prevent the powder aggregate from being discharged from the discharge port portion 3.

  As described above, the powder processing equipment including the powder dispersing apparatus as described above is preferably used for, for example, a toner manufacturing method. The toner manufactured using the powder processing equipment including the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention is used for image formation by electrophotography, for example.

  Image formation by electrophotography uses an electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter also referred to as a photosensitive member) in which a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive substance is formed on the surface of a conductive support, and is charged, exposed, and developed. The transfer process, the fixing process, the cleaning process, and the charge eliminating process are performed. In the charging step, the surface of the photoreceptor is uniformly charged. In the exposure step, the charged photoconductor is exposed to form an electrostatic image on the surface of the photoconductor. In the development step, a toner image is formed by developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor with toner. In the transfer step, the toner image is transferred to the recording medium by applying a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the recording medium. In the fixing step, the visible image transferred to the recording medium is fixed by heating and pressing. In the cleaning step, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor without being transferred to the recording medium is collected to clean the photoconductor. In the charge removal process, the photosensitive member is discharged. An image is formed on the recording medium by the process described above.

  The toner manufacturing method for forming an image in this manner generally includes a powder generation process for generating a resin powder containing a binder resin and a colorant, and a powder generation process using the powder processing equipment of the present invention. A powder processing step of processing the resin powder produced in the step to obtain a toner.

  The powder production step includes, for example, a melt-kneading step in which the binder resin and the colorant are melt-kneaded, and a pulverizing step in which the melt-kneaded product obtained in the melt-kneading step is crushed to produce resin powder. The powder processing step includes a dispersion step in which the resin powder obtained in the powder generation step is dispersed by a dispersion device included in the powder processing facility, and a resin powder dispersed in the dispersion step is included in the powder processing facility. Separating with a separating device such as a classification device to obtain toner. In the present embodiment, the resin powder is separated based on the difference in particle size. Therefore, the separation process may be referred to as a classification process, and the separation apparatus may be referred to as a classification apparatus.

  First, constituent materials of the toner will be described. The toner contains at least a binder resin and a colorant. The binder resin is a resin for molding by dispersing a colorant that cannot be molded by itself in the binder resin. The colorant is a colorant such as an organic or inorganic pigment or dye.

  As the binder resin, for example, polyester resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, polystyrene, polyamide resin, polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, and the like can be used. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the colorant include carbon black, iron black, nigrosine, benzidine blue, quinacridone, rhodamine B, and phthalocyanine blue. The colorant is preferably contained in a proportion of 3 parts by weight to 12 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. When the use ratio of the colorant is within the above range, a toner having sufficient coloring power can be obtained. If the ratio of the colorant used is less than 3 parts by weight, sufficient coloring power cannot be obtained, the amount of toner required to form an image having a desired image density increases, and the toner consumption may increase. There is. When the ratio of the colorant used exceeds 12 parts by weight, the dispersibility of the colorant in the resin kneaded product is lowered, and there is a possibility that a toner having a uniform coloring power cannot be obtained.

  In addition to the binder resin and the colorant, it is preferable to use a wax that is a general release agent for the purpose of enhancing the offset prevention effect. Examples of the wax include polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and ethylene-ethylene acrylate copolymer. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The blending amount of the wax is not particularly limited, but is preferably included in a ratio of 2 parts by weight or more and 8 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. If the use ratio of the wax is less than 2 parts by weight, high temperature offset may occur. When the proportion of the wax used exceeds 8 parts by weight, there is a possibility that filming occurs in which the toner adheres to the surface of the photoreceptor and forms a thin film.

  In addition to the binder resin, the colorant, and the wax, the toner may contain an additive such as a charge control agent as long as preferable characteristics are not impaired. By adding the charge control agent, the triboelectric charge amount of the toner can be made suitable. Examples of the charge control agent include metal complex salts of monoazo dyes, nitrohumic acid and its salts, metal complex amino compounds such as cobalt, chromium and iron of salicylic acid, naphthoic acid and dicarboxylic acid, and quaternary ammonium compounds. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The blending amount of the charge control agent is not particularly limited, but is 0.05 parts by weight or more and 10 parts by weight or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. By including the charge control agent in such a range, it is possible to perform charge amount stability control that prevents changes in the toner charge amount due to environmental fluctuations. If the charge control agent is less than 0.05 parts by weight, it may not be possible to impart charge stability to the toner. If the charge control agent exceeds 10 parts by weight, it may be difficult to uniformly disperse the charge control agent in the binder resin.

  When the toner is used as a one-component magnetic toner, the raw material contains magnetic powder. As the magnetic powder, a substance that is magnetized by being placed in a magnetic field can be used. For example, powders of ferromagnetic metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel, and ferrite powders containing metal elements other than magnetite and iron Etc. The magnetic powder is preferably contained in a proportion of 40 to 150 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. When toner is used as a two-component developer, no magnetic powder is contained.

  A melt-kneading step of melt-kneading a raw material containing the binder resin and the colorant as described above and a wax and a charge control agent added as necessary is performed. In the melt-kneading step, the binder resin is melted or softened (hereinafter referred to as softening including melting), and raw materials other than the binder resin are dispersed in the softened binder resin.

  Prior to performing the melt-kneading step, raw materials including a binder resin and a colorant, and a wax and a charge control agent added as necessary may be mixed using a mixing device. The mixing device is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include high-speed stirring mixing devices such as a double-con mixer, a V-type mixer, a drum-type mixer, a super mixer, a Henschel mixer, and a Nauter mixer. The mixed raw material mixture is melt-kneaded in a melt-kneading step.

  The apparatus used in the melt-kneading step is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include general kneaders such as a twin-screw extruder, a three-roller, and a lab blast mill, TEM-100B (trade name, Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.). 1-axis or 2-axis extruder such as PCM-30, PCM-30 / PCM-65 / 87 (all are trade names, manufactured by Ikegai Co., Ltd.), and kneedex (trade names, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.) And an open roll type kneader.

  Next, the melt-kneaded product obtained in the melt-kneading process is pulverized to perform a pulverizing process for producing resin powder. In the pulverization step, first, the melt-kneaded product obtained in the melt-kneading step is roughly pulverized into a coarsely pulverized product of about 100 μm to 5 mm using a crusher, a hammer mill or a feather mill. Then, a jet type pulverizer that uses a supersonic jet stream to pulverize, and pulverizes a coarsely pulverized material introduced into a space formed between a rotor (rotor) and a stator (liner) that rotate at high speed. Using an impact pulverizer or the like, the coarsely pulverized product is pulverized until the desired particle size, for example, the volume average particle size is 8 μm or less.

  The powder generation step is not limited to the step of generating resin powder from the steps including the melt kneading step and the pulverization step as described above. In the powder production step, for example, the resin powder may be produced through a step using a wet method such as a suspension polymerization method or an emulsion polymerization method. The resin powder produced by the powder production process generates powder aggregates due to adhesion forces such as electrostatic force and intermolecular force between particles constituting the resin powder. In the case of manufacturing a color toner, it is essential to use a resin having translucency and gloss as a binder resin. As a resin having translucency and gloss, for example, a binder having a low softening point such as a polyester resin is used. A resin is used. When a binder resin having a low softening point is used, the binder resin is softened by frictional heat generated by friction between toner particles, the toner particles are easily adhered to each other, and powder agglomerates are easily generated.

  In the toner production method of the present invention, in order to disperse the powder agglomerates contained in such a resin powder, it is contained in the powder by the powder dispersing apparatus included in the powder processing facility of the present invention. A dispersion step of dispersing the powder aggregate is performed.

  When the powder agglomerate contained in the powder is dispersed by the powder dispersion device of the present invention, the classification step of classifying the powder by the difference in particle size by the classification device included in the powder processing facility is the dispersion step And continuously. In the classification step, the same cycle including the dispersion step is repeatedly executed until a particle group included in a desired particle size range is obtained. In this way, a toner composed of a particle group included in a desired particle size range can be obtained.

  The toner obtained through the powder treatment step including the dispersion step and the classification step preferably has a volume average particle size of 5.0 μm or more and 8.0 μm or less. When the volume average particle diameter of the toner is in such a range, a high-definition image can be stably formed over a long period of time. If the volume average particle size of the toner is less than 5.0 μm, the toner particle size becomes too small, and high charging and low developer flow occur, and the toner cannot be stably supplied to the photoreceptor. There is a risk of causing image fogging and a decrease in image density. When the volume average particle diameter of the toner exceeds 8.0 μm, since the toner particle diameter is large, a high-definition image cannot be obtained, and the toner charge amount is reduced, so that the toner is supplied to the photoreceptor. It may lose stability and cause in-machine contamination due to toner scattering.

  Among the toners having the volume average particle diameter as described above, the content ratio of particles having a particle diameter of 4.00 μm or less is preferably less than 30% by number. More preferably, the content of particles having a particle size of 4.00 μm or less is less than 30% by number and the content of particles having a particle size of 3.17 μm or less is less than 20% by number. A toner with a low content of fine powder, which is a particle having a particle size smaller than the desired particle size range as described above, is less likely to cause agglomeration of particles and has little variation in charging performance. can do. When the content of particles having a particle size of 4.00 μm or less is 30% by number or more, the content of fine powder increases, resulting in high charging and low fluidization of the developer. Since it cannot be supplied, there is a risk of causing image fogging or a decrease in image density. Even when the content of particles having a particle size of 3.17 μm or less is 20% by number or more, there is a possibility that problems of high charge and low developer flow may occur.

  For example, external additives responsible for functions such as powder flowability improvement, triboelectric chargeability improvement, heat resistance, long-term storage stability improvement, cleaning property improvement, and photoreceptor surface wear property control are added to the toner thus obtained. You may mix. Examples of the external additive include silica fine powder, titanium oxide fine powder, and alumina fine powder. The amount of the external additive added is 1 part by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner in consideration of the charge amount necessary for the toner, the influence on the abrasion of the photoreceptor due to the addition of the external additive, and the environmental characteristics of the toner. The following are preferred.

  The toner produced as described above can be used as it is as a one-component developer as it is, but a carrier may be further mixed with the toner to form a two-component developer. Carriers used in two-component developers include, for example, iron powder, ferrite powder, nickel powder, magnetic powders such as resin carrier containing magnetic content, glass beads, etc., and their surfaces are coated with resin, etc. The thing which was done is mentioned. Examples of the resin that can be used for coating the magnetic powder include silicone resin, acrylic resin, styrene resin, and fluororesin.

  In the toner manufacturing method using the powder processing facility including the powder dispersion apparatus of the present invention, the resin powder containing the binder resin and the colorant is generated in the powder generation process, and then generated in the powder generation process. A powder processing step is performed in which resin powder is processed to obtain toner. In this powder processing step, the classification step is performed after the dispersion step, so that the resin powder can be classified with a low content of the powder aggregate in the resin powder to be classified in the classification step. Therefore, when removing particles larger than the desired particle size in the classification step, the powder aggregate containing particles within the desired particle size range is treated as coarse powder larger than the desired particle size and removed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the toner yield, which is the ratio between the amount of toner obtained after the classification step and the amount of powder produced in the powder production step.

  In addition, when particles smaller than the desired particle size are removed in the classification step, an aggregate of particles smaller than the desired particle size range contained in the powder is regarded as one particle, and becomes a product toner. Since inclusion is prevented, the content of fine powder smaller than the desired particle size contained in the toner can be reduced. Since the toner in which the content of fine powder in the toner is reduced is excellent in charging uniformity, generation of image fog and the like can be suppressed, and an excellent image can be formed.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below. In Examples and Comparative Examples, toners were produced as follows.

[Example 1]
The following toner raw materials are sufficiently mixed with a super mixer (trade name: SMV-20, manufactured by Kawata Co., Ltd.), and the resulting mixture is mixed with a biaxial kneader (trade name: PCM-30, manufactured by Ikekai Co., Ltd.). A melt kneading step for melt kneading was performed.

(Toner raw material)
Binder resin: Polyester resin (acid value: 21 mgKOH / g)
Aromatic alcohol components: bisphenol A propylene oxide, bisphenol A ethylene oxide
Acid component: fumaric acid, trimellitic anhydride 87.5 parts by weight Colorant: C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15: 1 5.0 parts by weight Wax: nonpolar paraffin wax (DSC peak 78 ° C.) 6.0 parts by weight Charge control agent: zinc compound of salicylic acid 1.5 parts by weight

  The acid value of the binder resin was measured as follows. 1 g of polyester resin is dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, phenolphthalein is used as an indicator, and 0.1N (0.1 mol / L) potassium hydroxide (chemical formula: KOH) ethanol solution is used as a titrant. Potentiometric titration was performed using AT-510 (manufactured by Kyoto Electronics Industry Co., Ltd.). In this potentiometric titration, the number of mg of potassium hydroxide used for neutralization was calculated as an acid value in terms of solid content.

  The DSC peak temperature of the wax was measured as follows using DSC200 (trade name) manufactured by Seiko Instruments Inc. The process of increasing the temperature (inert gas) in the electric furnace of the apparatus containing the sample and reference material from 20 ° C. to 200 ° C. at a rate of 10 ° C. per minute and then decreasing from 200 ° C. to 20 ° C. Was repeated twice to measure the sample temperature during the second temperature increase. And the endothermic peak was detected by the difference between the sample temperature and the temperature of the reference material, and the temperature at the endothermic peak was defined as the DSC peak temperature.

  Next, the melt-kneaded product obtained in the melt-kneading step is roughly pulverized and pulverized by a jet-type pulverizer (trade name: IDS-2, manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Industry Co., Ltd.) to produce a resin powder. I did it. After the powder production step including such a melt-kneading step and a pulverization step, the obtained resin powder is divided into a powder dispersion device 1 and a classification device (trade name: 315-TSP modified machine, Hosokawa Micron shown in FIG. The dispersion step and the classification step were continuously repeated until the volume average particle size was in the range of 6.5 μm to 7.5 μm. The dispersion conditions by the powder dispersion apparatus 1 are as follows.

As the powder dispersion container, a container having an inner diameter D of 10.8 cm, an axial length of 25 cm, and a volume of 2277 cm ³ formed in a cylindrical shape was used. The distance L1 in the powder dispersion container axial direction from the gas injection port to the discharge port of the gas injection means is 22 cm, and the distance L2 in the powder dispersion container axial direction from the supply port to the discharge port is 18 cm. It was. Powder supply from the powder supply means into the powder dispersion container is performed by compressed air of 0.15 MPa, the powder introduction angle α is 65 °, and 30 kg / hour of powder is powdered at a speed of 0.6 m / s. It supplied in the dispersion container. Four injection nozzles of the gas injection means are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the powder dispersion container on the opposite side of the discharge port from the supply port, that is, above the supply port. The injection pressure from the injection nozzle was set to 0.40 MPa. The gas injection angle β of each injection nozzle was 30 °, and the nozzle inclination angle θ was 90 °. Further, the flow velocity of the swirling flow between a plurality of injection nozzles, and the flow velocity of the swirling flow in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the powder dispersion container (hereinafter simply referred to as the swirling flow velocity) was 1.0 m / s. It was. The toner of Example 1 was manufactured as described above.

[Example 2]
Using the powder dispersion device 31 shown in FIG. 7 that injects gas from the gas injection means to the side opposite to the discharge port, that is, the upper side, the injection pressure from the injection nozzle of the gas injection means is set to 0.35 MPa, The toner of Example 2 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the nozzle inclination angle θ was 60 °. The flow rate of the swirling flow was 0.9 m / s. The powder dispersion container of the powder dispersion device 31 was the same size as the powder dispersion container used in Example 1.

Example 3
The toner of Example 3 is manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the powder dispersion device 41 shown in FIG. 9 in which the injection nozzle of the gas injection unit is provided closer to the discharge port than the supply port is used. did. The powder dispersion container of the powder dispersion device 41 was the same size as the powder dispersion container used in Example 1. The distance L1 in the powder dispersion container axial direction from the gas injection port to the discharge port of the gas injection means is 18 cm, and the distance L2 in the powder dispersion container axial direction from the supply port to the discharge port is 22 cm. there were.

Example 4
Except having used the powder disperser 61 shown in FIG. 11 in which the injection nozzle of the gas injection means is provided closer to the discharge port than the supply port, and provided with a donut-shaped terrace, the same as in Example 1. A toner of Example 4 was produced. The powder dispersion container of the powder dispersion device 61 was the same size as the powder dispersion container used in Example 1. The distance L1 in the powder dispersion container axial direction from the gas injection port to the discharge port of the gas injection means is 18 cm, and the distance L2 in the powder dispersion container axial direction from the supply port to the discharge port is 22 cm. there were. The protrusion length X from the inner peripheral surface of the flange of the terrace toward the radially inner side was 1 cm.

[Comparative Example 1]
After the powder production step, without dispersing the obtained resin powder, the powder is supplied to a classification device (trade name: 315-TSP modified machine, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) with compressed air of 0.15 MPa at 30 kg / hour. A toner of Comparative Example 1 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the classification step was performed until the volume average particle diameter was 6.5 μm or more and 7.5 μm or less.

  Table 1 shows the conditions in the dispersion step and the classification step in the production of the toners of Examples and Comparative Examples as described above.

  The volume average particle diameters of the toners of Examples and Comparative Examples produced as described above were measured, and the content of fine powder contained in the toner was determined and evaluated. The volume average particle size and the fine powder content were calculated from the particle size distribution obtained by Coulter Multisizer III (trade name, manufactured by Coulter, Inc. (currently Beckman Coulter, Inc.). As the fine powder content, the content of particles having a particle size of 4.00 μm or less and the content of particles having a particle size of 3.17 μm or less were determined.

  As for the evaluation of the content of fine powder, for particles having a particle diameter of 4.00 μm or less, those having a particle size of less than 25.00% are good (good) and are not less than 25.00% and less than 30.00%. Those with Δ (possible) or 30.00% by number or more were marked with × (impossible). As for particles having a particle size of 3.17 μm or less, those having a particle size of less than 15.00% are ◯ (good), particles having a particle size of 15.00% to less than 20.00% are △ (good); Those with 00% by number or more were marked as x (impossible).

  Further, the yields of the toners produced in Examples and Comparative Examples were evaluated. The toner yield is the ratio of the weight of the toner obtained after the classification step to the weight of the powder produced in the powder production step (the weight of the toner obtained after the classification step / the powder produced in the powder production step). Weight). The toner yield is evaluated as ◯ (good) when it is 64.0% or more, △ (good) when it is 60.0% or more and less than 64.0%, or less than 60.0%. X (impossible).

  Further, comprehensive evaluation was performed from the evaluation results of the fine powder content and the toner yield. In the comprehensive judgment, も の is evaluated as being particularly good when there is no x and △ in the evaluation, ◯ when there is no x and △ is within 2 in the evaluation, ◯ is not evaluated, and △ is 3 A case where there is no problem in actual use was evaluated as Δ, and a case where one or more evaluations were evaluated as × was evaluated as being impossible to actually use.

  Table 2 shows the evaluation and overall evaluation of the volume average particle diameter, the fine powder content, and the toner yield of the toners produced in Examples and Comparative Examples.

  As shown in Table 2, the toner (Comparative Example 1) that was not subjected to the dispersing step by the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention had a high fine powder content and a low yield.

  On the other hand, the toner (Examples 1 to 4) in which the powder processing process was performed using the powder processing equipment including the powder dispersion apparatus of the present invention has a low fine powder content and a high yield. Could be manufactured. Among these, a toner manufactured by using a powder dispersion device in which a nozzle inclination angle θ is set to 60 ° and gas is injected so that centrifugal force is applied to the side opposite to the discharge port (Example 2) The powder stayed in the powder dispersion container for a long time, and the powder agglomerates could be dispersed even when the gas injection pressure was reduced.

  In addition, in the toner (Examples 3 and 4) manufactured using the powder dispersion device in which the gas injection port portion of the gas injection means is provided closer to the discharge port portion than the supply port portion, the powder aggregation in the powder The content rate of the product could be further reduced, the content rate of the fine powder was further reduced, and the yield could be improved. In addition, in the toner (Example 4) in which the powder processing process is performed using the powder processing equipment including the powder dispersing apparatus in which the terrace is provided in the powder dispersing container, the powder aggregate is put into the classifying apparatus. This can be further suppressed, the fine powder content can be further reduced, and the toner yield is also higher.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a powder dispersion apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view of a powder dispersion device 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a powder dispersion device 1. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a powder dispersion container 5 of the powder dispersion apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a powder dispersion container 5 of the powder dispersion apparatus 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a toner manufacturing apparatus 21 provided with a powder dispersion device 1. It is sectional drawing which shows roughly the structure of the powder dispersion apparatus 31 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of a powder dispersion container 5 of a powder dispersion device 31. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the powder dispersion apparatus 41 which is 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows roughly the structure of the powder dispersion apparatus 51 which is 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows roughly the structure of the powder dispersion apparatus 61 which is 5th Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a powder dispersion device 61. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 31, 41, 51, 61 Powder disperser 2 Supply port 3 Discharge port 4 Inner peripheral surface 5 Powder dispersion container 6 Powder supply means 7, 32, 42, 52 Gas injection means 7a, 32a, 42a , 52a Gas injection port 7b, 32b, 42b, 52b Injection nozzle 7c, 42c Gas injection unit 8 Peripheral wall 9 Flange 10 Classifier 11 Input port 12, 63 Powder discharge direction 21 Toner production device 22 Powder generation device 23 Powder Body treatment equipment 43 Powder supply direction 62 Terrace

Claims (8)

A powder dispersion container including a supply port for supplying powder and a discharge port for discharging powder, and having a peripheral wall having an inner peripheral surface formed in a cylindrical shape;
Powder supply means for supplying powder into the powder dispersion container from the supply port,
A powder dispersion apparatus comprising a swirl flow forming means for forming a swirl flow of gas in the powder dispersion container in the powder dispersion container. The swirl flow forming means is
2. The powder dispersing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder dispersing device is a gas jetting unit that jets gas in a direction shifted from a direction toward the axis of the powder dispersion container from a gas jetting port formed in the peripheral wall. The outlet is
Formed at one axial end of the powder dispersion container,
3. The powder dispersion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gas injection means injects the gas in a direction inclined toward the other end in the axial direction with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axis of the powder dispersion container. The gas injection port
4. The powder dispersion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the powder dispersion device is formed at a position closer to the discharge port with respect to the supply port. The outlet is
The powder disperser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the powder disperser is formed at a position spaced radially inward from the peripheral wall. A powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A powder processing facility comprising: a separation device for separating powder dispersed by a powder dispersion device according to a difference in particle size, density, or shape. The separation device is formed with an inlet port into which the powder dispersed by the powder dispersion device is charged,
7. The powder processing equipment according to claim 6, wherein the discharge port of the powder dispersion device is attached to the input port of the separation device. A powder production step for producing a resin powder containing a binder resin and a colorant;
A method for producing toner, comprising: using a powder processing facility according to claim 6 or 7 to process a resin powder produced in the powder production step to obtain a toner.

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