JP2008020652A - Lubricant applicator and process cartridge with the same, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lubricant applicator in which a pressurizing force of a lubricant to an application roller can be always kept constant, and to provide a process cartridge provided with the same, and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the lubricant applicator, a detector 3e for detecting the pressurizing force of a solid lubricant 3b to a brush roller 3a is interposed between the solid lubricant 3b and a pressurizing means 3f capable of controlling pressurizing force, and pressurizing force by the pressurizing means f is detected with the detector 3e. In accordance with the detected pressurizing force, the amount of the displacement in the pressurizing means 3f is controlled so that the pressurizing force to the solid lubricant 3b by the pressurizing means 3f is made constant. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricant application device used in an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge including the same, and an image forming apparatus.

  When a full-color image is obtained by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, after forming a toner image of each color on the photosensitive member and sequentially transferring the images onto the intermediate transfer member to form a multicolor image on the intermediate transfer member There is known an image forming apparatus that electrostatically retransfers a recording medium such as recording paper all at once to form a multicolor image without image displacement. In such an image forming apparatus, a solid lubricant such as zinc stearate is applied on the image carrier in order to improve the life of the image carrier such as a photoconductor and an intermediate transfer member or to prevent worm erosion at the time of transfer. It is applied with a roller.

  At this time, the lubricant is slidably contacted with the application roller while being pressed by a pressure member such as a spring, and a predetermined amount of lubricant is scraped off and applied by the rotation of the application roller. . However, the lubricant is consumed due to the abrasion of the lubricant, and the pressure applied by the pressure member is changed as the lubricant is consumed, and an appropriate amount of the lubricant is not scraped off to the application roller. Application unevenness may occur and image density unevenness may occur.

In order to remedy this drawback, a recess having a different depth is formed in a spring case portion that holds a spring as a pressurizing means, and the end portion of the spring is held in accordance with a decrease in thickness due to scraping of the lubricant. Proposals have been made to suppress fluctuations in the pressure of the spring by changing the position of. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
JP-A-2005-321833

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, the change of the holding position of the spring is performed by the user as necessary and is not always performed. There is a problem that coating unevenness cannot be sufficiently suppressed.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and a lubricant application device capable of constantly maintaining the pressure applied to the application roller of a lubricant, a process cartridge including the same, and image formation An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a lubrication method in which a lubricant is applied to the surface of a photoconductor of an image forming apparatus or a transfer body onto which a toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred. In the agent coating apparatus, an application roller for applying the lubricant by sliding contact with the surface of the photosensitive member or the surface of the transfer member, a pressurizing unit for pressing the lubricant against the application roller, and the pressurization Detecting means for detecting the applied pressure of the means, and the pressurizing means is controlled to displace the lubricant toward the application roller in accordance with the applied pressure detected by the detecting means. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the lubricant application apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing means controls the displacement of the lubricant so that the applied pressure detected by the detecting means is constant. It is characterized by being.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the lubricant application apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection means and the pressurizing means are provided as a pair in the longitudinal direction of the lubricant. It is characterized by.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant application device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the detection means is a piezoelectric element.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pressurizing means is at least one drive selected from a stepping motor, an ultrasonic motor, and a piezoelectric element. The lubricant is displaced by the means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant coating apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the detecting means and the pressurizing means are combined with the same piezoelectric element.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the lubricant application apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pressurizing means is a drive means for displacing the lubricant and a displacement means for displacing the drive means. It is characterized by having.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lubricant is zinc stearate.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge characterized in that the lubricant application device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects is integrally attached to the surface of the photosensitive member.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus characterized in that the lubricant applying device or the process cartridge according to any one of the first to ninth aspects is attached to a surface of a photosensitive member.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the toner used in the image forming apparatus has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) in the range of 3 to 8 μm, and is 1.00. It has a ratio (Dv / Dn) of volume average particle diameter (Dv) to number average particle diameter (Dn) in the range of ˜1.40.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the toner has an SF-1 shape factor value in a range of 100 to 180, and an SF-2 in a range of 100 to 180. It has a shape factor value.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the toner is spherical and has a long axis length and a short axis in the range of 0.5 to 1.0. An axial length ratio (r2 / r1) having a thickness to minor axis length ratio (r3 / r2) in the range of 0.7 to 1.0, the major axis length r1, the minor axis length r2, The thickness r3 satisfies the relationship r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a lubricant application device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus provided with the lubricant application device, which can keep the pressure applied to the application roller of the lubricant constant at all times by adopting the above configuration. Can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is a tandem type image forming apparatus that forms one image from four color toners of yellow (hereinafter referred to as Y), cyan (hereinafter referred to as C), magenta (hereinafter referred to as M), and black (hereinafter referred to as K). . The image forming apparatus includes four photosensitive drums 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K that respectively form the four color toner images. As will be described later, these photosensitive drums 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K are provided. , Image forming units 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K each including a charging device 2, a developing device 4, a lubricant applying device 3, and a cleaning device 8 are arranged in order from the left in the drawing. Yes. On these image forming units 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K, endless intermediate transfer belts 31 that are wound around and supported by four rollers 52, 53, 54, and 55 are respectively photosensitive drums 1Y and 1C. It is driven and moved in the direction A in the figure while contacting 1M and 1K.

  Below the four image forming units 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K, latent images are formed by laser light L irradiated on the surfaces of the charged photosensitive drums 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K based on the image data of each color. A writing unit 25 to be formed is provided. Further, toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K are placed on the intermediate transfer belt 31 at positions facing the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed therebetween. A primary transfer roller 32 for primary transfer is disposed on the top. The primary transfer roller 32 is connected to a power source (not shown) and is applied with a predetermined voltage.

  The secondary transfer roller 34 is pressed against the outside of the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 31 supported by the roller 52. The secondary transfer roller 34 is connected to a power source (not shown) and is applied with a predetermined voltage. A contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 34 and the intermediate transfer belt 31 is a secondary transfer portion, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is transferred onto a transfer sheet. An intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 33 for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 after the secondary transfer is provided outside the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 31 supported by the roller 55.

  Above the secondary transfer unit, a fixing unit 40 is provided for semi-permanently fixing the toner image on the transfer paper to the transfer paper. The fixing unit 40 includes a heating roller 42 having a halogen heater therein and an endless fixing belt 43 wound around the fixing roller 44, and a pressurization disposed so as to face and press the fixing roller 44 via the fixing belt 43. And a roller 45. Below the image forming apparatus, there is provided a paper feeding device 20 for placing the transfer paper and feeding the transfer paper toward the secondary transfer unit.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of one of the four image forming units 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K. Since all four colors have the same configuration, only one image forming unit 10 is illustrated. . The image forming unit 10 develops a latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 with each color toner around each photosensitive drum 1, and develops the toner image with a toner of each color to form a toner image. A developing device 4, a lubricant applying device 3 that applies a lubricant to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and a cleaning device 8 that cleans the surface of the photosensitive optical drum 1 after the transfer of the toner image are respectively arranged and integrated with the photosensitive drum 1. The process unit is configured so that the unit 10 can be pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus when parts are replaced, maintained, or inspected.

  Next, a process for obtaining a color image by this image forming apparatus will be described. In FIG. 1, from the left in the drawing, toner is replenished from the toner bottle 9 that replenishes toner filled with yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners to the developing devices 4 of each color by a predetermined replenishment amount by a transport path (not shown). The In the developing device 4, a developing sleeve 4 a provided with a magnetic field generating unit is disposed at a position facing the photoconductor 1. Below the developing sleeve 4a, there are provided two screws 4b for mixing toner introduced from a toner bottle (not shown) with the developer and pumping it up to the developing sleeve 4a while stirring. The developer composed of toner and magnetic carrier pumped up by the developing sleeve 4a is regulated to a predetermined developer layer thickness by the doctor blade 4c and is carried on the developing sleeve 4a. The developing sleeve 4a carries and conveys the developer while moving in the same direction at a position facing the photoconductor 1, and supplies toner to the latent image surface of the photoconductor 1.

  The transfer paper 20 is supplied by a paper feed roller 21 and conveyed to the nip between the secondary transfer roller 34 and the intermediate transfer belt 31. The photosensitive drum 1 that has been uniformly charged in advance by the charging roller 2 is exposed and scanned with the laser beam L by the writing unit 25, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. Each electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 4 for each color, whereby yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images are formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Next, a voltage is applied to the transfer roller 32, and the toner images on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31. At this time, the image forming operation for each color is executed while shifting the timing from the upstream side toward the downstream side so that the toner image is transferred to the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 31. The image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer roller 34 and secondarily transferred to the transfer paper 20. The transfer paper 20 on which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 40, thermally fixed, and discharged by a paper discharge roller 41. The residual toner on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K is cleaned by the respective cleaning means 8, and the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is cleaned by the transfer cleaning means 33. The waste toner conveying screw in the unit discharges the toner from the process cartridge to a waste toner bottle (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus.

  Next, the lubricant application device which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described. Prior to describing the lubricant application device according to the present invention, a conventional lubricant application device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows a side view of a conventional lubricant application device. In this lubricant application device, a solid lubricant 3b formed of a fatty acid metal salt such as zinc stearate in a rectangular parallelepiped shape is a double-sided tape or an adhesive. Fixed to the lubricant holding member 3c. In order to apply the solid lubricant 3b to the photosensitive drum 1, the lubricant holding member 3c is applied to the brush roller 3a, which is an application roller, by a pressing member 3d including a plurality of compression springs arranged in the longitudinal direction. Is pressurized.

The solid lubricant 3b is scraped off by the rotating brush roller 3a and decreases in height over time. However, since the solid lubricant 3b is pressurized by the pressure member 3c, the solid lubricant 3b is always in contact with the brush roller 3a. However, since the height of the solid lubricant 3b decreases with time, the spring pressing force also decreases. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the applied pressure of the spring, which is the pressure member 3d, is F ₁ and F ₂ , F ₁ > F ₂ respectively. Accordingly, since the pressure applied to the brush roller 3a by the solid lubricant 3b is reduced, the force by which the brush roller 3a scrapes off the solid lubricant 3b is also reduced. Therefore, the amount of lubricant applied to the photosensitive drum 1 is also reduced over time. Will do. However, if the amount of the lubricant applied to the photosensitive drum 1 decreases with time in this way, uneven application of the lubricant to the photosensitive drum 1 and the like are likely to occur, and image unevenness is likely to occur.

  Therefore, in the present invention, an improvement is added to the pressurizing means for pressurizing the solid lubricant 3b against the brush roller 3a so as to keep the pressure applied to the brush roller 3a of the solid lubricant 3b constant. A specific configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a lubricant application device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those described in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the lubricant application device of this example, the amount of shaving off of the solid lubricant 3b varies with the decrease in the pressure applied to the pressure member 3d between the initial state and time. In order to keep the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 3b constant, the solid lubricant 3b should be gradually displaced with respect to the brush roller 3a, and the applied pressure of the solid lubricant 3b to the brush roller 3a should be made constant. It was made paying attention to. That is, instead of the conventional spring 3d for pressurizing the solid lubricant 3b against the brush roller 3a, the detector 3e for detecting the pressure applied to the brush roller 3a by the solid lubricant 3b is connected to the solid lubricant 3b and the pressurizing force. Between the pressurizing means 3f and the pressure applied by the pressurizing means f is detected by the detector 3e, and the solid lubricant 3b by the pressurizing means 3f is detected according to the detected pressurizing force. The amount of displacement of the pressurizing means 3f is controlled so that the applied pressure is constant.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the control relationship between the brush roll 3a, the solid lubricant 3b, the detector 3e, and the pressurizing means 3f for controlling the displacement amount of the pressurizing means 3f. The brush roller 3a removes the solid lubricant 3b. When the applied pressure of the solid lubricant 3b to the brush roller 3a is reduced, the detected pressure is detected by the detector 3e, and based on this detection signal, the feedback control circuit 5 makes a predetermined applied pressure. A signal for increasing the displacement amount of the pressurizing unit 3f is supplied to the pressurizing unit 3f. Upon receiving this signal, the pressurizing means 3f increases the displacement amount, and the pressurizing means 3f displaces the solid lubricant 3b relative to the brush roller 3a so as to compensate for the amount equal to the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 3b. . In this way, the amount of consumption of the solid lubricant can be made constant over time by feedback controlling the pressure applied to the brush roller of the solid lubricant and controlling the pressure to be constant.

  As the detector 3e used in the present embodiment, a piezoelectric element is advantageous from the viewpoint of miniaturization of the apparatus.

  The pressurizing unit 3f may be any pressurizing unit that can control the pressurizing force of the pressurizing unit 3f to be constant by a detection signal from the detector 3e. A driving means driven by an electrical signal such as a stepping motor, an ultrasonic motor, or a piezoelectric element different from the detector 3e that can easily displace the tip of the pressure means 3f is suitable, and these driving means are used. In this case, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus, which is advantageous.

  In addition, the solid lubricant 3b used in the present invention may be a fatty acid metal salt, a fluorine resin, or the like, but a fatty acid metal salt is particularly preferable. Examples of the fatty acid metal salt include fatty acid metal salts of linear hydrocarbons such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid. Examples of the metal include lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, zinc, cadmium, Examples include aluminum, cerium, titanium, and iron. Among these, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, aluminum stearate, iron stearate and the like are preferable, and zinc stearate is particularly preferable.

  As described above, the lubricant application device according to the present invention is suitable for attaching the lubricant to the surface of the photoconductive drum 1 by attaching it to the periphery of the photoconductive drum 1. You may attach to an image carrier.

  Furthermore, when the lubricant application device according to the present invention is a process cartridge integrally attached to the photosensitive drum 1, it is preferable because the lubricant application device can be easily replaced, maintained, and inspected.

  In addition, the detector 3e and the pressurizing means 3f may use a single piezoelectric element so that the function as the detector and the function as the pressurizing means are exhibited, respectively. Since the pressure unit 3f is integrated, further downsizing is possible.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a lubricant application device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those described in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, a pair of detectors 3e and pressurizing means 3f are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the solid lubricant 3b, respectively, and the pressurizing means 3f is independently controlled, so that the solid lubricant 3b is controlled. Thus, the unevenness in the contact with the brush roller 3a in the longitudinal direction can be eliminated, and the solid lubricant 3a can be uniformly consumed in the entire longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, a pair of the detector 3e and the pressurizing means 3f is installed at both ends of the solid lubricant 3b. However, the installation position and the number of installation of these means are not limited to the above-mentioned two places, but at other positions. Of course, there may be more and the number of installations may be larger.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a lubricant application device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those described in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the lubricant application device of the present embodiment, when a piezoelectric element is used as the pressurizing means 3f, the displacement of the tip of the pressurizing means 3f can only be a displacement of about several hundred μm. This is an example suitable for a case where a displacement in mm units is required as the displacement amount. As is apparent from FIG. 8, the pressure is applied to the upper surface of a pair of pressing means composed of a detector 3e made of a piezoelectric element and a driving means 3g made of a piezoelectric element whose displacement is controlled by a detection signal of the detector. Displacement means 3h for displacing the means downward is attached.

  In this example, when it is necessary to displace the solid lubricant 3b beyond the limit of the amount of displacement in the driving means 3g, the lever 3j is used to drive one end of the lever 3j with the fulcrum 3i as the rotation axis using the lever principle. By bringing the upper end of the means 3g into contact and moving the other end downward, it is possible to pull down the drive means 3g and greatly increase the amount of displacement of the tip of the drive means 3g. In this case, the operation of the lever may be manual, but a piezoelectric element may be provided at the other end of the lever 3j, and the lever 3j may be automatically controlled by the detection output of the detector 3e. Needless to say, the displacement means is not limited to the lever 3j, and other means may be employed.

  Next, the toner used in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the toner used in the developing device 4 is preferably a toner having an average circularity of 0.93 or higher and a high circularity. In the case of blade type cleaning, toner with a high degree of circularity enters the gap between the photosensitive member 1 and the cleaning blade and easily slips through, but the transfer residual toner amount is small due to the high transfer rate. Further, a toner having a nearly spherical shape is more preferable. The substantially spherical toner can be defined by the following values of the shape factors SF −1 and SF −2. The toner used in the image forming apparatus is a toner having a shape factor SF-1 of 100 to 180 and a shape factor SF-2 of 100 to 180. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the toner in order to explain the shape factor SF −1 and the shape factor SF-2. The shape factor SF -1 indicates the ratio of the roundness of the toner shape and is represented by the following formula (1). A value obtained by dividing the square of the maximum length MXLNG of the shape formed by projecting the toner on a two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100 π / 4.

SF −1 = {(MXLNG) ² / AREA} × (100 π / 4) (1)
When the value of SF −1 is 100, the shape of the toner becomes a true sphere, and becomes irregular as the value of SF −1 increases. The shape factor SF-2 indicates the ratio of the unevenness of the toner shape, and is represented by the following formula (2). A value obtained by dividing the square of the perimeter PERI of the figure formed by projecting the toner on the two-dimensional plane by the figure area AREA and multiplying by 100 π / 4.

SF-2 = {(PERI) ² / AREA} * (100 (pi) / 4) ... Formula (2)
When the SF-2 value is 100, the toner surface has no unevenness, and as the SF-2 value increases, the toner surface unevenness becomes more prominent. Specifically, the shape factor is measured by taking a photograph of the toner with a scanning electron microscope (S-800: manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.), introducing it into an image analyzer (LUSEX3: manufactured by Nireco) and analyzing it. Calculated.

  When the shape of the toner is substantially spherical, the contact between the toner and the toner or the toner and the photoreceptor 1 is brought into contact, so that the adsorbing force between the toners is weakened and the fluidity is increased. The attraction force becomes weaker and the transfer rate becomes higher. Furthermore, it is easy to collect and discharge in response to the bias by the brush roller 41. Note that when SF −1 and SF −2 increase, both the normally charged toner T0 and the reversely charged toner T1 are difficult to be collected and released, and thus an abnormal image such as a ghost image or background fogging in which the previous image appears is generated. Therefore, it is preferable that SF-1 and SF-2 do not exceed 180.

  The volume average particle diameter of the toner is 3 to 8 μm, and the ratio (Dv / Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) is 1. 00 to 1. By narrowing the particle size distribution with a small particle size in the range of 40, the charge amount distribution becomes uniform, a high-quality image with little background fogging can be obtained, and the transfer rate can be increased. As a result, the amount of toner collected with respect to the temporary holding means 40 can be reduced, and the stability of the image forming apparatus can be improved, so that it can be used for a long period of time. Such toners having a small particle diameter tend to have a relatively high content of external additive fine particles and the like, and they are likely to be detached from the toner and cause filming on the photoreceptor 1. By rubbing the photoreceptor 1 at 3a, the filming can be mechanically removed and the occurrence of filming can be suppressed.

  A toner suitably used in this image forming apparatus includes a toner material liquid in which at least a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is dispersed in an organic solvent. It is a toner obtained by crosslinking and / or elongation reaction therein. Hereinafter, the constituent material and the manufacturing method of the toner will be described.

  The toner of the present invention contains a modified polyester (i) as a binder resin. The modified polyester (i) refers to a state in which a bonding group other than an ester bond is present in the polyester resin, or resin components having different configurations are bonded to the polyester resin by a covalent bond, an ionic bond, or the like. Specifically, the polyester terminal is modified by introducing a functional group such as a carboxylic acid group or an isocyanate group that reacts with a hydroxyl group into the polyester terminal and further reacting with an active hydrogen-containing compound. Examples of the modified polyester (i) include urea-modified polyesters obtained by a reaction between a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group and amines (B). As the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group, a polycondensate of a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) and a polyester having an active hydrogen group, and further a polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) And those reacted with. Examples of the active hydrogen group possessed by the polyester include a hydroxyl group (alcoholic hydroxyl group and phenolic hydroxyl group), an amino group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, and the like. Among these, an alcoholic hydroxyl group is preferable.

  The urea-modified polyester is produced as follows. Examples of the polyhydric alcohol compound (PO 2) include dihydric alcohol (DIO) and trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (TO 3), and (DIO 3) alone or a mixture of (DIO) and a small amount of (TO 3) preferable. Examples of the dihydric alcohol (DIO) include alkylene glycol (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, etc.); alkylene ether glycol (diethylene glycol) , Triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene ether glycol, etc.); alicyclic diols (1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.); bisphenols (bisphenol A, bisphenol) F 2, bisphenol S, etc.); alkylene oxides of the above alicyclic diols (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.) Addendum; alkylene oxide of the bisphenols (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.), etc. adducts. Of these, preferred are alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms and alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols, and particularly preferred are alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols and alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms. It is a combined use. As trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (TO), trihydric or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohol (glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, etc.); trihydric or higher phenols (Trisphenol PA, phenol novolak, cresol novolak, etc.); and alkylene oxide adducts of the above trivalent or higher polyphenols.

  Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) include a divalent carboxylic acid (DIC) and a trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC), (DIC) alone, and (DIC) and a small amount of (TC). Mixtures are preferred. Divalent carboxylic acids (DIC) include alkylene dicarboxylic acids (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.); alkenylene dicarboxylic acids (maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc.); aromatic dicarboxylic acids (phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid) And naphthalenedicarboxylic acid). Of these, preferred are alkenylene dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid (TC) include aromatic polyvalent carboxylic acids having 9 to 20 carbon atoms (such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid). In addition, as polycarboxylic acid (PC), you may make it react with polyhydric alcohol (PO) using the above-mentioned acid anhydride or lower alkyl ester (Methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, etc.). The ratio of the polyhydric alcohol (PO 4) and the polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC 2) is usually 2/1 to 1/1, preferably as an equivalent ratio [OH] / [COOH] of the hydroxyl group [OH] and the carboxyl group [COOH]. Is 1. 5/1 to 1/1, more preferably 1. 3/1 to 1. 02/1.

  Examples of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, etc.); alicyclic polyisocyanates (isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.) ); Aromatic diisocyanates (tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); araliphatic diisocyanates (α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); isocyanates; phenol derivatives, oximes, polyisocyanates; Those blocked with caprolactam or the like; and combinations of two or more of these. The ratio of the polyvalent isocyanate compound (PIC) is usually 5/1 to 1/1, preferably as the equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group. 4/1 to 1. 2/1, more preferably 2. 5/1 to 1. 5/1. When [NCO] / [OH] exceeds 5, low-temperature fixability deteriorates. When the molar ratio of [NCO] is less than 1, when a urea-modified polyester is used, the urea content in the ester becomes low and the hot offset resistance deteriorates.

  The content of the polyisocyanate compound (PIC) component in the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group is usually 0.5 to 40 wt%, preferably 1 to 30 wt%, more preferably 2 to 20 wt%. . 0. If it is less than 5 wt%, the hot offset resistance deteriorates, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. On the other hand, if it exceeds 40 wt%, the low-temperature fixability deteriorates. The number of isocyanate groups contained per molecule in the polyester prepolymer (A) having isocyanate groups is usually 1 or more, preferably 1.5 to 3 on average, more preferably 1 to 1 on average. 8-2. Five. If it is less than 1 per molecule, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester is lowered, and the hot offset resistance is deteriorated.

  Next, as amines (B 1) to be reacted with the polyester prepolymer (A 2), a divalent amine compound (B 1), a trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B 2), an amino alcohol (B 3), an amino mercaptan (B 4) ), Amino acid (B5), and amino acid block of B1 to B5 (B6). Examples of the divalent amine compound (B1) include aromatic diamines (phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, etc.); alicyclic diamines (4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dimethyldicyclohexyl). Methane, diamine cyclohexane, isophorone diamine, etc.); and aliphatic diamines (ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, etc.) and the like. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent amine compound (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. Examples of amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline. Examples of amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan and aminopropyl mercaptan. Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid. Examples of the block (B6) in which the amino group of B1 to B5 is blocked include ketimine compounds and oxazolidine compounds obtained from the amines of B1 to B5 and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.). Among these amines (B), preferred are B1 and a mixture of B1 and a small amount of B2.

  The ratio of the amines (B 1) is equivalent to the equivalent ratio [NCO 3] / [NH x] of the isocyanate groups [NCO] in the polyester prepolymer (A 2) having an isocyanate group and the amino groups [NH x] in the amines (B 2). Usually 1/2 to 2/1, preferably 1. 5/1 to 1/1. 5, more preferably 1. 2/1 to 1/1. 2. When [NCO 3] / [NH x] is more than 2 or less than 1/2, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester is lowered and the hot offset resistance is deteriorated. The urea-modified polyester may contain a urethane bond together with a urea bond. The molar ratio of the urea bond content to the urethane bond content is usually 100/0 to 10/90, preferably 80/20 to 20/80, and more preferably 60/40 to 30/70. When the molar ratio of the urea bond is less than 10%, the hot offset resistance deteriorates.

  The modified polyester (i) used here is produced by a one-shot method or a prepolymer method. The weight average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is usually 10,000 or more, preferably 20,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably 30,000 to 1,000,000. The peak molecular weight at this time is preferably 1000 to 10,000, and if it is less than 1000, the elongation reaction hardly occurs and the elasticity of the toner is small, and as a result, the hot offset resistance deteriorates. On the other hand, when it exceeds 10,000, the problem in production becomes high in the deterioration of fixability, particle formation and pulverization. The number average molecular weight of the modified polyester (i) is not particularly limited when the unmodified polyester (ii) described later is used, and may be a number average molecular weight that can be easily obtained to obtain the weight average molecular weight. In the case of (i) alone, the number average molecular weight is usually 20000 or less, preferably 1000 to 10000, more preferably 2000 to 8000. When it exceeds 20000, the low-temperature fixability and the glossiness when used in a full-color apparatus are deteriorated. In the crosslinking and / or extension reaction of the polyester prepolymer (A) and amines (B) to obtain the modified polyester (i), a reaction terminator is used as necessary to adjust the molecular weight of the resulting urea-modified polyester. be able to. Examples of the reaction terminator include monoamines (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, etc.), and those obtained by blocking them (ketimine compounds).

  Here, not only the modified polyester (i) is used alone, but also the modified polyester (i) and unmodified polyester (ii) can be contained as a binder resin component. By using (ii) in combination, the low-temperature fixability and the gloss when used in a full-color device are improved, which is preferable to single use. Examples of the unmodified polyester (ii) include polycondensates of a polyhydric alcohol (PO) and a polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) similar to the polyester component of the modified polyester (i). Same as i). The unmodified polyester (ii) is not limited to unmodified polyester, but may be modified with a chemical bond other than a urea bond, and may be modified with a urethane bond, for example. The modified polyester (i) and the unmodified polyester (ii) are preferably at least partially compatible with each other in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. Accordingly, the polyester component of the modified polyester (i) and the unmodified polyester (ii) preferably have similar compositions. When the unmodified polyester (ii) is contained, the weight ratio of the modified polyester (i) to the unmodified polyester (ii) is usually 5/95 to 80/20, preferably 5/95 to 30/70, Preferably it is 5 / 95-25 / 75, Most preferably, it is 7 / 93-20 / 80. When the weight ratio of (i) is less than 5%, the hot offset resistance deteriorates, and it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. The peak molecular weight of unmodified polyester (ii) is usually 1000 to 10000, preferably 2000 to 8000, and more preferably 2000 to 5000. If it is less than 1000, the heat-resistant storage stability deteriorates, and if it exceeds 10,000, the low-temperature fixability deteriorates. The hydroxyl value of the unmodified polyester (ii) is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 to 120, and particularly preferably 20 to 80. If it is less than 5, it is disadvantageous in terms of both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability. The acid value of the unmodified polyester (ii) is preferably 1 to 5, more preferably 2 to 4. Since a high acid value wax is used as the wax, the low acid value binder leads to electrification and high volume resistance, so that it is easy to match the toner used for the two-component developer.

  The glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin is usually 35 to 70 ° C, preferably 55 to 65 ° C. If the temperature is lower than 35 ° C., the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner is deteriorated. Since the urea-modified polyester is likely to be present on the surface of the obtained toner base particles, the toner of the present invention tends to have good heat storage stability even when the glass transition point is low, as compared with known polyester-based toners. Show.

  As the colorant, all known dyes and pigments can be used. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, ocher , Lead yellow, titanium yellow, polyazo yellow, oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), pigment yellow L, benzidine yellow (G, GR), permanent yellow (NCG), Vulcan fast yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, Isoindolinone Yellow, Bengala, Red Dan, Lead Zhu, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, Para Red, Phi Sayred, Parachloru Tonitroaniline Red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carnmin BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Resol Rubin GX Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y , Thioindigo red B, thioindigo maroon, oil red, quinacridone red , Pyrazolone red, polyazo red, chrome vermilion, benzidine orange, perinone orange, oil orange, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, alkali blue rake, peacock blue rake, Victoria blue rake, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue, fast sky blue, Indanthrene blue (RS, BC), indigo, ultramarine, bitumen, anthraquinone blue, fast violet B, methyl violet lake, cobalt purple, manganese purple, dioxane violet, anthraquinone violet, chrome green, zinc green, chromium oxide, pyridian, Emerald Green, Pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Acid Green Lake, Maracay Green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, lithopone and mixtures thereof can be used. The content of the colorant is usually 1 to 15% by weight, preferably 3 to 10% by weight, based on the toner.

  The colorant can also be used as a master batch combined with a resin. As a binder resin to be kneaded with the production of the master batch or the master batch, a polymer of styrene such as polystyrene, poly-p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyl toluene or the like, or a copolymer of these and a vinyl compound, Polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, fat Aromatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, paraffin waxes and the like can be mentioned, and these can be used alone or in combination.

  Known charge control agents can be used, such as nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, chromium-containing metal complex dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (fluorine-modified 4 Secondary ammonium salts or compounds, tungsten simple substances or compounds, fluorine activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives. Specifically, Bontron 03 of a nigrosine dye, Bontron P-51 of a quaternary ammonium salt, Bontron S-34 of a metal-containing azo dye, E-82 of an oxynaphthoic acid metal complex, E-84 of a salicylic acid metal complex , Phenolic condensate E-89 (above, Orient Chemical Industries, Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex TP-302, TP-415 (above, Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt copy Charge PSY VP2038, Triphenylmethane derivative copy blue PR, quaternary ammonium salt copy charge NEGVP2036, copy charge NXVP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, boron complex LR-147 (manufactured by Nippon Carlit) , Copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacrid And azo pigments, and other high molecular compounds having functional groups such as sulfonic acid groups, carboxyl groups, and quaternary ammonium salts. Of these, substances that control the negative polarity of the toner are particularly preferably used. The amount of the charge control agent used is determined by the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of additives used as necessary, and the toner production method including the dispersion method, and is not uniquely limited. Preferably, it is used in the range of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. Preferably, 0. A range of 2 to 5 parts by weight is preferable. If the amount exceeds 10 parts by weight, the chargeability of the toner is too high, reducing the effect of the charge control agent, increasing the electrostatic attraction with the developing roller, reducing the fluidity of the developer, and reducing the image density. Invite.

  As the release agent, a low melting point wax having a melting point of 50 to 120 ° C. works more effectively as a release agent in the dispersion with the binder resin between the fixing roller and the toner interface. The effect on high temperature offset is exhibited without applying a release agent such as oil. Examples of such a wax component include the following. Examples of waxes and waxes include plant waxes such as carnauba wax, cotton wax, wood wax, rice wax, animal waxes such as beeswax and lanolin, mineral waxes such as ozokerite and cercin, and paraffin, microcrystalline, And petroleum waxes such as petrolatum. In addition to these natural waxes, synthetic hydrocarbon waxes such as Fischer-Tropsch wax and polyethylene wax, and synthetic waxes such as esters, ketones, and ethers can be used. Furthermore, fatty acid amides such as 12-hydroxystearic acid amide, stearic acid amide, phthalic anhydride imide, chlorinated hydrocarbon, and low molecular weight crystalline polymer resin, poly-n-stearyl methacrylate, poly-n- A crystalline polymer having a long alkyl group in the side chain, such as a homopolymer or copolymer of polyacrylate such as lauryl methacrylate (for example, a copolymer of n-stearyl acrylate-ethyl methacrylate) can also be used. . The charge control agent and the release agent can be melt-kneaded together with the master batch and the binder resin, and of course, they may be added when dissolved and dispersed in the organic solvent.

Inorganic fine particles are preferably used as an external additive for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the toner particles. The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 × 10 ^{−3 to 2} μm, particularly 5 × 10 ^{−3 to} 0. 5 μm is preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that the specific surface area by BET method is 20-500 m < ² > / g. The proportion of the inorganic fine particles used is 0. It is preferable that it is 01-5 wt%, especially 0. 01-2. It is preferably 0 wt%. Specific examples of the inorganic fine particles include, for example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, quartz sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth. Examples include soil, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, bengara, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. Among these, as the fluidity imparting agent, it is preferable to use hydrophobic silica fine particles and hydrophobic titanium oxide fine particles in combination. Particularly when both the fine particles have an average particle diameter of 5 × 10 −2 μm or less and are stirred and mixed, the electrostatic force and van der Waals force with the toner are remarkably improved. Even when stirring and mixing inside the developing device is performed to obtain a good image quality that does not cause the release of the fluidity imparting agent from the toner and does not generate firefly, etc., and further reduces the residual toner. It is done. Titanium oxide fine particles are excellent in environmental stability and image density stability, but have a tendency to deteriorate the charge rise characteristics. Therefore, if the amount of titanium oxide fine particles added is larger than the amount of silica fine particles added, this side effect is affected. It can be considered large. However, when the addition amount of the hydrophobic silica fine particles and the hydrophobic titanium oxide fine particles is in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 wt%, the charge rise characteristics are not greatly impaired, and the desired charge rise characteristics can be obtained, that is, repeated copying. Stable image quality can be obtained even if

  Next, a toner manufacturing method will be described. Here, although a preferable manufacturing method is shown, it is not limited to this.

  1) A toner material solution is prepared by dispersing a colorant, unmodified polyester, a polyester prepolymer having an isocyanate group, and a release agent in an organic solvent. The organic solvent is preferably volatile with a boiling point of less than 100 ° C. from the viewpoint of easy removal after toner base particle formation. Specifically, toluene, xylene, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, chloroform, monochlorobenzene, dichloroethylidene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone and the like can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In particular, aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene and halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride are preferred. The usage-amount of an organic solvent is 0-300 weight part normally with respect to 100 weight part of polyester prepolymers, Preferably it is 0-100 weight part, More preferably, it is 25-70 weight part.

  2) The toner material liquid is emulsified in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant and resin fine particles. The aqueous medium may be water alone or an organic solvent such as alcohol (methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (methyl cellosolve, etc.), lower ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.). It may be included.

  The amount of the aqueous medium used relative to 100 parts by weight of the toner material liquid is usually 50 to 2000 parts by weight, preferably 100 to 1000 parts by weight. If the amount is less than 50 parts by weight, the dispersion state of the toner material liquid is poor, and toner particles having a predetermined particle diameter cannot be obtained. If it exceeds 20000 parts by weight, it is not economical. Further, in order to improve the dispersion in the aqueous medium, a dispersant such as a surfactant and resin fine particles is appropriately added. As surfactants, anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters, alkylamine salts, amino alcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, amine salt types such as imidazoline, Quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salt, dialkyldimethylammonium salt, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salt, pyridinium salt, alkylisoquinolinium salt, benzethonium chloride, fatty acid amide derivative, polyhydric alcohol Nonionic surfactants such as derivatives, for example, amphoteric surfactants such as alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine and N-alkyl-N 2, N-dimethylammonium betaine Is mentioned.

  Further, by using a surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group, the effect can be obtained in a very small amount. Examples of the anionic surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group preferably used include fluoroalkylcarboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and metal salts thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonyl glutamate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkyl (C6 to C11). ) Oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-C4) sodium sulfonate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-C8) -N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonic acid sodium, fluoroalkyl (C11-C20) carvone Acids and metal salts, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C7 to C13) and metal salts thereof, perfluoroalkyl (C4 to C12) sulfonic acids and metal salts thereof, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- ( 2-Hydroxyethyl L) Perfluorooctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (C6-C16) ethyl phosphate Examples include esters. Trade names include Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS-101. DS-102 (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), Megafac F-110, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink, Inc.), Xtop EF-102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (manufactured by Tochem Products Co., Ltd.), and Fgentent F-100, F150 (manufactured by Neos).

  Further, as the cationic surfactant, aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts such as aliphatic primary, secondary or secondary amine acids having a fluoroalkyl group, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, etc. Benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, trade names include Surflon S-121 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-135 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Industries) Manufactured), MegaFuck F-150, F-824 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-132 (Tochem Products Co., Ltd.), and Footgent F-300 (Neos Co., Ltd.).

  The resin fine particles are added to stabilize the toner base particles formed in the aqueous medium. For this reason, it is preferable to add so that the coverage existing on the surface of the toner base particles is in the range of 10 to 90%. For example, polymethyl methacrylate fine particles 1 μm and 3 μm, polystyrene fine particles 0. 5 μm and 2 μm, poly (styrene-acrylonitrile) fine particles 1 μm, trade names are PB-200H (manufactured by Kao), SGP (manufactured by Sokensha), technopolymer SB (manufactured by Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.), SGP- 3G (manufactured by Soken), Micropearl (manufactured by Sekisui Fine Chemical), etc. In addition, inorganic compound dispersants such as tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, colloidal silica, and hydroxyapatite can also be used. As a dispersant that can be used in combination with the above resin fine particles and inorganic compound dispersant, the dispersed droplets may be stabilized by a polymer protective colloid. For example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-cyanoacrylic acid, α-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid or maleic anhydride and other (meth) acrylic monomers containing hydroxyl groups Bodies such as acrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxyethyl, acrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-β-hydroxypropyl, acrylic acid-γ-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-γ-hydroxy Propyl, acrylic acid-3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl, methacrylic acid-3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate Rylic acid ester, N-methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide, etc., vinyl alcohol or ethers with vinyl alcohol, such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, or compounds containing vinyl alcohol and carboxyl group Esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or their methylol compounds, acid chlorides such as acrylic acid chloride, methacrylic acid chloride, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl Nitrogen compounds such as imidazole and ethyleneimine, or homopolymers or copolymers such as those having a heterocyclic ring thereof, polyoxyethylene, Reoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, poly Polyoxyethylenes such as oxyethylene nonylphenyl ester, celluloses such as methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose can be used.

  The dispersion method is not particularly limited, and known equipment such as a low-speed shear method, a high-speed shear method, a friction method, a high-pressure jet method, and an ultrasonic wave can be applied. Among these, the high-speed shearing method is preferable in order to make the particle size of the dispersion 2 to 20 μm. When a high-speed shearing disperser is used, the rotational speed is not particularly limited, but is usually 1000 to 30000 rpm, preferably 5000 to 20000 rpm. The dispersion time is not particularly limited. 1-5 minutes. The temperature during dispersion is usually 0 to 150 ° C. (under pressure), preferably 40 to 98 ° C.

  3) At the same time as the preparation of the emulsion, the amines (B) are added to cause a reaction with the polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group. This reaction involves molecular chain crosslinking and / or elongation. The reaction time is selected depending on the reactivity of the isocyanate group structure of the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B), but is usually 10 minutes to 40 hours, preferably 2 to 24 hours. The reaction temperature is generally 0 to 150 ° C, preferably 40 to 98 ° C. Moreover, a well-known catalyst can be used as needed. Specific examples include dibutyltin laurate and dioctyltin laurate.

  4) After completion of the reaction, the organic solvent is removed from the emulsified dispersion (reactant), washed and dried to obtain toner base particles. In order to remove the organic solvent, the temperature of the entire system is gradually raised in a laminar stirring state, and after giving strong stirring in a certain temperature range, the solvent base is removed to produce spindle-shaped toner base particles. . Further, when an acid such as calcium phosphate salt or an alkali-soluble material is used as the dispersion stabilizer, the calcium phosphate salt is dissolved from the toner base particles by a method such as dissolving the calcium phosphate salt with an acid such as hydrochloric acid and washing with water. Remove. It can also be removed by operations such as enzymatic degradation.

  5) A charge control agent is injected into the toner base particles obtained above, and then inorganic fine particles such as silica fine particles and titanium oxide fine particles are externally added to obtain a toner. The injection of the charge control agent and the external addition of the inorganic fine particles are performed by a known method using a mixer or the like. Thereby, a toner having a small particle size and a sharp particle size distribution can be easily obtained. Furthermore, by giving strong agitation in the process of removing the organic solvent, the shape between the spherical shape and the spindle shape can be controlled, and the surface morphology is also controlled between the smooth shape and the umeboshi shape. Can do.

  The toner according to the present invention has a substantially spherical shape and can be represented by the following shape rule. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the toner of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a substantially spherical appearance (see FIG. 10A), and the toner has a major axis length r1, a minor axis length r2, and a thickness r3 (where r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3). When defining, the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis (r2 / r1) (see FIG. 10B) is 0. 5-1. 0, the ratio of thickness to minor axis (r3 / r2) (see FIG. 9C) is 0. 7-1. Preferably it is in the range of 0. The ratio of the major axis to the minor axis (r2 / r1) is 0. If it is less than 5, since it is away from the true spherical shape, dot reproducibility and transfer efficiency are inferior, and high-quality image quality cannot be obtained. On the other hand, when the ratio of the thickness to the short axis (r3 / r2) is less than 0.7, it becomes close to a flat shape, and a high transfer rate like a spherical toner cannot be obtained. In particular, the ratio of thickness to minor axis (r3 / r2) is 1. At 0, the rotating body has a long axis as a rotation axis, and the fluidity of the toner can be improved. In addition, r1, r2, and r3 were measured with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) while changing the angle of field of view and taking pictures.

  The toner produced as described above can be used as a one-component magnetic toner that does not use a magnetic carrier or as a non-magnetic toner. Further, when used in a two-component developer, it may be used by mixing with a magnetic carrier, and the magnetic carrier is a ferrite containing a divalent metal such as iron, magnetite, Mn, Zn, or Cu, and has a volume. An average particle size of 20-100 μm is preferred. If the average particle size is less than 20 μm, carrier adhesion is likely to occur on the photoreceptor 1 during development. If the average particle size exceeds 100 μm, the mixing with the toner is low, and the charge amount of the toner is insufficient, resulting in poor charging during continuous use. Prone to occur. In addition, Cu ferrite containing Zn is preferable because of its high saturation magnetization, but can be appropriately selected according to the process of the image forming apparatus 100. The resin for coating the magnetic carrier is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include silicone resin, styrene-acrylic resin, fluorine-containing resin, and olefin resin. In the manufacturing method, the coating resin may be dissolved in a solvent, sprayed into a fluidized bed and coated on the core, or the resin particles are electrostatically attached to the core particles and then thermally melted for coating. It may be a thing. The thickness of the resin to be coated is 0.05 to 10 μm, preferably 0. 3-4 μm is preferable.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the process cartridge which concerns on Example 1 by this invention. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the conventional lubricant application apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of the conventional lubricant application apparatus. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the lubricant coating device which concerns on Example 1 by this invention. It is a figure which shows the control relationship of the displacement of the pressurization means of the lubricant coating device by this invention. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the lubricant coating device which concerns on Example 2 by this invention. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the lubricant coating device which concerns on Example 3 by this invention. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating the shape of toner used in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, where FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship of the shape factor SF-1, and FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating a relationship. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams for illustrating the dimensions of toner used in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram when viewed in three dimensions along the XYZ axis, and FIG. A schematic diagram when viewed in two dimensions on the Y axis, (c) is a schematic diagram when viewed on the YZ axis.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1Y, 1C, 1M, 1K Photosensitive drum 2 Charging device 2a Charging roller 2b Cleaning device 3 Lubricant coating device 3a Brush roller 3b Solid lubricant 3c Lubricant holding means 3e Detector 3f Pressurizing means 3g Driving means 3j Lever 4 Developing device 5 Feedback control circuit 8 Cleaning device 10, 10Y, 10C, 10M, 10K Image forming unit 20 Transfer paper 25 Writing unit 31 Intermediate transfer belt 32 Primary transfer roll 33 Transfer belt cleaning device 34 Secondary transfer roller 40 Fixing unit

Claims (13)

In a lubricant application device that applies a lubricant to the surface of a photoconductor of an image forming apparatus or a transfer body onto which a toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred,
An application roller for applying a lubricant by sliding contact with the surface of the photosensitive member or the surface of the transfer member, a pressure unit for pressing the lubricant against the application roller, and a pressure applied by the pressure unit Detecting means for detecting, and the pressurizing means is controlled so as to displace the lubricant toward the application roller in accordance with the applied pressure detected by the detecting means. Agent applicator. The lubricant application device according to claim 1, wherein
The lubricant applying apparatus, wherein the pressurizing means controls the displacement of the lubricant so that the applied pressure detected by the detecting means is constant. The lubricant application device according to claim 1 or 2,
A plurality of pairs of the detection means and the pressurizing means are provided as a pair in the longitudinal direction of the lubricant, respectively. The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The lubricant applying apparatus, wherein the detecting means is a piezoelectric element. The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The pressure applying means displaces the lubricant by at least one driving means selected from a stepping motor, an ultrasonic motor, and a piezoelectric element. The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A lubricant application apparatus characterized in that the detecting means and the pressurizing means are shared by the same piezoelectric element. The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The pressurizing means includes a driving means for displacing the lubricant and a displacing means for displacing the driving means. The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The lubricant application apparatus is characterized in that the lubricant is zinc stearate.   9. A process cartridge, wherein the lubricant application device according to claim 1 is integrally attached to a surface of a photosensitive member.   10. An image forming apparatus comprising the lubricant coating device or the process cartridge according to claim 1 attached to a surface of a photosensitive member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.
The toner used in the image forming apparatus has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) in the range of 3 to 8 μm, and a volume average particle diameter (Dv) and a number average particle diameter in the range of 1.00 to 1.40. An image forming apparatus having a ratio (Dv / Dn) to (Dn). The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 or 11,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the toner has an SF-1 shape factor value in a range of 100 to 180 and an SF-2 shape factor value in a range of 100 to 180. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
The toner is spherical and has a major axis length to minor axis length ratio (r2 / r1) in the range of 0.5 to 1.0, and a thickness and short range in the range of 0.7 to 1.0. An image forming apparatus having an axial length ratio (r3 / r2), wherein the major axis length r1, the minor axis length r2, and the thickness r3 satisfy a relationship of r1 ≧ r2 ≧ r3.

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