JP2008122787A - Electrophotographic toner, electrophotographic developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrophotographic toner with suppressed decrease in charging properties, an electrophotographic developer containing the electrophotographic toner, a toner cartridge for storing the electrophotographic developer, and to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that uses the electrophotographic developer. <P>SOLUTION: The electrophotographic toner contains a binder resin, a colorant and an allylamine compound; contains the electrophotographic toner; stores the electrophotographic developer, and cartridge and the image forming apparatus use the electrophotographic developer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is used in an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer, an electrostatic recording apparatus, and the like, and in particular, an electrophotographic toner suitably used for image formation in which fixing is instantaneously performed on a transfer material by light fixing, the electrophotographic The present invention relates to an electrophotographic developer containing an electrophotographic toner, a toner cartridge containing the electrophotographic developer, a process cartridge using the electrophotographic developer, and an image forming apparatus.

In general, in image formation in an electrophotographic system, (1) charging of a photosensitive member, (2) exposure of the photosensitive member (latent image formation), (3) toner development on the latent image, and (4) toner on a transfer material. And (5) fixing the toner onto the transfer material.
The fixing method (5) is a method in which a roller or the like is brought into direct contact and the toner is melted by pressurization, heating, or a combination thereof, and then solidified and fixed. The toner is melted by irradiation with heat or light energy. There is a method of solidifying and fixing after image formation, but recently, in terms of being able to form fine and high-definition images, image resolution due to adverse effects such as offset caused by pressing, heating, etc. with a fixing roller In contrast to deterioration in (reproducibility), light fixing and oven fixing using light have an advantage that there is little image deterioration in the fixing process, and are attracting attention.

  In addition, since there is no need to heat with a heat source or the like in light fixing, there is no problem that printing cannot be performed until the heat source (such as a fixing roller) is preheated to a desired temperature after the power is turned on. There is also an advantage that printing is possible. In addition, since a high-temperature heat source is not required, there is an advantage that a temperature rise in the apparatus can be appropriately avoided. Further, in the case of optical fixing, a recording paper jam occurs in the fixing device due to a system down. However, there is an advantage that the recording paper is not ignited by heat from the heat source.

  The toner for photofixing is like so-called heat roll fixing because it takes in the irradiated light energy with an infrared absorber added to the toner and converts it into heat energy to melt the whole toner and fix it onto the transfer material. Compared to a system in which a heat source is brought into pressure contact with a direct toner and melted and fixed, high energy is absorbed instantaneously, and the entire toner is melted and solidified and fixed.

Many techniques have been proposed in which an infrared absorber is added to a toner in order to instantaneously absorb and melt light energy (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 21). In addition, a toner has been proposed in which a plurality of waxes having different melting characteristics are used in combination to achieve both high toner fixing properties and void resistance (see, for example, Patent Document 22).
JP-A-60-63545 JP-A-60-63546 JP-A-60-57858 JP-A-60-57857 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-102248 JP 58-102247 A JP-A-60-131544 JP-A-60-133460 JP 61-132959 A WO99 / 13382 specification JP 2000-147824 A JP-A-7-191492 JP 2000-155439 A JP-A-6-348056 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-39535 JP 2000-35689 A JP-A-11-38666 JP-A-11-125930 JP-A-11-125828 JP-A-11-125929 JP-A-11-65167 JP 2003-270842 A

  The present invention uses an electrophotographic toner in which a decrease in chargeability is suppressed, an electrophotographic developer containing the electrophotographic toner, a toner cartridge containing the electrophotographic developer, and the electrophotographic developer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus.

As a result of diligent research to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that it is extremely effective to contain an allylamine compound in an electrophotographic toner containing at least a binder resin and a colorant. It came to complete.
That is, the present invention
<1> An electrophotographic toner comprising a binder resin, a colorant, and an allylamine compound.

<2> The electrophotographic toner according to <1>, wherein the allylamine compound has a salt structure.
<3> The electrophotographic toner according to <1> or <2>, wherein the content of the allylamine compound is 0.1 to 5% by mass.

<4> An electrophotographic developer comprising the electrophotographic toner according to any one of <1> to <3>.

<5> A developer cartridge that contains the developer containing the electrophotographic toner according to any one of <1> to <3>, and is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

<6> formed on the electrostatic latent image holding body using a developer including the electrostatic latent image holding body and the electrophotographic toner according to any one of <1> to <3>. And a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image to form a visible image. The process cartridge is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

<7> The electrostatic latent image holding member, the electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image holding member, and any one of <1> to <3> Development means for developing a latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member to form a visible image by using a developer containing an electrophotographic toner, and the electrostatic latent image holding member on the electrostatic latent image holding member An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring the visible image formed on the recording medium to a recording medium; and fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium.
<8> The image forming apparatus according to <7>, wherein the fixing unit is a light fixing unit that optically fixes a transfer image transferred to the recording medium.

  The present invention uses an electrophotographic toner in which a decrease in chargeability is suppressed, an electrophotographic developer containing the electrophotographic toner, a toner cartridge containing the electrophotographic developer, and the electrophotographic developer. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus can be provided.

<Toner for electrophotography>
The toner for electrophotography of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “the toner of the present invention”) includes a binder resin and a colorant, and further includes an allylamine compound. The toner of the present invention can suppress a decrease in chargeability by including an allylamine compound. In addition, fixing by photofixing when forming an image using a developer containing the toner of the present invention has the effect of improving fixability, and neutralizes it even if aldehyde is generated, Odor generation can be suppressed.

-Allylamine compound-
The allylamine compound that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has an amine structure, but examples include compounds having at least a part of the structures represented by the following general formulas (1) and (2). can do. In general formula (1) and (2), n represents an integer greater than or equal to 2, It is preferable that it is an integer of 2-6, and it is more preferable that it is an integer of 2-4. R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ represent an alkyl group or an alkenyl group, and are preferably an alkyl group, more specifically a methyl group or an ethyl group.

  The general formulas (1) and (2) include a carbon atom bonded to a nitrogen atom (including a carbon atom bonded to the nitrogen atom via a divalent group) and a nitrogen atom in the main chain. And carbon atoms that are not bonded to each other exist alternately, but the arrangement of carbon atoms that are bonded to nitrogen atoms and carbon atoms that are not bonded to nitrogen atoms is not particularly limited. A compound in which a portion where a carbon atom bonded to a nitrogen atom is linked or a portion where a carbon atom not bonded to a nitrogen atom is linked can also be preferably used as the allylamine compound in the present invention.

In the present invention, the allylamine compound preferably has a salt structure. Salts in this case include halide salts such as chloride salts and bromide salts, mineral salts such as hypochlorites, chlorites, bromates, nitrites and nitrates, formic acid and acetic acid. Fatty acid salts are mentioned, and halogenated salts such as chloride salts and bromide salts are preferred.
Specific examples of the allylamine compound include the following compounds. In the following specific examples, n is the same as n in the general formulas (1) and (2).

The toner of the present invention contains the allylamine compound in that the effect of the present invention can be more effectively exhibited by suppressing chargeability reduction, improving fixability when fixing by light fixing, and suppressing odor generation. Is preferably 0.1 to 5% by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 3% by mass, and still more preferably 1 to 3% by mass.
The content of the allylamine compound was determined by adding 0.2 mol% sodium nitrate dissolved in 0.5 mol acetic acid aqueous solution, extracting the allylamine compound, and then distilling off the solvent. Is measured by dividing by the whole.

-Binder resin-
The binder resin used in the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and examples thereof include polyester resins, styrene-acrylic resins, epoxy resins, etc., but the speed of viscosity reduction with respect to heat, That is, polyester resin is preferable in terms of adhesion to a recording medium such as paper.

A commercial product may be used as the polyester resin, but it can be appropriately synthesized using an acid component and an alcohol component as raw materials. The acid component is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, orthophthalic acid, and anhydrides thereof. Among these, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and the like are preferable.
In addition to the acid component, a trivalent or higher carboxylic acid component may be used for the purpose of forming a crosslink in the polyester. Examples of the trivalent or higher carboxylic acid component include 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, other polycarboxylic acids, and anhydrides thereof.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said alcohol component, According to the objective, it can select suitably from well-known things, For example, a trivalent or more alcohol component is mentioned suitably. Examples of the trivalent or higher alcohol component include sorbitol, 1,2,3,6-hexanetetrol, 1,4-sorbitan, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1,2,4-butane. Examples include triol, 1,2,5-pentanetriol, glycerol, 2-methylpropanetriol, 2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, and other trivalent or higher alcohols. It is done.

In the present invention, the ratio of the bisphenol A alkylene oxide adduct in the alcohol component is preferably 80 mol% or more, more preferably 90 mol% or more, and particularly preferably 95 mol% or more. . When the amount of the bisphenol A alkylene oxide adduct used in the alcohol component is less than 80 mol%, the amount of monomer used that relatively causes odor generation may increase.
As said bisphenol A alkylene oxide adduct, the compound represented by following General formula (3) is mentioned suitably, for example.

In the general formula (3), R represents an ethylene group or a propylene group. x and y each independently represents an integer of 1 or more. Specific examples of the bisphenol A alkylene oxide adduct include polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (3.3) -2,2-bis ( 4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxyethylene (2.0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxyethylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane , Polyoxypropylene (2.0) -polyoxyethylene (2.0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (6) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) Propane and the like are preferred. Among these, polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxyethylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxy Ethylene (2.0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane and the like are preferable.
These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  When the toner of the present invention is photofixed in an image forming process, among the bisphenol A alkylene oxide adducts, in the general formula (3), a compound in which x and y are 1 and R is an ethylene group, The alcohol component as a raw material of the polyester is preferably contained in an amount of 60 mol% or more, more preferably 80 mol% or more. In the general formula (3), a compound in which x and y are 1 and R is an ethylene group has the highest reactivity among the bisphenol A alkylene oxide adducts. Therefore, if this is used as a raw material for the synthesis of the polyester, This is advantageous in that the content of monomers, dimers, trimers, etc. remaining in the obtained polyester can be reduced.

  As a method for reducing the monomer, dimer, trimer, etc. remaining in the obtained polyester, an increase in the amount of these reaction accelerators, a method of washing the obtained polyester with alcohol, etc. are preferable. Can be mentioned. The alcohol used for the alcohol washing is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, etc. are monomers or 2 amounts without dissolving high molecular weight polyester. It is preferable in that the body and the like can be easily dissolved. When the polyester obtained using the alcohol is washed, residual monomers, dimers and the like can be greatly reduced.

  In synthesizing the polyester, a commonly used esterification catalyst such as zinc oxide, stannous oxide, dibutyltin oxide, dibutyltin dilaurate, etc. can be used to promote the synthesis reaction. .

  In addition, as the binder resin, together with the polyester, styrene-acrylic copolymer, styrene-methacrylic copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, phenol resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyvinyl acetate, silicone resin, polyester resin, Polyurethane, polyamide resin, furan resin, epoxy resin, xylene resin, polyvinyl butyral, terpene resin, coumarone indene resin, petroleum resin, polyether polyol resin and the like may be used in combination.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a glass transition point (Tg) of the said binder resin, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, About 50-70 degreeC is preferable.

-Colorant-
The colorant used in the present invention is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a yellow colorant, a magenta colorant, a cyan colorant, and a black colorant. It is done. Specifically, carbon black, lamp black, iron black, ultramarine, nigrosine dye, aniline blue, calco oil blue, dupont oil red, quinoline yellow, methylene blue chloride, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, hanza yellow, rhodamine 6C lake, chrome Examples thereof include yellow, quinacridone, benzidine yellow, malachite green, malachite green hexalate, oil black, azo oil black, rose bengal, naphthol, carmine, quinacridone, monoazo dye, pigment, disazo dye, and trisazo dye.

  Examples of the yellow colorant include condensed azo compounds, isoindolinone compounds, anthraquinone compounds, azo metal complexes, methine compounds, allylamide compounds, and the like. I. Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 62, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 109, 110, 111, 128, 129, 147, 168, 180, 185 and the like are suitable.

  Examples of the magenta colorant include condensed azo compounds, diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds, anthraquinones, quinacridone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, naphthol compounds, benzimidazole compounds, thioindigo compounds, perylene compounds, and the like. , C.I. I. Pigment Red 2,3,5,6,7,23,48: 2,48: 3,48: 4,57: 1,81: 1,122,144,146,166,169,177,184,185 202, 206, 220, 221, 254 and the like are suitable.

  Examples of the cyan colorant include copper phthalocyanine compounds and derivatives thereof, anthraquinone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, and the like. I. Pigment Blue 1, 7, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 60, 62, 66 and the like are suitable.

  These colorants may be used alone or in combination of two or more, or may be used in a solid solution state. The content of the colorant in the toner of the present invention is preferably 0.1 to 20% by mass, and more preferably 0.5 to 10% by mass.

  The toner of the present invention preferably contains an infrared absorber, a wax component, and a charge control agent appropriately selected as necessary in addition to the binder resin, colorant, and polyallylamine compound described above. Other components may be contained.

-Infrared absorber-
The infrared absorber may be a material having at least one strong light absorption peak in the near infrared region of 750 to 1200 nm, and may be either an inorganic infrared absorber or an organic infrared absorber. Good. Examples of the inorganic infrared absorber include lanthanoid compounds such as ytterbium oxide and ytterbium phosphate, indium tin oxide, and tin oxide. Examples of the organic infrared absorber include an aminium compound, a diimonium compound, a naphthalocyanine compound, a cyanine compound, and a polymethine compound. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  The content of the infrared absorber in the toner of the present invention is preferably 0.1 to 1.5% by mass, and more preferably 0.3 to 1% by mass. When the content of the infrared absorber is less than 0.1% by mass, the electrophotographic toner may not be fixed. On the other hand, when the content exceeds 1.5% by mass, the color of the formed image becomes cloudy. There is.

-Wax component-
Specific examples of the wax component include, for example, ester wax, polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, polypropylene, a copolymer of polyethylene and polypropylene, microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, carnauba wax, sazol wax, montanic acid ester wax, Deacidified carnauba wax, palmitic acid, stearic acid, montanic acid, brandic acid, eleostearic acid, unsaturated fatty acid, saturated alcohol, polyhydric alcohol, fatty acid amide, saturated fatty acid bisamide, unsaturated fatty acid amide, aromatic bisamide, Fatty acid metal salts (commonly referred to as metal soaps), waxes grafted with aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes using vinyl monomers such as styrene and acrylic acid, and behenic acid mono Fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols partial esters of such Riserido, methyl ester compounds and the like having a hydroxyl group obtained by and hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Examples of the unsaturated fatty acid include palmitic acid, stearic acid, montanic acid, brandic acid, eleostearic acid, and valinal acid.
Examples of the saturated alcohol include stearic alcohol, aralkyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, carnauvyl alcohol, seryl alcohol, melyl alcohol, and long-chain alkyl alcohols having a long-chain alkyl group.
Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include sorbitol. Examples of the fatty acid amide include linoleic acid amide, oleic acid amide, and lauric acid amide.

Examples of the saturated fatty acid bisamide include methylene bis stearic acid amide, ethylene biscapric acid amide, ethylene bis lauric acid amide, and hexamethylene bis stearic acid amide.
Examples of the unsaturated fatty acid amide include ethylene bisoleic acid amide, hexamethylene bisoleic acid amide, N, N′-dioleyl adipic acid amide, and N, N′-dioleyl sebacic acid amide. . Examples of the aromatic bisbisamide include m-xylene bisstearic acid amide, N, N′-distearyl isophthalic acid amide, and the like. Examples of the fatty acid metal salt include calcium stearate, calcium laurate, zinc stearate, and magnesium stearate. These wax components may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As an example of the combined use of the wax component, the first wax is selected from the ester wax represented by the following general formula (4) in that the fixing property and the void resistance can be achieved in a high order, and the second wax Are particularly preferably selected from polyethylene waxes and the third wax is selected from polypropylene waxes and copolymer waxes of polyethylene and polypropylene.
_{C- [CH 2 -O-CO- (} CH 2) n-CH 3] 4 formula (4)
In the general formula (4), n is preferably 3 or more, more preferably 9 or more, and particularly preferably 14 or more.

  The first wax is selected from ester waxes represented by the general formula (4), the second wax is selected from polyethylene wax, and the third wax is polypropylene wax and a combination of polyethylene and polypropylene. When selected from polymer waxes, the content of the ester wax in the electrophotographic toner is preferably 0.1 to 5% by mass. The content of the polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, and copolymer wax of polyethylene and polypropylene in the electrophotographic toner is preferably 0.1 to 1% by mass.

If the content of the ester wax is less than 0.1% by mass, the fixability may not be improved. On the other hand, if it exceeds 5% by mass, voids may be easily generated. In addition, when the content of the polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, and copolymer of polyethylene and polypropylene is less than 0.1% by mass, void resistance may be insufficient. Sexuality may worsen.
When the ester wax, the polyethylene wax, and at least one of the polypropylene wax and the copolymer wax of polyethylene and polypropylene are used in combination, it is possible to achieve both high fixability and void resistance, This is advantageous in that a high-quality image is formed.

-Charge control agent-
The charge control agent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, calixarene, nigrosine dye, quaternary ammonium salt, amino group-containing polymer, Examples thereof include metal azo dyes, salicylic acid complex compounds, phenol compounds, azochrome compounds, azozinc compounds, triphenylmethane derivatives, and zinc naphthoate complexes. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

-Other ingredients-
The other components are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known materials according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a fluidity improver, a cleaning activator, a magnetic material, a fixing aid, a metal soap, Surfactant etc. are mentioned.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said fluid improvement agent, Although it can select suitably from well-known things according to the objective, For example, inorganic fine particles, such as white particle | grains, are mentioned. Examples of the inorganic fine particles include silica fine powder, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, Examples thereof include chromium oxide, cerium oxide, bengara, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, silica fine powder is preferable, and combined use of silica fine powder, titanium compound, resin fine powder, alumina and the like is also preferable. The content of the fluidity improver in the electrophotographic toner is preferably 0.01 to 5% by mass, and more preferably 0.01 to 2.0% by mass.

The cleaning activator is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, a metal salt of a higher fatty acid represented by zinc stearate or the like, a fluorine-based high molecular weight substance Fine particle powder, and the like.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said magnetic material, Although it can select suitably from well-known things according to the objective, For example, iron powder, a magnetite, a ferrite, etc. are mentioned. In particular, when the electrophotographic toner of the present invention is a color toner, it is preferable to use white magnetic powder in terms of color tone.
Examples of the surfactant include nonionic surfactants.

  The method for producing the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known methods according to the purpose. For example, the binder resin, the wax component, the colorant (pigment, etc.) ), The infrared absorber, the charge control agent, the magnetic material, etc. are mixed using a mixing device such as a ball mill or a Henschel mixer, and are melted and kneaded using a heat kneading device such as a heating roll, a kneader or an extruder. Then, after the meat is kneaded to make the resins compatible with each other, the metal compound, the pigment, the dye, the magnetic material, and the like are dispersed or dissolved, and then solidified by cooling. Thereafter, a mechanical pulverization method or the like produced by pulverizing using a pulverizer such as a jet mill and classifying the particles into a desired particle diameter may be used. In this method, in order to contain two or more kinds of wax components, a method in which the waxes are melt-mixed with stirring at a temperature equal to or higher than the wax melting temperature in advance, cooled and solidified, and then crushed and added is preferable. The toner material may be co-kneaded with other materials at the time of toner kneading. Moreover, you may fully mix a desired additive with mixing apparatuses, such as a Henschel mixer, as needed.

  The toner of the present invention is suitable for an electrophotographic developer, a developer cartridge, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method used in an electrophotographic image forming process. It is particularly suitable for an agent, a developer cartridge, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method.

<Electrophotographic developer>
The electrophotographic developer of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “the developer of the present invention”) is not particularly limited except that it contains the toner of the present invention, and has an appropriate component composition depending on the purpose. be able to. The developer of the present invention becomes a one-component developer when the toner of the present invention is used alone, and becomes a two-component developer when used in combination with a carrier. When used in a high-speed printer or the like corresponding to the recent improvement in information processing speed, the two-component developer is preferable in terms of improving the service life. In addition, the electrophotographic developer may be in any one of a single color mode, a two to three color mode, and a four color full color mode.

  As a carrier for use as a two-component developer, known magnetite, ferrite, and iron powder can be used, and a coating agent may be further applied to the surface to form a resin-coated carrier having a resin coating layer. The coating agent is not particularly limited, but a silicone resin system is particularly desirable.

<Image forming apparatus>
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an electrostatic latent image holding member; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image holding member; Developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member by using an agent (developer of the present invention) to form a visible image; and on the electrostatic latent image holding member And a transfer unit that transfers the visible image formed on the recording medium to the recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the transferred image transferred to the recording medium. Further, an image forming method using the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an electrostatic latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image holding member, and a developer containing the toner of the present invention described above ( A developing process for forming a visible image by developing using the developer of the present invention, a transfer process for transferring the visible image formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member to the recording medium, and a recording medium. A fixing step of fixing the transferred image. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described together with an image forming method using the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the electrostatic latent image holding member, the electrostatic latent image forming unit, the developing unit, the transfer unit, and the fixing unit. Other means appropriately selected, for example, static elimination means, cleaning means, recycling means, control means, and the like may be included.

-Electrostatic latent image forming step and electrostatic latent image forming means-
The electrostatic latent image forming step is a step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image holding member. The electrostatic latent image holder (sometimes referred to as “photoconductive insulator” or “photoconductor”) is not particularly limited in terms of material, shape, structure, size, material, etc. Although it can be selected appropriately from among them, the shape is preferably a drum shape, and examples of the material thereof include inorganic photoreceptors such as amorphous silicon and selenium, and organic photoreceptors such as polysilane and phthalopolymethine. Can be mentioned. Among these, amorphous silicon or the like is preferable in terms of long life.

The formation of the electrostatic latent image can be performed, for example, by uniformly charging the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member and then performing imagewise exposure, and is performed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit. be able to. The electrostatic latent image forming means includes at least a charger that uniformly charges the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member and an exposure unit that exposes the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member imagewise.
The charging can be performed, for example, by applying a voltage to the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member using the charger. The charger is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a known contact charging device including a conductive or semiconductive roll, brush, film, rubber blade, etc. And non-contact chargers utilizing corona discharge such as corotrons and corotrons.

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

-Development process and development means-
In the developing step, the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member is developed using a developer containing the toner of the present invention (developer of the present invention) to form a visible image. It is. The visible image can be formed, for example, by developing the electrostatic latent image using a developer containing the toner of the present invention (developer of the present invention), and by the developing unit. it can.
The developing means contains at least a developing device that houses the electrophotographic toner or the electrophotographic developer and applies the developer containing the toner of the present invention (developer of the present invention) in a contact or non-contact manner. Have.

The developing unit may be a dry developing type, a wet developing type, a single color developing unit, or a multi-color developing unit. Preferable examples include a stirrer that stirs and charges a developer containing the toner of the present invention (developer of the present invention) and a rotatable magnet roller.
In the developing unit, for example, the toner of the present invention and the carrier are mixed and agitated, and the toner of the present invention is charged by friction at that time, and is held on the surface of the rotating magnet roller in a raised state. Is formed. Since the magnet roller is disposed in the vicinity of the electrostatic latent image holding member (photosensitive member), a part of the toner of the present invention constituting the magnetic brush formed on the surface of the magnet roller is electrically It moves to the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member (photosensitive member) by a strong suction force. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the electrophotographic toner, and a visible image is formed with the electrophotographic toner on the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member (photoconductor).

-Transfer process and transfer means-
The transfer step is a step of transferring the visible image to a recording medium. The transfer unit includes at least a transfer unit that peels and charges the visible image formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member (photosensitive member) toward the recording medium. Examples of the transfer device include a corona transfer device using corona discharge, a transfer belt, a transfer roller, a pressure transfer roller, and an adhesive transfer device. The recording medium is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known recording media (recording paper).

-Fixing process and fixing means-
The fixing step and the fixing unit are markedly effective in suppressing a decrease in chargeability, improving the fixability, and obtaining an effect of neutralizing aldehyde even if it is generated. Processes and light fixing means are preferred. The photofixing step is a step of photofixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium using a photofixing device.
As the light energy during the flash fixing (may be referred to as "flash energy") is preferably ^{1~7J / cm 2, 3~5J / cm} 2 is more preferable. If the light energy is less than 1 J / cm ² , fixing may not be performed satisfactorily. On the other hand, if the light energy exceeds the numerical value range, toner voids, paper scorching, etc. may occur.

  The light fixing can be performed, for example, by irradiating the visible image transferred to the recording medium with light using a light fixing device, and can be performed by the light fixing unit. The light fixing unit has at least a flash fixing unit (flash lamp) that emits infrared rays. The number of the light fixing means may be one, or two or more. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said flash fixing device (flash lamp), Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, an infrared lamp, a xenon lamp, etc. are mentioned suitably.

The light emission wavelength by the light fixing means in the light fixing is preferably close to the absorption wavelength in the infrared absorbent to be used. The light energy (J / cm ² ) per unit area of flash light that indicates the intensity of light emitted from the flash fixing device (flash lamp) can be calculated from the following equation (5).
S = ((1/2) × C × V ² ) / (u × l) / (n × f), expression (5)
In the formula (5), “n” represents the number of lamps (lines), “f” represents the lighting frequency (Hz), “V” represents the input voltage (V), and “C” represents Capacitor capacity (μF) is represented, “u” represents process conveyance speed (mm / s), “l” represents printing width (mm), and “S” represents energy density (J / cm ² ).

  In the present invention, a known fixing device such as a heat roller fixing device may be used together with the optical fixing step and the optical fixing unit depending on the purpose.

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

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

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

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

Hereinafter, as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an image forming apparatus provided with a light fixing device (light fixing device) will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 shows a toner image formed by toner obtained by adding black to three colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow.

  In FIG. 1, 1a to 1d are charging means, 2a to 2d are exposure means, 3a to 3d are photosensitive members (electrostatic latent image holders), 4a to 4d are developing means, and 10 is sent from the roll medium 15 in the direction of the arrow. Recording paper (recording medium), 20 is a cyan developing unit, 30 is a magenta developing unit, 40 is a yellow developing unit, 50 is a black developing unit, 70a to 70d are transfer rolls (transfer means), 71 and 72 are rolls, 80 Denotes a transfer voltage supply means, and 90 denotes an optical fixing device (fixing means).

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a developing unit (toner image forming unit) for each color indicated by reference numerals 20, 30, 40, and 50 including a charging unit, an exposure unit, a photosensitive member, and a developing unit, and a recording paper 10. Rolls 71 and 72 which are arranged in contact with each other and convey the recording paper 10; and transfer rolls 70a and 70b which are arranged so as to be in contact with the opposite side through the recording paper 10 so as to press the photoreceptor of each developing unit. 70c, 70d, transfer voltage supply means 80 for supplying voltage to these three transfer rolls, and the side of the recording paper 10 in contact with the photoconductor that passes through the nip portion between the photoconductor and the transfer roll in the direction of the arrow in the figure. And an optical fixing device (fixing means) 90 for irradiating light.

  The cyan developing unit 20 has a configuration in which a charging unit 1a, an exposing unit 2a, and a developing unit 4a are arranged around the photoreceptor 3a in a clockwise direction. Further, the transfer roll 70a is opposed to the photosensitive member 3a through the recording paper 10 so as to come into contact with the surface of the photosensitive member 3a from the position where the developing unit 4a of the photosensitive member 3a is arranged until the charging unit 1a is arranged clockwise. Has been placed. Such a configuration is the same for the developing units of other colors. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the developer containing cyan toner is accommodated in the developing means 4a of the cyan developing unit 20, and the developing means of the other developing units have light fixing corresponding to each color. A developer containing toner for use is stored.

  Next, image formation using this image forming apparatus will be described. First, in the black developing unit 50, the surface of the photoreceptor 3d is uniformly charged by the charging unit 1d while rotating the photoreceptor 3d in the clockwise direction. Next, the surface of the charged photoreceptor 3d is exposed by the exposure means 2d, whereby a latent image corresponding to the yellow component image of the original image to be copied is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 3d. Further, the black toner stored in the developing means 4d is applied on the latent image to develop it to form a black toner image. This process is similarly performed in the yellow developing unit 40, the magenta developing unit 30, and the cyan developing unit 20, and each color toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member of the developing unit.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the surface of the photoreceptor are sequentially transferred onto the recording paper 10 conveyed in the direction of the arrow by the action of the transfer potential by the transfer rolls 70a to 70d, and recorded so as to correspond to the original image information. A full-color laminated toner image is formed on the surface of the paper 10 and laminated in the order of cyan, magenta and yellow from the top layer.

  Next, the laminated toner image on the recording paper 10 is conveyed to the optical fixing device 90, where it is irradiated with light from the optical fixing device 80, melted, and optically fixed on the recording paper 10 to form a full color image. It is formed.

When the toner for electrophotography of the present invention is used as, for example, a color toner for light fixing, various printers such as newspaper, service bureau, barcode printing, label printing, tag printing, Carlson method or ion flow method and copying In particular, since it is possible to provide a product that exhibits good flash fixability at low cost even in a colored embodiment, it is easy to meet the demand for colorization of images in these applications. It can respond.
For example, when used as a toner for encryption printing, it is often fixed by a heat roll, but it can also be fixed by flash fixing. Mainly used for printing confidential information with visible printing.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is also a preferred aspect that the developer containing the toner of the present invention (the developer of the present invention) is used while being housed in a developer cartridge. The developer cartridge of the present invention stores the developer containing the toner of the present invention and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and supplies the developer to the developing means in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. .

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is also a preferable aspect that the electrostatic latent image holding member and the developing unit are attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus as a detachable process cartridge. The process cartridge of the present invention includes an electrostatic latent image holding member and a developing unit, and may further include other units such as an electrostatic latent image forming unit and a transfer unit.

Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
The particle size distribution in the present invention was measured by the following method.
A Coulter Multisizer-II type (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) was used as a measuring apparatus, and an ISOTON-II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) was used as an electrolyte.
As a measurement method, 1.0 mg of a measurement sample is added to 2 ml of a 5% aqueous solution of a surfactant, preferably sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate, as a dispersant. This was added to 100 ml of the electrolytic solution to prepare an electrolytic solution in which the sample was suspended.
The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for 1 minute, and the particle size distribution of particles of 1 to 30 μm is measured with the Multisizer-II type using an aperture diameter of 50 μm to obtain a volume average. Distribution and number average distribution were obtained. The number of particles to be measured was 50,000.

The carrier particle size is measured by taking a photograph with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), measuring the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter, respectively, and (maximum diameter + minimum diameter) / 2 is the particle diameter of the particles. The average of the particles is converted into a sphere by volume.
The molecular weight distribution of the coating resin of the carrier of the present invention was performed under the following conditions. GPC uses “HLC-8120GPC, SC-8020 (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation)”, and the column uses two “TSKgel, SuperHM-H (6.0 mm ID × 15 cm, manufactured by Tosoh Corporation)” THF (tetrahydrofuran) was used as an eluent. As experimental conditions, a sample concentration of 0.5% and a flow rate of 0.6 ml / min. The experiment was conducted using a sample injection amount of 10 μl, a measurement temperature of 40 ° C., and an IR detector. The calibration curve is “polystylen standard sample TSK standard” manufactured by Tosoh Corporation: “A-500”, “F-1”, “F-10”, “F-80”, “F-380”, “A-2500”. ”,“ F-4 ”,“ F-40 ”,“ F-128 ”, and“ F-700 ”.

[Example 1]
As the binder resin, 83.5 parts by mass of a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao), 0.5 parts by mass of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S, manufactured by Nitto Boseki), carbon black ( 12.5 parts by mass of product name: Regal 330 Cabot), 0.5 parts by mass of polypropylene wax (trade name: NP105, Mitsui Chemicals) as a fixing aid, 1 ester wax (product name: WEP-3, manufactured by Nippon Oils and Fats) 1 1.0 part by mass, and 1.0 parts by mass of a charge control agent (trade name: BONTRON E-89, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries) and 1.0 part by mass of a charge control agent (product name: COPY CHARGE PSY, manufactured by Clariant) Is put into a Henschel mixer, premixed, and melted and kneaded at 150 ° C with an extruder with strong deaeration Then, coarsely pulverized with a hammer mill, finely pulverized with a jet mill, and then classified with an airflow classifier to obtain a toner base having a volume average particle size (D ₅₀ ) of 8.8 ± 0.5 μm. . To 100 parts by mass of the toner base, 0.8 part by mass of hydrophobic silica (HVK2150 Clariant) was added as an external additive, and the toner (T-1) was obtained by external addition using a Henschel mixer.

Preparation of Developer 100 parts of ferrite with a volume particle size of 70 μm, 1 part of a styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd., Mw: 69000), 10 parts of silicone resin (manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone, SR2411), toluene After mixing 60 parts in a kneader and distilling off toluene at 90 ° C., the mixture was further heated at 150 ° C. for 30 minutes. Thereafter, it was cooled to room temperature (25 ° C.) and sieved with a 105 μm sieve to obtain a carrier. This carrier and toner (T-1) were mixed so as to have a toner concentration of 4.5% by mass to form a developer to obtain developer (D-1).

[Example 2]
In Example 1, the addition amount of a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao) is 83.0 parts by mass, and the addition amount of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S, manufactured by Nitto Boseki) is 1.0. A toner (T-2) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except for changing to parts by mass. A developer was produced from this toner (T-2) in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a developer (D-2).

[Example 3]
In Example 1, the addition amount of a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao) is 81.0 parts by mass, and the addition amount of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S, manufactured by Nittobo) is 3.0 masses. A toner (T-3) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the toner was changed to the part. A developer was produced from this toner (T-3) in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a developer (D-3).

[Example 4]
As a binder resin, 84.5 parts by mass of a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126 manufactured by Kao), 0.5 parts by mass of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-10S, manufactured by Nitto Boseki), carbon black ( 12.5 parts by mass of product name: Regal 330 Cabot), polypropylene wax (product name: NP105, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals) as fixing aid, 0.5 part by mass, ester wax (product name: WEP-3, manufactured by Nippon Oils and Fats) 1 0 parts by mass addition, 0.5 parts by mass of charge control agent (trade name: BONTRON E-89, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries), 0.5 parts by mass of charge control agent (product name: manufactured by COPY CHARGE PSY Clariant) After premixing, melt and knead at 150 ° C with an extruder with strong deaeration. The mixture was coarsely pulverized with a hammer mill, finely pulverized with a jet mill, and then classified with an airflow classifier to obtain a toner base having a volume average particle size (D ₅₀ ) of 8.8 ± 0.5 μm. To 100 parts by mass of the toner base, 0.8 part by mass of hydrophobic silica (HVK2150 Clariant) was added as an external additive to obtain a toner (T-4). A developer was produced from this toner in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a developer (D-4).

[Example 5]
In Example 4, the amount of commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao) is 84.0 parts by mass, and the amount of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-10S, manufactured by Nittobo) is 1.0 mass. A toner (T-5) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the amount of the toner was changed. A developer was produced from this toner (T-5) in the same manner as in Example 4 to obtain developer (D-5).

[Example 6]
In Example 4, except that the commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao) was changed to 82.0 parts by mass, and polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-10S Nitto Boseki) was changed to 3.0 parts by mass, In the same manner as in Example 4, a toner (T-6) was obtained. A developer was produced from this toner (T-6) in the same manner as in Example 4 to obtain developer (D-6).

[Example 7]
As a binder resin, 91.0 parts by mass of a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao), 3.0 parts by mass of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-10S, manufactured by Nitto Boseki), infrared absorber (Trade name: SIR-130) 0.5 parts by mass, cyan pigment (trade name: manufactured by Blue B2G Hoechst) 4.0 parts by mass, polypropylene wax as a fixing aid (trade name: NP105, manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals) 5 parts by mass, ester wax (trade name: WEP-3 manufactured by Nippon Oil & Fats) 1.0 part by mass was added to a Henschel mixer, premixed, and melt-kneaded at 150 ° C. with an extruder while strongly deaerated. then coarsely crushed by a hammer mill, was finely pulverized by a jet mill and classified by an air classifier, a volume average particle diameter (D ₅₀₎ 8.8 ± To obtain a toner mother of .5μm. To 100 parts by mass of the toner base, 0.8 part by mass of hydrophobic silica (HVK2150 Clariant) was added as an external additive to obtain a toner (T-7). A developer was produced from this toner (T-7) in the same manner as in Example 4 to obtain developer (D-7).

[Example 8]
In Example 1, the addition amount of the commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126 Kao) was changed to 81.0 parts by mass, and 0.5 part by mass of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S, manufactured by Nittobo) was added. Was changed to 3.0 parts by mass of polyallylamine (trade name: PAA-U5000 Nitto Boseki) to obtain toner (T-8) in the same manner as in Example 1. A developer was produced from this toner (T-8) in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain developer (D-8).

[Example 9]
In Example 1, a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao Corporation) was changed to 81.0 parts by mass, and 0.5 parts by mass of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S, manufactured by Nitto Boseki) was added. A toner (T-9) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 3.0 parts by mass of polydiallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAS-M-1 manufactured by Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd.) was added. A developer was produced from this toner (T-9) in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain developer (D-9).

[Example 10]
In Example 1, the addition amount of a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao) is 83.95 parts by mass, and the addition amount of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S, manufactured by Nitto Boseki) is 0.05. A toner (T-10) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except for changing to parts by mass. A developer was produced from this toner (T-10) in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain developer (D-10).

[Example 11]
In Example 1, the addition amount of a commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126, manufactured by Kao) is 78.0 parts by mass, and the addition amount of polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S, manufactured by Nitto Boseki) is 6.0. A toner (T-11) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except for changing to parts by mass. A developer was produced from this toner (T-11) in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain developer (D-11).

[Comparative Example 1]
In Example 1, the addition amount of the commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126 Kao) was changed to 84.0 parts by mass, and polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-3S manufactured by Nittobo) was not added. Except for the above, a toner (T-12) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. A developer was produced from this toner (T-12) in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a developer (D-12).

[Comparative Example 2]
In Example 7, the amount of commercially available polyester resin (trade name: FP126 Kao) was changed to 92.0 parts by mass, and polyallylamine hydrochloride (trade name: PAA-HCl-10S Nittobo) was not added. Except for the above, a toner (T-13) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 7. A developer was produced from this toner (T-13) in the same manner as in Example 7 to obtain a developer (D-131).

Table 1 shows toner compositions of Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2.
Furthermore, the following evaluation was implemented about the obtained developing agent.

Quantitative evaluation of acetaldehyde-Image formation and acetaldehyde quantification method-
Each developer is mounted on a printer (Fujitsu) having a product number PS2400A installed in a 54 m ³ chamber made of resin film, and irradiated with xenon flash light having a high emission intensity in the wavelength range of 700 to 1500 nm. NIP-1500LT, Kobayashi recording paper) to obtain a printed image.
At that time, the air in the chamber was collected in a DNPH (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine) adsorption tube for 10 minutes. After the collected aldehyde was eluted with a solvent, the eluate was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify acetaldehyde. The results are shown in Table 2. In addition, the determination criteria are as follows.
○: Less than 5.0 mg / unit / h Δ: 5.0 mg / unit / h or more and less than 10 mg / unit / h ×: 10 mg / unit / h or more

Fixability evaluation-Fixability test method (tape peeling)-
First, the image status A density on plain paper on which the toner image was fixed was measured. Next, a release tape (trade name “Scotch Meding Tape” (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.)) was adhered on the toner image of plain paper, and then the release tape was peeled off, and the status density on the plain paper after peeling was measured. When the image print density on the plain paper before peeling is 100, the image print density on the plain paper after peeling is expressed as a percentage, and this is evaluated as a toner fixing rate. The results are shown in Table 2. For measurement of color density, 938 Spectrodentitometer (X-Rite) was used. In addition, the determination criteria are as follows.
A: Toner fixing rate of 95% or more B: Toner fixing rate of 85% to less than 95% Δ: Toner fixing rate of 80% to less than 85% ×: Toner fixing rate of less than 80%

Charge stability evaluation-Method for measuring charge amount-
Using the above-mentioned printer PS2400A, continuous operation is performed in white solid printing (printing rate 0%), the developer is sampled every predetermined time, and the blow-off charge measuring device (TB-200: manufactured by Toshiba Chemical) is used. The maximum charge amount and the charge amount when continuously operated for 60 minutes were measured. The results are shown in Table 2. The criteria for determining the charging stability are as follows.
○: Charge amount attenuation (difference between maximum charge amount and charge amount after 60 minutes of continuous operation, the same applies hereinafter) is less than 5 μC / g. Δ: Charge amount attenuation is 5 μC / g or more and less than 10 μC / g. X: Attenuation amount of charge amount is 10 μC / g or more

  As shown in Table 2, the results of the quantitative evaluation of acetaldehyde were as follows. The amount of acetaldehyde generated in the toners of T-12 and 13 (Comparative Examples 1 and 2) was compared with polyallylamine (PAA-HCl-3S / PAA-HCl- In the system (T-1 to T-7, T-10, T-11) to which 10S) is added, it can be seen that the generation amount is low. Furthermore, the addition amount of polyallylamine (PAA) is preferably 1.0% by mass or more for both PAA-HCl-3S / PAA-HCl-10S. Moreover, also in PAA-U5000 / PAS-M-1, the same suitable result was obtained with the addition amount of 3.0% by mass.

  As shown in Table 2, the fixability evaluation shows improvement in fixability in a system to which polyallylamine is added. As shown in FIG. 2, it is considered that the effect of absorption of infrared wavelength, which is a characteristic of polyallylamine, was observed.

  As shown in Table 2, the results of the charging stability evaluation are those in which polyallylamine is added, in which the increase in charging and the decrease in charging are suppressed, and the improvement in charging stability is observed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the absorption spectrum of a polyallylamine (PAA) infrared wavelength.

Explanation of symbols

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Charging means 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Exposure means 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Photoconductors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Developing means 10 Recording paper (recording medium)
20 Cyan developing unit 30 Magenta developing unit 40 Yellow developing unit 50 Black developing units 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d Transfer means 71, 72 Roll 80 Transfer voltage supply means 90 Optical fixing device (fixing means)

Claims (8)

  An electrophotographic toner comprising a binder resin, a colorant, and an allylamine compound.   2. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the allylamine compound has a salt structure.   The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the allylamine compound content is 0.1 to 5 mass%.   An electrophotographic developer comprising the electrophotographic toner according to claim 1.   A developer cartridge containing the developer containing the electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the developer cartridge is detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus.   The electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member is developed using a developer containing the electrostatic latent image holding member and the electrophotographic toner described in any one of 1 to 3. And a developing unit that forms a visible image, and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.   An electrostatic latent image holding member, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image holding member, and the electrophotographic toner according to claim 1. Development means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member to form a visible image using the developer, and a developer formed on the electrostatic latent image holding member. An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring a visual image to a recording medium; and fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fixing unit is an optical fixing unit that optically fixes a transfer image transferred to the recording medium.

Images