JP2009069640A - Method for manufacturing electrophotographic toner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing electrophotographic toner capable of manufacturing an electrophotographic toner which has stable charging property, prevents filming contamination of a photoreceptor, a developing roller, etc., avoids spent on a carrier, and has a beneficial effect on long-term copying property. <P>SOLUTION: In the method for manufacturing an electrophotographic toner, a plurality of stirring members are attached to a rotary shaft so that the stirring members rotate on different three or more circular orbits, each circular orbit having a diameter in a range of 90-1,000 mm, and the stirring members rotate at a peripheral velocity of 10-150 m/s, a clearance C [mm] between at least one of the stirring members and a circular wall surface satisfies a range of 2.5≤D<SP>1/2</SP>/C<9.0 with respect to the diameter D [mm] of the maximum circular orbit among the above circular orbits, and a process material containing 100 pts.wt. of a toner base material and 0.3-1.0 pt.wt. of a charge control agent is stirred in a range satisfying Tg-50<T<Tg-15 to manufacture the electrophotographic toner, wherein T denotes the internal temperature of a mixing apparatus, and Tg denotes the glass transition temperature of the toner base material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrophotographic toner, and in particular, implants a surface-control charge control agent on the surface of a toner base particle containing a thermoplastic resin as a main component and a release agent that is a low-melting-point material, and fixes the toner. This is related to the technology to be realized.

  Conventionally, high image quality has been pursued in image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers. For this reason, image forming toner has been reduced in size, and there has been a strong demand for ensuring fluidity and uniform charging for toner. Yes. For this purpose, various methods have been proposed as methods for adding various external additives to the surface of the toner base powder, mixing them, and attaching them efficiently.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of attaching fine particles to the surface of a core material with mechanical energy mainly including impact force, and Patent Document 2 discloses a method of removing unadhered substances after mixing and adhering fine powder. Reference 3 discloses a method of firmly attaching a surface treatment agent by instantaneous surface heat treatment, and Patent Document 4 discloses that a surface treatment material is uniformly attached to toner base particles by a high-speed rotating spherical mixer having two-stage blades. Method, that is, a method in which the surface treatment agent is strongly adhered to the surface of the toner base particles by positively heating the resin surface without using an impact force, and the surface of the toner base particles by increasing the processing temperature. A method of adhering by increasing the impact force while softening the material has been proposed. In addition, Patent Document 5 does not describe immobilization of a charge control agent on a toner base. However, as a technique that seems to be a related technique, by applying a powerful force to the surface of the toner, An example of surface modification is shown.

  However, these treatments are not sufficient, and as a method for solving the problems of these treatments, there has been newly proposed a method of adhering with a stronger impact force without increasing the treatment temperature. For example, in Patent Document 6, mixing is performed at a high peripheral speed of 65 to 120 m / s within a processing temperature range obtained from the glass transition point of the resin powder using a fluid stirring type mixing device having a stirring member, and charging control is performed. A method for immobilizing an agent on the surface of toner base particles has been proposed, and the problems of the prior art are described as follows. That is, in particular, when a surface treatment agent for the purpose of charge control is used, it is possible not only to attach the toner to the toner base particles but also to immobilize a part or all of the surface treatment agent uniformly on the surface of the toner base particles. is necessary. If there is insufficient toner to fix the surface treatment agent having a charge control function, uniform triboelectric charge cannot be obtained, which causes image smear called fogging, and contains a low melting point substance and has a glass transition point. In order to perform surface treatment aiming at charge control on the toner base powder composed of a low-temperature binder resin, it is sufficient to stir and fix at a low temperature so that low melting point substances do not flow out. Must be applied with a sufficient impact force and frictional force, and these are a stirring method that gives a sufficient impact force between the processing agent and the toner base particles, and the processing temperature required from the glass transition point of the resin powder. It is considered that it is necessary to mix the two within the range.

  As described above, the problem of immobilization and a new method for immobilization have been proposed before, but there is still room for improvement regarding a better device form that embodies this method. .

  For example, in Patent Document 6, when two or more kinds of powders are mixed by a stirring member using a device having a spherical wall, the behavior of the powder in the device first collides with the stirring member at the bottom of the device. As a result, it receives a large centrifugal force and is driven toward the inner wall surface of the device, then reaches the top along the inner wall surface by the high-speed air flow generated by the high-speed rotation of the stirring member, and further descends from the top toward the rotation axis It is said that it will be carried on the stirring member on the high-speed airflow and will be driven out again, and the powder flowing by the high-speed airflow in this fluid stirring type mixing device will drop directly on the stirring member from the top of the device Therefore, blades with a plane perpendicular to the direction of rotation are said to be able to pass all the impact force to the powder as a component in the direction of rotation, which gives energy to advance immobilization. As cites collision with the powder that has fallen into the stirring member and the agitating member. However, since the behavior of the powder collides with the stirring member at the bottom of the apparatus, it receives a large centrifugal force and is driven out toward the inner wall surface of the apparatus, so there is much room for studying the relationship between the stirring member and the inner wall surface of the apparatus. was there.

  On the other hand, with respect to the peripheral speed shown in Patent Document 5, for example, a powerful force is applied to the processed material at a high peripheral speed of 5 to 200 m / s, and particle mixing, compounding, fusing, and surface modification are performed. In the apparatus, in order to perform these treatments, it is desirable to keep the clearance (gap) between the rotating stirring member and the mixing container (casing) minute, because the powder escape space is reduced. It is said to give a strong power.

  Specifically, in order to perform an appropriate treatment, the clearance between the casing, that is, the mixing container and the stirring member in the mixing container is preferably 0.05 to 7.5% of the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of the casing. Is preferably 0.75 to 3%, and more specifically, the clearance between the stirring member and the mixing container is preferably in the range of 0.3 to 50 mm. . However, there is no specific evidence that the clearance is desirably 0.75 to 3% of the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of the casing or a range of 0.3 to 50 mm, and the same kind is not shown. It shows only the general setting range of the device. Further, there is no description about the relationship between the material to be processed and the clearance, and there is a problem that the external additive cannot always be appropriately fixed when the clearance determining method is actually followed.

  As described above, there is room for further improvement in the processing method and apparatus for fixing or fusing the powder to the powder, and in particular, an apparatus for driving and fixing the surface charge control agent on the surface of the toner base particles. There was a need for further ingenuity.

JP-A 63-85756 JP-A-63-139366 JP-A-10-10781 JP-A-10-95855 JP 2005-270955 A JP 2004-77593 A

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to stably produce an electrophotographic toner in which the charge control agent particles are uniformly fixed at least near the surface of the toner base particles containing a release agent which is a low melting point substance and do not leave. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic toner production apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stable chargeability when electrophotographic toner is used in a copying machine, prevent filming contamination on a photoconductor, a developing roller, etc., and prevent a long-term spent on a carrier. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an electrophotographic toner capable of producing an electrophotographic toner exhibiting an excellent effect on copyability and the like.
Further, the object of the present invention is for electrophotography which has a stable charging property, prevents filming contamination on a photoconductor, a developing roller, etc., and exhibits an excellent effect such as long-term copying without causing a spent on a carrier. An object is to provide a toner, a developer, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method.

  In order to solve the above problems, a method for producing an electrophotographic toner, an electrophotographic toner, a developer, a toner-containing container, a process cartridge, an image forming method, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention are specifically described below. It has the technical features (1) to (24).

(1): A method for producing an electrophotographic toner in which a charge control agent is fixed to the surface of a toner base by a fluid agitation type mixing device, wherein the fluid agitation type mixing device includes a rotating shaft, a plurality of agitation members, A casing having a circular wall surface having a constant vertical distance from the rotating shaft to the inner wall, and a cooling jacket, and the plurality of stirring members include three or more different circular orbits. Provided on the rotating shaft so as to rotate on the surface, and each circular track has a diameter of 90 mm to 1000 mm and rotates at a peripheral speed of 10 to 150 m / s, and at least of the plurality of stirring members The clearance C [mm] between 1 and the circular wall surface satisfies the range of the following formula (1) with respect to the diameter D [mm] of the largest circular orbit among the circular orbits,
2.5 ≦ D ^1/2 /C<9.0 Expression (1)
The toner base includes at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, and has a weight average particle diameter D4 of 3 μm to 9 μm, and 100 parts by weight of the toner base and the charge control agent of 0.3 to An electrophotographic toner production method comprising producing an electrophotographic toner by stirring a treated product containing 1.0 part by weight within a range satisfying the following formula (2).
Tg-50 <T <Tg-15 Formula (2)
(However, T is the ambient temperature (° C.) in the flow stirring type mixing apparatus during stirring, and Tg is the glass transition temperature (° C.) of the toner base.)

(2) The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to (1), wherein the rotation shaft has a cooling mechanism.

(3): The plurality of stirring members include one or more feeding stirring members and one or more return stirring members, and the feeding stirring members are arranged in one direction in the axial direction of the rotation shaft. The processed material is fed, and the return stirring member returns the processed material in a direction opposite to one of the axial directions of the rotating shaft, for electrophotography according to (1) or (2) above A toner manufacturing method.

(4): Among the plurality of stirring members, two adjacent stirring members overlap each other at an axial position of the rotating shaft and are spaced apart from each other at a rotating position of the rotating shaft. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

(5) The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the casing has a cylindrical shape in the same axial direction as the rotation shaft.

(6) The method for producing a toner for electrophotography according to (5), wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

(7): The rotating shaft is parallel to the direction of gravity, and the plurality of stirring members are arranged so as to discharge the processed material spirally upward along the inner wall of the casing. The processed product released to the top of the casing is re-supplied to the bottom of the casing, and then released again spirally upward. The electrophotographic apparatus according to any one of the above (1) to (5), A toner manufacturing method.

(8) In the method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to (7), the stirring member has a diameter in a range of 65 to 90% of a portion where the inner diameter of the casing is maximum. is there.

(9) The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to (7) or (8), wherein the casing has a conical shape in the same axial direction as the rotation shaft.

(10): The stirring member disposed to face the circular wall surface across the clearance C has a concave portion on a surface facing the circular wall surface, and the clearance between the concave portion and the circular wall surface S is the method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of the above (1) to (9), which satisfies a range of the following formula (3).
(D1 / ² ) / S <2 Formula (3)

(11) The electrophotographic toner production method according to any one of (1) to (10) above, wherein the treated product further contains inorganic fine particles having a specific surface area diameter of 5 to 300 nm. is there.

(12): The method further includes the step of stirring the fine particles having a specific surface area of 5 to 300 nm together with the toner base and adhering to the surface of the toner base before stirring the treated product. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of 1) to (10).

(13): The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of (1) to (12) above, wherein a primary particle size of the charge control agent is 5 nm to 1000 nm.

(14) The method for producing a toner for electrophotography according to any one of (1) to (13), wherein the toner base has D4 / Dn of 1.25 or less.
(However, Dn is the number average particle diameter.)

(15) The electrophotographic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the toner base contains 3 to 15 parts by weight of a release agent with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. This is a manufacturing method for toner.

(16) The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the toner base has a glass transition temperature of 40 to 65 ° C.

(17): An electrophotographic toner obtained by the electrophotographic toner manufacturing method according to any one of (1) to (16) above.

(18): The electrophotographic toner according to (17), further including one or more kinds of particles having a volume average particle diameter that is 1/1000 or more and 1/10 or less of the volume average particle diameter of the toner base. This is an electrophotographic toner.

(19): A developer comprising the electrophotographic toner according to (17) or (18).

(20) The developer according to (19), further comprising a carrier.

(21): A toner-containing container filled with the electrophotographic toner according to (17) or (18).

(22): The electrostatic latent image carrier and the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier are developed using the electrophotographic toner described in (17) or (18) above. A process cartridge having developing means for forming a visible image.

(23): an electrostatic latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image is formed using the electrophotographic toner according to (17) or (18). A development step of developing to form a visible image; a transfer step of transferring the visible image to a recording medium; and a fixing step of fixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium. This is an image forming method.

(24): The electrostatic latent image carrier, the electrostatic latent image forming means for forming the electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image in the above (17) or (18) Development means for forming a visible image by developing with the electrophotographic toner described above, Transfer means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, and fixing for fixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium And an image forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, an electrophotographic toner capable of stably producing an electrophotographic toner in which the charge control agent particles are uniformly fixed at least near the surface of the toner base particles containing a release agent which is a low melting point substance and does not leave. A toner manufacturing method can be provided.
Further, according to the present invention, when toner is used in a copying machine, it has a stable charging property, prevents filming contamination on a photoconductor, a developing roller, etc. It is possible to provide a method for producing an electrophotographic toner capable of producing a toner exhibiting excellent effects.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, for electrophotography, which has a stable charging property, prevents filming contamination on a photoconductor, a developing roller, etc., and exhibits excellent effects such as long-term copying without causing a spent on a carrier. A toner, a developer, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method can be provided.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, a toner-filled container filled with the electrophotographic toner can be provided.

An electrophotographic toner manufacturing method according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing an electrophotographic toner in which a charge control agent is fixed to the surface of a toner base by a fluidized stirring type mixing device. A shaft, a plurality of stirring members, and a casing, the casing having a circular wall surface having a constant vertical distance from the rotating shaft to the inner wall, and a cooling jacket, and the plurality of stirring The member is provided on the rotation shaft so as to rotate on three or more different circular orbits, and rotates at a peripheral speed of 10 to 150 m / s in a range of 90 mm to 1000 mm in diameter of each circular orbit, The clearance C [mm] between at least one of the plurality of stirring members and the circular wall surface is expressed by the following formula (1) with respect to the diameter D [mm] of the largest circular orbit among the circular orbits. Meet the scope,
2.5 ≦ D ^1/2 /C<9.0 Expression (1)
The toner base includes at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, and has a weight average particle diameter D4 of 3 μm to 9 μm, and 100 parts by weight of the toner base and the charge control agent of 0.3 to An electrophotographic toner production method comprising producing an electrophotographic toner by stirring a treated product containing 1.0 part by weight within a range satisfying the following formula (2).
Tg-50 <T <Tg-15 Formula (2)
(However, T is the ambient temperature (° C.) in the flow stirring type mixing apparatus during stirring, and Tg is the glass transition temperature (° C.) of the toner base.)

  In the above formula (2), the atmosphere temperature T (° C.) in the flow stirring type mixing apparatus during stirring is preferably Tg−45 <T <Tg−20.

First, a fluidized stirring type mixing apparatus that can suitably carry out the method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a fluid agitation type mixing apparatus that can suitably carry out the electrophotographic toner manufacturing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a specific arrangement relationship between the stirring member and the clearance portion in the fluidized stirring type mixing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG.
Further, FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a uniform state of the shape of the stirring member in the fluid stirring type mixing apparatus shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a rotating shaft provided perpendicular to the direction of gravity, a plurality of stirring members provided on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft and positioned in different circular orbits, and a minute gap between the stirring members. And a horizontally-installed cylindrical casing having an inner peripheral portion positioned in a horizontal direction, and a fluid agitation type mixing device that stirs a processed material in the casing by the stirring member that moves as the rotating shaft rotates. Has been.

  Specifically, the fluid stirring type mixing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a rotating shaft 2 having a plurality of stirring members 3 provided on the outer peripheral portion at the center of a cylindrical casing 1 wrapped in a jacket 4. The inner wall 9 of the casing 1 has an inner peripheral portion that is located with a clearance 8 that satisfies the relationship of the above expression (1) with respect to the stirring member 3, and the casing 1 is moved by the stirring member 3 that moves as the rotary shaft 2 rotates. The processed product containing the toner base and the charge control agent is stirred. The rotary shaft 2 is supported on one side by a bearing portion 7 and is connected to a drive portion (not shown) constituted by a motor or the like. The raw material charging port 5 is provided at the upper portion of the casing 1 at the end on the bearing portion 7 side, for example, and the product discharge port 6 is provided at the lower end of the casing 1 opposite to the bearing portion 7 on the opposite end of the raw material charging port 5, for example. It has been.

  The rotating shaft 2 is supported only at one end side (left side in FIG. 1) in the axial direction, and the casing 1 is opened only at one end side (left side in FIG. 1) in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 2 and the other end side (FIG. 1). And on the right side). Further, the casing 1 has the rotating shaft 2 in an operating position (position in FIG. 1) that covers the space between the stirring member 3 and a non-operating position (not shown) that does not cover the space between the stirring member 3. It is configured to be movable along the axial direction.

  The casing 1 is supported by, for example, a guide rod 112 and a boss 113 and is movable along the axial direction of the rotary shaft 2. Further, the exhaust pipe 115 is provided in the casing 1 in order to release the pressure associated with the expansion of the air accompanying the temperature rise in the casing and to release the sealing air of the shaft seal portion (not shown) of the rotating shaft 2. It is preferable to comprise. The exhaust pipe is preferably provided with a filter 116 in order to prevent dust scattering.

  Here, the stirring member 3 will be described in further detail. The stirring member 3 is installed on three or more different circular orbits. For example, the stirring member 3a for feeding, the stirring member 3b for returning, and a horizontal stirring member (not shown; stirring member horizontal in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 2) Examples include a structure installed in combination and a structure in which only a horizontal stirring member is installed on each of three or more circular orbits. Here, “feeding” of the stirring member 3a for feeding indicates, for example, the function of the stirring member having a function of moving the powder in the right direction in FIG. 1, and reversely “returning” of the stirring member 3b for returning. The one having the function of moving the powder in the left direction in FIG. 1 is shown. When using feed or return stirring blades, be sure to place a return stirring blade in one place for each feed stirring blade. Preferably, the feed and the return are installed symmetrically on the rotation axis 2 so as to have a symmetrical center. Further, it is preferable to mix the same number of return and feed stirring blades on one circular orbit. Furthermore, it is good to mix a horizontal stirring member.

  By using the stirring blades for feeding and returning, the powder flow can be activated in the mixing tank inside the casing, and for example, aggregation and fusion in the clearance portion can be prevented. Of course, when the powder flow is sufficiently active with only the horizontal stirring member, the stirring member for feeding and returning may not be used.

  When the rotating shaft 2 of the fluidized stirring type mixing apparatus of the present embodiment is viewed from a position orthogonal to the axial direction, for example, the stirring member 3b (2) has an end position in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 2. The other stirring members 3a (1) and 3a (3) are positioned more inside the other stirring members 3a (1) and 3a (3) than the end positions of the other stirring members 3a (1) and 3a (3). In other words, when the extension lines L1 and L3 are drawn in the vertical direction from the end of the stirring member 3b (2), they are in a positional relationship overlapping with a part of the adjacent stirring members 3a (1) and 3a (3). The other stirring members 3a (1), 3a (3), 3b (4), 3a (5), and 3b (6) have the same positional relationship. When the stirring members 3a and 3b are in such a positional relationship, the powder enters deeply into the other stirring members 3a and 3b from the end of the stirring members 3a and 3b, and as a result, the force of the stirring members is reduced. Can be transmitted to powder strongly.

  In the present embodiment, the central axis (rotation axis) of rotation that holds the stirring member is on the same axis as the central axis of the circular cross section of the mixing tank having a circular cross section, and is located on three or more different circular orbits. A rotating body having a stirring member, and at least a resin, a colorant, and a release agent in a fluid stirring type mixing device in which the clearance between the stirring member and the inner wall of the device has a fixed relationship with the diameter of the stirring member. The toner control agent and the charge control agent are contained in a uniform state at a stirring process temperature (ambient temperature in the fluid stirring type mixing device) specified by the relationship with the glass transition temperature of the resin and a specific stirring speed. It is a fluid stirring type mixing device characterized by adhering (driving).

  In order to properly disperse the toner powder and the charge control material in the mixing tank as described above, at least three circular orbits of the stirring member are necessary. If the circular orbit is 2 or less, unevenness of the processed material occurs in the apparatus, the uniformity of dispersion necessary for the method for producing an electrophotographic toner cannot be obtained, and a compressive shear force is locally applied in the apparatus, Further, since the dispersion does not proceed sufficiently, a good quality toner cannot be obtained.

In order to efficiently fix the charge control agent on the resin powder having a volume average particle diameter D4 of 3 to 9 μm by stirring and mixing, each circular orbit of the stirring member is in a range of 90 mm to 1000 mm, and a plurality of The relationship between the clearance C [mm] between at least one of the stirring members and the inner wall of the fluid stirring type mixing device and the maximum diameter D [mm] of the stirring member is such that D ^1/2 / C is 2.5 or more. It must be less than zero.

  The shape of the agitating member is not particularly limited, such as a plate shape, groove shape, stirrup shape, fin shape, or other paddle shape, and the shape of the mixing device can be a circular shape, a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, etc. Then there are no other restrictions. The stirring member is preferably rotated at a peripheral speed of 10 to 150 m / s, and more preferably rotated at a peripheral speed of 10 to 120 m / s.

  In other words, the flow stirring type that can appropriately control the centrifugal force and the impact force caused by the acceleration and collision of the particles due to the stirring by the diameter of the appropriate stirring member and mixing tank, the appropriate rotational peripheral speed, and the appropriate clearance. A mixing device is provided to produce good quality toner.

  This is because the charge control agent is fixed to the toner base particles by the fluid stirring type mixing device including the rotating body having the stirring member, the collision force between the stirring member and the toner base particles, and the stirring member and the inner wall of the stirring container. This is because the charge control agent is buried or spread on the surface of the toner base particles by the compaction and shearing force applied to the toner base particles in the clearance portion. To obtain such an action, the stirring member, the inner wall of the stirring container, Indicates that the clearance must be within the proper range.

  According to the invention described in Patent Document 5, the clearance between the mixing container and the stirring member in the mixing container (that is, the stirring member) is 0.05 to 7.5% of the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of the casing, preferably 0.5. It is said that it is desirable to make it 75 to 3%, and as a more specific value, it is desirable that the clearance between the stirring member and the mixing container is in the range of 0.3 to 50 mm. However, there is a problem that the charge control agent cannot be fixed properly even in accordance with such a clearance determination method. This is because the conventionally proposed clearance setting range merely indicates a general settable range of the apparatus, and at least does not indicate an appropriate range for fixing the charge control agent.

That is, according to the conventionally proposed clearance range, there are the following drawbacks. As a specific value of the clearance setting range, 0.3 to 50 mm is shown. On the other hand, the clearance is shown as a value proportional to the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of the casing. This suggests that the clearance is a value that depends on the size of the inner peripheral diameter of the casing (or the diameter of the stirring member) in the first place, and that it is not determined regardless of the value of the diameter. .
For example, in a cylindrical mixing device, the optimum clearance setting value is naturally different between a device having a casing inner diameter D of 1500 mm and a device having a diameter D of 500 mm. Therefore, it can be said that the conventionally proposed clearance range of 0.3 to 50 mm merely defines a common-sense range within the range of the device scale assumed by the device designer.

  As a specific example, according to the range proposed in the past, when a device having a casing inner peripheral diameter D of 1000 mm is used in a cylindrical mixing device, an appropriate clearance is 0.50 to 75 mm (0.05 of D). -7.5%), preferably 7.5-30 mm (0.75-3.0% of D), and when a device having a casing inner diameter D of 300 mm is used, an appropriate clearance is obtained. Is determined to be 0.15 to 22.5 (0.05 to 7.5% of D), preferably 2.25 to 9 mm (0.75 to 3.0% of D). However, when considering the specific value of 0.3 to 50 mm, when the casing inner diameter becomes small (for example, in the case of an inner diameter of 300 mm), the clearance needs to be set at a larger ratio with respect to the casing inner diameter. When the casing inner diameter increases (for example, 1000 mm), the clearance needs to be set at a smaller ratio with respect to the casing inner diameter. In these intermediate scales, the clearance may be large or small. These are both rational and contradictory.

  On the other hand, the clearance required for carrying out the method of appropriately fixing the charge control agent to the toner base proposed in the present invention is an apparatus having a maximum diameter D of the stirring member of 1000 mm (for example, a cylindrical mixing apparatus). (E.g., equivalent to a device having a casing inner diameter of about 1000 mm), the appropriate clearance is 3.52 to 12.6 mm, and when the device having the maximum diameter D of the stirring member is 300 mm, the appropriate clearance is When the maximum diameter (inner diameter of the casing) of the stirring member is increased, the clearance is increased. When the diameter is decreased, the clearance is decreased. These clearance setting values are in a range suitable for fixing the charge control material to the toner base, and naturally show a narrower range than the conventionally proposed range.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, as described above, an appropriate diameter of the circular orbit of the stirring member is determined. By setting the diameter to an appropriate range, the centrifugal force accompanying rotation and the compression / shear effect in the clearance portion can be maintained in an appropriate state. In the case of the electrophotographic toner as in the present invention, the diameter of the circular orbit of the stirring member needs to be 90 mm or more for the dispersion fluidization in the mixing device, and a sufficient compressive shear force is given to the toner powder. The diameter of the circular orbit of the stirring member needs to be 1000 mm or less. More preferably, the diameter of the circular orbit of the stirring member is 120 mm or more and 750 mm or less.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that it has a double structure having a jacket 4 on the outside of the apparatus, and a cooling medium is allowed to flow.

When stirring and mixing at high speed, various powers such as impact force, friction force, and compression shear force are applied to the powder, and these energies are released as thermal energy, so that the temperature of the powder, that is, the toner particles rises. If the temperature of the particles rises too much, some of the toner base particles are melted or the release agent is exposed, which adversely affects the quality.
In order to suppress such heat generation, it is necessary to take a double structure having a jacket 4 on the outside of the apparatus and to flow a cooling heat medium.

  In the present embodiment, the central axis of rotation that holds the stirring member is provided with a cooling mechanism. Usually, the rotating shaft is connected to a portion or mechanism that generates heat, such as a motor or a bearing, and the rotating shaft is heated by heat transfer from the portion or mechanism that generates heat. As a result, the toner is fused to the rotating shaft, or the heat is transferred from the rotating shaft to the inside of the mixing tank by heat transfer or radiation, so that the temperature inside the mixing tank rises and the toner is fused or blocked. May trigger. By providing the cooling shaft with the cooling mechanism, it is possible to suppress problems such as the above-mentioned fusion.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is desirable to have the following configuration regarding a more specific structure of the inside of the casing and the stirring member.

  In this embodiment, the plurality of stirring members include one or more feeding stirring members and one or more returning stirring members, and the feeding stirring member is one direction in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. And the return stirring member returns the processed material in a direction opposite to one of the axial directions of the rotating shaft.

  By adding the feed and return functions to the stirring member in this way, the movement path of the processed material in the casing becomes complicated and long, and as a result, the force of the stirring member can be transmitted to the powder more strongly.

  Further, the stirring member located at one end in the axial direction of the rotating shaft is formed in a feeding stirring member that sends a processed material from one end to the other end in the axial direction, and is positioned at the other end in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. It is desirable that the stirring member to be formed is a return stirring member that returns the processed material from the other end in the axial direction to one end.

  With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the movement of the processed material toward the both end portions of the rotating shaft, which is difficult for the stirring member to act, and as a result, it is possible to prevent the generated processed material from being discharged without receiving the stirring operation.

  Still further, in the present embodiment, among the plurality of stirring members, two adjacent stirring members are overlapped at the axial position of the rotating shaft and are spaced apart from each other at the rotating position of the rotating shaft. It is characterized by being.

  By maintaining such a positional relationship of the agitating member, the processed material in the casing agitated by the agitating member enters deeply into the other agitating member adjacent from the end of the agitating member, resulting in the force of the agitating member. Can be transmitted strongly to the powder.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the casing has a cylindrical shape in the same axial direction as the rotating shaft.
By maintaining the positional relationship between the casing and the rotating shaft, that is, the stirring member in this way, mixing and shearing can be applied at more parts in the casing, so that processing can be performed efficiently and cooling can be performed. The cooling action by the jacket can be efficiently applied to the powder.

In the present embodiment, the following configuration is further preferable.
Preferably, the rotating shaft includes a rotating shaft, a plurality of stirring members disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft, and a casing having an inner peripheral portion positioned with a minute gap with respect to the stirring member. A stirring apparatus that stirs the processed material in the casing by the stirring member that moves with rotation of the casing, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the casing has a diameter that is not more than twice the outer peripheral diameter of the rotating shaft. It is good to do.

  When the relationship between the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of the casing and the outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft is restricted in this way, the space where the force acts on the processed material in the casing is limited, and as a result, the force of the stirring member is strongly transmitted to the powder. be able to.

In this embodiment, the rotation axis is perpendicular to the direction of gravity.
By maintaining the positional relationship between the mixing tank and the rotating shaft, that is, the stirring member, the powder can be processed more uniformly.

  The horizontal or vertical in the present invention may be approximately horizontal or vertical, and a deviation of about 0 to 5 ° from the horizontal or vertical is allowed as an error from the functional aspect of the apparatus. However, from an industrial point of view, it is desirable that the blur is small because of the ease of designing the rotating shaft and the rotating body.

Further, in the present embodiment, the stirring member positioned with a minute gap C with respect to the inner peripheral portion of the casing has a concave portion facing the inner peripheral portion of the casing, and the clearance between the concave portion and the inner peripheral portion of the casing is S [ mm], (D ^1/2 ) / S is smaller than 2.

  By adopting this configuration, it is possible to effectively apply and disperse the shearing force in the clearance between the stirring member and the inner peripheral portion of the casing.

  An example of the stirring member having a recess is shown in FIG. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration in the rotation direction of the stirring member provided with two recesses 3c, and FIG. 4B shows the configuration in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the stirring member provided with two recesses 3c. FIG.

  When the scale of the apparatus is increased, it is necessary to employ a large stirring member or increase the number of stirring members. However, increasing the number of stirring members may be uneconomical due to an increase in the number of components and an increase in the number of holding parts for the stirring members.

  On the other hand, when an agitating member exceeding the appropriate size is used, the action of dividing the powder layer due to the movement of the agitating member is weakened, or the shearing force applied to the powder layer in the clearance portion between the agitating member and the casing inner peripheral portion There is a problem in that, for example, the accompanying frictional heat is concentrated locally, so that it is easy to cause fusion. In addition, the upper limit of the appropriate size of the stirring blade is greatly affected by the powder physical properties and the operating conditions of the mixer, so it is difficult to determine.

Therefore, for one stirring member, the substantial stirring member may be divided into small parts by providing the working part and the non-working part at a portion of the stirring member facing the inner peripheral portion of the casing. That is, it is only necessary to provide a recess in a portion of the stirring member that faces the inner peripheral portion of the casing.
The ratio of the recesses is preferably 15 to 50%, more preferably 20 to 40% of the portion where the stirring member faces the inner periphery of the casing.

  And in this Embodiment, 5-300 nm inorganic fine particles are mixed with a charge control agent, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. By mixing the inorganic fine particles of 5 to 300 nm with the charge control agent, the fluidity and dispersibility of the toner base and the charge control agent particles during mixing are improved, so that a uniform compressive shear force is given to the toner powder. In addition, since the particle groups are smoothly dispersed immediately after the compression shear, the cooling proceeds promptly. As a result, fusion and aggregation can be prevented, and furthermore, a high quality image can be obtained. In addition, the method for producing an electrophotographic toner of the present invention may have a two-stage mixing process in which a toner base and the inorganic fine particles are mixed in advance and then mixed with a charge control agent.

  The inorganic fine particles are not particularly limited. For example, known resin particles, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silica sand, clay , Mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, bengara, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and the like.

  As an electrophotographic toner, it is known that a flow aid needs to be mixed and adhered in order to immobilize a charge control agent to increase charging ability and further improve fluidity. However, the reason for this in the present configuration is different from these, and is necessary for fixing the charge control material. The amount of inorganic fine particles added to the toner base is preferably 0.01 to 2.0% by weight.

(Measurement method of particle diameter)
Here, the particle diameter evaluation method in the present invention will be described. The evaluation of the particle diameter can be applied to the present invention as long as it is a known evaluation method, but it is preferably performed by, for example, a Coulter counter method.

  As an apparatus for measuring the particle size distribution of toner particles by the Coulter counter method, there are Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (both manufactured by Coulter). The measurement method is described below.

  First, 0.1 to 5 ml of a surfactant (preferably polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of an aqueous electrolytic solution. Here, the electrolytic solution is a solution prepared by preparing a 1% NaCl aqueous solution using first grade sodium chloride. For example, ISOTON-II (manufactured by Coulter) can be used. Here, 2 to 20 mg of a measurement sample is further added. The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the measurement device is used to measure the volume and number of toner particles or toner using a 100 μm aperture as an aperture. Volume distribution and number distribution are calculated. From the obtained distribution, the weight average particle diameter (D4) and the number average particle diameter (Dn) of the toner can be obtained.

  As channels, 2.00 to less than 2.52 μm; 2.52 to less than 3.17 μm; 3.17 to less than 4.00 μm; 4.00 to less than 5.04 μm; 5.04 to less than 6.35 μm; 6 Less than 35 to 8.00 μm; less than 8.00 to less than 10.08 μm; less than 10.08 to less than 12.70 μm; less than 12.70 to less than 16.00 μm; less than 16.00 to less than 20.20 μm; Uses 13 channels of less than 40 μm; 25.40 to less than 32.00 μm; 32.00 to less than 40.30 μm, and targets particles having a particle size of 2.00 μm to less than 40.30 μm.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that D4 / Dn which is a quotient of the number average diameter Dn of the weight average particle diameter D4 of the toner base for electrophotography is 1.25 or less. When D4 / Dn is 1.25 or more, since the particle size distribution of the toner base is broad, the individual particle size is uneven in the compressive shear force applied to each toner base particle applied at the clearance portion of the mixing device. Therefore, the charge control agent that is homogeneous for each particle cannot be fixed, and the quality is affected, for example, fog is generated. Even smaller D4 / Dn allows uniform processing, but substantially no improvement can be observed even if D4 / Dn is 1.1 or less. Therefore, considering economic and productive aspects, D4 / There is no need to extremely reduce the value of Dn.

(Measurement method of glass transition temperature Tg)
Further, Tg in the present invention will be described. Tg in the present invention is a glass transition point, and is specifically determined by the following procedure (through temperature changes in the order of temperature rising condition 1, temperature falling condition 1 and temperature rising condition 2). Using Shimadzu TA-60WS and DSC-60 as measuring devices, the measurement was performed under the following measurement conditions.

〔Measurement condition〕
Sample container: Aluminum sample pan (with lid)
Sample amount: 5mg
Reference: Aluminum sample pan (alumina 10mg)
Atmosphere: Nitrogen (flow rate 50ml / min)
Temperature condition (temperature increase condition 1)
Starting temperature: 20 ° C
Temperature increase rate: 10 ° C / min
End temperature: 150 ° C
Holding time: None (Cooling condition 1)
Temperature drop: 10 ° C / min
End temperature: 20 ° C
Holding time: None (Temperature rise condition 2)
Temperature increase rate: 10 ° C / min
End temperature: 150 ° C

  The measurement results were analyzed using the data analysis software (TA-60, version 1.52) manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation. The analysis method is to specify a range of ± 5 ° C centering on the point showing the maximum peak on the lowest temperature side of the DrDSC curve, which is the DSC differential curve of the second temperature rise, and use the peak analysis function of the analysis software to determine the peak temperature. Ask. Next, the maximum endothermic temperature of the DSC curve is determined using the peak analysis function of the analysis software in the range of the peak temperature + 5 ° C. and −5 ° C. in the DSC curve. The temperature shown here corresponds to the glass transition point Tg.

  In the electrophotographic toner of the present invention, the toner base preferably has a glass transition temperature of 40 to 65 ° C. In view of the recent increase in speed, a lower temperature is more preferable.

(Charge control agent)
Known charge control agents can be used in the present invention.
Examples of such dyes include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, chromium-containing metal complex dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxyamines, quaternary ammonium salts (fluorine-modified quaternary ammonium salts). ), Alkylamide, phosphorus simple substance or compound, tungsten simple substance or compound, fluorine-based activator, salicylic acid metal salt, salicylic acid derivative metal salt, and the like. Specifically, Nitronine-based dye Bontron 03, quaternary ammonium salt Bontron P-51, metal-containing azo dye Bontron S-34, oxynaphthoic acid metal complex E-82, salicylic acid metal complex E- 84, E-89 of a phenol-based condensate (manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), TP-302 of a quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex, TP-415 (manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium Copy charge PSY VP2038 of salt, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge of quaternary ammonium salt NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex (Nippon Carlit), copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone Azo pigments, sulfonate group, carboxyl group, and polymer compounds having a functional group such as a quaternary ammonium salt.

The charge control agent used for the adhesion treatment on the surface of the toner base particles in the fluid stirring type mixing apparatus in the present embodiment is that the primary particle diameter is 5 to 1000 nm. More preferably, it is 10-500 nm, More preferably, it is 10-300 nm.
If the primary particle diameter is smaller than 5 nm, the mass is too small and the mixture tends to float inside the stirring device, making the adhesion treatment difficult. In the present invention, since the compressive shear force in the clearance portion is strong, the primary particles of the coarse charge control agent can be worn out and spread, so the primary particle diameter of the charge control agent is larger than that of the conventional mixer. There is room to be on the coarse side. However, if the primary particle diameter is larger than 1000 nm, the adhesion cross-sectional area with respect to the surface area of the toner base particles is too large, so that it may not be sufficiently adhered and may be released, affecting the quality.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the fluid agitation type mixing apparatus that can suitably carry out the electrophotographic toner manufacturing method according to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation axis is parallel to the direction of gravity, and the plurality of stirring members are arranged to discharge the processed material spirally upward along the inner wall of the casing. The processed product released upward in the shape is re-supplied to the bottom of the casing and then released upward in a spiral shape.

  That is, a plurality of agitating members for discharging the processed material spirally upward along the inner wall of the casing are attached to a rotating shaft installed in parallel to the direction of gravity, and the processed material released spirally upward by the rotation of the stirring member Is a fluidized stirring type mixing device having a structure in which the kinetic energy is reduced by moving the sample to the top of the casing and the processed product is re-supplied to the stirring member at the bottom of the casing.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is desirable to have a structure having a stirring member having a diameter of 65 to 90% of the inner diameter of the portion where the inner diameter of the casing is maximized.

  When the stirring member rotates with a predetermined clearance from the inner wall surface of the mixing device, toner base particles and surface treatment agent particles such as a charge control agent (both particles are collectively referred to as powder) in the casing. As a result, the surface treatment agent particles adhere to and are fixed to the surface of the toner base particles, and the desired toner is manufactured. However, the toner that has been fixed at the clearance portion is compressed and rubbed. As the temperature rises due to this, there is a risk that the powder will be fused as it is, so that the powder is quickly put on the airflow from the rotating body (stirring member) on the inner wall of the casing by the stirring action of the radially installed stirring member. After heading, it flows upward along the inner wall of the casing, and then flows back from the vicinity of the apex of the inner wall of the casing to the vicinity of the bottom of the rotating body, and is redispersed while being cooled.

  Therefore, it is desirable that the present embodiment has a predetermined clearance and a stirring mechanism that generates a powder recirculation trajectory as described above. In particular, the wall surface of the apparatus in which the powder is mixed and stirred for reflux. One of the most preferable forms is a conical shape.

The flow stirring type mixing apparatus in the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
The mixing apparatus includes a conical mixing tank 301, a stirring member 305 adjacent to the conical mixing tank inner wall 306 through a certain clearance, a support portion 304 that supports the stirring member, and a rotating shaft 303 that serves as the center of rotation. Is done. The stirring member is given a rotation speed from the rotating shaft through the support portion, and when the compression and shearing action is given to the powder between the inner wall of the mixing tank, the powder is dispersed and fluidized. A powder flow as shown by the arrows is formed. A dome-like shape as shown in FIG. 5 is preferable for the upper part of the conical mixing tank because the powder flow is not hindered and smooth.

  When two or more kinds of powders are mixed by the stirring member using the fluid stirring type mixing device having the conical wall surface as described above, the behavior of the powder in the device first collides with the stirring member at the bottom of the device. As a result of receiving a large centrifugal force, it is driven toward the inner wall surface of the device, compressed and sheared by the clearance between the stirring member and the inner wall of the casing, and then internalized by the high-speed airflow generated by the high-speed rotation of the stirring member in the next stage and thereafter. Along the wall surface, it reaches the top, and is carried on a stirring member disposed at the bottom of the casing on a high-speed air stream that descends from the top toward the rotating shaft, and is ejected again.

(Electrophotographic toner)
In the electrophotographic toner according to the present invention, the binder resin is not particularly limited, but is a homopolymer of styrene such as polystyrene, poly (p-chlorostyrene), polyvinyltoluene or the like; and styrene- (p- Chlorostyrene) copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene- (α-chloromethyl methacrylate) ) Copolymer, Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, Styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymer, Styrene-vinyl ethyl ether copolymer, Styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, Styrene-butadiene copolymer, Styrene-isoprene copolymer Polymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-ind Styrene copolymers such as copolymers; polyvinyl chloride; phenol resin; natural modified phenolic resin; natural resin modified maleic acid resin; acrylic resin; methacrylic resin; polyvinyl acetate; silicone resin; A furan resin; an epoxy resin; a xylene resin; a polyvinyl butyral; a terpene resin; a coumarone indene resin; and a petroleum resin, among which a styrene copolymer or a polyester resin is preferable.

  In the present invention, the one or more additives having a melting point lower than the 1/2 method softening point of the binder resin in the toner base preferably contain a wax. Wax is used to ensure low-temperature fixability and releasability. The wax is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a wax having a carbonyl group, a polyolefin wax, and a long-chain hydrocarbon, and a wax having a carbonyl group is preferable.

  Examples of the wax having a carbonyl group include polyalkanoic acid esters, polyalkanol esters, polyalkanoic acid amides, polyalkylamides, dialkyl ketones, and the like, and polyalkanoic acid esters are preferable. Examples of polyalkanoic acid esters include carnauba wax, montan wax, trimethylolpropane tribehenate, pentaerythritol tetrabehenate, pentaerythritol diacetate dibehenate, glycerin tribehenate, 1,18-octadecanediol. Examples include distearate. Examples of the polyalkanol ester include tristearyl trimellitic acid, distearyl maleate, and the like. Examples of the polyalkanoic acid amide include dibehenyl amide. Examples of the polyalkylamide include trimellitic acid tristearylamide. Examples of dialkyl ketones include distearyl ketone.

Examples of the polyolefin wax include polyethylene wax and polypropylene wax.
Examples of the long chain hydrocarbon include paraffin wax and sazol wax.

  The melting point of the wax is not particularly limited, but is preferably 40 to 160 ° C, more preferably 50 to 120 ° C, and particularly preferably 60 to 90 ° C. If the melting point is less than 40 ° C., the wax may adversely affect the heat-resistant storage stability, and if it exceeds 160 ° C., cold offset may occur during low-temperature fixing.

  In the electrophotographic toner of the present invention, the toner base preferably contains 3 to 15 parts by weight of a release agent with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

  The circularity of the toner base is preferably 0.93 or more and 1.0 or less, more preferably 0.94 or more and 1.0 or less. More desirably, it is 0.96 or more and 1.0 or less. The higher the degree of circularity, the easier and more uniform the charge control agent is immobilized.

  The circularity of the toner base is measured by a flow type particle image analyzer. For example, the measurement using the flow type particle image analyzer can be performed using, for example, a flow type particle image analyzer FPIA-2000 manufactured by Sysmex Corporation.

The measurement is performed by removing fine dust through a filter and, as a result, in 10 ml of water having 10 or less particles in a measurement range (for example, an equivalent circle diameter of 0.60 μm or more and less than 159.21 μm) in 10 ⁻³ cm ³ of water. Add a few drops of a nonionic surfactant (preferably Contaminone N manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), add 5 mg of a measurement sample, and under conditions of 20 kHz and 50 W / 10 cm ^{3 with} an ultrasonic dispersing device STM UH-50. performs dispersion treatment for 1 minute, further, a sample dispersion liquid of the total particle concentration of the measurement sample subjected to dispersion treatment for 5 minutes 4000 to 8000 pieces ^{/ 10} -3 cm ³ (as the target particles measuring circle equivalent diameter range) The particle size distribution of particles having an equivalent circle diameter of 0.60 μm or more and less than 159.21 μm is measured.

  The sample dispersion liquid is passed through a flow path (expanded along the flow direction) of a flat and flat transparent flow cell (thickness: about 200 μm). In order to form an optical path that passes across the thickness of the flow cell, the strobe and the CCD camera are mounted on the flow cell so as to be opposite to each other. While the sample dispersion is flowing, strobe light is irradiated at 1/30 second intervals to obtain an image of the particles flowing through the flow cell, so that each particle has a certain range parallel to the flow cell. Photographed as a two-dimensional image. From the area of the two-dimensional image of each particle, the diameter of a circle having the same area is calculated as the equivalent circle diameter.

  In about 1 minute, the equivalent circle diameter of 1200 or more particles can be measured, and the number based on the equivalent circle diameter distribution and the ratio (number%) of particles having a prescribed equivalent circle diameter can be measured. As shown in Table 1, the results (frequency% and cumulative%) can be obtained by dividing the range of 0.06-400 μm into 226 channels (divided into 30 channels for one octave). In actual measurement, particles are measured in the range where the equivalent circle diameter is 0.60 μm or more and less than 159.21 μm.

  In the following, a more desirable mode for using toner particles, on which the charge control agent produced by the apparatus and method according to the present invention is immobilized, as a toner in an electrophotographic process will be described.

  The toner of the present invention preferably further includes one or more kinds of particles having a volume average particle diameter of 1/1000 to 1/10 of the volume average particle diameter of the resin particles. Examples of such particles include, but are not limited to, known resin particles, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, and silica sand. Clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, bengara, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and the like.

  The primary particle size of such particles is preferably 5 nm to 2 μm, and more preferably 5 nm to 500 nm. Moreover, it is preferable that the specific surface area by such BET method of a particle | grain is 20-500 m <2> / g. Further, the content of such particles in the toner is preferably 0.01 to 5.0% by weight.

(Developer)
The developer of the present invention includes the toner of the present invention and may further include other components such as a carrier. The developer of the present invention may be either a one-component developer or a two-component developer. However, when used in a high-speed printer or the like corresponding to the recent improvement in information processing speed, it is possible to improve the service life. And a two-component developer is preferred.

  In the case of a one-component developer, even if the balance of toner is performed, there is little fluctuation in the particle size of the toner, and toner filming on the developing roller and toner on a member such as a blade for thinning the toner Can be suppressed. As a result, good and stable developability and images can be obtained even in the long-term use (stirring) of the developing device. Further, in the case of a two-component developer, even if toner balance is performed over a long period of time, there is little fluctuation in the particle diameter of the toner, and good and stable developability can be obtained even with long-term agitation in the developing device.

  The carrier is not particularly limited, but preferably has a core material and a resin layer covering the core material. The core material is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include 50 to 90 emu / g manganese-strontium (Mn—Sr) -based material, manganese-magnesium (Mn—Mg) -based material, and the like. In terms of ensuring, highly magnetized materials such as iron powder of 100 emu / g or more and magnetite of 75 to 120 emu / g are preferable. In addition, since the contact with the photoconductor in which the toner is in a spiked state can be weakened and it is advantageous for high image quality, a copper-zinc (Cu—Zn) -based material of 30 to 80 emu / g, etc. The weakly magnetized material is preferred. Two or more of these may be used in combination.

  The volume average particle diameter (D50) of the core material is preferably 10 to 200 μm, and more preferably 40 to 100 μm. When D50 is less than 10 μm, since the carrier contains a lot of fine powder, the magnetization per particle may be lowered and carrier scattering may occur. On the other hand, if D50 exceeds 200 μm, the specific surface area may decrease and toner scattering may occur, and the reproducibility of the solid portion may decrease particularly in a full color having a large solid portion.

  The material of the resin layer is not particularly limited. For example, amino resin, polyvinyl resin, polystyrene resin, halogenated olefin resin, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyethylene resin, polyvinyl fluoride resin, polyvinyl fluoride resin, and the like. Vinylidene fluoride resin, polytrifluoroethylene resin, polyhexafluoropropylene resin, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic monomer, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and vinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride and non- Fluoroterpolymers such as terpolymers of fluorinated monomers, silicone resins and the like can be mentioned, but two or more kinds may be used in combination.

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

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

  The resin layer can be formed by, for example, uniformly applying a coating solution in which a silicone resin or the like is dissolved in a solvent to the surface of the core material by a known coating method, drying, and baking. Examples of the application method include a dipping method, a spray method, and a brush coating method. Although it does not specifically limit as a solvent, For example, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cellosolve, butyl acetate etc. are mentioned. The baking method is not particularly limited and may be any of an external heating method and an internal heating method, for example, a method using a fixed electric furnace, a fluid electric furnace, a rotary electric furnace, a burner furnace, Examples include a method using a microwave.

  The resin layer in the carrier is preferably 0.01 to 5.0% by weight. When the resin layer is less than 0.01% by weight, a uniform resin layer may not be formed on the surface of the core material. When the resin layer exceeds 5.0% by weight, the resin layer becomes too thick and granulates between carriers. May occur, and a uniform carrier may not be obtained.

  The content of the carrier in the two-component developer is preferably 90 to 98% by weight, and more preferably 93 to 97% by weight. The mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier is preferably 1 to 10 parts by weight of the toner with respect to 100 parts by weight of the carrier.

  The developer of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of filming on the photoconductor, and can stably form an excellent clear and high-quality image with little variation in image unevenness. The developer of the present invention can be suitably used for image formation by various known electrophotographic methods such as a magnetic one-component development method, a non-magnetic one-component development method, and a two-component development method. It can be used for containers, process cartridges, image forming apparatuses and image forming methods.

(Toner container)
In the toner-containing container of the present invention, the toner of the present invention is accommodated in the container, but the developer of the present invention may be accommodated in the container. In this manner, by filling the container with the toner of the present invention, a container containing toner is supplied to the user separately from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, recently, a sales method for supplying a shortage of toner to a container at hand of a user has been considered.

  Although a container is not specifically limited, It is preferable to have a container main body and a cap. As the container main body, conventionally used containers such as a container having an agitator therein, a plastic container having a spiral wall structure, and a cartridge type container can be used. At this time, the size, shape, structure, material and the like of the container body are not particularly limited, but the container body is preferably cylindrical. Further, the container body has spiral irregularities (spiral part) formed on the inner peripheral surface, and the toner as the contents can be transferred to the discharge port side by rotating, and a part of the spiral part or Those that all have bellows function are particularly preferred.

  The material of the container body is not particularly limited, but those having good dimensional accuracy are preferable. For example, polyester resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polystyrene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyacrylic acid, polycarbonate resin, ABS resin, polyacetal Examples of the resin include resins.

  The toner-containing container of the present invention can be easily stored and transported, and has excellent handleability, so that the toner can be replenished by being detachably attached to the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

(Process cartridge)
The process cartridge of the present invention develops an electrostatic latent image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image and the electrostatic latent image carried on the electrostatic latent image carrier using the toner of the present invention, The image forming apparatus includes at least a developing unit that forms a visible image, and may further include a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a cleaning unit, a discharging unit, and the like as necessary.

  The developing means includes at least a toner container that contains the toner or developer of the present invention, and a developer carrier that carries and transports the toner or developer contained in the toner container. A layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the toner may be provided.

  The process cartridge of the present invention can be detachably provided in an electrophotographic apparatus, a facsimile, a printer, or the like, and is preferably detachably provided in an image forming apparatus of the present invention described later.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the process cartridge of the present invention. The process cartridge shown in FIG. 9 includes a photosensitive member (electrostatic latent image carrier) 101 and includes a charging unit 102, a developing unit 104, a transfer unit 108, and a cleaning unit 107. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 103 denotes exposure by exposure means, and 105 denotes a recording medium.

  As the photoreceptor 101, the same one as the image forming apparatus of the present invention described later can be used. As the charging means 102, an arbitrary charging member is used.

  Next, the image forming process using the process cartridge shown in FIG. 9 will be described. The photoconductor 101 is charged by the charging unit 102 and exposed by the exposure unit (not shown) 103 while rotating in the direction of the arrow. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the exposure image is formed on the surface. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing unit 104, and the toner image is transferred to the recording medium 105 by the transfer unit 108 and printed out. Next, the surface of the photoreceptor 101 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning unit 107, and further, the charge is removed by the charge removing unit (not shown), and the above operation is repeated again.

(Image forming apparatus, image forming method)
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured by integrally combining a latent electrostatic image bearing member and components such as a developing unit and a cleaning unit as a process cartridge, and the process cartridge is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body. May be. In addition, at least one of a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer or separation unit, and a cleaning unit is integrally supported together with an electrostatic latent image carrier to form a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. It is good also as a structure which can be attached or detached using guide means, such as a rail of a forming apparatus main body.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention has at least an electrostatic latent image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit. You may further have means, such as a means, a recycling means, and a control means.

  The image forming method of the present invention has at least an electrostatic latent image forming step, a developing step, a transfer step, and a fixing step, and, if necessary, a static elimination step, a cleaning step, a recycling step, a control step, etc. You may have a process further.

  The image forming method of the present invention can be carried out using the image forming apparatus of the present invention. That is, the electrostatic latent image forming step can be performed using an electrostatic latent image forming unit, the development step can be performed using a developing unit, and the transfer step can be performed using a transfer unit. The fixing step can be performed using a fixing unit, and the same applies to other steps.

  The electrostatic latent image forming step is a step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier. Further, the material, shape, structure, size and the like of the electrostatic latent image carrier (sometimes referred to as an electrophotographic photosensitive member or a photosensitive member) are not particularly limited, but a drum-shaped photosensitive member is preferable and amorphous. Examples thereof include inorganic photoreceptors such as silicon and selenium, and organic photoreceptors such as polysilane and phthalopolymethine. Among these, an amorphous silicon photoreceptor is preferable in terms of long life.

  As an amorphous silicon photoconductor, for example, a support is heated to 50 to 400 ° C., and a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, an ion plating method, a thermal CVD method, a photo CVD method, a plasma CVD method, or the like is applied on the support. A photoconductor in which a photoconductive layer made of amorphous silicon is formed by a film forming method can be used. Among these, it is preferable to form an amorphous silicon deposited film on the support by plasma CVD, that is, the source gas is decomposed by direct current, high frequency or microwave glow discharge.

  The electrostatic latent image can be formed, for example, by charging the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier and then exposing it like an image, and can be performed by electrostatic latent image forming means. The electrostatic latent image forming unit includes, for example, a charger that is a charging unit that charges the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier, and an exposure unit that is an exposure unit that exposes the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier imagewise. Have at least.

  Charging can be performed, for example, by applying a voltage to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier using a charger. The charger is not particularly limited. For example, a known contact charger including a conductive or semiconductive roller, brush, film, rubber blade, etc., non-contact charging using corona discharge such as corotron and scorotron. For example.

  As the charger, a magnetic brush, a fur brush, or the like can be used, and can be selected according to the specifications and form of the image forming apparatus. The magnetic brush is constituted by, for example, ferrite particles such as Zn—Cu ferrite, a nonmagnetic conductive sleeve that supports the ferrite particles, and a magnet roll included in the conductive sleeve. Further, as the fur brush, it is possible to use a fur brush obtained by winding or pasting a fur conductively treated with carbon, copper sulfide, metal, or metal oxide around a metal or another conductively treated metal core.

  The charger is not particularly limited, but a contact-type charger is preferably used because an image forming apparatus in which ozone generated from the charger is reduced can be obtained.

  The exposure can be performed, for example, by exposing the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier imagewise using an exposure device. The exposure device is not particularly limited as long as it can be exposed like an image to be formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier charged by the charger. For example, a copying optical system, a rod lens array system, Examples of the exposure device include a laser optical system and a liquid crystal shutter optical system.

In the present invention, a back light system in which imagewise exposure is performed from the back side of the electrostatic latent image carrier may be employed.

  The development step is a step of developing a latent image by using the toner or developer of the present invention to form a visible image. The visible image can be formed, for example, by developing the electrostatic latent image using the toner or developer of the present invention, and can be performed by a developing unit.

  The developing means is not particularly limited as long as it can be developed using, for example, the electrophotographic toner or developer of the present invention. For example, the developing means accommodates the toner or developer of the present invention and forms a toner on the electrostatic latent image. It is preferable to have at least a developing device that can be applied in contact or non-contact, and more preferably a developing device including the toner-containing container of the present invention.

  The developing device may be either a dry developing method or a wet developing method, and may be either a single color developing device or a multi-color developing device, and a stirrer for charging toner and developer by frictional stirring. It is preferable to have a rotatable magnet roller.

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

  The developer accommodated in the developing device has the electrophotographic toner of the present invention, but the developer may be either a one-component developer or a two-component developer.

  The transfer step is a step of transferring a visible image to a recording medium. A primary transfer step of transferring a visible image onto an intermediate transfer member using an intermediate transfer member, and a transfer of the visible image onto a recording medium. It is preferable to have a secondary transfer step, and a primary transfer step of forming a composite transfer image by transferring a visible image onto an intermediate transfer body using two or more colors, preferably full color toner, as a toner, and a composite transfer image It is further preferable to have a secondary transfer step of transferring the image onto the recording medium.

The transfer can be performed, for example, by charging an electrostatic latent image carrier on which a visible image is formed using a transfer charger, and can be performed by a transfer unit. The transfer means preferably has a primary transfer means for transferring a visible image onto an intermediate transfer member to form a composite transfer image, and a secondary transfer means for transferring the composite transfer image onto a recording medium.
The intermediate transfer member is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a transfer belt.

  The transfer means (primary transfer means, secondary transfer means) preferably has at least a transfer device that peels and charges the visible image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier to the recording medium side. Two or more transfer means may be used.

  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 may be plain paper, but is not particularly limited as long as an unfixed image after development can be transferred, and an OHP PET base or the like can also be used.

  The fixing step is a step of fixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium using a fixing device as a fixing unit, and may be performed each time the toner of each color is transferred to the recording medium, or the toner of each color May be performed simultaneously in a state of being stacked on the recording medium.

  The fixing device is not particularly limited, but a known heating and pressing unit is preferable. Examples of the heating and pressing means include a combination of a heating roller and a pressure roller, a combination of a heating roller, a pressure roller, and an endless belt. The heating temperature by the heating and pressing means is preferably 80 to 200 ° C.

  In the present invention, for example, a known optical fixing device may be used together with or instead of the fixing step and the fixing unit depending on the purpose.

  The neutralization step is a step of performing neutralization by applying a neutralization bias to the electrostatic latent image carrier, and can be performed using a neutralization unit. The neutralization means is not particularly limited as long as a neutralization bias can be applied to the electrostatic latent image carrier, and examples thereof include a neutralization lamp.

  The cleaning step is a step of removing toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and can be performed using a cleaning unit. The cleaning means is not particularly limited as long as the toner remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier can be removed. For example, a magnetic brush cleaner, electrostatic brush cleaner, magnetic roller cleaner, blade cleaner, brush cleaner, web For example, a cleaner.

  The recycling step is a step of recycling the toner removed by the cleaning step to the developing unit, and can be performed using the recycling unit. Although it does not specifically limit as a recycling means, A well-known conveyance means etc. are mentioned.

  The control means is a process for controlling each process, and can be performed using the control means. The control means is not particularly limited as long as each means can be controlled, and examples thereof include devices such as a sequencer and a computer.

  Next, a first example in which the image forming method of the present invention is implemented using the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described. An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 10 includes a drum-shaped photosensitive member 10 as an electrostatic latent image carrier, a charging roller 20 as a charging unit, an exposure device 30 as an exposure unit, and a developing unit as a developing unit. 40, an intermediate transfer member 50 that constitutes a part of the transfer means, a cleaning device 60 as a cleaning means having a cleaning blade, and a static elimination lamp 70 as a static elimination means.

  The intermediate transfer member 50 is an endless belt, and is designed to be movable in the direction of an arrow by three rollers 51 that are arranged inside and stretched. Part of the three rollers 51 also functions as a transfer bias roller that can apply a predetermined transfer bias (primary transfer bias) to the intermediate transfer member 50. The intermediate transfer member 50 is provided with a cleaning device 90 having a cleaning blade in the vicinity thereof. Further, a transfer roller 80 constituting a part of transfer means capable of applying a transfer bias for transferring (secondary transfer) a visible image (toner image) to a transfer sheet 95 as a recording medium is opposed to the transfer sheet. Are arranged. Around the intermediate transfer member 50, a corona charger 58 for applying a charge to the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 50 is a contact portion between the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer member 50 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 50. And between the intermediate transfer member 50 and the contact portion of the transfer paper 95.

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

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

  A second example in which the image forming method of the present invention is carried out using the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 11 does not include the developing belt 41 in the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 10, and a black developing unit 45K, a yellow developing unit 45Y, a magenta developing unit 45M, and Except for the fact that the cyan developing unit 45C is arranged directly opposite, it has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, the same components as those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  A third example in which the image forming method of the present invention is carried out using the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described. An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 12 is a tandem color image forming apparatus, and includes a copying apparatus main body 150, a paper feed table 200, a scanner 300, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 400.

  The copying apparatus main body 150 is provided with an endless belt-like intermediate transfer member 50 at the center. The intermediate transfer member 50 is stretched around the support rollers 14, 15 and 16, and can be rotated clockwise in FIG. 12. An intermediate transfer member cleaning device 17 for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer member 50 is disposed in the vicinity of the support roller 15. The intermediate transfer member 50 stretched between the support roller 14 and the support roller 15 has four image forming units 18 of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black facing each other in parallel along the transport direction. A container 120 is arranged. An exposure device 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the tandem developing device 120. A secondary transfer device 22 is disposed on the side of the intermediate transfer member 50 opposite to the side on which the tandem developing device 120 is disposed. In the secondary transfer device 22, a secondary transfer belt 24, which is an endless belt, is stretched around a pair of rollers 23, and the transfer paper conveyed on the secondary transfer belt 24 and the intermediate transfer member 50 come into contact with each other. It is possible. A fixing device 25 is disposed in the vicinity of the secondary transfer device 22.

  A sheet reversing device 28 for reversing the transfer paper for image formation on both sides of the transfer paper is disposed in the vicinity of the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25.

  Next, formation of a full-color image (color copy) using the tandem developing device 120 will be described. First, a document is set on the document table 130 of the automatic document feeder (ADF) 400, or the automatic document feeder 400 is opened and a document is set on the contact glass 32 of the scanner 300, and the automatic document feeder 400 is closed. .

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

  Then, the image information of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan is transferred to the image forming unit 18 (black image forming unit, yellow image forming unit, magenta image forming unit, and cyan image forming unit) in the tandem developing device 120. Each image forming unit forms a black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner image. That is, the image forming means 18 (black image forming means, yellow image forming means, magenta image forming means, and cyan image forming means) in the tandem type developing device 120 are respectively photoreceptors as shown in FIG. 10 (black photoconductor 10K, yellow photoconductor 10Y, magenta photoconductor 10M and cyan photoconductor 10C), a charger 60 for uniformly charging the photoconductor 10, and a color image based on the color image information The photosensitive member 10 is exposed to an image corresponding to the image (L in FIG. 13), and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a color image is formed on the photosensitive member 10, and the electrostatic latent image is converted to color toner (black). A toner 61, a yellow toner, a magenta toner, and a cyan toner) and developing the toner image with a color toner to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 5 The image forming apparatus includes a transfer charger 62 for transferring the image, a photoconductor cleaning device 63, and a static eliminator 64. A single-color toner image (a black image, a yellow image, a magenta image, and a cyan image) is generated based on color image information. It is possible to form. Black image formed on the black photoconductor 10K, yellow image formed on the yellow photoconductor 10Y, magenta image formed on the magenta photoconductor 10M, and cyan formed on the cyan photoconductor 10C. The image is sequentially transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer member 50 that is rotationally moved by the support rollers 14, 15, and 16. Then, a black image, a yellow image, a magenta image, and a cyan image are superimposed on the intermediate transfer member 50 to form a composite color image.

  On the other hand, in the paper feed table 200, one of the paper feed rollers 142 is selectively rotated to feed transfer paper from one of the paper feed cassettes 144 provided in multiple stages in the paper bank 143, and one sheet at a time by the separation roller 145. The paper is separated and sent to the paper feed path 146, transported by the transport roller 147, guided to the paper feed path 148 in the copying machine main body 150, and abutted against the registration roller 49 to stop. Alternatively, the sheet feeding roller 142 is rotated to feed out the transfer paper on the manual feed tray 54, separated one by one by the separation roller 52, put into the manual feed path 53, and abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped. The registration roller 49 is generally used in a grounded state, but may be used in a state in which a bias is applied to remove paper dust from the sheet. Then, the registration roller 49 is rotated in time with the synthesized color image synthesized on the intermediate transfer member 50, and the transfer paper is sent between the intermediate transfer member 50 and the secondary transfer device 22, so that the secondary transfer device. The synthesized color image is transferred onto the transfer paper (secondary transfer) 22. The residual toner on the intermediate transfer member 50 after image transfer is cleaned by the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 17.

  The transfer paper on which the composite color image has been transferred is conveyed by the secondary transfer device 22 and sent to the fixing device 25, where the composite color image is fixed on the transfer paper by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the transfer sheet is switched by the switching claw 55 and discharged by the discharge roller 56, and is stacked on the discharge tray 57. Alternatively, the sheet is switched by the switching claw 55, reversed by the sheet reversing device 28, guided again to the transfer position, recorded on the back side, then discharged by the discharge roller 56, and stacked on the discharge tray 57.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention further, this invention is not limited to this. Hereinafter, a part shows a weight part. In addition, what is shown by FIGS. 1-5 shall be used as a stirring member which is a fluid stirring type mixing apparatus and a rotary body.

[Example 1]
In a reaction vessel equipped with a condenser, a stirrer and a nitrogen inlet tube, 810 parts of polyoxyethylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenol) propane, 300 parts of terephthalic acid and dibutyltin oxide 2 The reaction was carried out at 230 ° C. for 8 hours at normal pressure and further for 5 hours at a reduced pressure of 10 to 15 mmHg, then cooled to 160 ° C., and 32 parts of phthalic anhydride was added thereto and reacted for 2 hours. . Subsequently, it cooled to 80 degreeC and reacted with 188 parts of isophorone diisocyanate in ethyl acetate for 2 hours, and the isocyanate containing prepolymer (1) was obtained. Next, 267 parts of the prepolymer (1) and 14 parts of isophoronediamine were reacted at 50 ° C. for 2 hours to obtain a urea-modified polyester (1) having a weight average molecular weight of 58,000. In the same manner as above, 724 parts of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct and 276 parts of terephthalic acid were subjected to polycondensation under normal pressure at 250 ° C. for 5 hours, and then reacted for 5 hours at a reduced pressure of 10 to 15 mmHg. An unfinished polyester (a) was obtained. 150 parts of urea-modified polyester (1) and 850 parts of unmodified polyester (a) were dissolved and mixed in 2000 parts of ethyl acetate solvent to obtain an ethyl acetate solution of toner binder (1).

  To 240 parts of the ethyl acetate solution of the toner binder (1), 4 parts of carbon black (Regal 400R: manufactured by Cabot Corp.) as a coloring agent and 5 parts of carnauba wax (melting point: 83 ° C.) as a release agent wax are added, and 50 ° C. The mixture was stirred at 12000 rpm with a TK homomixer and uniformly dissolved and dispersed. Subsequently, 706 parts of ion exchange water, 294 parts of hydroxyapatite 10% suspension (Superite 10 manufactured by Nippon Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) and 0.2 part of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were added and dissolved uniformly. Next, the temperature was raised to 50 ° C., and the toner material solution was added and stirred for 10 minutes while stirring at 12000 rpm with a TK homomixer. The mixture was then transferred to a Kolben equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, heated to 98 ° C. to remove the solvent, filtered, washed and dried, the weight average particle diameter was 6 μm, and D4 / Dn was 1. A toner base particle having a glass transition temperature of 15 ° C. was obtained.

100 parts of the toner base particles prepared by the polymerization method as described above and 0.3 part of a charge control agent (salicylic acid metal complex E-84: Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) having a primary particle diameter of 50 nm are mixed by fluid stirring. 1 and 2 as an apparatus, and a stirring member having a diameter of 300 mm, and the clearance between the stirring member and the inner wall of the mixing tank is set to 3 mm (ie, D ^1/2 /C=5.74). A total of 4400 g of raw material powder is charged into the mixer, and the peripheral speed of the stirring member is adjusted in the range of 10 to 150 m / s so that the energy given to the powder per unit mass by the stirring member is 0.6 kW / kg. However, the mixing process was performed while cooling so that the maximum temperature in the container was in the range of 14 ° C. to 30 ° C. until the total energy given to the powder by the stirring member became 0.12 kWh / kg. Here, the circular orbit of the stirring member is four.

  Here, the energy given to the powder by the agitating member is the rotational power generating part (for example, an electric motor) that rotates the agitating member, and the required power during agitation (when the powder is charged into the treatment tank and agitated) The power required for rotation of the rotating energy generator that rotates the stirring member is subtracted from the required power) (for example, the power consumed at a certain number of rotations when no powder is charged in the treatment layer). The total energy given to the powder by the stirring member is an integral value of the energy given to the powder by the stirring member during stirring with respect to the stirring time.

[Example 2]
The same procedure as in Example 1 was performed except that the clearance was 6.9 mm and D ^1/2 /C=2.52.

Example 3
The same procedure as in Example 1 was performed except that the clearance was 2.0 mm and D ^1/2 /C=8.63.

Example 4
The same procedure as in Example 1 was performed except that 0.2 part of silica fine particles (R972, specific surface area diameter 16 nm, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added together with the charge control agent.

Example 5
The same procedure as in Example 4 was performed except that the mixing time in the TK homomixer was 9 minutes and a toner base material having D4 / Dn = 1.22 was used.

Example 6
The same operation as in Example 4 was carried out except that the primary particle diameter of the charge control agent was about 900 nm.

Example 7
The same operation as in Example 4 was performed except that the mixing device was changed to a cylindrical mixing device (inner diameter 130 mm) as shown in FIG. However, since the scale of the apparatus is small, the number of circular orbits of the stirring member is three, and the clearance is set to 2.0 mm for convenience of clearance adjustment, so that D ^1/2 /C=5.68. The amount charged was 220 g in total.

Example 8
The same procedure as in Example 4 was performed except that the mixing time in the TK homomixer was 7.5 minutes and a toner base material having D4 / Dn = 1.30 was used.

Example 9
This was carried out in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the primary particle size of the charge control agent was about 1500 nm.

Example 10
The mixing device was changed to a conical mixing device (inner diameter 600 mm) as shown in FIG. The number of circular orbits of the stirring member was three, the diameter of the circular orbit of the maximum diameter stirring member was 595.8 mm, and D ^1/2 /C=5.81. The amount charged was 17600 g in total. Other than that was carried out similarly to Example 4.

Example 11
The mixing device is changed to a cylindrical mixing device (inner diameter 100 mm) as shown in FIG. 1, the number of circular orbits of the stirring member is 3, the clearance is 2.5 mm, and D ^1/2 /C=3.95 did. The amount charged was 100 g in total. Other than that was carried out similarly to Example 4.

Example 12
The same operation as in Example 4 was performed except that the mixing apparatus was changed to a cylindrical mixing apparatus (inner diameter: 1000 mm) as shown in FIG. However, since the scale of the apparatus is large, the number of circular orbits of the stirring member is 8, and the clearance is set to 5.0 mm for the convenience of clearance adjustment, so that D ^1/2 /C=5.73. The total charge was 132000 g.

Example 13
The same procedure as in Example 4 was performed except that the stirring member was provided with two recesses 3c as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in the rotation direction of the stirring member provided with the two concave portions 3c, and FIG. 4B shows a vertical axis of rotation of the stirring member provided with the two concave portions 3c. It is the schematic which shows the structure in a direction, Comprising: The width | variety of the recessed part was 12.5 mm and the width | variety of the convex part was 25.0 mm.

[Comparative Example 1]
The same procedure as in Example 4 was performed except that the clearance was 1.9 mm and D ^1/2 /C=9.59.

[Comparative Example 2]
The same procedure as in Example 1 was performed except that the clearance was 7.0 mm and D ^1/2 /C=2.38.

[Comparative Example 3]
The mixing device is changed to a cylindrical mixing device (inner diameter 90 mm) as shown in FIG. 1, the number of circular orbits of the stirring member is 3, the clearance is 2.4 mm, and D ^1/2 /C=3.90. . The amount charged was 70 g in total. Other than that was carried out similarly to Example 4.

[Comparative Example 4]
The same procedure as in Example 7 was performed except that the number of circular orbits of the stirring member was changed to 2.

[Comparative Example 5]
The same operation as in Example 4 was performed except that the mixing apparatus was changed to a cylindrical mixing apparatus (inner diameter 1100 mm) as shown in FIG. However, since the scale of the apparatus is large, the number of circular orbits of the stirring member is set to 8, and the clearance is set to 5.2 mm for the convenience of clearance adjustment, so that D ^1/2 /C=5.70. The amount charged was 175000 g in total.

  The conditions of the above Examples 1 to 13 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 are shown in Table 2. In the table, the charge control agent is abbreviated as “CCA” (Charge Control Additive).

  Next, the toners obtained in Examples 1 to 13 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 were evaluated as follows.

[Fusion / Aggregation]
The toner after the fixing treatment was visually evaluated, and it was confirmed whether there was any occurrence of fusion or agglomeration that could be confirmed at a visual level.

[SEM observation]
In order to investigate the degree of impact, the presence state of the charge control agent on the toner surface was observed by SEM.
○: Completely immobilized △: Partially immobilized ×: Free

[Degree of aggregation]
The degree of aggregation was determined as follows.
The sieves with openings 75, 45 and 22 μm are stacked in order from the top, and the sample 2g is naturally dropped by vibration. From the weight of the sample remaining on each sieve, the aggregation degree is calculated using the following formulas (4) to (7). The measurement uses a powder tester manufactured by Hosokawa Micron, and the vibration amplitude is set to 1 mm and the vibration time is set to 60 seconds.

a = (sample weight remaining on upper screen) / 2 g × 100 (4)
b = (sample weight remaining on the middle stage sieve) / 2 g × (3/5) × 100 (5)
c = (Sample weight remaining on the lower sieve) / 2 g × (1/5) × 100 (6)
Aggregation degree = a + b + c (%) (7)

The degree of aggregation may be in the range of 20 to 70%, and the lower the better.
For Examples 1 to 3, 0.2 part of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was mixed with a Henschel mixer for 100 parts of toner in terms of the toner base before mixing, and the degree of aggregation was measured. Yes.

[Image quality, etc.]
100 parts of toner in terms of the toner base before mixing was mixed with a Henschel mixer so that the total amount of hydrophobic silica (R972 manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was 1.0 part. A developer comprising 4% by weight of each toner and 96% by weight of a copper-zinc ferrite carrier having an average particle diameter of 50 μm coated with a silicone resin was prepared, and Ricoh's imgio Neo capable of printing 45 sheets of A4 size paper per minute. Using 450, an output with a printing density of 5% was continuously printed and further evaluated according to the following criteria.

・ Charge amount (Charge control agent adhesion amount index)
6 g of developer is weighed, charged into a metal cylinder that can be sealed, and blown to obtain the charge amount. The toner concentration is adjusted to 4.5 to 5.5 wt%. The charge amount is preferably −25 to 40 μC / g, and the larger the negative chargeability, the better.

・ Fog (uniform charging index)
The blank image is stopped during development, the developer on the developed photoreceptor is tape transferred, and the difference from the image density of the untransferred tape is measured with a 938 spectrocytometer (X-Rite).

(Evaluation criteria)
○: 0 to less than 0.01 Δ: 0.01 to less than 0.03 ×: 0.03 or more

-Spent rate (bleed index from toner)
The toner is removed from the developer after the 100,000-sheet copying test by blow-off, and the weight of the remaining carrier is defined as measurement W1. Next, this carrier is put in toluene to dissolve the melt, and after washing and drying, the weight is measured to obtain W2. The spent ratio was determined and evaluated from the following formula.
Spent ratio = [(W1-W2) / W1] × 100

(Evaluation criteria)
◎: 0 wt% or more and less than 0.01 wt% ○: 0.01 wt% or more and less than 0.02 wt% Δ: 0.02 wt% or more and less than 0.05 wt% ×: 0.05 wt% or more

・ Filming (surface immobilization index)
The presence or absence of toner filming on the developing roller or the photoreceptor was observed. ○ indicates no filming, Δ indicates filming on streaks, and × indicates filming as a whole.

  The above evaluation results are shown in Table 3.

From Table 3, the following is clear.
(A) From Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, it can be seen that a device with an appropriate D ^1/2 / C has a good overall evaluation. Further, it can be seen that the addition of the inorganic fine particles together with the CCA suppresses the spent state and is a good quality toner.
(B) From Examples 4, 11, and 12 and Comparative Examples 3 and 5, it can be seen that the overall evaluation is good when D ^1/2 / C is an appropriate device and the diameter of the predetermined stirring member.
(C) From Example 7 and Comparative Example 4, it can be seen that the comprehensive evaluation is good when the number of circular orbits of the stirring member is 3 or more.
(D) From Examples 4 and 10, it can be seen that, if the shape of the mixing device satisfies certain requirements, toner of equivalent quality can be obtained even if the shape of the appearance is different.
(E) From Examples 4, 5, and 8, it can be seen that when the base D4 / Dn is 1.25 or less in the apparatus of the present invention, the spent ratio is small and the toner is of good quality.
(F) From Examples 4, 6, and 9, it can be seen that if the charge control agent is an appropriate primary particle size in the apparatus of the present invention, the toner has good chargeability and good quality, and the overall evaluation is good.
(G) From Example 1 and Example 4, when appropriate inorganic fine particles are added together with the charge control agent in the apparatus of the present invention, the immobilization capacity is improved.
(H) From Examples 4 and 13, it can be seen that a high-quality toner having a low degree of aggregation and a high chargeability can be obtained by providing a concave portion in the stirring portion.

  As described above, the electrophotographic toner production method of the present invention has a high ability to immobilize the charge control agent on the toner base, and the charge control agent produced by the electrophotographic toner production method of the present invention is fixed. Since the charge control agent particles are uniformly fixed and the charge control agent is not detached from the toner base, the toner base has a stable chargeability and filming contamination to the photoconductor and the developing roller. Prevents long-term copying and prevents the carrier from spending.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a first embodiment in a fluid agitation type mixing apparatus that can suitably carry out an electrophotographic toner manufacturing method according to the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the specific arrangement | positioning relationship of the stirring member and clearance part in the fluid stirring type mixing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a rotating shaft vertical direction sectional drawing in the fluid stirring type mixing apparatus shown by FIG. It is the schematic which shows the uniform state of the shape of the stirring member in the fluid stirring type mixing apparatus shown in FIG. (A) It is the schematic which shows the structure in the rotation direction of the stirring member which provided the recessed part of two places. (B) It is the schematic which shows the structure in the rotating shaft perpendicular direction of the stirring member which provided the recessed part of two places. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 2nd Embodiment in the fluid stirring type mixing apparatus which can implement suitably the manufacturing method of the toner for electrophotography which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the process cartridge of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Casing 2 Rotating shaft 2a End surface part of rotating shaft 3 Stirring member 3a Stirring member for sending 3b Stirring member for returning 3c Recessed portion 4 Jacket (flow path for cooling or heating medium)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Raw material inlet 6 Product outlet 7 Bearing part 8 Clearance 9 Inner wall 14, 15, 16 Support roller 17 Intermediate transfer cleaning apparatus 18 Image formation means 20 Charging roller 21 Exposure apparatus 22 Secondary transfer apparatus 23 Roller 24 Secondary transfer belt 25 Fixing device 26 Fixing belt 27 Pressure roller 28 Sheet reversing device 30 Exposure device 32 Contact glass 33 First traveling member 34 Second traveling member 35 Imaging lens 36 Reading sensor 40 Developing device 41 Developing belt 42K, 42Y, 42M, 42C Developing Agent container 43K, 43Y, 43M, 43C Developer supply roller 44K, 44Y, 44M, 44C Developing roller 45K, 45Y, 45M, 45C Black developer 49 Registration roller 50 Intermediate transfer member 51 Roller 52 Separating roller 53 Manual feed Road 54 Bypass Lay 55 Switching claw 56 Discharge roller 57 Discharge tray 58 Corona charger 60 Cleaning device 61 Developer 62 Transfer charger 63 Photoconductor cleaning device 64 Charger 70 Charger lamp 80 Transfer roller 90 Cleaning device 95 Transfer paper 100 Image forming device 101 Photosensitive Body 102 Charging means 103 Exposure means 104 Developing means 105 Recording medium 107 Cleaning means 108 Transfer means 110 Diffusion member 111 Flow path for cooling or heating medium 112 Guide rod 113 Boss 115 Exhaust pipe 116 Filter 120 Tandem type developer 130 Document table 142 paper feed roller 143 paper bank 144 paper feed cassette 145 separation roller 146 paper feed path 147 transport roller 148 paper feed path 150 copier main body 200 paper feed table 210 image fixing device 20 heating roller 230 pressing roller 300 Scanner 400 automatic document feeder (ADF)

Claims (24)

A method for producing an electrophotographic toner in which a charge control agent is fixed to the surface of a toner base by a flow stirring type mixing device,
The fluid stirring type mixing device includes a rotating shaft, a plurality of stirring members, and a casing.
The casing has a circular wall surface having a constant vertical distance from the rotating shaft to the inner wall, and a cooling jacket,
The plurality of stirring members are provided on the rotation shaft so as to rotate on three or more different circular orbits, and the peripheral speed of each circular orbit is in the range of 90 mm to 1000 mm and 10 to 150 m / s. Rotate with
The clearance C [mm] between at least one of the plurality of stirring members and the circular wall surface is expressed by the following formula (1) with respect to the diameter D [mm] of the largest circular orbit among the circular orbits. Meet the scope,
2.5 ≦ D ^1/2 /C<9.0 Expression (1)
The toner base includes at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, and has a weight average particle diameter D4 of 3 μm to 9 μm.
An electrophotographic toner is produced by stirring a treated product containing 100 parts by weight of the toner base and 0.3 to 1.0 part by weight of the charge control agent within a range satisfying the following formula (2). A method for producing an electrophotographic toner.
Tg-50 <T <Tg-15 Formula (2)
(However, T is the ambient temperature (° C.) in the flow stirring type mixing apparatus during stirring, and Tg is the glass transition temperature (° C.) of the toner base.)   The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft has a cooling mechanism. The plurality of stirring members have one or more feeding stirring members and one or more return stirring members,
The feeding stirring member sends the processed material in one axial direction of the rotary shaft,
The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the return stirring member returns the processed material in a direction opposite to one direction of the axial direction of the rotation shaft.   2. The two agitating members adjacent to each other among the plurality of agitating members are overlapped at an axial position of the rotating shaft and are spaced apart from each other at a rotating position of the rotating shaft. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of 1 to 3.   5. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the casing has a cylindrical shape in the same axial direction as the rotation shaft.   6. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 5, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The rotation axis is parallel to the direction of gravity;
The plurality of stirring members are disposed so as to discharge the processed material spirally upward along the inner wall of the casing,
The electrophotographic process according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processed product released spirally upward is re-supplied to the bottom of the casing and then released spirally upward again. Of manufacturing toner.   8. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 7, wherein the stirring member has a diameter within a range of 65 to 90% of a portion where the inner diameter of the casing is maximum.   9. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 7, wherein the casing has a conical shape in the same axial direction as the rotation shaft. The stirring member disposed to face the circular wall surface across the clearance C has a recess on the surface facing the circular wall surface,
The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein a clearance S between the concave portion and the circular wall surface satisfies a range of the following formula (3).
(D1 / ² ) / S <2 Formula (3)   The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the treated product further contains inorganic fine particles having a specific surface area diameter of 5 to 300 nm. Prior to stirring of the processed product,
11. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a step of stirring the inorganic fine particles having a specific surface area diameter of 5 to 300 nm together with the toner base to adhere to the surface of the toner base. Toner manufacturing method.   The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein a primary particle diameter of the charge control agent is 5 nm to 1000 nm. 14. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner base has D4 / Dn of 1.25 or less.
(However, Dn is the number average particle diameter.)   15. The toner for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the toner base contains 3 to 15 parts by weight of a release agent with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. Method.   The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the toner base has a glass transition temperature of 40 to 65 ° C.   An electrophotographic toner obtained by the method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 1. The toner for electrophotography according to claim 17,
The toner for electrophotography, further comprising one or more kinds of particles having a volume average particle diameter of 1/1000 or more and 1/10 or less of the volume average particle diameter of the toner base.   A developer comprising the electrophotographic toner according to claim 16.   The developer according to claim 19, further comprising a carrier.   A toner-containing container filled with the electrophotographic toner according to claim 17 or 18.   An electrostatic latent image carrier and developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier using the electrophotographic toner according to claim 17 to form a visible image. A process cartridge comprising: An electrostatic latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier;
A developing step of developing the electrostatic latent image using the electrophotographic toner according to claim 17 to form a visible image;
A transfer step of transferring the visible image to a recording medium;
A fixing step of fixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium. An electrostatic latent image carrier;
Electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image using the electrophotographic toner according to claim 17 to form a visible image;
Transfer means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: fixing means for fixing the visible image transferred to the recording medium.

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