JP2011022247A - Method of producing toner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of generating a toner by which the toner having a small particle diameter, a sharp grain size distribution and high circularity can be stably obtained at a favorable yield. <P>SOLUTION: A batch type classifying machine is used including a classification rotor 35, a raw material supply valve 38, and a product discharge valve 41. When an air volume in the classification rotor while either the raw material supply valve or the product discharge valve is opened is denoted by A (m<SP>3</SP>/min) and an air volume in the classification rotor while both of the raw supply valve and the product discharge valve are closed is denoted by B (m<SP>3</SP>/min), A and B satisfy a relationship of 0.5≤A/B≤0.9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a toner used in an image forming method such as an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or a toner jet recording method.

  In image forming methods such as electrophotography, electrostatic photography, and electrostatic printing, toner for developing an electrostatic charge image is used.

  Generally, toner production methods include a method using a pulverization method and a method using a polymerization method. Toner produced by the pulverization method is still widely used in copying machines and printers.

  As a general manufacturing method of the pulverization method, a binder resin for fixing to a transfer material and a colorant for producing a color as a toner are used, and charge control for imparting electric charges to particles as necessary. A magnetic material for imparting transportability and the like to the agent and the toner, and additives such as a release agent and a fluidity imparting agent are added and mixed. Next, after melt-kneading and cooling and solidifying, the kneaded product is refined by a pulverizing means, classified to a desired particle size distribution as necessary, and further added with a fluidizing agent, etc., and used for image formation It is said.

  Various pulverizers are used as the pulverizing means. Particularly, in recent years, energy saving of the apparatus has been demanded in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and a pulverizer 301 as shown in FIG. Often used. In the pulverizer 301 shown in FIG. 6, the powder raw material is introduced into a pulverization zone formed between a rotor 314 rotating at high speed and a stator 310 arranged around the rotator 314 to be pulverized. Grind the object. Therefore, according to the pulverizer 301 shown in FIG. 6, a large amount of air is not required for pulverization unlike the jet airflow pulverizer. Therefore, it consumes very little electric power and can be finely pulverized with energy saving than a jet airflow pulverizer.

  However, in recent years, the performance required of toner as a developer has become more severe as the copying machine and printer have higher image quality and higher definition. That is, the particle size of the toner is small, and the toner particle size distribution is not required to contain coarse particles, which are coarse particles, and a sharp toner with less fine powder is required.

  The fine powder in the present invention means the number-based fine powder amount (number%) in the toner, and means the number% of particles of 4.0 μm or less in the toner. Moreover, the coarse particle which is a coarse particle means the particle | grains which remain | survive on the sieve of 20 micrometers of mesh openings.

  In order to respond to these requirements, when pulverizing with a pulverizer 301 as shown in FIG. 6, material selection, equipment configuration and operating conditions are set so as not to increase fine powder due to excessive pulverization or to generate coarse particles due to heat factors. It is important, however, the classification step of the next step is also important.

  That is, in the classification process, it is important how to improve classification accuracy in order to obtain a toner having a sharp particle size distribution with a high yield. The yield in the present invention refers to the ratio of the product recovery amount to the raw material input amount.

  For example, in the classifier disclosed in Patent Document 1, impeller-type classifying rotors that rotate at high speed are arranged in two stages in series, and the raw material is classified with the upper class rotor and is highly dispersed. Further, the raw material further highly dispersed is classified by the lower classification rotor. Therefore, according to the classifier, since the classification operation is performed with two stages of the classification rotor, classification accuracy is high, and classification with a high yield can be performed with a high processing capacity as compared with other airflow classifiers.

  Although the classifier is a classifier having high classification accuracy, in recent years, there has been a demand for improvement in toner transferability in order to achieve cleaner-less and waste toner amount reduction. There is a growing demand for surface modification. The classifier cannot meet this requirement.

  The surface modification in the present invention is to make the unevenness of the particle surface smooth and to make the appearance of the toner closer to a spherical shape. In the present invention, circularity is used as an index for indicating the degree of surface modification.

  As a method for improving the circularity of the toner, a toner whose surface is modified by an impact force as shown in Patent Document 2 has been proposed.

  However, in the method using an impact force, in the case of a toner that is likely to be excessively pulverized during spheroidization, the toner is pulverized due to the impact associated with the spheronization, resulting in an increase in fine powder and small particles. The small particles generated by over-grinding have caused problems such as contamination of members.

  The small particles in the present invention refer to particles having an equivalent circle diameter of less than 2.0 μm in a number-based particle size distribution measured by a flow particle image analyzer described later.

  On the other hand, as shown in Patent Document 3, a vertical convex portion parallel to the axis of the rotor is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor, and the axis of the rotor is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the stator. Has been proposed for forming a circumferential groove orthogonal to the above. The powder processing apparatus has the above-described configuration of the rotor and the stator, so that there is an advantage that pulverization is not performed during powder processing and fine powder and small particles are not generated.

  However, when a high degree of circularity is desired in the powder processing apparatus, several operations are required in which the toner particles that have been processed once are reintroduced to perform powder processing, and improvements are desired.

  Further, as shown in Patent Document 4, a rotor having a tapered portion inclined in the casing, a rotor having a plurality of blades on the same circumference, and a tapered portion similarly inclined on the outer periphery of the rotor. There has been proposed a powder processing apparatus in which an inner cylinder having a nozzle is installed. The powder processing apparatus is configured to spheroidize the powder particles by circulating between the rotor and the inner cylinder, so that pulverization is not performed during the powder processing, and fine powder and small particles are generated. There is an advantage of not.

  However, in the powder processing apparatus, as in the apparatus of Patent Document 3, when a high degree of circularity is desired, it is necessary to perform several operations of re-introducing the toner particles once processed and processing the powder. Improvement is desired.

  In addition to the method using the impact force described above, a method of melting the surface with hot air as shown in Patent Document 5 is known. In the method of melting the surface by heat, the composition of the toner surface may change. In particular, since the presence state of the wax component added as a release agent changes, the release agent oozes out on the surface, and there is a possibility that adverse effects such as broadening of charge and fogging may occur.

  On the other hand, a surface modifying apparatus for modifying the surface of toner particles that can achieve high-performance surface treatment and fine powder removal at the same time has been proposed, as shown in Patent Document 6. However, when the surface modification device maintains a high degree of circularity, the yield tends to decrease, and an improvement thereof is desired.

  As described above, in recent years, toners are required to have a number of conflicting properties such as smaller particle size, sharper particle size distribution, improved yield, and improved circularity. There is a need for a manufacturing method.

JP 2001-293438 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-85741 JP 2007-130627 A JP 2007-105653 A JP 2000-29241 A JP 2002-233787 A

  An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to obtain a toner having a small particle size, a sharp particle size distribution, and a high circularity, which can be stably obtained in a high yield. It is to provide a manufacturing method.

  Furthermore, in order to obtain a long-life toner having good developability, transferability, cleaning properties, and stable chargeability even during long-term use, a method for producing a toner that is resistant to stress such as heat and impact is provided. It is in.

  As a result of repeated studies, the present inventors have found that the above requirements can be satisfied by adopting the configuration of the present invention described below, and have reached the present invention.

That is, the present invention relates to a method for producing a toner having a classification step for classifying powder particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant.
The classifier used in the classification process is a batch type classifier,
The classifier is
A cylindrical body casing;
Classification means for removing fine powder in the powder particles; cylindrical guide means installed in a state where at least a part of the classification means is covered;
In order to introduce the powder particles, an input pipe having a raw material input port and a raw material supply port formed on the side surface of the main body casing,
A product discharge pipe having a product discharge port and a product extraction port formed on the side surface of the main body casing in order to discharge the classified particles from which fine powder has been removed to the outside of the main body casing;
Openable and closable raw material supply valve installed between the raw material input port and raw material supply port, and openable product installed between the product discharge port and product extraction port so that the classification time can be adjusted freely Has at least a discharge valve,
In the time when either the raw material supply valve or the product discharge valve is open, the air volume in the classification means is A (m ³ / min), and in the time when both the raw material supply valve and the product discharge valve are closed When the air volume in the classifying means is B (m ³ / min), the air volume B in the classifying means is 5 ≦ B (m ³ / min) ≦ 50,
In the time when either the raw material supply valve or product discharge valve is open, the air volume A in the classification means and in the time when both the raw material supply valve and product discharge valve are closed, the air volume B in the classification means Is a toner production method characterized by satisfying 0.5 ≦ A / B ≦ 0.9.

  Further, according to the present invention, the classifying means is a rotating classification rotor, and the classification rotor has blades on the same circumference, and each blade has a straight line connecting the center of the classification rotor and the tip of the blade. The classification rotor is arranged so as to form an angle θ °, and an angle θ ° formed by a straight line connecting the center of the classification rotating rotor and the tip of the blade and the blade is 20 ≦ θ ° ≦ 65 This is a method for producing a toner.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a guide ring in which the guide means has at least a cylindrical partition member, and an upper portion of the guide ring is constituted by a louver having a tip directed in a tangential direction in an inner circumferential direction of the guide ring. A method for producing a toner.

  Further, according to the present invention, the classifier has surface modification means for subjecting the classified particles to surface modification treatment by impact force, and the surface modification means is at least in the body casing and has a central rotating shaft. A distributed rotor, which is a disk-shaped rotating body that has a square disk on the upper surface and rotates at high speed, and is opposed to the distributed rotor that is fixedly arranged around the distributed rotor with a space therebetween. A toner manufacturing method is characterized by comprising a liner having a groove provided on the surface thereof.

Further, the present invention provides the toner production method, wherein the classification rotor has a passage area R (m ² ) of the powder particles of 0.03 ≦ R ≦ 0.15.

  According to the present invention, a toner having a small particle size, a sharp particle size distribution, and a high degree of circularity can be stably obtained with high yield.

  Furthermore, in order to obtain a long-life toner having good developability, transferability, cleaning properties, and stable chargeability even during long-term use, a method for producing a toner that is resistant to stress such as heat and impact is provided. Can do.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a classification / surface reformer used in the toner classification process of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a classifier used in the toner classification process of the present invention. It is the schematic of the classification rotor used in this invention. It is the schematic of the guide means used in this invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart in a toner classification / surface modification process of the present invention. It is the schematic of the grinder used in the grinding process of the toner of this invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the rotor and stator shown in FIG. 6.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments.

  First, the batch classifier used in the classification process used in the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  A classifier 101 shown in FIG. 2 has a cylindrical main body casing 30 and, as a classifying means, a main body casing 30 and a classification rotor 35 for removing fine powder in the powder particles. Moreover, the classifier 101 shown in FIG. 1 is in the upper part of the main body casing 30 and has a fine powder discharge portion 44 having a fine powder discharge casing and a fine powder discharge pipe; a state in which at least a part of the classification rotor 35 is covered as a guide means The guide ring 36 (A) is installed. Further, the classifier 101 shown in FIG. 1 has an input pipe having a raw material input port 37 and a raw material supply port 39 formed on the side surface of the main body casing 30 in order to introduce powder particles as a raw material. Yes. Furthermore, the classifier 101 shown in FIG. 1 has a product discharge port 40 and a product extraction port 42 formed on the side surface of the main body casing in order to discharge the toner particles from which fine powder has been removed to the outside of the main body casing 30. Has a product discharge pipe. Further, the classifier 101 shown in FIG. 1 has an openable and closable raw material supply valve 38 installed between the raw material input port 37 and the raw material supply port 39, and a product discharge port so that the classification time can be freely adjusted. A product discharge valve 41 is provided between 40 and the product outlet 42.

In the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, in the classifier 101 shown in FIG. 2, the amount of air flowing through the classification rotor 35 during the time when either the raw material supply valve 38 or the product discharge valve 41 is open is expressed as A (m ³ / Min), and when the amount of air flowing through the classification rotor 35 is B (m ³ / min) during the time when both the raw material supply valve 38 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed, the air amount B in the classification means 5 ≦ B (m ³ / min) ≦ 50, and during the time when either the raw material supply valve 38 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the air volume A flowing through the classification rotor 35 and the raw material supply valve 38 and In the time when both of the product discharge valves 41 are closed, the relationship of the air volume B flowing through the classification rotor 35 satisfies the following formula (1).
0.5 ≦ A / B ≦ 0.9 Formula (1)

  As a result of the study by the present inventor, in order to achieve a high yield in the batch classifier 101 shown in FIG. 2, it was considered important to use the classifying rotor 35 effectively without waste. That is, it is important to classify only the time required for the original classification operation.

  Normally, in the batch classifier 101 shown in FIG. 2, the airflow flowing in the classification rotor 35 is always controlled to be constant regardless of whether the raw material supply valve 38 and the product discharge valve 41 are opened or closed. Alternatively, when any of the product discharge valves 41 is open, the air volume A flowing through the classification rotor 35 and the flow of the raw material supply valve 38 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed in the classification rotor 35. A / B, which is the relationship of the air volume B, is 1.0. When the batch classifier 101 shown in FIG. 2 is operated in this state, the classification operation is performed during the supply of the raw material or the discharge of the product, and a part of the raw material or the product is sucked into the classification rotor 35 and the yield is reduced.

  Originally, it is not necessary to perform a classification operation while supplying raw materials or discharging products. The classification operation is required only for the processing time in which both the raw material supply valve 38 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed. That is, in order to achieve a high yield in the batch classifier 101 shown in FIG. 2, it is necessary to vary the amount of air flowing through the classification rotor 35 in accordance with the opening / closing of the material supply valve or the product discharge valve.

  However, if the air flow to be varied is changed according to the opening and closing of the raw material supply valve or product discharge valve, the raw material supply performance deteriorates due to powder particle clogging in the raw material supply pipe, and the product discharge performance deteriorates because the product is not discharged from the machine. Etc. occur, resulting in a decrease in yield and in-machine fusion.

As a result of the study by the present inventors, the air volume A (m ³ / min) in the classification rotor 35, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open It was found that the relationship of the air volume B (m ³ / min) in the classification rotor 35 during the time when both of the valves 41 are closed preferably satisfies the following formula (1).
0.5 ≦ A / B ≦ 0.9 Formula (1)

In the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the air volume A (m ³ / min) in the classification rotor 35 and the time when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed. When A / B, which is the relationship between the air volume B (m ³ / min) in the classification rotor 35, is less than 0.5, the air volume A is too low and the in-machine circulation flow is slowed down. The properties deteriorate, leading to a decrease in yield. On the contrary, when A / B is larger than 0.9, there is no significant difference from A / B = 1.0 in the normal state described above.

  Note that the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open and the classification rotor 35 during the time when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed. Any method may be used as long as it is a known method. It may be varied by changing the motor speed of the blower that generates the air volume, or may be varied by a secondary air intake port and an air volume adjusting automatic valve in the middle of the transportation pipe.

  Further, with the same idea, the airflow flowing through the classification rotor 35 is controlled to be constant, and instead, the peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35 is determined based on the time during which either the material supply valve 38 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, and the material supply The control may be made different in the time when both the valve 38 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed.

In the present invention, the air volume B (m ³ / min) in the classification rotor 35 during the time when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed is the blade diameter of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. When it is 200 mm or more and less than 300 mm, 5 m ³ / min or more and 30 m ³ / min or less is preferable, and when the blade diameter of the classification rotor 35 is 300 mm or more and less than 500 mm, 30 m ³ / min or more and 50 m ³ / min or less is preferable.

In the case where the blade diameter of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 2 is 200 mm or more and less than 300 mm, the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 at the time when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed is from 5 m ³ / min. If it is low, the swirl flow in the machine becomes slow, so that the classification accuracy in the classification zone is lowered and the yield is lowered. On the other hand, in the case where the blade diameter of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 2 is 200 mm or more and less than 300 mm, the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 at the time when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed is 30 m ^3. If it is higher than / min, even if the peripheral speed of the classifying rotor 35 is increased, even particles that do not need to be removed will jump into the classifying rotor 35, which also causes a decrease in yield.

Further, in the case where the blade diameter of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 2 is 300 mm or more and less than 500 mm, the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 at the time when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed is 30 m ³ / When it is lower than min, the swirl flow in the machine becomes slow, so that the classification accuracy in the classification zone is lowered and the yield is reduced. On the other hand, when the blade diameter of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 2 is 300 mm or more and less than 500 mm, the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 during the time when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed is 50 m ^3. If it is higher than / min, even if the peripheral speed of the classifying rotor 35 is increased, even particles that do not need to be removed will jump into the classifying rotor 35, which also causes a decrease in yield. Further, if the air volume B flowing through the classification rotor 35 is to be made higher than 50 m ³ / min, it is necessary to increase the size of the blower and to make each hopper, piping and the like correspond to high pressure.

  Furthermore, in the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, the classification rotor 35 has blades on the same circumference, and each blade has a constant angle θ ° with respect to a straight line connecting the center of the rotating rotor and the tip of the blade. The classifying rotor is arranged in a manner such that the angle θ ° between the straight line connecting the center of the classifying rotor 35 and the tip of the blade and the blade is 20 ° ≦ θ ° ≦ 65 °. And

  In the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, to achieve a high yield, it is important that the dust concentration in the classification zone is uniform. In order to make the dust concentration uniform, it is necessary to introduce a high air volume into the classification rotor 35. However, when a high air volume is introduced into the classification rotor 35, the powder particles easily enter the classification rotor 35, resulting in a decrease in yield. In order to improve the yield with a high air volume introduced, it is necessary to increase the peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35. However, the speeding up of the classifying rotor 35 is naturally limited in the structure of the bearing used, and too much speed is accompanied by high vibration of the classifying rotor 35 itself, which deteriorates the durability of the bearing.

  As a result of studying the inventors to achieve a high yield, the present inventors have obtained the same effect as increasing the speed of the classification rotor 35 itself by adjusting the blade angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 as shown in FIG. It was confirmed that

  When classification is performed with a classification rotor, three points are important: centrifugal force due to rotation of the classification rotor 35, air volume introduced into the classification rotor 35, and dust concentration in the classification zone. Here, centrifugal separation due to rotation of the classification rotor 35 is important. Power is important. That is, it is important how to strengthen the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the classification rotor 35 without increasing the speed of the classification rotor 35. As a result of the examination, it was confirmed that the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the classification rotor 35 was enhanced by adjusting the blade angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the classification rotor 35 with the blade angle θ ° adjusted is compared with the classification rotor (the blade angle θ ° is 0 °) that is not adjusted with the same amount of air introduced into the classification rotor 35. It can be inferred from the fact that toner particles having the same particle size distribution can be obtained at a low classification rotor peripheral speed. In other words, by adjusting the blade angle θ ° of the classifying rotor 35, the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the classifying rotor 35 can be compared with a classifying rotor (blade angle θ ° is 0 °) that is not adjusted even when the peripheral speed of the classifying rotor is the same. Can be strong.

  Furthermore, by adjusting the blade angle θ ° of the classifying rotor 35 as appropriate, the peripheral speed of the classifying rotor 35 is increased to a point where there is no structural problem, and in addition, a high air volume is introduced into the classifying rotor 35, so that dust in the classifying zone can be obtained. The density can be ideally uniformed.

  As a result of the study by the present inventor, the angle between the straight line connecting the center of the classification rotor 35 and the tip of the blade and the blade shown in FIG. 3 is θ °, that is, the angle ABC between the straight line OA and the straight line BC is θ When the angle is °, the range of θ ° is preferably 20 ° or more and 65 ° or less.

  In the present invention, the peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35 is preferably 50 m / sec or more and 150 m / sec or less. This is because there is a correlation between the peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35 and the yield.

As described above, in the classifier 101 shown in FIG. 2, the air volume A (m ³ / min) in the classification rotor 35 during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, and the raw material supply valve 39. And the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 during the time when both the product discharge valve 41 are closed, and the blade angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 is adjusted to the above-mentioned range, and then the peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35 is adjusted. In addition, the yield is improved by introducing a high air volume into the classification rotor 35.

  Further, the toner manufacturing method of the present invention has a guide ring 36 (A) having a cylindrical partition member in the main body casing 30, and the upper portion of the guide ring 36 (A) is the guide ring 36 (A ), And a louver 51 having a tip directed in a tangential direction in the inner circumferential circle direction. As shown in the guide ring 36 (B) of FIG. 4, the upper portion of the guide ring 36 (A) is configured as a louver 51, whereby fine dispersion of the powder particles is promoted when the powder particles pass through the louver 51, The dust concentration in the classification zone becomes uniform, and a steady classification process is possible, thereby improving the yield.

  Moreover, as a more preferable aspect, as shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the upper end portion of the louver 51 is in close contact with the inner surface of the top plate. In this case, all of the powder that reaches the classification rotor 36 passes through the louver 51, so that fine dispersion and uniform dispersion of the powder inside the apparatus is more effectively achieved, the yield is improved, and the toner particles in the toner particles are improved. Small particles can be reduced.

  The specification of the guide ring 36 (B) is that the upper louver 51 part and the lower guide ring part can be divided so that the upper part can have the louver 51 structure. This is very convenient when optimal conditions are determined by appropriately selecting the louver angle, the height of the louver portion, and the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the toner manufacturing method of the present invention has a square disk 33 on the outer peripheral upper surface, which is attached to the central rotating shaft in the main body casing 30 as the surface modifying means, and has a high speed. It has the dispersion | distribution rotor 32 which is a disk-shaped rotary body which rotates to (2).

  Furthermore, in the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, grooves are provided on the surface of the dispersion rotor 32 facing the dispersion rotor 32 that is fixedly arranged at a certain interval to be described later. It is characterized by having a liner 34.

  Further, in the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the space between the classification rotor 35 and the dispersion rotor 32 is separated by the guide ring 36 (B) by the first outer side of the guide ring 36 (B). It is characterized by being divided into a space 47 and a second space 48 inside the guide ring 36 (B).

  The first space 47 is a space for guiding the powder particles and the surface-modified toner particles to the classification rotor 35, and the second space is a dispersion rotor for dispersing the powder particles and the surface-modified toner particles. It is a space for leading to 32. A gap portion between the square disk 33 installed on the dispersion rotor 32 and the liner 34 is a surface modification zone.

  With the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide both a high yield and a high degree of circularity, and furthermore, it is possible to provide a toner manufacturing method with few small particles in the toner.

  A method for producing a toner that can achieve both high yield, high yield, and high circularity according to the present invention and that has few small particles in the toner will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the powder particles pass from the raw material supply port 37 shown in FIG. 1 through the raw material supply valve 38 via the raw material supply means 315 shown in FIG. Supplied. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the cool air generated by the cool air generating means 319 is supplied into the main body casing from the cold air introducing port 46, and the cold water from the cold water generating means 320 is further supplied to the cold water jacket (illustrated). The temperature in the main body casing 30 is adjusted.

  The supplied powder particles are disposed outside the guide ring 36 by the air volume by the blower 364 shown in FIG. 5, the rotation of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 1, the rotation of the dispersion rotor 32, and the swirl flow formed by the groove of the liner 34. The classification process is performed by reaching the classification zone near the classification rotor 35 while turning in the first space 47.

  Fine powder and small particles to be removed by the classifying rotor 35 are sucked from the classifying rotor 35 shown in FIG. 1 by the suction force of the blower 364 shown in FIG. 5, and are passed through the fine powder outlet 45 of the fine powder discharge pipe. 5 is collected by a fine powder collecting means.

  The powder particles from which fine powder and small particles have been removed reach the surface modification zone in the vicinity of the dispersion rotor 32 via the second space 48, and the rectangular disk 33 and the main body casing 30 provided in the dispersion rotor 32. The liner 34 provided in the above is uniformly dispersed without being pulverized, and the surface modification treatment of the particles is performed.

  The surface-modified toner particles reach the classification rotor 35 again while turning along the guide ring 36 (B), and fine particles and small particles are formed from the toner particles surface-modified by the classification rotor 35 classification. Is removed again.

  After processing for a predetermined time, which will be described later, the product discharge valve 41 is opened, and toner particles having a surface modified by removing fine powder having a predetermined particle diameter or less, which will be described later, are removed from the main body casing 30.

  In order to achieve high circularity in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to increase the peripheral speed of the distributed rotor 32, but there is a limit point due to the structure of the bearing of the distributed rotor 32. Therefore, it is important to keep the peripheral speed of the dispersion rotor 32 at a high speed within a safe range and to circulate many powder particles in the surface modification zone. However, increasing the number of circulations of the powder particles increases the opportunity to pass through the classification rotor 35, resulting in a decrease in yield. That is, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the yield and the circularity are in a trade-off relationship.

However, as described in the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the surface modification is performed by using the classification rotor 35, which has been studied by the present inventor and in which the blade angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 3 is adjusted to the above-described range. Even if a high air volume is given to the classification rotor 35 in order to increase the number of circulations to the zone, high classification accuracy can be maintained. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the main body casing 30 has a surface modifying means, and after introducing a high air volume into the classification rotor 35, either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is opened. The air volume A (m ³ / min) in the classifying rotor 35 in time and the air volume B in the classifying rotor 35 in the time in which both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed are made different. The peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35 is increased after adjusting the blade angle θ ° of the rotor 35 to the above range.

  With the configuration described above, the dust concentration is uniformized in the classification zone, and the number of circulations is increased in the surface modification zone. Therefore, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, both high yield and high circularity can be achieved. Can provide a method for producing a toner with few small particles in the toner.

Furthermore, the toner production method of the present invention is characterized in that, in the classification rotor 35, the passage area R (m ² ) of the powder particles is 0.03 ≦ R ≦ 0.15. As a result of investigation by the present inventor, the passage area R (m ² ) is more preferably 0.05 ≦ R ≦ 0.13. This is because there is a correlation between the passage area R (m ² ) of the powder particles in the classification rotor 35 and the yield.

  The method for changing the passage area of the powder particles of the classification rotor 35 may be a known method. For example, it is convenient to adjust the blade thickness by plating coating or by adjusting the number of blades.

  Furthermore, in the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, it is preferable that the powder particles supplied to the raw material inlet 37 of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have a sharp particle size distribution. This is because the particle size distribution of the powder particles as the raw material greatly affects the yield. When there are many fine powders in the powder particles, the classification time becomes long, and even particles that do not have to be classified and removed originally jump into the classification rotor 35, which causes a decrease in yield. In addition, when the powder particles contain a large amount of fine powder, the cohesiveness becomes high when classification is performed, and it may be difficult to remove small particles that should be removed from the powder particles. It tends to occur.

  In the present invention, the weight average particle diameter (D4) of the powder particles supplied to the raw material inlet 37 of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is 4.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less, and in the toner. The number% of particles of 4.0 μm or less is preferably 70 number% or less.

  Here, a pulverizer suitably used in the toner production method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the pulverizer 301 shown in FIG. 6, the repetition distance a between the protrusions and the protrusions of the rotor 314 and the repetition distance a between the protrusions and the protrusions of the stator 310 are partially different. The rotor 314 is configured so that there is a range in which the repetition distance a between the convex portion and the convex portion is different.

  Furthermore, in the pulverizer 301 shown in FIG. 6, the repetition distance a between the convex portions of the stator 310 is less than 3.5 mm. Further, the pulverizer 301 shown in FIG. 6 divides the rotor 314 into two parts, and the repetition distance a between the convex portions of the rotor 314 on the powder inlet side is 3.5 mm or more. The repetition distance a between the convex portions of the rotor 314 on the side is less than 3.5 mm.

  The “repetitive distance between the convex portions” of the rotor 314 and the stator 310 corresponds to a in FIG.

  By pulverizing the powder particles with the pulverizer 301 shown in FIG. 6 configured as described above, a pulverized product having a sharp particle size distribution and few small particles can be obtained with high processing capability. As the above-mentioned reason, by configuring so that there is a range in which the repetition distance between the convex portion and the convex portion of the rotor 314 is different from a and the repetition distance between the convex portion and the convex portion of the stator 310 is different from a. Between the rotor 314 and the stator 310, there is a portion where the repetition distance between the convex portion and the convex portion is different.

  Further, in addition to the above-described different phases, the rotor 314 is configured such that there is a range in which the repetition distance a between the convex portion and the convex portion is different in the rotor 314, so that the convex portion and the convex portion are also included in the rotor 314. The part where the repetition distance of is out of phase is made.

  The inventor of the present invention has a sharp particle size distribution and can obtain a pulverized product with a small amount of small particles with a high processing capacity. The two different phases described above improve the dispersibility of toner particles in the pulverizer, This is because the toner is gradually pulverized using the entire rotor 314.

  Furthermore, the number% of particles having a particle size of 4.0 μm or less in the toner of the powder particles obtained by the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferably not less than 5% and not more than 40%. This is because there is a correlation between the number% of particles of 4.0 μm or less in the toner and the yield.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the amount of small particles of the powder particles after processing by the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is controlled to be less than 15% by number. This is because it is recognized that there is a correlation between the amount of small particles and the fog in the toner image.

  The small particle amount in the present invention means that the equivalent circle diameter is 0 in the particle diameter distribution based on the number of particles having an equivalent circle diameter of 0.6 μm or more and 200.0 μm or less measured by a flow type particle image measuring apparatus described later. The ratio of particles of 6 μm or more and less than 2.0 μm.

  In the present invention, in the number-based particle size distribution of particles having an equivalent circle diameter of 0.6 μm or more and 200.0 μm or less measured by a flow type particle image measuring apparatus, the equivalent circle diameter is 0.6 μm or more and less than 2.0 μm. The toner particle ratio is preferably 0% by number or more and less than 15% by number. When the ratio of the toner having an equivalent circle diameter of 0.6 μm or more and less than 2.0 μm is 0% by number or more and less than 15% by number, it is preferable to maintain a good fog level in image evaluation.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the average circularity measured by the flow type particle image measuring device of the processed toner is preferably 0.935 or more. As a result of studies by the present inventors, it has been found that by setting the average circularity to 0.935 or more, transfer efficiency is improved and dot reproducibility is improved without impairing developability. Moreover, it turned out that the effect of the fluidity | liquidity provision by an external additive becomes large.

  The surface modification in the present invention means smoothing the unevenness of the particle surface, and means that the appearance shape of the particle is close to a sphere. In the present invention, the average circularity is used as an index for indicating the degree of surface modification.

  In the present invention, the average circularity, which is an index indicating the degree of surface modification, is measured using a flow particle image analyzer “FPIA-3000” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation).

  The measurement principle of the flow-type particle image analyzer “FPIA-3000” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) is to capture flowing particles as a still image and perform image analysis.

  The sample added to the sample chamber is fed into the flat sheath flow cell by a sample suction syringe. The sample fed into the flat sheath flow is sandwiched between sheath liquids to form a flat flow. The sample passing through the flat sheath flow cell is irradiated with strobe light at 1/60 second intervals, and the flowing particles can be photographed as a still image. Further, since the flow is flat, the image is taken in a focused state. The particle image is captured by a CCD camera, and the captured image is subjected to image processing at an image processing resolution of 512 × 512 (0.37 × 0.37 μm per pixel), and the contour of each particle image is extracted, The projected area S, the peripheral length L, and the like are measured.

Next, the equivalent circle diameter and the circularity are obtained using the area S and the peripheral length L. The equivalent circle diameter is the diameter of a circle having the same area as the projected area of the particle image, and the circularity C is a value obtained by dividing the circumference of the circle obtained from the equivalent circle diameter by the circumference of the projected particle image. And is calculated by the following formula.
Circularity C = 2 × (π × S) 1/2 / L

  The circularity is 1 when the particle image is circular, and the degree of circularity becomes smaller as the degree of unevenness on the outer periphery of the particle image increases. After calculating the circularity of each particle, the range of the circularity of 0.200 or more and 1.000 or less is divided into 800, the arithmetic average value of the obtained circularity is calculated, and the value is defined as the average circularity.

  In the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, the processing time in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is 5 to achieve both high yield and high circularity, and to reduce small particles in the toner. It is preferable that it is no less than 180 seconds.

  Furthermore, in the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, the minimum distance between the square disk 361 on the outer peripheral upper surface of the dispersion rotor 36 and the convex portion of the liner 34 achieves both high yield and high circularity. In order to reduce the small particles in the inside, it is preferable to be 0.5 mm or more and 15.0 mm or less.

  As a result of the study by the present inventors, by setting the processing conditions of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 within the above range, the yield is improved, the toner particles have a high degree of circularity and a small number of small particles. Can be obtained. Furthermore, a long-life toner having good developability, transferability, cleaning property, and stable chargeability can be obtained.

  Next, a procedure for producing a toner in the toner production method of the present invention will be described.

  First, in the raw material mixing step, as a toner internal additive, at least a resin and a colorant are weighed and mixed in a predetermined amount and mixed. Examples of the mixing apparatus include a double-con mixer, a V-type mixer, a drum-type mixer, a super mixer, a Henschel mixer, and a Nauter mixer.

  Next, in the melt-kneading step, the toner materials mixed and mixed as described above are melt-kneaded to melt the resins and disperse the colorant and the like therein. In the melt-kneading step, for example, KTK type twin screw extruder manufactured by Kobe Steel, TEM type twin screw extruder manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd., twin screw extruder manufactured by Kay CK, Co. kneader manufactured by Buss, etc. Is commonly used.

  Next, in the cooling step, the colored resin composition obtained by melt-kneading the toner raw material is rolled with a two-roll roll or the like and cooled through a cooling belt or the like that is cooled by water cooling or the like. The cooled product of the colored resin composition thus obtained is then pulverized to a desired particle size in a pulverization step.

  In the crushing process, first, coarse crushing is performed with a crusher, a hammer mill, a feather mill, etc., and further, an inomizer (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron), a kryptron (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries), a super rotor (manufactured by Nisshin Engineering), a turbo mill (turbo) Pulverized by a pulverizer such as Kogyo Co., Ltd.

  Next, in the classification step, the finely pulverized product obtained in the pulverization step is introduced into an airflow classifier and classified to obtain toner particles having a desired particle size distribution. Further, before and after the classification step, if necessary, surface modification = spheronization treatment is performed in the surface modification step to obtain surface modified particles.

  Further, in the external addition step, a transferability improver, a fluidity improver, an abrasive and the like are externally added to the toner particles obtained as described above as external additives.

  As a method of externally adding an external additive to toner particles, a predetermined amount of toner particles and various known external additives are blended, and a mechanohybrid; Henschel mixer (manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.), Nobilta; ), Etc., using a high-speed stirrer that gives a shearing force to the powder as an external additive, and stirring and mixing.

  Next, the constituent material of the toner particles containing the binder resin, wax and colorant according to the present invention will be described. In the present invention, various known toner particle materials can be used.

  As the binder resin constituting the toner particles, a resin usually used for toner can be used. The following are listed.

  Examples of the binder resin used in the present invention include polystyrene; a styrene-substituted homopolymer such as poly-p-chlorostyrene and polyvinyltoluene; a styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer and a styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer. Styrene-vinyl naphthalene copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinylmethyl Styrenic copolymers such as ether copolymers, styrene-vinyl ethyl ether copolymers, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-isoprene copolymers, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymers. Polymer; polyvinyl chloride, pheno Resin, natural modified phenolic resin, natural resin modified maleic acid resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyvinyl acetate, silicone resin, polyester resin, polyurethane, polyamide resin, furan resin, epoxy resin, xylene resin, polyvinyl butyral, terpene resin , Coumarone indene resin and petroleum resin. In the present invention, a crosslinked resin such as a crosslinked styrenic resin and a crosslinked polyester is a preferable binder resin for surface modification of the particles.

  As a comonomer for the styrene monomer of the styrenic copolymer, acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, Monocarboxylic acid having a double bond such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide or a derivative thereof; maleic acid, butyl maleate, methyl maleate, malee Dicarboxylic acids having a double bond such as dimethyl acid or derivatives thereof; vinyl esters such as vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and vinyl benzoate; ethylene-based olefins such as ethylene, propylene and butylene; Rumechiruketon, vinyl ketones such as vinyl hexyl ketone; and the like; vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl ether such as vinyl isobutyl ether. These vinyl monomers are used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the crosslinking agent mainly include compounds having two or more polymerizable double bonds. For example, aromatic divinyl compounds such as divinylbenzene and divinylnaphthalene; carboxylic acid esters having two double bonds such as ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate; divinylaniline; And divinyl ether, divinyl sulfide and divinyl sulfone divinyl compounds; and compounds having three or more vinyl groups. These can be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

  Among the physical properties of the toner, those resulting from the binder resin include a region having a molecular weight of 2,000 to 50,000 in the molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) soluble in tetrahydrofuran (THF). More preferably, a component having at least one peak and having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 30,000 is present in an amount of 50% to 90%.

  In the present invention, the following wax is used as the material for the toner particles from the viewpoint of improving the releasability from the fixing member during fixing and improving the fixing property. Examples of the wax include paraffin wax and derivatives thereof, microcrystalline wax and derivatives thereof, Fischer-Tropsch wax and derivatives thereof, polyolefin wax and derivatives thereof, and carnauba wax and derivatives thereof. Derivatives of these waxes include oxides, block copolymers with vinyl monomers, and graft modified products. Examples of the wax include alcohol, fatty acid, acid amide, ester, ketone, hydrogenated castor oil and derivatives thereof, plant wax, animal wax, mineral wax, and petrolactam.

  In the present invention, a charge control agent is preferably blended (internally added) into toner particles or mixed (externally added) with toner particles as a material for toner particles. The charge control agent makes it possible to control the optimum charge amount according to the development system, and in particular, it is possible to produce a toner with a more stable balance between the particle size distribution and the charge amount.

  As the negative charge control agent for controlling the toner to be negatively charged, organometallic complexes and chelate compounds are effective. Examples of the organometallic complex include a monoazo metal complex, an acetylacetone metal complex, an aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid metal complex, and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid metal complex. Further, the negative charge control agent includes aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid, aromatic monocarboxylic acid and aromatic polycarboxylic acid and metal salts thereof; anhydrous hydroxycarboxylic acid, aromatic monocarboxylic acid and aromatic polycarboxylic acid anhydride. Products; ester compounds of aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, aromatic monocarboxylic acids and aromatic polycarboxylic acids, and phenol derivatives such as bisphenol.

  Examples of positive charge control agents for controlling the toner to be positively charged include nigrosine and fatty acid metal salts modified from nigrosine; tributylbenzylammonium-1-hydroxy-4-naphthosulfonate, tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate Quaternary ammonium salts and their lake pigments; phosphonium salts such as tributylbenzylphosphonium-1-hydroxy-4-naphthosulfonate and tetrabutylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate and lake pigments thereof; triphenylmethane dyes and lakes thereof Pigment (phosphotungstic acid, phosphomolybdic acid, phosphotungstic molybdic acid, tannic acid, lauric acid, gallic acid, ferricyanide, ferrocyanide, etc.); metal salt of higher fatty acid; dibutyls Oxide, dioctyltin oxide, such as diorganotin oxide dicyclohexyl tin oxide; dibutyl tin borate, dioctyl tin borate, include such diorgano tin borate dicyclohexyl tin borate. These charge control agents can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The above charge control agent is preferably used in the form of fine particles. When these charge control agents are internally added to the toner particles, they are 0.1 parts by mass or more and 20.0 parts by mass or less, particularly 0.2 parts by mass or more and 10.0 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. Is preferably added to the toner particles.

  In the present invention, various conventionally known colorants can be used as the toner particle material. The colorant used in the present invention is adjusted to black by a chromatic colorant such as carbon black or a magnetic material, a yellow colorant, a magenta colorant, and a cyan colorant shown below as a black colorant. A combination is used.

  As the yellow colorant, compounds represented by condensed azo compounds, isoindolinone compounds, anthraquinone compounds, azo metal complexes, methine compounds, and allylamide compounds are used. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 62, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 109, 110, 111, 120, 127, 128, 129, 147, 168, 174, 176, 180, 181 and 191.

  As the magenta colorant, condensed azo compounds, diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds, anthraquinones, quinacridone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, naphthol compounds, benzimidazolone compounds, thioindigo compounds, and perylene compounds are used. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 23, 48; 2, 48; 3, 48; 4, 57; 1, 81; 1, 144, 146, 166, 169, 177, 184, 185, 202, 206, 220, 221, 254.

  As the cyan colorant, copper phthalocyanine compounds and derivatives thereof, anthraquinone compounds, basic dye lake compounds are used. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment blue 1, 7, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 60, 62, 66.

  These colorants can be used alone or in combination and further in the form of a solid solution. In the present invention, the colorant is selected in consideration of hue angle, saturation, brightness, weather resistance, OHP transparency, and dispersibility in the toner. These chromatic and non-magnetic colorants are contained in the toner particles in a total amount of 1.0 to 20.0 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin.

  The toner particles used in the present invention may be externally added with external additives which are fine particles. By externally adding fine particles, fluidity and transferability can be improved. The external additive externally added to the toner particle surface preferably contains inorganic fine particles of titanium oxide, alumina oxide, and silica fine particles.

  The surface of the inorganic fine particles contained in the external additive is preferably subjected to a hydrophobic treatment. The hydrophobizing treatment is preferably performed by a coupling agent such as various titanium coupling agents and silane coupling agents; fatty acids and metal salts thereof; silicone oils; or a combination thereof.

  Among various combinations, it is preferable to add inorganic fine particles having a number average particle diameter of 80 nm or more and less than 300 nm as one of the inorganic fine particles. The reason is that the adhesion force with the carrier can be reduced, and even if the toner has a high charge, it can be developed efficiently.

  Examples of the material include silica, alumina, and titanium oxide. In the case of silica, any silica produced by using a conventionally known technique such as a gas phase decomposition method, a combustion method, or a deflagration method can be used.

  Examples of the titanium coupling agent for hydrophobizing the inorganic fine particles contained in the external additive include the following. For example, tetrabutyl titanate, tetraoctyl titanate, isopropyl triisostearoyl titanate, isopropyl tridecyl benzene sulfonyl titanate, bis (dioctyl pyrophosphate) oxyacetate titanate can be mentioned.

  Moreover, the following are mentioned as a silane coupling agent. For example, γ- (2-aminoethyl) aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ- (2-aminoethyl) aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, N-β- (N-vinylbenzylaminoethyl) ) Γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane hydrochloride, hexamethyldisilazane, methyltrimethoxysilane, butyltrimethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, hexyltrimethoxysilane, octyltrimethoxysilane, decyltrimethoxysilane, dodecyltrimethoxysilane , Phenyltrimethoxysilane, o-methylphenyltrimethoxysilane, and p-methylphenyltrimethoxysilane.

  Examples of the fatty acid for hydrophobizing the inorganic fine particles include the following. For example, long chain fatty acids such as undecyl acid, lauric acid, tridecyl acid, dodecyl acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, pentadecylic acid, stearic acid, heptadecylic acid, arachidic acid, montanic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid It is done. Examples of the metal of the fatty acid metal salt include zinc, iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, sodium, and lithium.

  Examples of the silicone oil for performing the hydrophobizing treatment include dimethyl silicone oil, methylphenyl silicone oil, and amino-modified silicone oil.

  In the hydrophobic treatment, the inorganic fine particles are coated by adding a hydrophobic treatment agent of 1% by mass to 30% by mass (more preferably 3% by mass to 7% by mass) with respect to the inorganic fine particles. Is preferably carried out by

  The content of the external additive in the toner is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 5.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 4.0% by mass or less. The external additive may be a combination of a plurality of types of fine particles.

  When the two-component developer is prepared by mixing the toner of the present invention and the magnetic carrier, the mixing ratio is 2% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less, preferably 4% by mass or more and 13% as the toner concentration in the developer. Good results are usually obtained when the content is less than or equal to mass%. If the toner concentration is less than 2% by mass, the image density tends to decrease, and if it exceeds 15% by mass, fogging or in-machine scattering tends to occur.

  Next, a measurement method according to the present invention will be described.

<Measurement of weight average particle diameter (D4) of toner>
The weight average particle diameter (D4) of the toner is determined based on the precise particle size distribution measuring apparatus “Coulter Counter Multisizer 3” (registered trademark, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) using a pore electric resistance method equipped with an aperture tube of 100 μm, and measurement conditions. Using the attached dedicated software “Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3 Version 3.51” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) for setting and analyzing the measurement data, the measurement data is measured with 25,000 effective channels. Analysis was performed and calculated.

  As the electrolytic aqueous solution used for the measurement, special grade sodium chloride is dissolved in ion-exchanged water so as to have a concentration of about 1% by mass, for example, “ISOTON II” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) can be used.

  Prior to measurement and analysis, the dedicated software was set as follows.

  In the “Standard Measurement Method (SOM) Change Screen” of the dedicated software, set the total count in the control mode to 50000 particles, set the number of measurements once, and set the Kd value to “standard particles 10.0 μm” (Beckman Coulter, Inc.) Set the value obtained using The threshold and noise level are automatically set by pressing the threshold / noise level measurement button. Also, the current is set to 1600 μA, the gain is set to 2, the electrolyte is set to ISOTON II, and the aperture tube flash after measurement is checked.

In the “pulse to particle size conversion setting screen” of the dedicated software, the bin interval is set to logarithmic particle size, the particle size bin is set to 256 particle size bin, and the particle size range is set to 2 μm to 60 μm. The specific measurement method is as follows.
(1) About 200 ml of the electrolytic solution is placed in a glass 250 ml round bottom beaker exclusively for Multisizer 3, set on a sample stand, and the stirrer rod is stirred counterclockwise at 24 rpm. Then, dirt and bubbles in the aperture tube are removed by the “aperture flush” function of the analysis software.
(2) About 30 ml of the electrolytic aqueous solution is put in a glass 100 ml flat bottom beaker, and "Contaminone N" (nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, organic builder pH 7 precision measurement is used as a dispersant therein. About 0.3 ml of a diluted solution obtained by diluting a 10% by weight aqueous solution of a neutral detergent for washing a vessel (made by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 3 times with ion-exchanged water is added.
(3) Two oscillators with an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz are incorporated in a state where the phase is shifted by 180 degrees, and placed in a water tank of an ultrasonic disperser “Ultrasonic Dissipation System Tetora 150” (manufactured by Nikkaki Bios Co., Ltd.) having an electrical output of 120 W A predetermined amount of ion-exchanged water is put, and about 2 ml of the above-mentioned Contaminone N is added to this water tank.
(4) The beaker of (2) is set in the beaker fixing hole of the ultrasonic disperser, and the ultrasonic disperser is operated. And the height position of a beaker is adjusted so that the resonance state of the liquid level of the electrolyte solution in a beaker may become the maximum.
(5) In a state where the electrolytic aqueous solution in the beaker of (4) is irradiated with ultrasonic waves, about 10 mg of toner is added to the electrolytic aqueous solution little by little and dispersed. Then, the ultrasonic dispersion process is continued for another 60 seconds. In the ultrasonic dispersion, the temperature of the water tank is appropriately adjusted so as to be 10 ° C. or higher and 40 ° C. or lower.
(6) To the round bottom beaker of (1) installed in the sample stand, the electrolyte solution of (5) in which the toner is dispersed is dropped using a pipette, and the measurement concentration is adjusted to about 5%. . Then, measurement is performed until the number of measured particles reaches 50,000.
(7) The measurement data is analyzed with the dedicated software attached to the apparatus, and the weight average particle diameter (D4) is calculated. The “average diameter” on the analysis / volume statistics (arithmetic average) screen when the graph / volume% is set with the dedicated software is the weight average particle diameter (D4).

<Calculation method of the amount of fine powder of 4.0 μm or less>
The number-based fine powder amount (number%) in the toner is calculated by analyzing the data after measuring the Multisizer 3 described above.

  For example, the number% of particles of 4.0 μm or less in the toner is calculated by the following procedure. First, the graph / number% is set with the dedicated software, and the measurement result chart is displayed in number%. Then, check “<” in the particle size setting portion on the “format / particle size / particle size statistics” screen, and enter “4” in the particle size input section below.

  The numerical value of the “<4 μm” display portion when the “analysis / number statistics (arithmetic mean)” screen is displayed is the number% of particles of 4.0 μm or less in the toner.

<Measurement of average circularity of toner particles>
The average circularity of the toner particles was measured with a flow type particle image analyzer “FPIA-3000 type” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) under the measurement and analysis conditions during the calibration operation.

  As a specific measurement method, an appropriate amount of a surfactant, preferably an alkyl benzene sulfonate, is added to 20 ml of ion-exchanged water, and then 0.02 g of a measurement sample is added, and an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz and an electric output of 150 W is added. Dispersion treatment was carried out for 2 minutes using a desktop type ultrasonic cleaner / disperser (for example, “VS-150” (manufactured by VervoCrea Co., Ltd.)) to obtain a dispersion for measurement. It cools suitably so that it may become 10 to 40 degreeC.

  As the ultrasonic disperser, a desktop type ultrasonic cleaner disperser (for example, “VS-150” (manufactured by Vervocrea)) having an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz and an electric output of 150 W is used. A predetermined amount of ion-exchanged water is placed in the water tank, and about 2 ml of the contamination N is added to the water tank.

  The flow type particle image analyzer equipped with a standard objective lens (10 ×) was used for the measurement, and a particle sheath “PSE-900A” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) was used as the sheath liquid. The dispersion prepared in accordance with the above procedure is introduced into the flow type particle image analyzer, 3000 toner particles are measured in the total count mode in the HPF measurement mode, and the binarization threshold at the time of particle analysis is 85%. The analysis particle diameter was limited to the equivalent circle diameter of 0.2 μm or more and 200.00 μm or less, and the average circularity of the toner particles was determined.

  In the measurement, automatic focus adjustment is performed using standard latex particles (for example, “RESEARCH AND TEST PARTILES Latex Microsphere Suspensions 5200A diluted by Duke Scientific) with ion-exchanged water before starting the measurement. It is preferable to adjust the focus every time.

  In this embodiment, a flow type particle image analyzer that has been issued a calibration certificate issued by Sysmex Corporation, which has been calibrated by Sysmex Corporation, has an analysis particle diameter of 0.2 μm or more equivalent to a circle. Except for limiting to 200.00 μm or less, measurement was performed under the measurement and analysis conditions when the calibration certificate was received.

<Measurement of molecular weight of resin by GPC>
The molecular weight distribution by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) can be measured under the following conditions.

  Resin prepared by stabilizing the column in a heat chamber at 40 ° C., and flowing tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent at a flow rate of 1 ml / min to the column at this temperature to prepare a sample concentration of 0.05 to 0.6% by mass The THF sample solution of 50 μl or more and 200 μl or less is injected and measured. An RI (refractive index) detector is used as the detector.

As the column, it is preferable to combine a plurality of commercially available polystyrene gel columns in order to accurately measure a molecular weight region of 1 × 10 ³ or more and 2 × 10 ⁶ or less. As a combination of such commercially available polystyrene gel columns, for example, a combination of μ-styrene 500, 103, 104, 105 manufactured by Waters, or shodex KA-801, 802, 803, 804, 805 manufactured by Showa Denko KK , 806, and 807 are preferable.

In measuring the molecular weight of the resin, which is a sample, the molecular weight distribution of the resin is calculated from the relationship between the logarithmic value of a calibration curve prepared from several types of monodisperse polystyrene standard samples and the number of counts. As a standard polystyrene sample for preparing a calibration curve, for example, Pressure Chemical Co. Manufactured by Toyo Soda Kogyo Co., Ltd. and having molecular weights of 6 × 10 ² , 2.1 × 10 ³ , 4 × 10 ³ , 1.75 × 10 ⁴ , 5.1 × 10 ⁴ , 1.1 × 10 ⁵ , 3.9 × 10 ⁵ , 8.6 × 10 ⁵ , 2 × 10 ⁶ , 4.48 × 10 ⁶ are used. It is appropriate to use at least about 10 standard polystyrene samples.

<Measurement of Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) of Toner>
Measurement is performed according to ASTM D3418-82 using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC measuring apparatus) and DSC 2920 (manufactured by TA Instruments).

  5 mg of a measurement sample is precisely weighed and placed in an aluminum pan, and an empty aluminum pan as a reference is used, and measurement is performed at a temperature increase rate of 10 ° C./min in a temperature range of −50 to 200 ° C. In this temperature rising process, an endothermic peak as a main peak is obtained in the DSC curve in the temperature range of −50 to 50 ° C. A baseline is set before and after the endothermic peak, and the intersection of the midpoint line and the DSC curve is defined as the glass transition temperature (Tg).

<Measurement of endothermic peak temperature of wax>
Measurement is performed according to ASTM D3418-82 using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC measuring apparatus) and DSC 2920 (manufactured by TA Instruments).

  A 5 mg measurement sample is precisely weighed and placed in an aluminum pan. Using an empty aluminum pan as a reference, measurement is performed at a temperature rising rate of 10 ° C./min in a temperature range of 30 to 200 ° C. In this temperature raising process, the temperature of the main peak of the DSC curve in the temperature range of 60 to 120 ° C. is set as the endothermic peak temperature of the wax.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with specific toner production methods, examples, and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Example 1]
Unsaturated polyester resin [polyoxypropylene (2,2) -2,2bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane / polyoxyethylene (2,2) -2,2bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane / terephthalic acid / Unsaturated polyester resin consisting of trimellitic anhydride / fumaric acid, Mw: 15000, Mw / Mn: 4.5, Tg: 58 ° C.]: 100 parts by mass, copper phthalocyanine pigment (CI Pigment Blue 15: 3) : 5 parts by mass paraffin wax (maximum endothermic peak 73 ° C.): 4 parts by mass charge control agent (salicylic acid metal complex E-88 (manufactured by Orient)): 1 part by mass Henschel mixer (Mitsui Mine Co., Ltd.) ) FM-300 model manufactured by the company), after mixing well, a twin-screw kneader set at a temperature of 120 ° C (PCM-75 model manufactured by Ikegai Co., Ltd.) And the mixture was kneaded by. The obtained kneaded product was cooled and coarsely pulverized to obtain a coarsely pulverized product.

  The obtained coarsely crushed product was crushed by using a pulverizer 301 (remodeled from a turbo mill T-400 manufactured by Turbo Industry Co., Ltd. as shown below) equipped with a pulverizing rotor having an outer diameter of 400 mm. Crushed.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the repetition distance a between the convex portion and the convex portion shown in FIG. 7 of the stator 310 of the pulverizer 301 was 2.0 mm.

  Further, the rotator 314 of the pulverizer 301 is divided into two parts, and the repetition distance a between the convex part and the convex part shown in FIG. The repetition distance a between the convex portions shown in FIG. 7 of the rotor 314 on the outlet side was set to 2.0 mm.

The pulverization conditions were as follows: feed amount: 100 kg / hr, blower suction air volume: 10 m ³ / min, pulverization rotor peripheral speed: 150 m / sec. The obtained finely pulverized product has a weight average diameter (D4) of 5.5 μm, a value of 4.0 μm or less is 58% by number, an average circularity of 0.940, and an equivalent circle diameter of less than 2.0 μm. The value of was 48% by number.

  Next, the obtained finely pulverized product was put into an apparatus shown in FIG. 1 equipped with a classification rotor 35 having a blade diameter of 230 mm, and the finely pulverized product was classified and surface-modified.

In the present embodiment, the secondary air suction port and the automatic control valve are installed in the fine powder transport pipe of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and classification is performed at the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open. The air volume A in the rotor 35 is 11 (m ³ / min), and the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 is 15 (m ³ / min) when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed, Control was performed so that A / B = 0.7.

Moreover, the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 3 was set to 55 °, and the guide ring 36 (B) provided with the louver 51 shown in FIG. 4 was used. Further, the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was set to 0.07 m ² by adjusting the number of blades.

  Also, the charging / processing / discharge time per cycle is 60 sec in total, including the charging time 15 sec, the processing time 25 sec, and the discharging time 20 sec, and the supply amount per cycle is 1.0 kg. The following evaluation was performed.

[yield]
In order to confirm the yield state with the same particle size distribution, the target particle size of the toner particles obtained by the apparatus is set to a weight average diameter (D4) of 6.0 ± 0.2 μm, a value of 4.0% by number or less is 28 ± 2. %, And the yield when the target particle size distribution was obtained (= ratio of product recovery to raw material input) was evaluated according to the following criteria. The particle size distribution was adjusted by the peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35.

<Evaluation criteria>
A: Excellent Yield is 75% or more B: Good Yield is 70% or more and less than 75% C: Yes Yield is 65% or more and less than 70% D: No Yield is less than 65%

[Average circularity]
The particle size distribution was adjusted by the peripheral speed of the classification rotor 35, and the average circularity of the obtained toner particles was evaluated according to the following criteria. Evaluation C or higher is a practical level in the present invention.

<Evaluation criteria>
A: Excellent Average circularity is 0.954 or more B: Good Average circularity is 0.952 or more and less than 0.954 C: Possible Average circularity is 0.950 or more and less than 0.952 D: Impossible Average circularity is 0.00. Less than 950

[Number of particles with equivalent circle diameter less than 2.0 μm]
The number of particles having an equivalent circle diameter of less than 2.0 μm of the obtained toner particles was measured by a flow type particle image analyzer “FPIA-3000 type” (manufactured by Sysmex Corporation) and evaluated according to the following criteria. Evaluation C or higher is a practical level in the present invention.

<Evaluation criteria>
A: Excellent Equivalent circle diameter less than 2.0 μm is less than 5% by number B: Good Equivalent circle diameter less than 2.0 μm is less than 5% and less than 10% C: Yes Less than number% D: Impossible Circle equivalent diameter less than 2.0 μm is 15 number% or more

Next, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the obtained toner particles, 1.8 parts by mass of hydrophobic silica having a specific surface area of 200 m ² / g by BET method was externally added to obtain a toner. 95 parts by mass of a ferrite carrier was mixed with 5 parts by mass of this toner to obtain a developer.

  Using this developer, image evaluation was performed under normal temperature and humidity (23 ° C., 60% RH) using a Canon full color copier CLC1000 remodeled machine (with the oil application mechanism of the fixing unit removed). .

  Using the obtained developer, an actual machine evaluation was carried out using a modified full-color copier CLC5000 manufactured by Canon Inc. Here, the developer for start is prepared by adding 10 parts by weight of black toner to 90 parts by weight of the magnetic carrier, and mixing in a V-type mixer in an environment of normal temperature and humidity (23 ° C., 50% RH). did. The produced developer was introduced into the developing tank of the copying machine.

  The modified CLC5000 is as follows. A magenta station was used for the evaluation. The laser used was a 655 nm semiconductor laser, and the spot diameter was reduced so that it could be output at 1200 dpi. Further, the surface layer of the fixing roller of the fixing unit was changed to a PFA tube, the oil application mechanism was removed, and the following evaluation was performed.

[Evaluation 1: Transfer efficiency]
The potential contrast of the photoconductor is adjusted so that the loading amount is 0.3 mg / cm ² on the photoconductor, and a 5% image chart is used under a high temperature and high humidity environment (32.5 ° C./85% RH). After outputting 50,000 images, a solid image was output, and the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive electrophotographic photosensitive drum at the time of solid image formation was removed by taping with Mylar tape.

  Each density difference was calculated by subtracting the density of the tape only on the paper from the density of the tape peeled off on the paper. And it judged as follows from the value of the density difference. Evaluation C or higher is a practical level in the present invention. The density was measured with the X-Rite color reflection densitometer described above.

<Evaluation criteria>
A: Excellent Density difference is less than 0.05 B: Good Density difference is 0.05 or more and less than 0.10 C: Possible Density difference is 0.10 or more and less than 0.20 D: Impossible Density difference is 0.20 or more

[Evaluation 2: fog]
The reflection density of the monochromatic solid image portion is 1.4, and the potential on the photoconductor is adjusted so that the white background portion potential is 150 V in the opposite direction with respect to the image portion from the development bias. (5 ° C., 85% RH), after outputting 10,000 images using a 30% image chart, the photoconductor was stopped during solid white image formation, and the toner on the photoconductor before the transfer process was replaced with Mylar It peeled off using the tape and affixed on the paper.

  In addition, the mylar tape was directly pasted on paper as a reference. Regarding the measurement, DENSOMETER TC-6DS manufactured by Tokyo Denshoku Technical Center was used to measure the reflectance (%), and the difference from the reference was set as the fog value. Evaluation C or higher is a practical level in the present invention.

<Evaluation criteria>
A: Excellent The difference in reflectance is less than 0.5% B: Good The difference in reflectance is 0.5% or more and less than 1.0% C: Possible The difference in reflectance is 1.0% or more and less than 2.0% D : Impossible Reflectance difference is 2.0% or more

[Example 2]
In the present embodiment, the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 is 4 (m ³ / min) during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41. In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 is set to 5 (m ³ / min) and A / B = 0.7 is controlled during the time when both of these are closed. A toner was prepared and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 3
In the present embodiment, the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 is 21 (m ³ / min) during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41. In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 is 30 (m ³ / min) and A / B is controlled to be 0.7 while both are closed. A toner was prepared and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 4
In this embodiment, the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 is 8 (m ³ / min) during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41. In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 is set to 15 (m ³ / min) and A / B is controlled to be 0.5 while both of them are closed. A toner was prepared and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 5
In this embodiment, the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 is 14 (m ³ / min) during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41. In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 is 15 (m ³ / min) and A / B is controlled to be 0.9 while both are closed. A toner was prepared and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 6
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was adjusted to 0.03 m ² by adjusting the number of blades. . The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 7
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was adjusted to 0.15 m ² by adjusting the number of blades. . The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 8
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was adjusted to 0.02 m ² by adjusting the number of blades. . The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 9
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was adjusted to 0.17 m ² by adjusting the number of blades. . The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 10
The finely pulverized product obtained in Example 1 was put into an apparatus shown in FIG. 2 equipped with a classification rotor 35 having a blade diameter of 230 mm, and the finely pulverized product was classified.

In the present embodiment, the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 3 was set to 55 °, and the guide ring 36 (B) provided with the louver 51 shown in FIG. 4 was used. Further, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was adjusted to 0.02 m ² by adjusting the number of blades. The results are shown in Table 1. The average circularity was not measured.

Example 11
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the guide ring 36 (A) shown in FIG. 4 in which the louver 51 was not installed was used in the apparatus shown in FIG. . The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 12
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 13
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 14
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 15
In this example, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 16
The finely pulverized product obtained in Example 1 was put into the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 equipped with a classification rotor 35 having a blade diameter of 330 mm, and the finely pulverized product was classified and surface-modified.

In the present embodiment, the secondary air suction port and the automatic control valve are installed in the fine powder transport pipe of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and classification is performed at the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open. The air volume A in the rotor 35 is 29 (m ³ / min), and the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 is 42 (m ³ / min) when both the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41 are closed, Control was performed so that A / B = 0.7.

Moreover, the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 3 was set to 55 °, and the guide ring 36 (B) provided with the louver 51 shown in FIG. 4 was used. Further, the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was set to 0.07 m ² by adjusting the number of blades.

  Also, the charging / processing / discharging time per cycle is 60 sec in total, with a charging time of 15 sec, a processing time of 25 sec, and a discharging time of 20 sec, and the supply amount per cycle is 5.0 kg. In the same manner as in Example 1, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 1]
The finely pulverized product obtained in Example 1 was put into an apparatus shown in FIG. 2 equipped with a classification rotor 35 having a blade diameter of 230 mm, and the finely pulverized product was classified.

In this comparative example, the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 is 2 (m ³ / min) during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41. The air volume B in the classification rotor 35 during the time when both of these were closed was set to 4 (m ³ / min), and control was performed so that A / B = 0.4.

Further, the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 3 was set to 15 °, and the guide ring 36 (A) shown in FIG. 4 without the louver 51 was used. Further, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was adjusted to 0.02 m ² by adjusting the number of blades. The results are shown in Table 1. The average circularity was not measured.

[Comparative Example 2]
In this comparative example, the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 is 4 (m ³ / min) during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41. In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the air volume B in the classification rotor 35 is set to 4 (m ³ / min) and A / B = 1.0 is controlled while both are closed. A toner was prepared and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The average circularity was not measured.

[Comparative Example 3]
The finely pulverized product obtained in Example 1 was put into an apparatus shown in FIG. 2 equipped with a classification rotor 35 having a blade diameter of 330 mm, and the finely pulverized product was classified.
In this comparative example, the air volume A in the classification rotor 35 is 52 (m ³ / min) during the time when either the raw material supply valve 39 or the product discharge valve 41 is open, the raw material supply valve 39 and the product discharge valve 41. The air volume B in the classification rotor 35 during the time when both of these were closed was set to 52 (m ³ / min), and A / B was controlled to be 1.0.

Further, the angle θ ° of the classification rotor 35 shown in FIG. 3 was set to 15 °, and the guide ring 36 (A) shown in FIG. 4 without the louver 51 was used. Further, toner particles and toner were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 16 except that the powder particle passage area R of the classification rotor 35 was adjusted to 0.02 m ² by adjusting the number of blades. The results are shown in Table 1. The average circularity was not measured.

  30 Main body casing, 32 Dispersion rotor, 33 Square disc, 34 Liner, 35 classification rotor, 36 Guide ring, 37 Raw material inlet, 38 Raw material supply valve, 39 Raw material supply port, 40 Product discharge port, 41 Product discharge valve, 42 Product extraction port, 43 Top plate, 44 Fine powder discharge part, 45 Fine powder discharge port, 46 Cold air inlet, 47 First space, 48 Second space, 50 Deflector ring, 51 louvers, 52 Air volume, 101 classifier, 201 Classifier / surface reformer, 301 pulverizer, 302 powder outlet, 310 stator, 311 powder inlet, 312 rotating shaft, 313 casing, 314 rotor, 315 raw material supply means, 319 cold air generating means, 320 cold water Generating means, 321 product transport means, 364 blower

Claims (5)

In a toner production method having a classification step for classifying powder particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant,
The classifier used in the classification process is a batch type classifier,
The classifier is
A cylindrical body casing;
Classification means for removing fine powder in the powder particles;
Cylindrical guide means installed in a state where at least a part of the classification means is covered;
In order to introduce the powder particles, formed on the side surface of the main body casing, an input pipe having a raw material input port and a raw material supply port,
A product discharge pipe having a product discharge port and a product extraction port formed on the side surface of the main body casing in order to discharge the classified particles from which fine powder has been removed to the outside of the main body casing;
Openable and closable raw material supply valve installed between the raw material input port and raw material supply port, and openable product installed between the product discharge port and product extraction port so that the classification time can be adjusted freely Has at least a discharge valve,
In the time when either the raw material supply valve or the product discharge valve is open, the air volume in the classification means is A (m ³ / min), and in the time when both the raw material supply valve and the product discharge valve are closed When the air volume in the classifying means is B (m ³ / min), the air volume B in the classifying means is 5 ≦ B (m ³ / min) ≦ 50,
The air volume A in the classifying means when either the raw material supply valve or the product discharge valve is open and the air volume B in the classification means when both the raw material supply valve and the product discharge valve are closed The toner satisfies the following formula (1):
0.5 ≦ A / B ≦ 0.9 Formula (1)   The classifying means is a rotating classifying rotor, and the classifying rotor has vanes on the same circumference, and each vane forms an angle θ ° with respect to a straight line connecting the center of the classifying rotor and the tip of the vane. An angle θ ° formed by a straight line connecting the center of the classification rotor and the tip of the blade and the blade is 20 ≦ θ ° ≦ 65. The method for producing a toner according to claim 1.   The guide means is a guide ring having at least a cylindrical partition member, and an upper portion of the guide ring is configured by a louver having a tip directed in a tangential direction in an inner circumferential circle direction of the guide ring. The toner production method according to claim 1.   The classifier has surface modification means for subjecting the classified particles to surface modification treatment by impact force, and the surface modification means is at least in the main body casing and attached to the central rotating shaft. A dispersion rotor that is a disk-shaped rotating body having a square disk on the upper surface and rotating at a high speed, and a groove is formed on the surface facing the dispersion rotor that is fixedly arranged around the dispersion rotor with a space therebetween. 4. The method for producing toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner is constituted by a provided liner. The toner production method according to claim 1, wherein the classification rotor has a passage area R (m ² ) of the powder particles of 0.03 ≦ R ≦ 0.15. .

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