JP2012113137A - Toner manufacturing method, toner manufacturing device and toner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner manufacturing method, a toner manufacturing device and toner capable of surely preventing toner liquid droplets from being coalesced.SOLUTION: Toner liquid droplets 21 discharged from droplet discharge means 2 are carried by a first stage of auxiliary carrier airflow 503 without reducing a speed and falling out of lines near the droplet discharge means 2. The toner liquid droplets 21 carried by the first stage of the auxiliary carrier airflow 503 are subsequently carried by a second stage of the auxiliary carrier airflow 503 without reducing the speed and falling out of the lines. The toner liquid droplets are repeatedly carried in this way to a region where the toner liquid droplets are dried and solidified.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner manufacturing method, a toner manufacturing apparatus, and a toner.

  As resin fine particles that require uniformity, they are used in various applications such as toner fine particles for electrophotography, spacer particles for liquid crystal panels, colored fine particles for electronic paper, and fine particles as a drug carrier for pharmaceuticals. As a method for producing uniform fine particles, a method of inducing a reaction in a liquid to obtain resin fine particles having a uniform particle diameter, such as a soap-free polymerization method, is known. This soap-free polymerization method has advantages such that it is easy to obtain a toner having a small particle size as a whole, the particle size distribution is sharp, and the shape is almost spherical. However, on the other hand, since the solvent is removed from the toner particles in a solvent which is usually water, the production efficiency is poor. In addition, the polymerization process requires a long time, and after completion of solidification, it is necessary to separate the solvent and toner particles, and then repeat washing and drying. During that time, a lot of time, a lot of water, and energy are required. There is.

  In order to solve such a problem, the applicant of the present application has proposed a toner manufacturing method by jet granulation described in Patent Document 1. Specifically, according to this toner manufacturing method, an electromechanical conversion, which is a vibration generating means, converts a thin film formed with a plurality of nozzles in a droplet ejecting unit that ejects a toner composition liquid as a toner raw material. By vibrating by the element, the thin film periodically vibrates up and down. As a result, the pressure in the liquid chamber partially constituted by the thin film periodically changes, and droplets are discharged from the nozzle to a gas phase space spreading under the nozzle in response to the periodic change. The ejected toner droplets travel in the same traveling direction in the gas phase space to form a row of toner droplets. The toner droplets discharged into the gas phase are shaped into a spherical shape due to the difference in surface tension between the liquid phase and the gas phase of the toner composition itself, and then dried and solidified to become a toner.

  However, according to Patent Document 1, the discharged toner droplet is decelerated due to air resistance, and the toner droplet discharged immediately after that starts catching up with the previously discharged toner droplet. That is, a speed difference occurs before and after the toner droplet. The interval between the droplets before and after that gradually narrows and eventually coalesces. The united toner droplets increase in volume and are further decelerated due to air resistance, and subsequent toner droplets are easily united one after another. Then, the coalesced toner droplets and the toner droplets that have not coalesced are mixed in the gas phase. For this reason, toners having different sizes are produced by drying and solidification, and the uniformity of the toner is impaired.

  In order to solve such toner droplet coalescence, the applicant of the present application newly proposed a toner manufacturing method described in Patent Document 2. Specifically, the toner composition liquid is continuously ejected from a plurality of nozzles, and the toner droplets ejected from each nozzle form a row and are transported to an area to be dried and solidified downstream of the gas phase. Then, an air flow is generated toward the area to be dried and solidified in the conveyance path from the tip of the discharge hole to the area to be dried and solidified. By putting the toner droplets in each row on this air stream, the toner droplets are prevented from coalescing so that the velocity of coalescing the toner droplets is not reached.

  However, in Patent Document 2, an air flow is formed in the conveyance path by applying a pressure with a pump or the like and supplying a gas having a considerable air volume in the gas phase. In the vicinity of the supply port tip for supplying the air flow into the gas phase, the pressure of the supplied gas is increased and the pressure is increased, and the pressure around the supply port tip region is decreased. For this reason, a pressure difference arises in the vicinity of the supply port tip and its periphery. As a result, the airflow supplied from the supply port into the gas phase is attracted to the low pressure region, that is, the peripheral direction, and gradually begins to spread. The transport direction of the toner droplets transported in a row also starts to spread around the air current. Since the pressure distribution with a pressure difference is generated in the gas phase as described above, the spread angle differs for each row of toner droplets. For this reason, the toner droplets in adjacent rows cross each other and are united before reaching the area to be dried and solidified.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a toner manufacturing method, a toner manufacturing apparatus, and a toner that can reliably prevent toner droplets from being coalesced.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a toner composition liquid containing at least a resin and a colorant is ejected from at least one ejection hole to form droplets, and the droplets of the toner droplets are formed. In a toner manufacturing method for manufacturing toner by transporting in an air stream and solidifying while being transported, the toner droplets that have been made into droplets are transported while being sequentially placed in a plurality of air streams. .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toner manufacturing method according to the first aspect, the direction of the airflow is the same as the direction of transport of the toner droplets.
Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the toner manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the toner composition liquid in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber in which the discharge holes are formed is given vibration to determine by liquid column resonance. A standing wave is formed, and the toner composition liquid is ejected from the ejection holes formed in a region that becomes the antinode of the standing wave to form droplets.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner manufacturing method according to the first or second aspect, the ejection hole is formed by applying vibration to the toner composition liquid in the liquid chamber in which the ejection hole is formed. The thin film is periodically oscillated to discharge the toner composition liquid from the discharge holes to form droplets.
Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the toner manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thin film in which the discharge holes are formed is vibrated to periodically vibrate the thin film from the discharge holes. The toner composition liquid is discharged into droplets.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a droplet discharge means for discharging a toner composition liquid containing at least a resin and a colorant from at least one discharge hole to form droplets, and solidifying the formed toner droplets. In a toner manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a solidifying means; and an airflow generating means for generating an airflow for transporting the toner droplets to the solidifying means, the transport between the transport path between the droplet ejecting means and the solidifying means A plurality of the airflow generation means are provided along the path, and the toner droplets are sequentially carried on the plurality of airflows generated by the airflow generation means and conveyed to the solidification means.
Furthermore, a seventh aspect of the invention is a toner manufactured by the toner manufacturing method according to any one of the first to fifth aspects or the toner manufacturing apparatus according to the sixth aspect.

  In the present invention, the toner droplets formed by discharging the toner composition liquid from the discharge holes are successively placed on a plurality of airflows formed in the transport path from the tip of the discharge hole toward the region to be dried and solidified. And transported toward the area to be dried and solidified. By repeating such transport, the ejected toner droplets are transported on the airflow, and the toner droplets maintain a row by riding on the next airflow before the airflow gradually spreads due to the pressure distribution. Then, it is conveyed to an area to be dried and solidified. Thus, the toner droplets are conveyed from the tip of the ejection hole to the region to be dried and solidified without being united. Therefore, coalescence of toner droplets can be reliably prevented.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that coalescence of toner droplets can be surely prevented.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of a toner manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a droplet discharge head in the droplet formation unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ′ showing the configuration of the droplet forming unit in FIG. 1. It is the schematic which shows the standing wave of the speed and pressure fluctuation in the case of N = 1,2,3. It is the schematic which shows the standing wave of the speed and pressure fluctuation in the case of N = 4 and 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid column resonance phenomenon that occurs in a liquid column resonance liquid chamber in a droplet discharge head in a droplet forming unit. It is a figure which shows the mode of actual droplet discharge. It is a characteristic view which shows a drive frequency and a droplet discharge speed frequency characteristic. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of an indirect vibration type discharge means. It is a bottom view which shows the structure of the thin film in an indirect vibration type discharge means. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the radial direction coordinate of a thin film, and vibration displacement. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of a direct vibration type discharge means. It is a bottom view which shows the structure of the thin film in a direct vibration type discharge means. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the cross-sectional shape of a discharge hole. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of an apparatus that performs a toner manufacturing method. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the coalescence prevention means by one auxiliary conveyance airflow. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the coalescence prevention means by two auxiliary conveyance airflows of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a toner particle size distribution by a coalescence prevention unit according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a toner particle size distribution by a uniting prevention unit using one auxiliary transport airflow. FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram illustrating a change in the velocity of a toner droplet with a change in distance from a toner droplet ejection start position.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the toner manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a droplet discharge head in the droplet formation unit of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ′ showing the configuration of the droplet forming unit of FIG. 1. A toner manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a droplet forming unit 10 and a dry collection unit 30. The droplet forming unit 10 is a liquid chamber having a liquid ejection region that communicates with the outside through an ejection hole, and generates a liquid column resonance standing wave under the conditions described later. A plurality of droplet discharge heads 11 as droplet forming means for ejecting the droplets as droplets from the discharge holes are arranged. Airflow generated by airflow generation means (not shown) passes through both sides of each droplet discharge head 11 so that the droplets of the toner composition liquid discharged from the droplet discharge head 11 flow out to the dry collection unit 30 side. An airflow passage 12 is provided. Further, the droplet forming unit 10 includes a raw material container 13 that stores a toner composition liquid 14 that is a toner raw material, and a liquid droplet discharge head 11 that passes the toner composition liquid 14 stored in the raw material container 13 through a liquid supply pipe 16. And a liquid circulation pump 15 that pumps the toner composition liquid 14 in the liquid supply pipe 16 to be supplied to the liquid common supply path 17 (described later) and then returned to the raw material container 13 through the liquid return pipe 22. It is configured. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the droplet discharge head 11 includes a liquid common supply path 17 and a liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18. The liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 communicates with a liquid common supply path 17 provided on one of the wall surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 is provided on a wall surface facing the discharge hole 19 and a discharge hole 19 that discharges the toner droplet 21 to one wall surface of the wall surfaces connected to both ends. In order to form a standing wave, it has vibration generating means 20 that generates high-frequency vibration. The vibration generating means 20 is connected to a high frequency power source (not shown).

  The dry collection unit 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes a chamber 31 and a toner collection unit 32. In the chamber 31, a large descending airflow is formed in which an airflow generated by an airflow generating means (not shown) and the carrier airflow 33 are merged. The toner droplet 21 ejected from the droplet ejection head 11 of the droplet ejecting unit 10 is transported downward not only by gravity but also by the transport airflow 33, so that the ejected toner droplet 21 is air. It can suppress decelerating by resistance. Thereby, when the toner droplet 21 is continuously ejected, the toner droplet 21 ejected before is decelerated by the air resistance, and the toner droplet 21 ejected later is the toner droplet 21 ejected before. By catching up with the toner droplets 21, it is possible to prevent the toner droplets 21 from being united and integrated and the toner droplets 21 to be increased in particle size. As the air flow generation means, either a method of providing a blower in the upstream portion and pressurizing, or a method of suctioning from the toner collecting unit 32 and reducing the pressure can be employed. In addition, a rotating airflow generator (not shown) that generates a rotating airflow that rotates around an axis parallel to the vertical direction is disposed in the toner collecting unit 32. Further, the toner collecting unit 32 has a toner storing unit 35 that stores dried and solidified toner particles that have passed through a toner collecting tube 34 that communicates with the chamber 31.

Next, the toner manufacturing process in the toner manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1 will be outlined.
The toner composition liquid 14 accommodated in the raw material container 13 shown in FIG. 1 is passed through the liquid supply pipe 16 by a liquid circulation pump 15 for circulating the toner composition liquid 14, and then the droplet forming unit shown in FIG. The liquid common supply path 17 flows into the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 of the droplet discharge head 11 shown in FIG. A pressure distribution is formed in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 filled with the toner composition liquid 14 by the liquid column resonance standing wave generated by the vibration generating means 20. Then, the toner droplet 21 is ejected from the ejection hole 19 arranged in a region where the amplitude of the liquid column resonance standing wave has a large amplitude and the pressure fluctuation is large and becomes the antinode of the standing wave. The region that becomes the antinode of the standing wave due to the liquid column resonance means a region other than the node of the standing wave. Preferably, it is a region where the pressure fluctuation of the standing wave has an amplitude large enough to discharge the liquid, and more preferably a position where the amplitude of the pressure standing wave becomes a maximum (a section as a velocity standing wave). ) To a minimum position in a range of ± 1/4 wavelength (see FIG. 21 described later). If the region is an antinode of a standing wave, even if there are a plurality of discharge holes, substantially uniform droplets can be formed from each, and moreover, the droplets can be discharged efficiently. And clogging of the discharge holes is less likely to occur. The toner composition liquid 14 that has passed through the common liquid supply path 17 flows through the liquid return pipe 22 and is returned to the raw material container 13. When the amount of the toner composition liquid 14 in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 decreases due to the ejection of the toner droplets 21, a suction force due to the action of the liquid column resonance standing wave in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 acts, and the liquid common The flow rate of the toner composition liquid 14 supplied from the supply path 17 increases, and the toner composition liquid 14 is replenished into the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18. Then, when the toner composition liquid 14 is replenished in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18, the flow rate of the toner composition liquid 14 passing through the liquid common supply path 17 is restored to the original, and the liquid supply pipe 16 and the liquid return pipe 22 are supplied. The flow of the toner composition liquid 14 circulating in the apparatus is again formed. On the other hand, the toner droplets 21 ejected from the droplet ejection head 11 of the droplet ejecting unit 10 are not only caused by gravity but also an air flow generated by an air flow generating means (not shown) as shown in FIG. 12 is transported downward by a transport airflow 33 formed through 12. Next, a spiral airflow is formed along the conical inner wall surface of the toner collecting portion 32 by the rotating airflow generated by the rotating airflow generation device (not shown) in the toner collecting portion 32 and the conveying airflow 33. The toner particles are dried and solidified in a laminar flow state on the spiral airflow. The dried and solidified toner particles are stored in the toner storage unit 35 through the toner collecting tube 34.

  The liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 in the droplet discharge head 11 is joined to a frame formed of a material having such a high rigidity that does not affect the resonance frequency of the liquid at a driving frequency such as metal, ceramics, or silicon. Has been formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the length L between the wall surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 is determined based on the liquid column resonance principle as described later. Further, the width W of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 shown in FIG. 3 is desirably smaller than one half of the length L of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 so as not to give an extra frequency to the liquid column resonance. . Furthermore, it is preferable that a plurality of liquid column resonance liquid chambers 18 are arranged for one droplet forming unit 10 in order to dramatically improve productivity. The range is not limited, but one droplet forming unit provided with 100 to 2000 liquid column resonance liquid chambers 18 is most preferable because both operability and productivity can be achieved. In addition, for each liquid column resonance liquid chamber, a flow path for supplying liquid is connected from the common liquid supply path 17, and the common liquid supply path 17 communicates with a plurality of liquid column resonance liquid chambers 18. .

The vibration generating means 20 in the droplet discharge head 11 is not particularly limited as long as it can be driven at a predetermined frequency, but a form in which a piezoelectric body is bonded to an elastic plate is desirable. The elastic plate constitutes a part of the wall of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber so that the piezoelectric body does not come into contact with the liquid. Examples of the piezoelectric body include piezoelectric ceramics such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT). However, since the amount of displacement is generally small, the piezoelectric body is often used by being laminated. In addition, piezoelectric polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), single crystals such as quartz, LiNbO ₃ , LiTaO ₃ , KNbO _{3, and the} like can be given. Furthermore, it is desirable that the vibration generating means 20 is arranged so that it can be individually controlled for each liquid column resonance liquid chamber. In addition, the block-shaped vibrating member made of one material is partially cut in accordance with the arrangement of the liquid column resonance liquid chambers, and each liquid column resonance liquid chamber can be individually controlled via an elastic plate. desirable.

  Furthermore, the diameter of the opening of the discharge hole 19 is desirably in the range of 1 [μm] to 40 [μm]. If the particle size is smaller than 1 [μm], the formed droplets may be very small, so that the toner may not be obtained. In the case of a configuration in which solid fine particles such as pigment are contained as a component of the toner, the discharge hole 19 There is a risk that productivity will be reduced due to frequent blockages. When the particle size is larger than 40 [μm], the diameter of the toner droplet is large, and when this is dried and solidified to obtain a desired toner particle diameter of 3 to 6 μm, the toner composition is diluted with an organic solvent into a very dilute liquid. In order to obtain a certain amount of toner, a large amount of drying energy is required, which is inconvenient. Further, as can be seen from FIG. 3, adopting a configuration in which the discharge holes 19 are provided in the width direction in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 can provide a large number of openings of the discharge holes 19, thereby increasing the production efficiency. Therefore, it is preferable. Further, since the liquid column resonance frequency varies depending on the arrangement of the discharge holes 19, it is desirable to appropriately determine the liquid column resonance frequency after confirming the discharge of the droplet.

Next, the mechanism of droplet formation by the droplet forming unit in the toner manufacturing apparatus will be described.
First, the principle of the liquid column resonance phenomenon occurring in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 in the liquid droplet ejection head 11 of FIG. 2 will be described. The sound velocity of the toner composition liquid in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber is c, and the vibration generating means 20 When the driving frequency applied to the toner composition liquid as a medium is f, the wavelength λ at which the liquid resonance occurs is
λ = c / f (Formula 1)
Are in a relationship.

Further, in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 of FIG. 2, the length from the end of the frame on the fixed end side to the end on the liquid common supply path 17 side is L, and further, the end of the frame on the liquid common supply path 17 side. The height h1 (= about 80 [μm]) is about twice the height h2 (= about 40 [μm]) of the communication port, and the fixed ends on both sides are assumed to be equivalent to the fixed end closed. In this case, resonance is formed most efficiently when the length L coincides with an even multiple of a quarter of the wavelength λ. That is, it is expressed by the following formula 2.
L = (N / 4) λ (Expression 2)
(However, N is an even number.)

Furthermore, the above formula 2 is also established in the case of a double-sided open end where both ends are completely open.
Similarly, when one side is equivalent to an open end having a pressure relief portion and the other side is closed (fixed end), that is, one side fixed end or one side open end, the length L is the wavelength λ. Resonance is most efficiently formed when it matches an odd multiple of a quarter. That is, N in Expression 2 is expressed as an odd number.

The most efficient drive frequency f is obtained from the above formula 1 and the above formula 2.
f = N × c / (4L) (Formula 3)
It is guided. However, in reality, since the liquid has a viscosity that attenuates the resonance, the vibration is not amplified infinitely, and has a Q value. As shown in equations 4 and 5, which will be described later, Resonance also occurs at frequencies near the highly efficient drive frequency f.

  FIG. 4 shows the shape of the standing wave of velocity and pressure fluctuation (resonance mode) when N = 1, 2, and 3. FIG. 5 shows the standing wave of velocity and pressure fluctuation when N = 4, 5. The shape (resonance mode) is shown. Originally, it is a dense wave (longitudinal wave), but it is generally expressed as shown in FIGS. The solid line is the velocity standing wave, and the dotted line is the pressure standing wave. For example, as can be seen from FIG. 4 (a) showing the case of a fixed end with N = 1, in the case of velocity distribution, the amplitude of the velocity distribution becomes zero at the closed end, and the amplitude becomes maximum at the open end. Easy to understand. When the length between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber is L, the wavelength at which the liquid resonates is λ, and the standing wave is most efficiently generated when the integer N is 1 to 5. . In addition, since the standing wave pattern varies depending on the open / closed state of both ends, they are also shown. As will be described later, the condition of the end is determined by the state of the opening of the discharge hole and the opening of the supply side. In acoustics, the open end is an end at which the moving speed of the medium (liquid) in the longitudinal direction becomes zero, and conversely, the pressure becomes maximum. Conversely, the closed end is defined as an end where the moving speed of the medium becomes zero. The closed end is considered as an acoustically hard wall and wave reflection occurs. When ideally completely closed or open, a resonant standing wave of the form shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is generated by superposition of waves, but it is also determined by the number of discharge holes and the position of the discharge holes. The standing wave pattern fluctuates, and the resonance frequency appears at a position deviated from the position obtained from the above equation 3. However, stable ejection conditions can be created by appropriately adjusting the driving frequency. For example, the sound velocity c of the liquid is 1,200 [m / s], the length L of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber is 1.85 [mm], wall surfaces exist at both ends, and it is completely equivalent to the fixed ends on both sides. When N = 2 resonance mode is used, the most efficient resonance frequency is derived from the above equation (2) as 324 kHz. In another example, the sound velocity c of the liquid is 1,200 [m / s], the length L of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber is 1.85 [mm], and there are wall surfaces at both ends using the same conditions as described above. Thus, when N = 4 resonance mode equivalent to the fixed ends on both sides is used, the most efficient resonance frequency is derived from the above formula (2) as 648 kHz, and even in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber having the same configuration, Higher order resonances can be used.

  The liquid column resonance liquid chamber in the droplet discharge head of the droplet forming unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an acoustically soft wall due to the fact that both ends are equivalent to the closed end state or due to the opening of the discharge hole. In order to increase the frequency, an end portion that can be explained as follows is preferable, but it is not limited to this and may be an open end. The influence of the opening of the discharge hole here means that the acoustic impedance is reduced, and in particular, the compliance component is increased. Therefore, the configuration in which the wall surfaces are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 5A is regarded as the resonance mode at both fixed ends and the discharge hole side as an opening. This is a preferred configuration because all resonance modes at one open end can be used.

  In addition, the numerical aperture of the discharge holes, the opening arrangement position, and the cross-sectional shape of the discharge holes are factors that determine the drive frequency, and the drive frequency can be appropriately determined accordingly. For example, when the number of ejection holes is increased, the restriction at the tip of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber, which has been the fixed end, gradually loosens, a resonance standing wave that is almost close to the open end is generated, and the drive frequency increases. In addition, the opening position of the discharge hole that is closest to the liquid supply path is the starting point, and it becomes a loose constraint condition. The cross-sectional shape of the discharge hole is round, or the volume of the discharge hole varies depending on the frame thickness. The upper standing wave has a short wavelength and is higher than the driving frequency. When a voltage is applied to the vibration generating means at the drive frequency determined in this way, the vibration generating means is deformed, and a resonant standing wave is generated most efficiently at the drive frequency. Further, the liquid column resonance standing wave is generated even at a frequency in the vicinity of the drive frequency at which the resonance standing wave is generated most efficiently. That is, when the length between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber is L and the distance to the discharge hole closest to the end on the liquid supply side is Le, both the lengths of L and Le are used. It is possible to oscillate the vibration generating means by using a drive waveform whose main component is the drive frequency f in the range determined by the following formulas 4 and 5, and induce liquid column resonance to eject liquid droplets from the ejection holes. It is.

N × c / (4L) ≦ f ≦ N × c / (4Le) (Formula 4)
N × c / (4L) ≦ f ≦ (N + 1) × c / (4Le) (Formula 5)

  The ratio of the length L between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber to the distance Le to the discharge hole closest to the end on the liquid supply side is preferably Le / L> 0.6.

  The liquid column resonance pressure standing wave is formed in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 of FIG. 2 using the principle of the liquid column resonance phenomenon described above, and the discharge holes 19 arranged in a part of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18. In this case, droplet discharge occurs continuously. Note that it is preferable to dispose the discharge hole 19 at a position where the pressure of the standing wave fluctuates the most, since the discharge efficiency is increased and the driving can be performed with a low voltage. Further, one discharge hole 19 may be provided for one liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18, but it is preferable to arrange a plurality of discharge holes 19 from the viewpoint of productivity. Specifically, it is preferably between 2 and 100. When the number exceeds 100, if a desired toner droplet is to be formed from 100 ejection holes 19, it is necessary to set a high voltage to the vibration generating means 20. The behavior becomes unstable. When the plurality of discharge holes 19 are opened, the pitch between the discharge holes is preferably 20 [μm] or more and not more than the length of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber. When the pitch between the discharge holes is larger than 20 [μm], there is a high probability that the droplets discharged from the adjacent discharge holes collide with each other to form large droplets, leading to deterioration in the toner particle size distribution.

  Next, the state of the liquid column resonance phenomenon occurring in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber in the droplet discharge head in the droplet forming unit will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the solid line drawn in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber represents the velocity distribution plotting the velocity at any measurement position from the fixed end side to the liquid common supply path side end in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber. The direction from the common liquid supply path to the liquid column resonance liquid chamber is +, and the opposite direction is −. In addition, the dotted line marked in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber indicates a pressure distribution in which the pressure value at each arbitrary measurement position between the fixed end side and the liquid common supply path side end in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber is plotted. The positive pressure is + with respect to the atmospheric pressure, and the negative pressure is-. Moreover, if it is a positive pressure, a pressure will be applied to the downward direction in the figure, and if it is a negative pressure, a pressure will be applied to the upward direction in the figure. Furthermore, in the same figure, the liquid common supply path side is opened as described above, but the height of the opening where the liquid common supply path 17 and the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 communicate with each other (height h2 shown in FIG. 2). On the other hand, since the height of the frame serving as the fixed end (height h1 shown in FIG. 2) is about twice or more, the approximate condition is that the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 is substantially fixed on both sides. The change in the velocity distribution and the pressure distribution over time is shown.

  (A) of the figure shows a pressure waveform and a velocity waveform in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 when droplets are discharged. In FIG. 5B, the meniscus pressure increases again after the liquid is drawn immediately after the droplet is discharged. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pressure in the flow path provided with the discharge hole 19 in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 is maximum. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, the positive pressure in the vicinity of the ejection hole 19 decreases, and the toner droplet 21 is ejected by moving in the negative pressure direction.

  And as shown in (d) of the figure, the pressure near the discharge hole 19 becomes the minimum. From this time, the filling of the toner composition liquid 14 into the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 starts. Thereafter, as shown in (e) of the figure, the negative pressure in the vicinity of the discharge hole 19 becomes smaller and shifts to the positive pressure direction. At this time, the filling of the toner composition liquid 14 is completed. Then, again, as shown in FIG. 5A, the positive pressure in the droplet discharge region of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 becomes maximum, and the toner droplet 21 is discharged from the discharge hole 19. In this way, a standing wave due to liquid column resonance is generated in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber by high-frequency driving of the vibration generating means, and corresponds to an antinode of standing wave due to liquid column resonance where the pressure changes most. Since the discharge holes 19 are arranged in the droplet discharge area to be discharged, the toner droplets 21 are continuously discharged from the discharge holes 19 according to the antinode period.

  Next, an example of a configuration in which droplets are actually ejected by the liquid column resonance phenomenon will be described. This example is a resonance mode in which the length L between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 in FIG. 2 is 1.85 [mm] and N = 2, and the first to fourth discharge holes are provided. FIG. 7 shows a state in which a discharge hole is arranged at the antinode of the N = 2 mode pressure standing wave and a discharge performed with a sine wave with a drive frequency of 340 [kHz] is photographed by the laser shadowgraphy method. As can be seen from the figure, it is possible to discharge droplets having a uniform diameter and a substantially uniform speed. FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing droplet velocity frequency characteristics when driven by the same amplitude sine wave with a drive frequency of 290 [kHz] to 395 [kHz]. As can be seen from the figure, in the first to fourth nozzles, the discharge speed from each nozzle is uniform and the maximum discharge speed when the drive frequency is around 340 [kHz]. From this characteristic result, it can be seen that, in the second mode of the liquid column resonance frequency, 340 [kHz], uniform discharge is realized at the antinode position of the liquid column resonance standing wave. Further, from the characteristic results of FIG. 8, the droplet is between the droplet discharge speed peak at 130 [kHz] which is the first mode and the droplet discharge speed peak at 340 [kHz] which is the second mode. It can be seen that the characteristic frequency characteristic of the liquid column resonance standing wave of the liquid column resonance that does not discharge is generated in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber.

Next, an indirect vibration type discharge means and a direct vibration type discharge means will be outlined as film vibration type droplet discharge means.
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the indirect vibration type discharge means. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same components. The indirect vibration type discharge means 100 shown in the figure includes a thin film 101 in which a plurality of discharge holes 19 are formed, a mechanical vibration means 102 that vibrates the thin film 101, and between the thin film 101 and the mechanical vibration means 102. And a frame 103 that forms a liquid flow path 7 for supplying the toner composition liquid 14. The toner composition liquid 14 is supplied from a raw material container (not shown) through a liquid supply pipe by a liquid circulation pump from the toner composition liquid supply port 6, passes through the liquid flow path 7, and is discharged from the toner composition liquid discharge port 8. It returns to the raw material container again through the liquid return pipe.

  The thin film 101 having a plurality of discharge holes 19 is installed in parallel to the vibration surface 104 of the mechanical vibration means 102, and a part of the thin film 101 is bonded and fixed to the frame 103. Thereby, the positional relationship is substantially perpendicular to the vibration direction of the mechanical vibration means 102. A drive circuit 105 is provided so that a voltage signal is applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the vibration generating means 20 of the mechanical vibration means 102. Then, a signal from the drive signal generation source 106 is applied to the vibration generating means 20 and converted into mechanical vibration. As a circuit for supplying an electric signal, a lead wire having an insulating coating on the surface is suitable. In addition, it is suitable for efficient and stable toner production that the mechanical vibration means 102 uses elements having a large vibration amplitude such as various horn type vibrators and bolted Langevin type vibrators described later.

  The mechanical vibration unit 102 includes a vibration generation unit 20 that generates vibration and a vibration amplification unit 107 that amplifies the vibration generated by the vibration generation unit 20. When a drive voltage (drive signal) having a required frequency is applied between the electrodes 109 of the vibration generating means 20 from the drive signal generating source 106, vibration is excited in the vibration generating means 20. This vibration is amplified by the vibration amplification means 107, and the vibration surface 104 arranged in parallel with the thin film 101 vibrates periodically. As a result, the thin film 101 vibrates at a required frequency due to the periodic pressure caused by the vibration of the vibration surface 104. 9 has a configuration in which one vibration generating member 108 is sandwiched between electrodes 109, but a plurality of the members may be stacked.

  The vibration generating means 20 is not particularly limited as long as it can apply a certain longitudinal vibration to the thin film 101 at a constant frequency, and can be appropriately selected and used. However, since the thin film 101 is vibrated, the vibration generating member 108 of the vibration generating means 20 is preferably a piezoelectric body in which bimorph type flexural vibration is excited. The piezoelectric body has a function of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. Specifically, by applying a voltage, flexural vibration is excited and the thin film 101 can be vibrated.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the bending vibration has a cross-sectional shape in which the displacement ΔL is maximum (ΔLmax) at the center of the thin film 101, and periodically vibrates in the vibration direction. As the thin film 101 periodically vibrates up and down, the toner droplets 21 are periodically ejected from the ejection holes 19. The speed range of the thin film 101 from which the toner droplets 21 can be ejected has a relationship as shown in FIG. 11, and the area range that can be ejected is limited. Therefore, it is desirable to form the ejection holes 19 in this area range. As shown in FIG. 10, the discharge hole 19 is disposed at the center of the thin film 101.

Examples of the piezoelectric body of the vibration generating member 108 that constitutes the vibration generating means 20 include piezoelectric ceramics such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT). There are many. In addition, piezoelectric polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), single crystals such as quartz, LiNbO ₃ , LiTaO ₃ , KNbO ₃ , and the like can be given.

  The mechanical vibration means 102 may be arranged in any way as long as it gives vibration in the vertical direction to the thin film 101 having the discharge holes 19, but the vibration surface 104 and the thin film 101 are arranged in parallel.

  In the illustrated example, a horn type vibrator is used as the mechanical vibration means 102 including the vibration generation means 20 and the vibration amplification means 107. Since this horn type vibrator can amplify the amplitude of the vibration generating means 20 such as a piezoelectric element by the vibration amplifying means 107, the vibration generating means 20 itself for generating mechanical vibration may be a small vibration and a mechanical load. Therefore, it will lead to longer life as a production device. As the horn type vibrator, a known typical horn shape may be used. The shape can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Further, as the vibration generating means 20, a particularly high-strength bolted Langevin type vibrator can be used. This bolted Langevin type vibrator is mechanically coupled with piezoelectric ceramics and will not be damaged during high amplitude excitation.

  The size of the mechanical vibration means 102 is generally increased as the oscillation frequency is decreased. Depending on the required frequency, the vibration means can be directly drilled to provide a reservoir. It is also possible to vibrate the entire storage part efficiently.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the direct vibration type discharge means. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9 denote the same components. The direct vibration type discharge means 200 shown in the figure includes a thin film 101 provided with at least a discharge hole 19 for discharging a toner droplet 21, an annular vibration generating means 201 for vibrating the thin film 101, and a toner composition liquid 14. And a frame 103 provided with a flow path 7 to be supplied. The toner composition liquid 14 is supplied from a raw material container (not shown) through a liquid supply pipe by a liquid circulation pump from the toner composition liquid supply port 6. The toner composition liquid 14 passes through the flow path 7, is discharged from the toner composition liquid discharge port 8, and returns to the raw material container again through a liquid return pipe (not shown).

  The thin film 101 is bonded and fixed to the frame 103 at the outer periphery. The annular vibration generating means 201 is arranged around the area where the discharge holes 19 of the thin film 101 are provided. The annular vibration generating means 201 includes an annular piezoelectric body 202 and an electrode 109. A drive voltage (drive signal) having a required frequency is applied to the electrode 109 from the drive signal generation source 106 through the drive circuit 105. Thereby, for example, bending vibration is generated. As the kind of the annular piezoelectric body 202 and the electrode 109, the same one as that used in the indirect vibration type ejection unit 100 can be used.

  Similar to the indirect vibration type ejection unit 100, the bending vibration has a cross-sectional shape in which the displacement ΔL is maximum (ΔLmax) at the center of the thin film as shown in FIG. 11, and periodically vibrates in the vibration direction. The toner droplets 21 are periodically ejected from the ejection holes 19 by periodically vibrating the film. The speed range of the thin film 101 from which the toner droplets 21 can be ejected has a relationship as shown in FIG. 11, and the area range that can be ejected is limited. Therefore, it is desirable to form the ejection holes 19 in this area range. As shown in FIG. 13, the discharge hole 19 is disposed at the center of the thin film 101 and the annular vibration means 201.

(Droplet formation mechanism)
Next, the mechanism of droplet formation by the indirect vibration type droplet discharge means 100 and the direct vibration type droplet discharge means 200 will be outlined.
According to any of the droplet discharge means as described above, the thin film 101 having a plurality of discharge holes 19 facing the flow path 7 is propagated to the thin film 101 to vibrate the thin film 101 periodically. . A plurality of discharge holes 19 are arranged in a relatively large area, and droplets can be periodically formed and discharged stably from the plurality of discharge holes 19.

Due to the vibration of the circular thin film, a sound pressure Pac proportional to the vibration speed Vm of the film is generated in the liquid in the vicinity of the nozzles provided in the circular film. It is known that the sound pressure is generated as a reaction of the radiation impedance Zr of the medium (toner composition liquid), and the sound pressure is a product of the radiation impedance and the membrane vibration velocity Vm using the equation (6) below. Is done.
Pac (r, t) = Zr · Vm (r, t) (Formula 6)
Since the vibration velocity Vm of the film varies periodically with time, it is a function of time (t), and various periodic variations such as a sine waveform and a rectangular waveform can be formed. Further, as described above, the vibration displacement in the vibration direction is different in each part of the film, and Vm is also a function of the position coordinates on the film. As described above, the vibration mode of the film used here is an axial object. Therefore, it is substantially a function of the radius (r) coordinate.

  As described above, a sound pressure proportional to the vibration displacement speed of the distributed film is generated, and the toner composition liquid is discharged into the gas phase in response to the periodic change of the sound pressure. Since the toner composition liquid periodically discharged to the gas phase forms a sphere due to a difference in surface tension between the liquid phase and the gas phase, droplet formation occurs periodically.

  As the vibration frequency of the film that enables droplet formation, a region of 20 kHz to 2.0 MHz is used, and a range of 50 kHz to 500 kHz is more preferably used. If the vibration period is 20 kHz or more, the dispersion of fine particles such as pigment and wax in the toner composition liquid is promoted by the excitation of the liquid. Furthermore, when the displacement amount of the sound pressure is 10 kPa or more, the above-described fine particle dispersion promoting action is more preferably generated.

(Thin film with multiple nozzles)
As described above, the thin film 101 having the discharge holes 19 is a member that discharges the dissolved or dispersed liquid of the toner composition to form droplets. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as the material of this thin film 101, and the shape of the discharge hole 19, It can be set as the shape selected suitably. For example, when the thin film 101 is formed of a metal plate having a thickness of 5 to 500 μm and the opening diameter of the discharge hole 19 is 3 to 30 μm, the toner droplet 21 of the toner composition liquid 14 is ejected from the discharge hole 19. From the viewpoint of generating fine droplets having a very uniform particle size. The opening diameter of the discharge hole 19 means a diameter if it is a perfect circle, and means a short diameter if it is an ellipse. The number of the plurality of discharge holes 19 is preferably 2 to 3000. The cross-sectional shape of the discharge hole 19 is a shape in which the size does not change between the opening of the discharge hole 19 and the liquid contact surface in FIG. 9 showing the indirect vibration type droplet discharge unit and FIG. 12 showing the direct vibration type droplet discharge unit. However, the cross-sectional shape can be changed as appropriate.

  FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the cross-sectional shape of the discharge hole. (A) of the figure is a shape in which the opening diameter becomes narrow while having a round shape from the liquid contact surface of the discharge hole 19 toward the discharge port. When the thin film 101 vibrates, the pressure applied to the liquid is maximized in the vicinity of the outlet of the discharge hole 19, which is the most preferable shape for stabilizing discharge. FIG. 6B shows a shape in which the opening diameter becomes narrower with a certain nozzle angle 301 from the liquid contact surface of the discharge hole 19 toward the discharge port. The nozzle angle 301 can be changed as appropriate. Similarly to (a) of the figure, the pressure applied to the liquid can be increased in the vicinity of the outlet of the discharge hole 19 when the thin film 101 is vibrated by the nozzle angle 301, but the range of the nozzle angle is preferably 60 to 90 °. . If it is less than 60 °, it is difficult to apply pressure to the liquid, and it is also difficult to process the thin film 101, which is not preferable. When the nozzle angle 301 is 90 °, (c) in the figure corresponds, but it is difficult to apply pressure to the outlet, so 90 ° is the maximum value. If the angle is 91 ° or more, no pressure is applied to the outlet of the hole 12, so that the droplet discharge becomes very unstable. (D) in the figure is a combination of (a) in the figure and (c) in the figure. In this way, the shape may be changed step by step.

  The toner of the present invention can be obtained by drying and collecting the droplets of the toner composition liquid discharged into the gas from the droplet discharge means described above. This section outlines the means for drying and collecting.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing the configuration of an example of an apparatus for carrying out the toner manufacturing method. The toner manufacturing apparatus 1 mainly includes a droplet discharge means 2 and a dry collection unit 400. As described above, the droplet discharge means 2 can appropriately use several types of droplet discharge means. Connected to the droplet discharge means 2 are a liquid supply pipe 16 through which the toner composition liquid 14 accommodated in the raw material container 13 that stores the toner composition liquid 14 and a liquid return pipe 22 that returns to the raw material container 13. ing. Further, a liquid circulation pump 15 for pumping the toner composition liquid 14 in the liquid supply pipe 16 to return to the raw material container 13 through the liquid supply pipe 16 is connected, so that the toner composition liquid 14 is discharged as needed from the droplet discharge means 2. Can supply. The liquid supply pipe 16 is provided with a pressure measuring device P1, and the dry collection unit is provided with a pressure measuring device P2. The liquid supply pressure to the droplet discharge means 2 and the pressure in the dry collection unit are managed by pressure measuring devices P1 and P2. At this time, if the relationship of (pressure value P1 of the pressure measuring device P1)> (pressure value P2 of the pressure measuring device P2) is satisfied, the toner composition liquid 14 may ooze out from the ejection hole (not shown). On the contrary, when the pressure value P1 <the pressure value P2, there is a possibility that gas enters the droplet discharge means 2 from the discharge hole and the discharge stops. For this reason, it is desirable that the pressure value P1≈the pressure value P2. That is, it is desirable that the pressure state in the droplet discharge means 2 and the gas phase is kept uniform.

  A dry collection unit 400 shown in FIG. 15 includes a chamber 401, a toner collection unit 402, and a toner storage unit 403. The mechanism of the drying process is shown below. The toner droplet 21 composed of the toner composition liquid 14 is in a liquid state immediately after being ejected from the droplet ejection means 2, but the volatile solvent contained in the toner composition liquid is volatilized while being transported in the chamber. As a result, drying proceeds and the liquid changes to a solid. In such a state, even if the particles are brought into contact with each other, coalescence does not occur any more, so that the toner collecting unit 402 can collect the toner powder and store it in the toner storage unit 403. The toner stored in the toner storage unit 403 is further dried in another process as necessary.

  In the chamber 401, a descending carrier airflow created from the carrier airflow inlet 404 is formed. Since the toner droplet 21 ejected from the droplet ejection means 2 is transported downward not only by gravity but also by a transport airflow, the ejected toner droplet 21 is decelerated by air resistance. Can be suppressed. Accordingly, when the toner droplets 21 are continuously ejected, the toner droplets 21 ejected before are decelerated by air resistance before drying, and the toner droplets 21 ejected later are ejected before. It catches up with the toner droplet 21. Then, it is possible to prevent the toner droplets 21 from being united and united and the toner droplets 21 to have a large particle size. In FIG. 15, the droplet discharge means 2 discharges the toner droplet 21 in the direction of gravity, but this is not always necessary, and the discharge angle can be selected as appropriate. As the air flow generation means, either a method of providing a blower at the transport air flow inlet 404 at the top of the chamber 401 and pressurizing, or a method of suctioning from the transport air flow outlet 405 can be employed. As the toner collecting means 402, a known collecting device can be used, and a cyclone collecting machine, a back filter, or the like can be used.

  The conveying airflow is not particularly limited as a state of the airflow as long as the coalescence of the toner droplets 21 can be suppressed, and may be a laminar flow, a swirl flow, or a turbulent flow. There are no particular limitations on the type of gas constituting the carrier airflow, and air or a nonflammable gas such as nitrogen may be used. As described above, since the toner droplets 21 do not coalesce when dried, it is preferable to have conditions that can promote drying of the toner droplets 21. For this reason, it is desirable that the solvent vapor contained in the toner composition liquid 14 is not included. Moreover, the temperature of the conveyance airflow 101 can be adjusted as appropriate, and it is desirable that there is no fluctuation during production. Further, a means for changing the airflow state of the carrier airflow in the chamber 401 may be taken. The carrier airflow may be used not only to prevent the toner droplets 21 from coalescing but also to prevent the droplets from adhering to the chamber 401.

  As described above, in the droplet drying and collecting means, coalescence is suppressed by the conveying airflow, but if this is not sufficient, further coalescence prevention means can be incorporated. Examples of the coalescence prevention means include introduction of an auxiliary transport airflow in the vicinity of the droplet discharge means, charging of the same polarity to the droplets, electric field control, and the like, which can be used as appropriate.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the coalescence prevention means using one auxiliary transport airflow. A shroud 501 is disposed around the droplet discharge means 2, and an auxiliary transport airflow inlet 502 is disposed in a part of the shroud 501. The gas introduced from the auxiliary conveyance airflow inlet 502 passes through the airflow passage 12 formed by the shroud 501, and an auxiliary conveyance airflow 503 is created around the discharge hole 19 of the droplet discharge means 2. However, the auxiliary transport airflow 503 is not only introduced from the auxiliary transport airflow introduction port 502, but may also be generated by gas drawn by the suction pressure from the transport airflow discharge port. The toner droplets 21 discharged from the droplet discharge means 2 are moved in the vicinity of the droplet discharge means 2 by the auxiliary transport airflow 503 in order without decreasing the speed, so that the frequency of coalescence of the droplets is extremely low. Can be suppressed. The speed of the auxiliary transport airflow 503 is desirably the same as or faster than the droplet velocity immediately after being ejected from the droplet ejecting means 2, and if it is slower than that, there may be an adverse effect.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the auxiliary transport airflow 503 is preferably the same as the traveling direction of the toner droplets 21, but the droplet discharge direction and the auxiliary transport airflow direction need to be the same if coalescence can be prevented. There is no. As shown in FIG. 16, the shape of the shroud 501 may be controlled by narrowing the opening in the vicinity of the discharge hole 19 of the droplet discharge means 2, but may be appropriately selected without having a restriction. There is no particular limitation on the type of gas constituting the auxiliary conveying airflow 503, and air or a nonflammable gas such as nitrogen may be used.

  FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the uniting prevention means by the two auxiliary transport airflows of the present embodiment. Around the droplet discharge means 2, shrouds 501 are arranged in two stages. The gas introduced from each auxiliary transport airflow inlet 502 passes through the airflow passage 12 formed by each shroud 501 and creates an auxiliary transport airflow 503 around the discharge hole 19 of the droplet discharge means 2. The toner droplet 21 discharged from the droplet discharge means 2 is moved near the droplet discharge means 2 by the first-stage auxiliary conveyance air flow 503 without decreasing the speed, and further, the second-stage auxiliary conveyance is performed. The airflow 503 moves without reducing the speed. For this reason, the speed of the toner droplet 21 is maintained until the toner droplet 21 is solidified by reaching the dry region, and the frequency of coalescence of the droplets can be kept extremely low. As can be seen from FIG. 18 showing the particle size distribution of the toner collected in this manner, it can be seen that there are almost only toner particles having a single particle size. This indicates that toner particles having a single particle diameter are obtained by drying without causing the toner droplets 21 discharged as described above to coalesce. In the present embodiment, the unit for preventing unification by two auxiliary transport airflows is provided, but a configuration in which three or more auxiliary transport airflows are supplied into the gas phase may be employed.

  On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 19 showing the particle size distribution of the collected toner when the liquid enemy state is united, other configurations and conditions are not merely using a small amount of carrier airflow or auxiliary carrier airflow. The same as in FIG. The toner droplet 21 discharged from the droplet discharge means 2 receives air resistance, the discharge speed rapidly decreases, and starts to fall naturally. When the discharge speed is lowered, the distance between the droplets is shortened, and eventually the coalescence between the droplets occurs. In addition, the coalesced particles have increased air resistance and are delayed in drying, so that they coalesce with other droplets. And several droplets may coalesce, and when they are dried, they coalesce and produce dried particles, resulting in a broader particle size distribution of the toner. The particle size distribution shown in FIG. 19 is an example of the collected toner, but the dry particles constituting the basic particle size and the peak shown in FIG. is there. The dry particles forming the peak described as twice are those obtained by drying and solidifying after the toner droplets 21 are merged after ejection. Similarly, it can be inferred from the particle size distribution measurement results that unification of 3 times, 4 times, or more is proceeding. Here, the particle size distribution measurement can be performed using a flow type particle image analyzer (Sysmex Corp. FPIA-2000). The particle size distribution can be compared by the ratio of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) and the number average particle diameter (Dn), and can be expressed by Dv / Dn. The smallest Dv / Dn value is 1.0, which indicates that all the particle sizes are the same. A larger Dv / Dn indicates a wider particle size distribution. A general pulverized toner has Dv / Dn = 1.15 to 1.25. The polymerized toner has a Dv / Dn of about 1.10 to 1.15. The toner of the present invention is confirmed to have an effect on print quality by setting Dv / Dn = 1.15 or less, more preferably Dv / Dn = 1.10 or less. In an electrophotographic system, a narrow particle size distribution is required for the development process, the transfer process, and the fixing process. Also, Dv / Dn = 1.15 or less is desirable for stably obtaining a high-definition image, and Dv / Dn = 1.10 or less is desirable for obtaining a higher-definition image.

  If necessary, secondary drying such as fluidized bed drying or vacuum drying is further performed. When the organic solvent remains in the toner, not only the toner characteristics such as heat-resistant storage stability, fixing property, and charging characteristics change with time, but also the organic solvent volatilizes during fixing by heating. Therefore, the possibility of adverse effects on the user and peripheral equipment is increased, and therefore sufficient drying is performed.

Next, the toner according to the present invention will be described as an example of fine particles.
The toner according to the present invention is a toner manufactured by a toner manufacturing method to which the present invention is applied as in the above-described toner manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment. can get.

  Specifically, the particle size distribution (weight average particle diameter / number average particle diameter) of the toner is preferably in the range of 1.00 to 1.15. More preferably, it is 1.00 to 1.05. Moreover, as a weight average particle diameter, it is preferable to exist in the range of 1-20 [micrometer], More preferably, it is 3-10 [micrometer].

Next, toner materials that can be used in the present invention will be described. First, a toner composition liquid in which a toner composition is dispersed and dissolved in a solvent as described above will be described.
As the toner material, the same material as that of a conventional electrophotographic toner can be used. That is, a toner binder such as a styrene acrylic resin, a polyester resin, a polyol resin, and an epoxy resin is dissolved in various organic solvents, a colorant is dispersed, and a release agent is dispersed or dissolved. The target toner particles can be produced by drying and solidifying into fine droplets by the toner production method.

[Toner material]
The toner material contains at least a resin, a colorant, and a wax, and if necessary, a charge adjusting agent, an additive, and other components.

〔resin〕
Examples of the resin include at least a binder resin.
The binder resin is not particularly limited, and a commonly used resin can be appropriately selected and used. For example, vinyl such as styrene monomer, acrylic monomer, methacrylic monomer, etc. Polymers, copolymers of these monomers or two or more types, polyester polymers, polyol resins, phenol resins, silicone resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, furan resins, epoxy resins, xylene resins, terpene resins, Coumarone indene resin, polycarbonate resin, petroleum resin, etc.

  Examples of the styrene monomer include styrene, o-methyl styrene, m-methyl styrene, p-methyl styrene, p-phenyl styrene, p-ethyl styrene, 2,4-dimethyl styrene, pn-amyl. Styrene, p-tert-butyl styrene, pn-hexyl styrene, pn-octyl styrene, pn-nonyl styrene, pn-decyl styrene, pn-dodecyl styrene, p-methoxy styrene, Examples thereof include styrene such as p-chlorostyrene, 3,4-dichlorostyrene, m-nitrostyrene, o-nitrostyrene, and p-nitrostyrene, or derivatives thereof.

  Examples of acrylic monomers include acrylic acid, or methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, n-dodecyl acrylate, and acrylic acid. Examples include 2-ethylhexyl, stearyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, acrylic acid such as phenyl acrylate, or esters thereof.

  Examples of the methacrylic monomer include methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, n-dodecyl methacrylate, and methacrylic acid 2 -Ethylhexyl, stearyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid such as dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate or esters thereof, and the like.

  The following (1)-(18) is mentioned as an example of the other monomer which forms the said vinyl polymer or a copolymer. (1) Monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene and isobutylene; (2) Polyenes such as butadiene and isoprene; (3) Vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl bromide and vinyl fluoride; (4) Vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate and vinyl benzoate; (5) Vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether and vinyl isobutyl ether; (6) Vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone and methyl. Vinyl ketones such as isopropenyl ketone; (7) N-vinyl compounds such as N-vinyl pyrrole, N-vinyl carbazole, N-vinyl indole, N-vinyl pyrrolidone; (8), vinyl naphthalenes; (9) acrylonitrile, Such as methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, etc. (10) unsaturated dibasic acids such as maleic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, alkenyl succinic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid; (11) maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, Unsaturated dibasic acid anhydrides such as itaconic anhydride and alkenyl succinic anhydride; (12) maleic acid monomethyl ester, maleic acid monoethyl ester, maleic acid monobutyl ester, citraconic acid monomethyl ester, citraconic acid monoethyl ester Monoesters of unsaturated dibasic acids such as citraconic acid monobutyl ester, itaconic acid monomethyl ester, alkenyl succinic acid monomethyl ester, fumaric acid monomethyl ester, mesaconic acid monomethyl ester; (13) dimethylmaleic acid, dimethylfumaric acid, etc. (14) α, β-unsaturated acids such as crotonic acid and cinnamic acid; (15) α, β-unsaturated acid anhydrides such as crotonic acid anhydride and cinnamic anhydride; 16) Monomers having a carboxyl group such as anhydrides of the α, β-unsaturated acids and lower fatty acids, alkenylmalonic acid, alkenylglutaric acid, alkenyladipic acid, acid anhydrides and monoesters thereof; ) Acrylic acid or methacrylic acid hydroxyalkyl esters such as 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate; (18) 4- (1-hydroxy-1-methylbutyl) styrene, 4- (1 -Hydroxy-1-methylhexyl) monomers having a hydroxy group such as styrene.

  In the toner according to the present invention, the vinyl polymer or copolymer of the binder resin may have a crosslinked structure crosslinked with a crosslinking agent having two or more vinyl groups. Examples of the crosslinking agent used in this case include aromatic vinyl vinyl compounds such as divinylbenzene and divinylnaphthalene. Examples of diacrylate compounds linked by an alkyl chain include ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,5-pentanediol diacrylate, and 1,6. And xanthdiol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, and those obtained by replacing acrylates of these compounds with methacrylate. Examples of diacrylate compounds linked by an alkyl chain containing an ether bond include diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol # 400 diacrylate, polyethylene glycol # 600 diacrylate, and dipropylene. Examples include glycol diacrylate and those obtained by replacing acrylate of these compounds with methacrylate.

  Other examples include diacrylate compounds and dimethacrylate compounds linked by a chain containing an aromatic group and an ether bond. Examples of polyester diacrylates include trade name MANDA (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.).

  Examples of the polyfunctional crosslinking agent include pentaerythritol triacrylate, trimethylol ethane triacrylate, trimethylol propane triacrylate, tetramethylol methane tetraacrylate, oligoester acrylate, and acrylates of the above compounds in place of methacrylate, triallyl cyanide. Examples include nurate and triallyl trimellitate.

  These crosslinking agents are preferably used in an amount of 0.01 to 10 parts by mass, more preferably 0.03 to 5 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of other monomer components. Among these crosslinkable monomers, diacrylates bonded to a toner resin by a bond chain containing one aromatic divinyl compound (especially divinylbenzene), one aromatic group and an ether bond from the viewpoint of fixability and offset resistance. Preferred examples include compounds. Among these, a combination of monomers that becomes a styrene copolymer or a styrene-acrylic copolymer is preferable.

  Examples of the polymerization initiator used in the production of the vinyl polymer or copolymer of the present invention include 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis (4-methoxy-2,4- Dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2′-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2′-azobis (2-methylbutyronitrile), dimethyl-2,2′-azobisisobutyrate, 1 , 1′-azobis (1-cyclohexanecarbonitrile), 2- (carbamoylazo) -isobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis (2,4,4-trimethylpentane), 2-phenylazo-2 ′ , 4'-dimethyl-4'-methoxyvaleronitrile, 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropane), methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, acetylacetone peroxide, cyclohexanone Ketone peroxides such as oxide, 2,2-bis (tert-butylperoxy) butane, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl hydroperoxide, di -Tert-butyl peroxide, tert-butyl cumyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, α- (tert-butylperoxy) isopropylbenzene, isobutyl peroxide, octanoyl peroxide, decanoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, m-tolyl peroxide, di-isopropylperoxydicarbonate, di-2-ethylhexylperoxydicarbonate Di-n-propyl peroxydicarbonate, di-2-ethoxyethyl peroxycarbonate, di-ethoxyisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, di (3-methyl-3-methoxybutyl) peroxycarbonate, acetylcyclohexyl Sulfonyl peroxide, tert-butyl peroxyacetate, tert-butyl peroxyisobutyrate, tert-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexarate, tert-butyl peroxylaurate, tert-butyl-oxybenzoate, tert-butyl Peroxyisopropyl carbonate, di-tert-butyl peroxyisophthalate, tert-butyl peroxyallyl carbonate, isoamyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate, di-tert-butyl Kisa Hydro terephthalate to Rupaokishi, tert- butylperoxy azelate, and the like.

  When the binder resin is a styrene-acrylic resin, the molecular weight distribution by GPC soluble in the resin component tetrahydrofuran (THF) has at least one peak in the region of molecular weight 3,000 to 50,000 (in terms of number average molecular weight). A resin which is present and has at least one peak in a region having a molecular weight of 100,000 or more is preferable in terms of fixing property, offset property and storage property. Further, as the THF soluble component, a binder resin in which a component having a molecular weight distribution of 100,000 or less is 50 to 90% is preferable, and a binder resin having a main peak in a molecular weight region of 5,000 to 30,000 is more preferable. A binder resin having a main peak in the region of 5,000 to 20,000 is most preferable.

  The acid value when the binder resin is a vinyl polymer such as styrene-acrylic resin is preferably 0.1 [mg KOH / g] to 100 [mg KOH / g], and preferably 0.1 [mg KOH / g]. ] To 70 [mgKOH / g], more preferably 0.1 [mgKOH / g] to 50 [mgKOH / g].

The following are mentioned as a monomer which comprises a polyester-type polymer.
Examples of the divalent alcohol component include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, or diol obtained by polymerizing cyclic ethers such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to bisphenol A, etc. Is mentioned.

In order to crosslink the polyester resin, it is preferable to use a trivalent or higher alcohol together.
Examples of the trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol include sorbitol, 1,2,3,6-hexanetetrol, 1,4-sorbitan, pentaerythritol, such as dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1,2,4- Butanetriol, 1,2,5-pentatriol, glycerol, 2-methylpropanetriol, 2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene , Etc.

  Examples of the acid component that forms the polyester polymer include benzene dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and terephthalic acid or anhydrides thereof, alkyldicarboxylic acids such as succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, and azelaic acid, or Unsaturated dibasic acids such as anhydride, maleic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, alkenyl succinic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid, maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, alkenyl succinic anhydride And unsaturated dibasic acid anhydrides. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid component include trimet acid, pyromet acid, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 2,5,7-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-hexanetricarboxylic acid, 1,3-dicarboxy-2-methyl-2-methylenecarboxypropane, tetra (methylene Carboxy) methane, 1,2,7,8-octanetetracarboxylic acid, empol trimer acid, or anhydrides thereof, partial lower alkyl esters, and the like.

  When the binder resin is a polyester resin, the toner has fixability and offset resistance because at least one peak exists in the molecular weight range of 3,000 to 50,000 in the molecular weight distribution of the THF soluble component of the resin component. In addition, as the THF-soluble component, a binder resin in which a component having a molecular weight of 100,000 or less is 60 to 100 [%] is also preferable, and at least one peak is in a region having a molecular weight of 5,000 to 20,000. A binder resin in which is present is more preferred.

  When the binder resin is a polyester resin, the acid value is preferably 0.1 [mgKOH / g] to 100 [mgKOH / g], and preferably 0.1 [mgKOH / g] to 70 [mgKOH / g]. It is more preferable that it is 0.1 [mg KOH / g] to 50 [mg KOH / g].

  In the present invention, the molecular weight distribution of the binder resin is measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using THF as a solvent.

  As the binder resin that can be used in the toner according to the present invention, it is also possible to use a resin containing a monomer component capable of reacting with both of these resin components in at least one of the vinyl polymer component and the polyester resin component. it can. Examples of monomers that can react with the vinyl polymer among the monomers constituting the polyester resin component include unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, maleic acid, citraconic acid, and itaconic acid, or anhydrides thereof. Examples of the monomer constituting the vinyl polymer component include those having a carboxyl group or a hydroxy group, and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters.

  Moreover, when using together a polyester polymer, a vinyl polymer, and other binder resin, the resin whose acid value of the whole binder resin is 0.1-50 [mgKOH / g] is 60 [mass%] or more. What has is preferable.

In the present invention, the acid value of the binder resin component of the toner composition is determined by the following method, and the basic operation conforms to JIS K-0070.
(1) The sample is used by removing additives other than the binder resin (polymer component) in advance, or the acid value and content of components other than the binder resin and the crosslinked binder resin are obtained in advance. . The pulverized product 0.5 to 2.0 [g] is precisely weighed, and the weight of the polymer component is defined as W [g]. For example, when measuring the acid value of the binder resin from the toner, the acid value and content of the colorant or magnetic material are separately measured, and the acid value of the binder resin is obtained by calculation.
(2) A sample is put into a 300 [ml] beaker, and 150 [ml] of a mixed solution of toluene / ethanol (volume ratio 4/1) is added and dissolved.
(3) Titrate with a potentiometric titrator using an ethanol solution of 0.1 [mol / l] KOH.
(4) The usage amount of the KOH solution at this time is set to S [ml], the blank is measured at the same time, and the usage amount of the KOH solution at this time is set to B [ml], and the following formula is calculated. However, f is a factor of KOH.
Acid value [mgKOH / g] = [(SB) × f × 5.61] / W

  The toner binder resin and the composition containing the binder resin preferably have a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 35 to 80 [° C.], preferably 40 to 75 [° C.], from the viewpoint of toner storage stability. Is more preferable. If Tg is lower than 35 [° C.], the toner is likely to deteriorate in a high temperature atmosphere, and offset may occur during fixing. On the other hand, when Tg exceeds 80 [° C.], fixability may be lowered.

  Examples of the magnetic material that can be used in the present invention include (1) iron oxide containing magnetic iron oxide such as magnetite, maghemite, and ferrite, and other metal oxides, and (2) metals such as iron, cobalt, and nickel, or Alloys of these metals with metals such as aluminum, cobalt, copper, lead, magnesium, tin, zinc, antimony, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, manganese, selenium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium. (3) and mixtures thereof are used.

Specific examples of the magnetic material include Fe ₃ O ₄ , γ-Fe ₂ O ₃ , ZnFe ₂ O ₄ , Y ₃ Fe ₅ O ₁₂ , CdFe ₂ O ₄ , Gd ₃ Fe ₅ O ₁₂ , CuFe ₂ O ₄ , _{PbFe 12 O, NiFe 2 O 4} , NdFe 2 O, BaFe 12 O 19, MgFe 2 O 4, MnFe 2 O 4, LaFeO 3, iron powder, cobalt powder, nickel powder, and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may be used in combination of 2 or more type. Among these, fine powders of triiron tetroxide and γ-iron trioxide are particularly preferable.

  Further, magnetic iron oxides such as magnetite, maghemite, and ferrite containing different elements, or a mixture thereof can be used. Examples of different elements include, for example, lithium, beryllium, boron, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, germanium, zirconium, tin, sulfur, calcium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, And gallium. Preferred heterogeneous elements are selected from magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, or zirconium. The foreign element may be incorporated into the iron oxide crystal lattice, may be incorporated into the iron oxide as an oxide, or may be present on the surface as an oxide or hydroxide. Is preferably contained as an oxide.

  The different elements can be incorporated into the particles by mixing the salts of the different elements at the time of producing the magnetic substance and adjusting the pH. Moreover, it can precipitate on the particle | grain surface by adjusting pH after magnetic body particle | grains production | generation, or adding salt of each element and adjusting pH.

  As a usage-amount of a magnetic body, 10-200 mass parts of magnetic bodies are preferable with respect to 100 mass parts of binder resin, and 20-150 mass parts is more preferable. The number average particle diameter of these magnetic materials is preferably 0.1 [μm] to 2 [μm], and more preferably 0.1 [μm] to 0.5 [μm]. The number average diameter can be obtained by measuring a photograph taken with a transmission electron microscope with a digitizer or the like.

  In addition, as magnetic characteristics of the magnetic material, the magnetic characteristics when applied with 10K oersted are coercive force 20 to 150 oersted, saturation magnetization 50 to 200 [emu / g], and residual magnetization 2 to 20 [emu / g], respectively. Is preferred. The magnetic material can also be used as a colorant.

[Colorant]
The colorant is not particularly limited, and a commonly used resin can be appropriately selected and used. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G ), Cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, ocher, yellow lead, titanium yellow, polyazo yellow, oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), pigment yellow L, benzidine yellow (G, GR), permanent yellow (NCG), Vulcan Fast Yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, Isoindolinone Yellow, Bengala, Red Dan, Lead Zhu, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, Para Red, Phi -Red, Parachlor ortho nitroaniline red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carmine BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Risor Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake, Thioindigo Red B, Thioindigo Maroon, Oil Red, Kina Redon Red, Pyrazolone Red, Polyazo Red, Chrome Vermilion, Benzidine Orange, Perinone Orange, Oil Orange, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Peacock Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Metal Free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue, Fast Sky Blue , Indanthrene Blue (RS, BC), Indigo, Ultramarine, Bitumen, Anthraquinone Blue, Fast Violet B, Methyl Violet Lake, Cobalt Purple, Manganese Purple, Dioxane Violet, Anthraquinone Violet, Chrome Green, Zinc Green, Chrome Oxide, Pyridian , Emerald Green, Pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Acid Green Lake , Malachite green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, litbon and mixtures thereof.

  The content of the colorant is preferably 1 to 15 [% by mass] and more preferably 3 to 10 [% by mass] based on the toner.

  The colorant used in the toner according to the present invention can also be used as a master batch combined with a resin. As the binder resin kneaded together with the production of the master batch or the master batch, in addition to the above-mentioned modified and unmodified polyester resins, for example, polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyltoluene and other styrene and its substitutes Polymer: Styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate Copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene -Α-Chloromethyl methacrylate Polymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, Styrene copolymers such as styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer; polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl Examples include butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, and paraffin wax. These may be used individually by 1 type, and 2 or more types may be mixed and used for them.

  The master batch can be obtained by mixing and kneading the master batch resin and the colorant under high shear. At this time, an organic solvent can be used to enhance the interaction between the colorant and the resin. Also, there is a method of removing the water and organic solvent components by mixing and kneading an aqueous paste containing water, which is a so-called flushing method, together with a resin and an organic solvent, and transferring the colorant to the resin side. Since the wet cake can be used as it is, it does not need to be dried and is preferably used. For mixing and kneading, a high shearing dispersion device such as a three-roll mill is preferably used.

  As a usage-amount of a masterbatch, 0.1-20 mass parts is preferable with respect to 100 mass parts of binder resin.

  The resin for the masterbatch preferably has an acid value of 30 [mg KOH / g] or less, an amine value of 1 to 100 and a colorant dispersed therein, and an acid value of 20 [mg KOH / g] or less. More preferably, the amine value is 10 to 50 and the colorant is dispersed. When the acid value exceeds 30 [mgKOH / g], the chargeability under high humidity may be lowered and the pigment dispersibility may be insufficient. Also, when the amine value is less than 1 and when the amine value exceeds 100, the pigment dispersibility may be insufficient. The acid value can be measured by the method described in JIS K0070, and the amine value can be measured by the method described in JIS K7237.

  The dispersant is preferably highly compatible with the binder resin in terms of pigment dispersibility. Specific examples of commercially available products include “Ajisper PB821” and “Azisper PB822” (manufactured by Ajinomoto Fine Techno Co., Ltd.). , “Disperbyk-2001” (manufactured by Big Chemie), “EFKA-4010” (manufactured by EFKA), and the like.

  The dispersant is preferably blended in the toner at a ratio of 0.1 to 10 [mass%] with respect to the colorant. When the blending ratio is less than 0.1 [% by mass], the pigment dispersibility may be insufficient, and when more than 10 [% by mass], the chargeability under high humidity may be deteriorated.

  The weight average molecular weight of the dispersant is the molecular weight of the maximum value of the main peak in terms of styrene in gel permeation chromatography, preferably 500 to 100,000, and more preferably 3000 to 100,000 from the viewpoint of pigment dispersibility. In particular, 5000 to 50000 is preferable, and 5000 to 30000 is most preferable. When the molecular weight is less than 500, the polarity becomes high and the dispersibility of the colorant may be lowered. When the molecular weight exceeds 100,000, the affinity with the solvent is increased and the dispersibility of the colorant is lowered. There is.

  The addition amount of the dispersant is preferably 1 to 200 parts by mass, more preferably 5 to 80 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the colorant. If it is less than 1 part by mass, the dispersibility may be lowered, and if it exceeds 200 parts by mass, the chargeability may be lowered.

〔wax〕
The toner composition liquid used in the present invention contains a wax together with a binder resin and a colorant.
The wax is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from those usually used. For example, low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, polyolefin wax, microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, sazol wax, etc. Of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes, oxides of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes such as polyethylene oxide wax or block copolymers thereof, plant waxes such as candelilla wax, carnauba wax, wood wax, jojoba wax, beeswax, Waxes mainly composed of animal waxes such as lanolin and whale wax, mineral waxes such as ozokerite, ceresin, and petrolatum, and fatty acid esters such as montanic acid ester wax and castor wax. Deoxidized carnauba wax and other fatty acid esters that have been partially or wholly deoxidized are included.

  Examples of waxes are further saturated linear fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, montanic acid, or linear alkyl carboxylic acids having a linear alkyl group, prandidic acid, eleostearic acid, valinalic acid, etc. Unsaturated fatty acids, stearyl alcohol, eicosyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, carnupyl alcohol, seryl alcohol, mesyl alcohol, saturated alcohols such as long-chain alkyl alcohols, polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, linoleic acid amides, olefinic acid amides , Fatty acid amides such as lauric acid amide, methylene biscapric acid amide, ethylene bis lauric acid amide, saturated fatty acid bisamides such as hexamethylene bis stearic acid amide, ethylene bisoleic acid amide, hexamethylene bisoleic acid Unsaturated fatty acid amides such as acid amide, N, N′-dioleyl adipate amide, N, N′-dioleyl sepasin amide, m-xylene bisstearic acid amide, N, N-distearyl isophthalic acid Grafted onto aromatic bisamides such as amides, fatty acid metal salts such as calcium stearate, calcium laurate, zinc stearate and magnesium stearate, and aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes using vinyl monomers such as styrene and acrylic acid. Examples thereof include waxes, partial ester compounds of polyhydric alcohols such as behenic acid monoglycerides, and methyl ester compounds having a hydroxyl group obtained by hydrogenating vegetable oils and fats.

  More preferable examples include polyolefins obtained by radical polymerization of olefins under high pressure, polyolefins obtained by purifying low molecular weight by-products obtained during polymerization of high molecular weight polyolefins, and polymerization using a catalyst such as a Ziegler catalyst or a metallocene catalyst under low pressure. Polyolefin, polyolefin polymerized using radiation, electromagnetic waves or light, low molecular weight polyolefin obtained by thermal decomposition of high molecular weight polyolefin, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, Jintole method, hydrocol method, age method, etc. Hydrocarbon wax synthesized by the above, synthetic wax using a compound having one carbon atom as a monomer, hydrocarbon wax having a functional group such as a hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group, hydrocarbon wax and hydrocarbon having a functional group Mixture of system wax, styrene these waxes as a matrix, maleic acid ester, acrylate, methacrylate, graft-modified wax with such vinyl monomers of maleic acid.

  In addition, these waxes have a sharp molecular weight distribution using a press perspiration method, a solvent method, a recrystallization method, a vacuum distillation method, a supercritical gas extraction method, or a solution liquid crystal deposition method, a low molecular weight solid fatty acid, a low A molecular weight solid alcohol, a low molecular weight solid compound, and other impurities are preferably used.

  The melting point of the wax is preferably 70 to 140 [° C.] and more preferably 70 [° C.] to 120 [° C.] in order to balance the fixing property and the offset resistance. If it is less than 70 [° C.], the blocking resistance may be lowered, and if it exceeds 140 [° C.], the offset resistance effect may be difficult to be exhibited.

  Further, by using two or more different types of waxes in combination, the plasticizing action and the releasing action which are the actions of the wax can be expressed simultaneously. Examples of the type of wax having a plasticizing action include waxes having a low melting point, those having a branched structure on the molecular structure, and those having a polar group. Examples of the wax having a releasing action include a wax having a high melting point, and the molecular structure includes a linear structure and a non-polar one having no functional group. Examples of use include a combination of two or more different waxes having a difference in melting point of 10 [° C.] to 100 [° C.], a combination of polyolefin and graft-modified polyolefin, and the like.

  When selecting two types of wax, in the case of a wax having the same structure, a wax having a relatively low melting point exhibits a plasticizing action, and a wax having a high melting point exhibits a releasing action. At this time, when the difference in melting point is 10 [° C.] to 100 [° C.], functional separation is effectively exhibited. If it is less than 10 [° C.], the function separation effect may be difficult to appear, and if it exceeds 100 [° C.], the function may not be emphasized by interaction. At this time, since the function separation effect tends to be easily exhibited, the melting point of at least one wax is preferably 70 to 120 [° C.], and more preferably 70 [° C.] to 100 [° C.]. preferable.

  As for wax, those having a branched structure, those having a polar group such as a functional group, and those modified with a component different from the main component exert a plastic action, and those having a more linear structure or functional group Non-polar and non-denatured straight ones that do not have a releasing action. Preferred combinations include polyethylene homopolymers or copolymers based on ethylene and polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers based on olefins other than ethylene, polyolefins and graft modified polyolefins, alcohol waxes, fatty acid waxes or ester waxes. And hydrocarbon wax combinations, Fischer-Tropsch wax or polyolefin wax and paraffin wax or microcrystal wax combination, Fischer-Tropsch wax and polyolefin wax combination, paraffin wax and microcrystal wax combination, Carnauba Wax, Can Delila wax, rice wax or montan wax and hydrocarbon wax Combinations thereof.

  In any case, since it becomes easy to balance the toner storage stability and the fixing property, the peak end temperature of the maximum peak is in the region of 70 to 110 [° C.] in the endothermic peak observed in the DSC measurement of the toner. It is preferable that it has a maximum peak in the region of 70 to 110 [° C.].

  The total content of the wax is preferably 0.2 to 20 parts by mass and more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin.

  In the present invention, the peak top temperature of the endothermic peak of the wax measured by DSC is defined as the melting point of the wax.

  As a DSC measuring instrument for wax or toner, it is preferable to measure with a differential scanning calorimeter of high accuracy internal heat type input compensation type. As a measuring method, it carries out according to ASTM D3418-82. The DSC curve used in the present invention is one that is measured when the temperature is raised at a temperature rate of 10 [° C./min] after raising and lowering the temperature once and taking a previous history.

[Flowability improver]
A fluidity improver may be added to the toner according to the present invention. The fluidity improver improves the fluidity of the toner (becomes easy to flow) when added to the toner surface.

  Examples of the fluidity improver include, for example, carbon black, vinylidene fluoride fine powder, fluorine-based resin powder such as polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder, wet process silica, fine powder silica such as dry process silica, fine powder titanium oxide, fine powder. Examples include non-alumina, treated silica obtained by subjecting them to a surface treatment with a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, or silicone oil, treated titanium oxide, and treated alumina. Among these, fine powder silica, fine powder unoxidized titanium, and fine powder unalumina are preferable, and treated silica obtained by surface-treating these with a silane coupling agent or silicone oil is more preferable.

  The particle size of the fluidity improver is preferably 0.001 [μm] to 2 [μm], and preferably 0.002 [μm] to 0.2 [μm] as an average primary particle size. More preferred.

  Fine powder silica is fine powder produced by vapor phase oxidation of silicon halide inclusions, and is called so-called dry silica or fumed silica.

  Examples of commercially available silica fine powders produced by vapor phase oxidation of silicon halogen compounds include, for example, AEROSIL (trade name of Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., hereinafter the same) -130, -300, -380, -TT600, -MOX170, -MOX80, -COK84: Ca-O-SiL (trade name of CABOT)-M-5, -MS-7, -MS-75, -HS-5, -EH-5, Wacker HDK (trade name of WACKER-CHEMIE)- N20 V15, -N20E, -T30, -T40: D-CFineSi1ica (trade name of Dow Corning): Franco1 (trade name of Franci1), and the like.

  Furthermore, a treated silica fine powder obtained by hydrophobizing a silica fine powder produced by vapor phase oxidation of a silicon halogen compound is more preferable. In the treated silica fine powder, it is particularly preferred to treat the silica fine powder so that the degree of hydrophobicity measured by a methanol titration test preferably shows a value of 30 to 80 [%]. Hydrophobization is imparted by chemical or physical treatment with an organosilicon compound that reacts or physically adsorbs with silica fine powder. As a preferred method, a method of treating a silica fine powder produced by vapor phase oxidation of a silicon halogen compound with an organosilicon compound is preferable.

  Examples of the organosilicon compound include hydroxypropyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, n-hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane, vinylmethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltriacetoxysilane, dimethylvinylchlorosilane, Divinylchlorosilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, hexamethyldisilane, trimethylsilane, trimethylchlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane, allyldimethylchlorosilane, allylphenyldichlorosilane, benzyldimethylchlorosilane, bromomethyldimethylchlorosilane, α -Chloroethyltrichlorosilane, β-chloroethyltrichlorosilane, chloromethyldimethylchlorosilane , Triorganosilyl mercaptan, trimethylsilyl mercaptan, triorganosilyl acrylate, vinyldimethylacetoxysilane, dimethylethoxysilane, trimethylethoxysilane, trimethylmethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, diphenyldiethoxysilane , Hexamethyldisiloxane, 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane, 1,3-diphenyltetramethyldisiloxane, and 2 to 12 siloxane units per molecule, Examples include dimethylpolysiloxane containing 0 to 1 hydroxyl group bonded to Si. Furthermore, silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil can be mentioned. These may be used individually by 1 type, and 2 or more types may be mixed and used for them.

  The number average particle diameter of the fluidity improver is preferably 5 to 100 [nm], more preferably 5 to 50 [nm].

The specific surface area by nitrogen adsorption measured by the BET method is preferably 30 [m ² / g] or more, and more preferably 60 to 400 [m ² / g]. The surface-treated fine powder is preferably 20 [m ² / g] or more, more preferably 40 to 300 [m ² / g].

  The application amount of these fine powders is preferably 0.03 to 8 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner particles.

  In the toner according to the present invention, as other additives, protection of the electrostatic latent image carrier / carrier, improvement of cleaning properties, adjustment of thermal characteristics / electrical characteristics / physical characteristics, resistance adjustment, softening point adjustment, fixing rate For the purpose of improvement, various metal soaps, fluorosurfactants, dioctyl phthalate, tin oxide, zinc oxide, carbon black, antimony oxide, etc. as conductivity imparting agents, and inorganic such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, alumina A fine powder or the like can be added as necessary. These inorganic fine powders may be hydrophobized as necessary. In addition, lubricants such as polytetrafluoroethylene, zinc stearate, polyvinylidene fluoride, abrasives such as cesium oxide, silicon carbide, strontium titanate, anti-caking agents, white particles and black particles having opposite polarity to the toner particles, Can also be used in small amounts as a developability improver.

  These additives include silicone varnishes, various modified silicone varnishes, silicone oils, various modified silicone oils, silane coupling agents, silane coupling agents having functional groups, and other organosilicon compounds for the purpose of charge control and the like. It is also preferable to treat with a treating agent or various treating agents.

  In preparing the developer, inorganic fine particles such as the hydrophobic silica fine powder mentioned above may be added and mixed in order to improve the fluidity, storage stability, developability and transferability of the developer. For mixing external additives, a general powder mixer can be appropriately selected and used. However, it is preferable to equip a jacket or the like to adjust the internal temperature. In order to change the load history applied to the external additive, the external additive may be added in the middle or gradually, and the rotation speed, rolling speed, time, temperature, etc. of the mixer may be changed. The load may then be given a relatively weak load and vice versa. Examples of the mixer that can be used include a V-type mixer, a rocking mixer, a Roedige mixer, a Nauter mixer, a Henschel mixer, and the like.

  A method for further adjusting the shape of the obtained toner is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a toner material composed of a binder resin and a colorant is melt-kneaded and then finely pulverized. Using a hybridizer, mechano-fusion, etc., the resulting material is mechanically adjusted, or the so-called spray-drying method is used to dissolve and disperse the toner material in a solvent in which the toner binder is soluble, and then using a spray-drying device. Examples thereof include a method of removing a solvent to obtain a spherical toner and a method of forming a spherical toner by heating in an aqueous medium.

  As the external additive, inorganic fine particles can be preferably used. Examples of inorganic fine particles include silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, quartz sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, Examples thereof include chromium oxide, cerium oxide, pengala, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 [mμ] to 2 [μm], and more preferably 5 [mμ] to 500 [mμ].

The specific surface area according to the BET method is preferably 20 [m ² / g] to 500 [m ² / g]. The use ratio of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 0.01 [mass%] to 5 [mass%] of the toner, and more preferably 0.01 [mass%] to 2.0 [mass%]. .

  In addition, polymer fine particles such as polystyrene obtained by soap-free emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization and dispersion polymerization, methacrylic acid ester and acrylic acid ester copolymer, polycondensation system such as silicone, benzoguanamine and nylon, thermosetting resin And polymer particles.

  Such an external additive can be made hydrophobic by the surface treatment agent and prevent deterioration of the external additive itself even under high humidity. Examples of the surface treatment agent include a silane coupling agent, a silylating agent, a silane coupling agent having a fluorinated alkyl group, an organic titanate coupling agent, an aluminum coupling agent, silicone oil, and modified silicone oil. Are preferable.

The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 [mμ] to 2 [μm], and more preferably 5 [mμ] to 500 [mμ]. The specific surface area by the BET method is preferably 20 [m ² / g] to 500 [m ² / g]. The proportion of the inorganic fine particles used is preferably 0.01 [wt%] to 5 [wt%] of the toner, more preferably 0.01 [wt%] to 2.0 [wt%]. preferable.

  Examples of the cleaning property improver for removing the developer after transfer remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier or the primary transfer medium include fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, stearic acid, and polymethyl methacrylate. There may be mentioned polymer fine particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization such as fine particles and polystyrene fine particles. The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution and a volume average particle size of 0.01 [μm] to 1 [μm].

  The developing method using the toner according to the present invention can use all of the electrostatic latent image carriers used in the conventional electrophotography. For example, an organic electrostatic latent image carrier, an amorphous silica electrostatic latent image, and the like. A carrier, a selenium electrostatic latent image carrier, a zinc oxide electrostatic latent image carrier, and the like can be suitably used.

Next, the formulation of the dissolution or dispersion used in this embodiment will be outlined.
The injection conditions are as described above.
(Preparation of colorant dispersion)
First, a carbon black dispersion as a colorant was prepared.
17 parts by mass of carbon black (Rega L400; manufactured by Cabot) and 3 parts by mass of a pigment dispersant were primarily dispersed in 80 parts by mass of ethyl acetate using a mixer having stirring blades. As the pigment dispersant, Ajisper PB821 (manufactured by Ajinomoto Fine Techno Co., Ltd.) was used. The obtained primary dispersion was finely dispersed by a strong shearing force using a bead mill (LMZ type manufactured by Ashizawa Finetech Co., Ltd., zirconia bead diameter 0.3 mm), and aggregates of 5 [μm] or more were completely removed. A secondary dispersion was prepared.

(Preparation of wax dispersion)
Next, a wax dispersion was prepared. 18 parts by mass of carnauba wax and 2 parts by mass of a wax dispersant were primarily dispersed in 80 parts by mass of ethyl acetate using a mixer having stirring blades. The primary dispersion was heated to 80 ° C. with stirring to dissolve the carnauba wax, and then the liquid temperature was lowered to room temperature to precipitate wax particles so that the maximum diameter was 3 μm or less. As the wax dispersant, a polyethylene wax grafted with a styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer was used. The obtained dispersion was further finely dispersed by a strong shearing force using a bead mill (LMZ type manufactured by Ashizawa Finetech Co., Ltd., zirconia bead diameter 0.3 mm), and the maximum diameter was adjusted to 1 [μm] or less.

(Dissolution or preparation of dispersion)
Next, a toner composition liquid having the following composition to which a resin as a binder resin, the colorant dispersion liquid, and the wax dispersion liquid were added was prepared. 100 parts by weight of a polyester resin as a binder resin, 30 parts by weight of the colorant dispersion, 30 parts by weight of the wax dispersion, 840 parts by weight of ethyl acetate, and stirring for 10 minutes using a mixer having stirring blades, Evenly dispersed. Pigments and wax particles did not aggregate due to shock due to solvent dilution.

(Toner production equipment)
The toner manufacturing apparatus 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 15 was used, and toner was manufactured using several droplet discharge means as the droplet discharge means.
The size and conditions of each component are shown below.

(Liquid column resonance droplet discharge means)
The length L between both longitudinal ends of the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 is 1.85 [mm], N = 2 resonance mode, and the first to fourth discharge holes are N = 2 mode pressure standing. The thing which has arrange | positioned the discharge hole in the position of the antinode of the wave was used. The drive signal generation source was a function generator WF1973 manufactured by NF, and was connected to the vibration generation means with a polyethylene-coated lead wire. The driving frequency at this time is 340 [kHz] according to the liquid resonance frequency.

(Direct membrane vibration droplet discharge means)
The outer diameter of the frame is 26 [mm], the thin film 101 is a nickel plate having a diameter of 20 [mm] and a thickness of 40 [μm]. The outlet diameter of the plurality of discharge holes is 10 [μm], and 100 holes are provided in the area of the central portion φ1 [mm] of the thin film 101. The outer diameter of the vibration generating member 36 of the vibration generating means 37 is φ15.0 [mm], the inner diameter is φ4.0 [mm], the thickness is 0.5 [mm], and the electrode 109 is made of silver paste. Yes. The drive signal generation source 106 uses a NF company function generator WF1973, and the drive circuit 105 is connected to the vibration generation means by a polyethylene-coated lead wire. The driving frequency at this time is 108 [kHz] in accordance with the liquid resonance frequency.

(Toner collecting part)
The shroud 501 has a cylindrical shape, the diameter is 50 [mm], and the diameter of the opening is φ10 [mm]. The inner diameter of the chamber 401 is φ400 [mm] and the height is 2000 [mm] and is fixed vertically. And the upper end part and the lower end part are restrict | squeezed, the diameter of a conveyance airflow inlet is (phi) 50 [mm], and the diameter of a conveyance airflow outlet is (phi) 50 [mm]. The droplet discharge means 2 is disposed in the center of the chamber 401 at a height of 300 mm from the upper end in the chamber 401. The carrier airflow was 10.0 [m / s] and 40 [° C.] nitrogen.

(Example)
Based on the above-described toner manufacturing apparatus, an air flow analysis of discharged droplets was performed. In a cylindrical tube having a diameter of 20 [mm] and a length of 70 [mm] or more, a droplet is ejected at a central portion at 10 [m / s], and an auxiliary airflow is divided into two stages to 6 [m / s]. Gave in. As a result of calculating the airflow at this time, the velocity distribution of FIG. 20 was obtained. The maximum speed is 33 [m / s], and the speed is maintained at 25 [m / s] even at a position advanced by 70 [mm] from the discharge start position. Comparing the results of applying the same amount of crosswind, the airflow given in the first stage is decelerated quickly and turbulence is also occurring. The airflow given to the second stage is relatively stable.

(Comparative example)
Based on the above-described toner manufacturing apparatus, an air flow analysis of discharged droplets was performed. In a cylindrical tube having a diameter of 20 [mm] and a length of 70 [mm] or more similar to the above embodiment, droplets were ejected to the center to give a strong auxiliary air flow 12 [m / s] near the nozzle. . The maximum speed is 45 [m / s], and the speed is reduced to 20 [m / s] even at a position advanced by 70 [mm]. Comparing the results of applying the same amount of crosswind, the airflow given in the first stage is decelerated quickly and turbulence is also occurring. The auxiliary airflow provided in two stages in the above embodiment is a relatively stable flow. As described above, it can be understood that the speed reduction can be prevented and the stable airflow can be maintained by giving the auxiliary airflow in several stages.

According to the toner manufacturing method of the present embodiment described above, the toner composition liquid is discharged from the discharge holes 19 into droplets as shown in FIG. The droplets of toner droplets 21 begin to be conveyed at a discharge speed toward the solidifying means to be dried and solidified. A first-stage air flow 503 is generated on the transport path from the discharge hole 19 toward the solidifying means. The toner droplets are carried on the first-stage air flow 503, and a conveying force is applied by the air flow 503. The toner droplets are conveyed in a row toward the solidifying means without being decelerated. Further, a second stage air flow 503 is generated on the conveyance path toward the solidifying means. The toner droplets ride on the second-stage airflow 503, and the conveying force by the second-stage airflow 503 is applied again, and the toner droplets are further conveyed toward the solidifying means while maintaining the row without decelerating to the uniting speed. To go. While repeating such conveyance, the toner droplets are conveyed while sequentially riding a plurality of airflows. As a result, the toner droplets are conveyed to the solidifying means without decelerating to the speed at which coalescence occurs and while maintaining the row. Therefore, unity can be reliably prevented.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 17, the direction of the plurality of generated airflows is the same as the toner droplet transport direction, so that the airflow state in the gas phase is not disturbed and a stable airflow is maintained. Can do.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vibration is applied to the toner composition liquid in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber 18 in which the ejection holes 19 are formed to form a standing wave due to the liquid column resonance. The toner composition liquid 14 is ejected from the ejection holes 19 formed in the region where the waves are located, to form droplets. Therefore, continuous toner droplet ejection can be realized, and high productivity can be expected.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, by applying vibration to the toner composition liquid 14 in the liquid chamber in which the discharge holes 19 are formed by the indirect vibration type discharge means 100, the thin film 101 in which the discharge holes 19 are formed is periodically cycled. The toner composition liquid is ejected from the ejection holes 19 by being vibrated mechanically to form droplets. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the direct vibration type discharge means 200 applies vibration to the thin film 101 on which the discharge holes 19 are formed, thereby causing the thin film 101 to vibrate periodically, and the toner composition liquid 14 from the discharge holes 19. Are discharged into droplets. Therefore, continuous toner droplet ejection can be realized, and high productivity can be expected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner manufacturing apparatus 10 Droplet formation unit 11 Droplet discharge head 12 Airflow path 13 Raw material container 14 Toner composition liquid 15 Liquid circulation pump 16 Liquid supply pipe 17 Liquid common supply path 18 Liquid column resonance liquid chamber 19 Discharge hole 20 Vibration generation Means 21 Toner droplet 22 Liquid return pipe 30 Dry collection unit 31 Chamber 32 Toner collection part 33 Conveyance air flow 34 Toner collection tube 35 Toner storage part 100 Indirect vibration type discharge means 101 Thin film 102 Mechanical vibration means 103 Frame 104 Vibration Surface 105 Drive circuit 106 Drive signal generation source 107 Vibration amplification means 108 Vibration generation member 109 Electrode 200 Direct vibration type discharge means 201 Annular vibration generation means 202 Annular piezoelectric body 301 Nozzle angle 400 Drying collection unit 401 Chamber 402 Toner collection Means 403 Toner Engaging portion 404 conveying the air flow inlet 405 the transport stream outlet 501 shroud 502 auxiliary transport airflow inlet 503 auxiliary transport airflow

JP 2007-199463 A JP 2008-286947 A

Claims (7)

A toner composition liquid containing at least a resin and a colorant is ejected from at least one ejection hole to form droplets, and the toner droplets that have been formed into droplets are transported in an air stream and solidified while being transported. In the toner manufacturing method for manufacturing
A toner manufacturing method, wherein the toner droplets formed into droplets are conveyed while being sequentially placed on a plurality of air streams. The toner production method according to claim 1, wherein:
A method for producing toner, wherein the direction of each air stream is the same as the direction of transport of the toner droplets. In the toner manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2,
The ejection hole formed in a region that forms an antinode of the standing wave by applying vibration to the toner composition liquid in the liquid column resonance liquid chamber in which the ejection hole is formed to form a standing wave by liquid column resonance. A toner manufacturing method, wherein the toner composition liquid is discharged to form droplets. In the toner manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2,
By applying vibration to the toner composition liquid in the liquid chamber in which the discharge holes are formed, the thin film in which the discharge holes are formed is periodically vibrated to discharge the toner composition liquid from the discharge holes. A toner manufacturing method, wherein the toner is formed into droplets. In the toner manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2,
A method for producing a toner, wherein the thin film in which the discharge holes are formed is vibrated to periodically vibrate the thin film and discharge the toner composition liquid from the discharge holes to form droplets. Droplet discharge means for discharging a toner composition liquid containing at least a resin and a colorant from at least one discharge hole to form droplets; Solidification means for solidifying the droplets of toner droplets; An air flow generating means for generating an air flow for carrying and transporting toner droplets,
A plurality of the airflow generation means are provided along the conveyance path between the droplet ejection means and the solidification means,
A toner manufacturing apparatus, wherein the toner droplets are sequentially carried on a plurality of airflows respectively generated by the airflow generating means and conveyed to the solidifying means.   A toner produced by the toner production method according to claim 1 or the toner production apparatus according to claim 6.