JP2012150411A - Toner and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner capable of attaining both a low-temperature fixing property and hot-offset resistance even in a belt fixing device and an image forming apparatus capable of attaining both a short warm-up time and a low temperature fixing property.SOLUTION: A toner at least comprises a binding resin, a coloring agent, a release agent and a charge control agent, and a loss elastic modulus G" of the toner at a flow starting temperature Ti (°C) is smaller than 5×10, and the gradient G of a storage elastic modulus of the toner represented by a formula: G=(logG'1-logG'2)/60 (wherein G'1 and G'2 are storage elastic moduli G' respectively at temperatures of T1=(Tm-30)°C and T2=(Tm+30)°C and Tm is a softening point (°C)) is smaller than 0.05.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner used for developing an electrostatic latent image in an electrophotographic image forming process and an image forming apparatus using the toner.

In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, a charging process in which the surface of a rotationally driven photoreceptor is uniformly charged by a charging device; the surface of the photoreceptor is irradiated with laser light by an exposure device. An exposure step for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface; a development step for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor with toner using a developing device to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor; a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor An image is formed through a transfer step of transferring onto a transfer material (recording medium) by a transfer device; and a fixing step of fixing the toner image onto the transfer material by heating of the fixing device.
Then, the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after the image forming operation is removed by a cleaning device in a cleaning process and collected in a predetermined recovery unit, and the residual charge on the surface of the photoconductor after the cleaning becomes the next image formation. In order to prepare for this, the charge is removed by the charge removal device in the charge removal step.
The toner used in such an image forming apparatus needs to have functions required not only in the development process but also in each process of the transfer process, the fixing process, and the cleaning process.

As a fixing method of the toner image in the fixing step, for example, there is a heat fixing method in which the toner constituting the toner image is heated and melted and fixed on the recording medium.
In order to achieve energy saving in this heat fixing method, it is necessary to fix the toner image at as low a temperature as possible, and a toner having good low temperature fixability is required.

The toner usually contains a binder resin (also referred to as “binder resin”), a colorant, a release agent, and a charge control agent (also referred to as “charge control agent”, “charge control agent”, “antistatic agent”), and the like. Including.
Conventionally, a resin having a relatively low molecular weight and a resin having a relatively high molecular weight (crosslinking component) are used in order to achieve both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance (also referred to as “high-temperature offset resistance”) of the toner. A release agent such as a binder resin or a plurality of waxes in which two kinds are mixed is used.
For example, JP-A-10-133411 (Patent Document 1) uses a specific ester wax having at least one endothermic peak in each of a temperature range of 60 to 90 ° C. and a temperature of 100 to 150 ° C. Toner that achieves both high resistance and hot offset resistance.

JP 10-133411 A

  However, as the content of the resin having a relatively high molecular weight as the binder resin increases (when Mw / Mn increases), the hot offset resistance is improved, but the temperature range in which low temperature offset occurs (the toner is softened). In the temperature range where the toner starts to be deformed, the toner is less likely to be deformed, and the wax inside the toner particles is less likely to exude onto the toner surface.

  In particular, in a belt fixing device adopted for the purpose of shortening the warm-up time of the image forming apparatus, the temperature of the fixing belt is set low, so that the exuded wax does not sufficiently reach the surface of the fixing belt. As a result, there is a problem that when paper with a low stiffness (thin paper) is used, the paper does not leave the toner layer with the toner layer sandwiched between them (that is, peeling failure). This peeling failure is noticeable in a belt fixing device having a small peeling angle.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner capable of achieving both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance in a belt fixing device, and an image forming apparatus compatible with short warm-up time and low-temperature fixability.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have found that the loss elastic modulus G ″ and storage elastic modulus G ′ of the toner flow start temperature (also referred to as “outflow start temperature”) Ti. By setting G within a specific range, it has been found that a toner capable of achieving both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance can be obtained even in a belt fixing device, and the present invention has been completed.

Thus, according to the present invention, at least the binder resin, the colorant, the release agent, and the charge control agent are included, the loss elastic modulus G ″ at the flow start temperature Ti (° C.) is less than 5 × 10 ⁵ and the formula:
G = (log G′1−log G′2) / 60
(In the formula, G′1 and G′2 are storage elastic moduli G ′ at temperatures T1 = (Tm−30) ° C. and T2 = (Tm + 30) ° C., respectively, and Tm is a softening point (° C.)).
The toner is characterized in that the slope G of the storage elastic modulus represented by the formula is less than 0.05.

  In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus using toner and having a belt fixing device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner that can achieve both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance in a belt fixing device, and an image forming apparatus that has both short warm-up time and low-temperature fixability.
That is, when the toner of the present invention is used in an image forming apparatus equipped with a belt fixing device, the toner undergoes plastic deformation (deformation due to deviation) in a temperature range where the toner begins to soften even when the toner image is fixed at a relatively low temperature. ) Easily occur, and the wax inside the toner particles easily exudes to the toner surface, and the exuding wax sufficiently spreads to the surface of the fixing belt.
Further, since the toner has high elasticity even at a high temperature, the toner layer retains high elasticity even when the toner image is fixed at a relatively high temperature, and the toner layer does not adhere to the fixing belt even after fixing, and is easily separated. As a result, it can be peeled even with a small peel angle. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective peeling and hot offset even with belt fixing with a small peeling angle after fixing or with thin paper.

In the toner of the present invention, the binder resin is a polyester resin having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 9000 to 90000, and a ratio of the molecular weight of 100,000 or more in the molecular weight distribution is 10 to 30%. The toner having the above can be easily obtained, and the above effects are further exhibited.
In the toner of the present invention, since the release agent is a hydrocarbon release agent having a melting point of 70 ° C. or less, a toner having the above physical properties can be easily obtained, and the above effects are further exhibited.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a one-component developer further including an external additive and a two-component developer further including an external additive and a carrier.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration viewed from the front side of an image forming apparatus provided with a belt fixing device of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration viewed from the front side of an image forming apparatus including a belt fixing device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fixing device as viewed from the back side of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fixing belt that is not hung on a heating roller and a peeling roller, cut along a plane parallel to the radial direction.

The toner of the present invention contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, a release agent, and a charge control agent, and has a loss elastic modulus G ″ at a flow start temperature Ti (° C.) of less than 5 × 10 ⁵ and a formula:
G = (log G′1−log G′2) / 60
(In the formula, G′1 and G′2 are storage elastic moduli G ′ at temperatures T1 = (Tm−30) ° C. and T2 = (Tm + 30) ° C., respectively, and Tm is a softening point (° C.)).
The slope G of the storage elastic modulus represented by the formula is characterized by being less than 0.05.

The above terms are mainly based on JIS K7244-1 and are defined as follows.
“Storage elastic modulus G ′” is proportional to the maximum energy accumulated throughout the load cycle, represents the stiffness of the viscoelastic material, is a real value part of the complex elastic modulus, and its unit is Pa.
“Loss elastic modulus G” ”is proportional to the energy dissipated (disappeared) in one load cycle, is the imaginary part of the complex elastic modulus, and its unit is Pa.
Here, the “complex elastic modulus” represents a ratio between dynamic stress and dynamic strain when sinusoidal vibration is applied to a viscoelastic material.
The elastic modulus includes tension, bending, shear, torsion, volume (compression), and uniaxial strain (uniaxial compression and longitudinal wave (longitudinal elastic wave) types (deformation modes). In the present invention, the elastic modulus is described in the examples. Thus, it means the uniaxial strain elastic modulus, that is, the uniaxial strain storage elastic modulus and the uniaxial strain loss elastic modulus.

The “flow start temperature Ti” represents the temperature at which the plastic material softens by heating and starts to flow. In the present invention, as described in the examples, 1 g of a sample is heated at a heating rate of 6 ° C./min. However, when a load of 20 kgf / cm ² (9.8 × 10 ⁵ Pa) was applied and the sample was caused to flow out from the die (nozzle diameter 1 mm, length 1 mm), it means the temperature at which the flow of the sample started. The temperature at which half of the sample flows out of the die is defined as “softening point Tm”.

It is considered that the toner of the present invention has viscoelasticity that satisfies the above-described conditions, and can achieve both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance as described in the effect of the invention.
The loss elastic modulus G ″ is less than 5 × 10 ⁵ , preferably 4.5 × 10 ⁵ or less.
If the loss modulus G ″ is 5 × 10 ⁵ or more, the low temperature fixability may be impaired. Also, the lower limit of the loss modulus G ″ is about 2 × 10 ⁴ , and if it is less than this, a high temperature offset occurs. There is a possibility that it becomes easy to do.

The slope G of the storage elastic modulus is less than 0.05, preferably 0.045 or less.
When the slope G of the storage elastic modulus is 0.05 or more, there is a possibility that the low-temperature fixability and the sheet peelability at a high fixing temperature range may not be compatible.
The storage elastic modulus G ′ at temperatures T1 = (Tm−30) ° C. and T2 = (Tm + 30) ° C., that is, G ′ and G′2 for satisfying the above conditions for the storage elastic modulus G is 1 respectively. They are about × 10 ³ to 1 × 10 ^{6 and} about 5 × 10 ^{3 to} 5 × 10 ⁶ .
Moreover, the flow start temperature Ti is about 80-100 degreeC, and the softening point Tm is about 100-120 degreeC.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration viewed from the front side of an image forming apparatus provided with a belt fixing device of the present invention.
When the toner of the present invention is used in an image forming apparatus equipped with a belt fixing device, the toner undergoes plastic deformation (deformation due to deviation) in a temperature range where the toner begins to soften even when the toner image is fixed at a relatively low temperature. Since the wax inside the toner particles easily oozes out on the toner surface, and the oozing wax sufficiently spreads over the surface of the fixing belt, it is difficult to cause peeling failure.
Further, since the toner has high elasticity even at a high temperature, the toner layer retains high elasticity even when the toner image is fixed at a relatively high temperature, and the toner layer does not adhere to the fixing belt even after fixing, and is easily separated. As a result, it can be peeled even with a small peel angle.
Hereinafter, main components of the toner and a method for producing the toner using the same will be described.

(1) Toner The toner of the present invention contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, a release agent, and a charge control agent, and may contain a known additive as necessary within a range that does not impair the effects of the present invention. Good.

(Binder resin)
As the binder resin of the toner of the present invention, a polyester resin can be suitably used.
The polyester resin usually includes at least one selected from a divalent alcohol component and a trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol component, and at least one selected from a divalent carboxylic acid and a trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid. It can be obtained by a polycondensation reaction, esterification or transesterification by a known method.
The conditions in the condensation polymerization reaction may be set as appropriate depending on the reactivity of the monomer component, and the reaction may be terminated when the polymer has suitable physical properties. For example, the reaction temperature is about 170 to 250 ° C., and the reaction pressure is about 5 mmHg to normal pressure.

  Examples of the divalent alcohol component include polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (3.3) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxy). Phenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (2.0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (2.0) -polyoxyethylene (2.0) -2,2-bis ( Alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A such as 4-hydroxyphenyl) propane and polyoxypropylene (6) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane; ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene Glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, neo Diols such as n-glycol, 1,4-butenediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol Bisphenol A; propylene adduct of bisphenol A; ethylene adduct of bisphenol A; hydrogenated bisphenol A and the like.

Examples of the trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol component include sorbitol, 1,2,3,6-hexanetetrol, 1,4-sorbitan, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, sucrose (sucrose), 1 , 2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,5-pentanetriol, glycerol, 2-methylpropanetriol, 2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, 1,3, 5-trihydroxymethylbenzene and the like can be mentioned.
In the present invention, one of the above divalent alcohol component and trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol component can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of divalent carboxylic acids include maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, glutaconic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, malon Examples include acids, n-dodecenyl succinic acid, n-dodecyl succinic acid, n-octyl succinic acid, isooctenyl succinic acid, isooctyl succinic acid, and acid anhydrides or lower alkyl esters thereof.

Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid include 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 2,5,7-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, and 1,2,4-naphthalene. Tricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-hexanetricarboxylic acid, 1,3-dicarboxyl-2-methyl-2-methylenecarboxypropane, 1,2,4-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid, Examples thereof include tetra (methylenecarboxyl) methane, 1,2,7,8-octanetetracarboxylic acid, pyromellitic acid, empole trimer acid, and acid anhydrides or lower alkyl esters thereof.
In the present invention, one of the above divalent carboxylic acids and trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acids can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In the present invention, the binder resin has a weight average molecular weight in the range of 9000 to 90000 (preferably 20000 to 70000) and a ratio of molecular weight of 100,000 or more in the molecular weight distribution is 10 to 30% (preferably 10 to 20%). ) Is preferred.
If the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the molecular weight of 100,000 or more is within the above range, the effect of the present invention is further exhibited. If the weight average molecular weight is less than 9000, the releasability at the fixing high temperature side may be deteriorated, and if the weight average molecular weight exceeds 90000, the low temperature fixability may be deteriorated. Moreover, if the ratio of the molecular weight of 100,000 or more in the molecular weight distribution is less than 10%, the releasability on the fixing high temperature side may be deteriorated, and if the ratio of the molecular weight of 100,000 or more in the molecular weight distribution exceeds 30%, the low-temperature fixability is deteriorated. There is a fear.

(Coloring agent)
As the colorant of the toner of the present invention, various kinds of organic and inorganic pigments and dyes commonly used in the technical field can be used. For example, black, white, yellow, orange, red, Examples include purple, blue and green colorants.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon, nonmagnetic ferrite, magnetic ferrite, and magnetite.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of yellow colorants include chrome lead, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral fast yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow G, Hansa yellow 10G, benzidine yellow G, and benzidine. Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 12, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 13, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 14, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 15, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 17, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 93, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 94, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 138, and the like.

  Examples of the orange colorant include red chrome yellow, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment orange 31, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Orange 43.

  Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red C, lake red D, and brilliant carmine 6B. Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment red 2, C.I. I. Pigment red 3, C.I. I. Pigment red 5, C.I. I. Pigment red 6, C.I. I. Pigment red 7, C.I. I. Pigment red 15, C.I. I. Pigment red 16, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 53: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 57: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 122, C.I. I. Pigment red 123, C.I. I. Pigment red 139, C.I. I. Pigment red 144, C.I. I. Pigment red 149, C.I. I. Pigment red 166, C.I. I. Pigment red 177, C.I. I. Pigment red 178, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Red 222.

  Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, fast violet B, and methyl violet lake.

  Examples of blue colorants include bitumen, cobalt blue, alkali blue lake, Victoria blue lake, phthalocyanine blue, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue partially chlorinated products, first sky blue, induslen blue BC, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 2, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment blue 16, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Blue 60.

  Examples of the green colorant include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, micalite green lake, final yellow green G, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Green 7.

In the present invention, one of the above colorants may be used alone or in combination of two, and these combinations may be different colors or the same color.
Two or more colorants may be used in the form of composite particles.
The composite particles can be produced, for example, by adding an appropriate amount of water, lower alcohol or the like to two or more colorants, granulating with a general granulator such as a high speed mill, and drying.
Furthermore, in order to disperse the colorant uniformly in the binder resin, it may be used as a master batch.
The composite particles and the master batch are mixed into the toner composition during dry mixing.

The blending amount of the colorant is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 20 parts by weight, particularly preferably 0.2 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
If the blending amount of the colorant is within the above range, an image having a high image density and a very good image quality can be formed without impairing various physical properties of the toner.

(Release agent)
As the release agent for the toner of the present invention, release agents commonly used in the art can be used, for example, petroleum waxes such as paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax and derivatives thereof; Fischer-Tropsch wax, polyolefin Hydrocarbon synthetic waxes such as waxes (polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, etc.), low molecular weight polypropylin waxes and polyolefin polymer waxes (eg, low molecular weight polyethylene waxes) and their derivatives; carnauba wax, rice wax and candelilla wax and Derivatives, plant waxes such as wood wax; animal waxes such as beeswax and whale wax; oils and fats synthetic waxes such as fatty acid amides and phenol fatty acid esters; long chain carbo Acid and its derivatives; long-chain alcohols and derivatives thereof; silicone polymer; such as higher fatty acids.
The derivatives include oxides, block copolymers of vinyl monomers and waxes, graft modified products of vinyl monomers and waxes, and the like.
In this invention, 1 type of said mold release agent can be used individually or in combination of 2 or more types.

The release agent is preferably a hydrocarbon release agent having a melting point of 70 ° C. or lower. The lower limit is about 60 ° C.
If the melting point is 70 ° C. or lower, the effects of the present invention are further exhibited, and this is particularly preferable for low-temperature fixability.
The compounding amount of the release agent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.2 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, and 1.0 to 8.0 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. Part is particularly preferred.
If the amount of the release agent is within the above range, an image having a high image density and a very good image quality can be formed without impairing various physical properties of the toner.

(Charge control agent)
As the charge control agent for the toner of the present invention, charge control agents for positive charge control and negative charge control which are commonly used in the technical field can be used.

Examples of charge control agents for positive charge control include nigrosine dyes, basic dyes, quaternary ammonium salts, quaternary phosphonium salts, aminopyrines, pyrimidine compounds, polynuclear polyamino compounds, aminosilanes, nigrosine dyes and derivatives thereof, triphenylmethane Derivatives, guanidine salts, amidine salts and the like can be mentioned.
Examples of the charge control agent for controlling the negative charge include oil-soluble dyes such as oil black and spiron black, metal-containing azo compounds, azo complex dyes, naphthenic acid metal salts, metal complexes and metal salts of salicylic acid and its derivatives ( Examples of the metal include chromium, zinc, zirconium, etc.), boron compounds, fatty acid soaps, long-chain alkyl carboxylates, and resin acid soaps.

In the present invention, one of the above charge control agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The blending amount of the charge control agent is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, particularly preferably 1 to 2 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
When the amount of the charge control agent is within the above range, an image having a high image density and a very good image quality can be formed without impairing various physical properties of the toner.

(Toner production method)
The toner of the present invention is a general toner production method such as a dry method such as a pulverization method, a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion aggregation method, a dispersion polymerization method, a dissolution suspension method and a melt emulsion method. It can be produced by a known method. Among these, the pulverization method is particularly preferable in that the number of steps is small and the amount of capital investment is small as compared with the wet method.
Hereinafter, a toner preparation method using a pulverization method will be described.

  In the preparation of toner by a pulverization method, a toner material containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, a release agent and a charge control agent is mixed and melt-kneaded to obtain a kneaded product, and then the kneaded product is cooled, solidified and pulverized, and then If necessary, particle size adjustment such as classification is performed to obtain toner particles.

  The mixing is preferably a dry type, and a known apparatus commonly used in the technical field can be used as the mixer. For example, a Henschel mixer (trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.), a super mixer (trade name, manufactured by Kawata Co., Ltd.) ), Mechanomill (trade name, manufactured by Okada Seiko Co., Ltd.) and other Henschel type mixing devices, ong mill (trade name, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), hybridization system (trade name, manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), Cosmo System ( And a mixing device such as a product name, manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.).

  As the kneader, a known apparatus commonly used in the technical field can be used, and examples thereof include general kneaders such as a twin-screw extruder, a three-roller, and a lab blast mill. Specifically, for example, uniaxial or biaxial TEM-100B (trade name, manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.), PCM-65 / 87, PCM-30 (all of which are trade names, manufactured by Ikegai Co., Ltd.) Open roll type kneaders such as Extruder and Needex (trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.) can be mentioned. Among these, open roll type kneaders have a strong share during kneading and color materials such as pigments and the like. It is preferable in that a release agent or the like can be highly dispersed.

  As the pulverizer, a known apparatus commonly used in the technical field can be used. For example, a jet pulverizer that pulverizes using a supersonic jet stream, a rotor (rotor) that rotates at high speed, and a stator (liner). And an impact type pulverizer that introduces and crushes the solidified material into the space formed between the two.

  For the classification, a known apparatus commonly used in the technical field, particularly a classifier capable of removing excessively pulverized toner mother particles by centrifugal force and wind force, such as a swirl wind classifier (rotary wind classifier) can be used.

The toner particles obtained have a volume average particle size of preferably 3 to 10 μm, more preferably 5 to 8 μm.
If the volume average particle diameter of the toner particles is within the above range, a high-definition image can be stably formed over a long period of time. When the volume average particle size of the toner particles is less than 3 μm, the particle size of the toner particles becomes too small, and high charging and low fluidity occur, and the toner cannot be stably supplied to the photoreceptor. There is a risk of image density reduction. On the other hand, if the average particle size of the toner particles exceeds 10 μm, the particle size of the toner particles becomes too large and a high-definition image may not be obtained.

The toner of the present invention is a one-component developer further including an external additive, or a two-component developer further including an external additive and a carrier.
(External additive)
In the toner of the present invention, an external additive is used in order to improve the transportability and chargeability of the toner and the stirrability with the carrier when the toner is used as a two-component developer.
As the external additive, external additives commonly used in the technical field can be used, and examples thereof include silica, titanium oxide, and the like, and surface treatment (hydrophobization treatment) is performed with a silicone resin, a silane coupling agent, or the like. Are preferred.
The amount of the external additive is preferably 1 to 10 parts by weight and more preferably 2 to 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner.

(Career)
The toner of the present invention can be used in any form of a one-component developer and a two-component developer.
When used as a two-component developer, a carrier is further added to the toner.
As the carrier, a carrier commonly used in the technical field can be used. For example, a single or composite ferrite composed of iron, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, manganese, chromium, etc. and carrier core particles are coated with a coating material. And the like.
As the coating material, a coating material commonly used in the art can be used. For example, polytetrafluoroethylene, monochlorotrifluoroethylene polymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, silicone resin, polyester, and a metal compound of ditertiary butylsalicylic acid Styrene resin, acrylic resin, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, nigrosine, aminoacrylate resin, basic dye, basic dye lake, silica fine powder, alumina fine powder, and the like. These coating materials are selected according to the toner component, and can be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The average particle diameter of the carrier is preferably 10 to 100 μm, more preferably 20 to 50 μm.
The carrier content is preferably 4 to 15 parts by weight, more preferably 5 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the toner.

2. Belt fixing device and image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized by using the toner of the present invention and including a belt fixing device.
The belt fixing device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration viewed from the front side of the image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device of the present invention. That is, the A direction in FIG. 2 is a direction from the front side to the back side of the image forming apparatus 100.

The image forming apparatus 100 is an electrophotographic printer, and includes four visible image forming units (yellow visible image forming unit 110Y, magenta visible image forming unit 110M, cyan visible image forming unit 110C, and black visible image). Forming unit 110B: a so-called tandem printer in which these are also referred to as “visible image forming unit 110” along the recording paper conveyance path.
Specifically, 4 along the conveyance path of the recording paper P formed between the supply tray 120 for supplying the recording paper P (heated material, recording medium) to the visible image forming unit 110 and the fixing device 40. Two visible image forming units 110 are provided. Then, each visible image forming unit 110 superimposes and transfers the respective color toner images onto the recording paper P conveyed by the endless conveying belt 133 which is the recording paper conveying means 130, and then the fixing device 40 causes the recording paper to be transferred. The toner image is fixed to P, thereby forming a full color image.

  The conveyor belt 133 is stretched between the driving roller 131 and the idling roller 132, and rotates around a predetermined peripheral speed (about 150 to 400 mm / second, for example, 220 mm / second). The recording paper P is transported by electrostatic adsorption to the circulating transport belt 130.

  Each visible image forming unit 110 is provided with a photosensitive drum 111, and around the photosensitive drum 111, a charging roller 112, an exposure means (laser light irradiation means) 113, a developing device 114, a transfer roller 115, a cleaner. 116 is arranged.

The developer Y of the visible image forming unit 110Y contains a developer containing yellow toner, the developer M of the visible image forming unit 110M contains a developer containing magenta toner, and the visible image forming unit 110C. The developer C contains a developer containing cyan toner, and the developer B of the visible image forming unit 110B contains a developer containing black toner.
The developer may be either a one-component developer or a two-component developer.
The toner contained in the one-component developer may be either non-magnetic or magnetic, and the carrier contained in the two-component developer may be either non-magnetic or magnetic.

  In each visible image forming unit 110, the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper P. The transfer procedure is as follows. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 111 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 112, and then the surface of the photosensitive drum 111 is exposed by a laser according to the image information by the laser light irradiation unit 113 to form an electrostatic latent image. Thereafter, the developing device 114 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111. Thus, the electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized) to generate a toner image. The toner image generated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111 is recorded on the recording paper conveyed by the conveying belt (conveying means) 130 by the transfer roller 115 to which a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner of the toner image is applied. The images are sequentially transferred to P.

  Thereafter, the recording paper P is peeled off from the conveyance belt 133 at the curved portion of the conveyance belt 133 (portion wound around the driving roller 131) and conveyed to the fixing device 40. Further, in the fixing device 40, an appropriate temperature and pressure are applied to the recording paper P by the fixing belt heated to a predetermined temperature. As a result, the toner on the recording paper P is dissolved, the toner is fixed on the recording paper P, and a robust image is formed on the recording paper P.

[Fixing device]
Next, the configuration of the fixing device will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fixing device as seen from the back side of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The fixing device 40 fixes the toner image on the recording paper P by applying heat and pressure to the recording paper (recording material) P on which an unfixed toner image is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device 40 includes a heating roller (supporting roller) 41, a peeling roller (supporting roller) 42 disposed so that the axial directions thereof are parallel to each other in relation to the heating roller 41, and The heating roller 41 and the peeling roller 42 are spanned. The endless fixing belt 43 that is driven to rotate when these rollers rotate, and the heating roller 41 so that the axial directions are parallel to each other. A pressure roller (pressure member) 44 is provided. 3 indicates the rotation direction of the fixing belt 43, and the A direction is a direction from the back surface to the front surface of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The heating roller 41 and the peeling roller 42 are disposed at positions where they are wound around the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43 (hereinafter referred to as “inner peripheral surface”). The pressure roller 44 is pressed against the heating roller 41 with a predetermined load (about 50 to 300 N, for example, 200 N) so as to sandwich the fixing belt 43. On the outer periphery of the pressure roller 44, the pressing portion pressed by the heating roller 41 and a part on the downstream side in the N direction from the pressing portion are the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43 (hereinafter referred to as “outer peripheral surface”). Is wrapped around).

  The pressing portion on the outer periphery of the pressure roller 44 is referred to as an “actual nip region”, and the region wound around the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43 on the outer periphery of the pressing roller 44 on the downstream side of the pressing portion is “ This is referred to as a “virtual nip region”. The width of the actual nip region in the N direction is about 5 to 20 mm (for example, 5 mm), and the width of the virtual nip region in the N direction is about 8 to 30 mm (for example, 3 mm).

  In the fixing device 40, the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed on the recording paper P as the recording paper P passes through the real nip region and the virtual nip region in order. When the recording paper P passes through the actual nip region and the virtual nip region, the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43 contacts the toner image forming surface of the recording paper P, and the outer periphery of the pressure roller 44 is the toner image on the recording paper P. It contacts the surface opposite to the forming surface.

  The heating roller 41 is heated to a predetermined temperature (about 150 to 200 ° C., for example, 190 ° C.) and conducts heat from the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43 to the fixing belt 43. The fixing belt 43 to which heat is transferred from the heating roller 41 heats the recording paper P that passes through the actual nip region and the virtual nip region.

The heating roller 41 is made of a metal such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper or an alloy thereof (for example, iron), and has a thickness of about 0.2 to 1.0 mm (for example, 0.3 mm) and a diameter of 20 to 20 mm. It is a cylindrical member (core metal) of about 50 mm (for example, 30 mm).
Further, the heating roller 41 may be formed by forming an elastic layer on the outer periphery of a cylindrical cored bar.
An elastic layer consists of silicone rubber etc., and the thickness is about 0.5-2.0 mm (for example, 5 mm).

  A heater lamp 45 that heats the heating roller 41 is disposed inside the heating roller 41. The heater lamp 45 emits light and emits infrared light when energized by a control circuit (not shown). Thereby, the inner peripheral surface of the heating roller 41 is heated by absorbing infrared rays, and the entire heating roller 41 is heated.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the pressure roller 44 is a roller in which a core metal 44a, an elastic layer 44b, and a release layer 44c are formed in order from the inside, and has a diameter of about 20 to 50 mm (for example, 30 mm). is there. A heater lamp 48 for heating the pressure roller 44 is provided inside the cored bar 44 a of the pressure roller 44.

The core metal 44a is made of a metal such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or an alloy thereof (for example, iron), and the shape thereof is a cylindrical member having a thickness of about 1.0 to 5.0 mm (for example, 3 mm). .
The elastic layer 44b is made of silicone rubber or the like and has a thickness of about 1.0 to 5.0 mm (for example, 5 mm).
The release layer 44c corresponds to the surface layer (the layer exposed on the outer peripheral surface) of the pressure roller 44, and includes PFA (a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). ), A tube made of a fluororesin such as a copolymer of PFA and PTFE, and the thickness thereof is about 20 to 100 μm (for example, 50 μm).

The peeling roller 42 is a roller provided for peeling the recording paper P that has passed through the actual nip region (real nip portion) and the virtual nip region (virtual nip portion) from the fixing belt 43. That is, by providing the fixing device 40 with the peeling roller 42, the fixing belt 43 is bent away from the recording paper conveyance direction on the downstream side of the actual nip region and the virtual nip region in the recording paper conveyance direction. With such a configuration, the recording paper P is peeled off from the fixing belt 43.
The peeling roller 42 is made of a metal such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper or an alloy thereof (for example, iron), and has a thickness of about 0.3 to 2.0 mm (for example, 0.5 mm) and a diameter of 10 to 10 mm. It is a cylindrical member (core metal) of about 30 mm (for example, 14 mm).

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fixing belt 43 that is not stretched between the heating roller 41 and the peeling roller 42, cut along a plane parallel to the radial direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing belt 43 includes a base material 43a having a thickness t1, an elastic layer 43b having a thickness t2, and a release layer 43c having a thickness t3 from the inner peripheral surface side to the outer peripheral surface side. It is an endless belt having an inner diameter L1 (for example, 40 mm) that is laminated in order.

The base material 43a is a layer forming the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43, and is made of a heat-resistant resin such as polyimide, a metal material such as stainless steel or nickel, and has a thickness of t0.05 to 0.2 mm (for example, 0.1 mm). In order to suppress meandering of the fixing belt 43, the base material 43a may be coated with a fluororesin or the like.
The elastic layer 43b is made of silicone rubber or the like, and its thickness t2 is about 0.05 to 0.3 mm (for example, 0.2 mm).
The release layer 43c corresponds to the surface layer of the fixing belt 43 (the layer exposed on the outer peripheral surface), PFA (copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). , A tube made of a fluororesin such as a copolymer of PFA and PTFE, and its thickness t3 is about 20 to 100 μm (for example, 50 μm).

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the fixing device 40, a thermistor A (temperature detecting means) and a thermistor B (temperature detecting means) are arranged so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43 and the outer periphery of the pressure roller 44, respectively. Has been. Based on the temperatures of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 43 and the outer periphery of the pressure roller 44 detected by the thermistor A and the thermistor B, the control circuit (not shown) determines whether the heater lamps 45 and 48 are energized or not The fixing belt 43 and the pressure roller 44 are each controlled to a predetermined temperature.

  Then, the recording paper P on which an unfixed toner image is formed at a predetermined fixing speed and copying speed is conveyed to the actual nip region and the virtual nip region, and fixing processing is performed by heat and pressure. The fixing speed is a so-called process speed and is about 150 to 400 mm / second (for example, 220 mm / second). The copying speed is the number of copies per minute and is about 30 to 70 sheets / minute (for example, 50 sheets / minute).

  Although not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a drive motor (drive means) that rotates the heating roller 41 so that the recording paper P passes through the actual nip region and the virtual nip region. ) Is provided. Further, the peeling roller 42, the pressure roller 44, and the fixing belt 43 rotate following the rotation of the heating roller 41.

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
In Examples and Comparative Examples, each physical property value was measured by the following method.

[Binder resin, toner outflow start temperature (Ti) and softening point (Tm)]
Using a flow characteristic evaluation apparatus (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation, flow tester, model number: CFT-100C), 1 g of the sample was heated at a heating rate of 6 ° C./min, and a load of 20 kgf / cm ² (9.8 × 10 ⁵ Pa), and the sample is discharged from the die (nozzle diameter 1 mm, length 1 mm). The temperature at which the flow of the sample starts is defined as the flow start temperature (Ti), and the temperature at which half of the sample has flowed is defined as the softening point (Tm).

[Glass transition temperature Tg of binder resin, toner base particles and resin fine particles]
Using a differential scanning calorimeter (manufactured by Seiko Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (currently Seiko Instruments Inc.), model number: DSC220), 1 g of a sample was heated at a heating rate of 10 according to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) K7121-1987. The DSC curve is measured by heating at ° C / min. In the obtained DSC curve, the end point of the endothermic peak corresponding to the glass transition is extended to the low temperature side, and the slope is maximized with respect to the curve from the rising part of the peak to the apex. The temperature at the intersection with the drawn tangent is defined as the glass transition temperature (Tg).

[Melting point of release agent]
Using a differential scanning calorimeter (manufactured by Seiko Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (currently Seiko Instruments Inc.), model number: DSC220), 1 g of the sample is heated from a temperature of 20 ° C. to 200 ° C. at a heating rate of 10 ° C./min. Then, the operation of rapidly cooling from 200 ° C. to 20 ° C. is repeated twice, and the DSC curve is measured. The temperature of the endothermic peak corresponding to the melting of the DSC curve measured in the second operation is taken as the melting point of the release agent.

[Volume average particle diameter and coefficient of variation of toner base particles]
20 ml of a sample and 1 ml of sodium alkyl ether sulfate are added to 50 ml of an electrolytic solution (Beckman Coulter, trade name: ISOTON-II), and an ultrasonic disperser (manufactured by ASONE Co., Ltd., desktop type two-frequency ultrasonic cleaner) , Model: VS-D100) for 3 minutes at a frequency of 20 kHz to obtain a measurement sample. The obtained sample for measurement was measured using a particle size distribution measuring apparatus (Beckman Coulter, Inc., model: Multisizer 3) under the conditions of aperture diameter: 100 μm, number of measured particles: 50000 count, and volume of sample particles From the particle size distribution, the volume average particle diameter and the standard deviation in the volume particle size distribution are determined. Further, the coefficient of variation (CV value,%) is calculated based on the following equation.
CV value (%) = (standard deviation in volume particle size distribution / volume average particle diameter) × 100

[Storage elastic modulus G ′ and loss elastic modulus G ″ of toner (complex viscosity of resin fine particles)]
Using a viscoelasticity measuring device (Rheological Instruments Inc., model: VAR-100 measuring device), resin fine particles molded into 1 mm high tablets are set on a 25 mm diameter parallel plate, with a frequency of 1 Hz and a strain of 0.5. Under conditions, heating is performed from 70 ° C. to 150 ° C. at a temperature rising rate of 3 ° C./min using a temperature rising method, and storage elastic modulus G ′ and loss elastic modulus G ″ are obtained.

Example 1
Binder Resin: Polyester Resin A (Glass Transition Temperature 58 ° C., Softening Point 115 ° C., Weight Average Molecular Weight 85000, Ratio 20% of Molecular Weight 100000 or More) 88 parts by weight Colorant: C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 (manufactured by DIC)
4 parts by weight Release agent: Release agent A (paraffin wax, melting point 69 ° C., manufactured by Nippon Seisaku Co., Ltd., trade name: HNP11) 7 parts by weight Charge control agent: salicylic acid compound (Orient Chemical Co., Ltd., Product name: Bontron E84) 1 part by weight

Using a Henschel mixer (manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd. (currently Nihon Coke Kogyo Co., Ltd., model: FM20C), the above toner raw material was premixed for 3 minutes, and then a twin-screw extruder (manufactured by Ikegai Co., Ltd., model: PCM-30) was melt-kneaded at a cylinder setting temperature of 110 ° C., a barrel rotation speed of 300 rpm, and a raw material supply rate of 20 kg / hour to obtain a melt-kneaded product.
The obtained melt-kneaded product was cooled with a cooling belt, and then coarsely pulverized using a speed mill having a φ2 mm screen, and then a jet type pulverizer (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Industrial Co., Ltd., model: IDS-2) And further classified using an elbow jet classifier (manufactured by Nippon Steel Mining Co., Ltd., model: EJ-LABO) to obtain toner particles A. The toner outflow start temperature was 82 ° C., the loss elastic modulus G ″ at that temperature was 450,000, and the slope of the toner storage elastic modulus G ′ was 0.042.

(Example 2)
Toner particles were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that release agent B (paraffin wax, melting point 75 ° C., Nippon Seiwa Co., Ltd., trade name: HNP10) was used instead of release agent A. B was obtained. The toner outflow start temperature was 83 ° C., the loss elastic modulus G ″ at that temperature was 470000, and the slope of the toner storage elastic modulus G ′ was 0.041.

(Example 3)
Toner particles C were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that release agent C (carnauba wax, melting point 82 ° C., manufactured by Toa Kasei Co., Ltd., trade name: TOWAX) was used instead of release agent A. Obtained. The toner outflow start temperature was 82 ° C., the loss elastic modulus G ″ at that temperature was 440000, and the slope of the toner storage elastic modulus G ′ was 0.041.

(Comparative Example 1)
In the same manner as in Example 1, except that polyester resin B (glass transition temperature 59 ° C., softening point 110 ° C., weight average molecular weight 15000, ratio 2% of molecular weight 100000 or more) was used instead of polyester resin A. Particle D was obtained. The toner outflow start temperature was 80 ° C., the loss elastic modulus G ″ at that temperature was 450,000, and the slope of the toner storage elastic modulus G ′ was 0.052.

(Comparative Example 2)
In the same manner as in Example 1, except that polyester resin C (glass transition temperature 60 ° C., softening point 116 ° C., weight average molecular weight 95,000, ratio 35% of molecular weight 100000 or more) was used instead of polyester resin A. Particle E was obtained. The toner outflow start temperature was 85 ° C., the loss elastic modulus G ″ at that temperature was 610000, and the slope of the toner storage elastic modulus G ′ was 0.045.

(Comparative Example 3)
In the same manner as in Example 1 except that polyester resin D (glass transition temperature 59 ° C., softening point 113 ° C., weight average molecular weight 80000, ratio of molecular weight of 100,000 or more 55%) was used instead of polyester resin A. Particle F was obtained. The toner outflow start temperature was 85 ° C., the loss elastic modulus G ″ at that temperature was 520000, and the slope of the toner storage elastic modulus G ′ was 0.068.

Table 1 shows various physical properties of the toners of Examples and Comparative Examples.

(Preparation of two-component developer)
In each of 100 parts by weight of the toners obtained in Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, 0.7 parts by weight of silica particles having an average primary particle diameter of 20 nm hydrophobized with a silane coupling agent and titanium oxide 1 An external additive toner was obtained by mixing parts by weight. Further, the obtained externally added toner and a ferrite core carrier having a volume average particle diameter of 60 μm are mixed so that the concentration of the externally added toner is 7% with respect to the total amount of the two-component developer. A two-component developer was obtained.

The fixability of the obtained two-component developer was evaluated as follows.
Using a commercially available copying machine remodeled for evaluation (manufactured by Sharp Corporation, model: MX-4500), a fixed image with the above two-component developer was prepared.
First, a sample image including a solid image portion (rectangular with a length of 20 mm and a width of 50 mm) was formed as an unfixed image on a recording paper (manufactured by Sharp Corporation, PPC paper, model: SF-4AM3). At this time, the amount of adhesion of the capsule toner on the recording paper in the solid image portion was adjusted to 0.5 mg / cm ² .

Next, a fixed image was produced using the belt fixing device shown in FIG.
The fixing process speed was set to 150 mm / sec, the fixing belt temperature was increased from 130 ° C. in increments of 5 ° C., a temperature range in which neither low-temperature offset nor high-temperature offset occurred was determined, and the temperature range was defined as a non-fixing offset region.
“High temperature offset” and “low temperature offset” are defined as that the capsule toner does not fix to the recording paper at the time of fixing, but adheres to the recording paper after the fixing belt makes one turn while adhering to the fixing belt.
From the obtained results, a fixing non-offset area was determined by the following equation.
Non-offset fixing area (° C.) = Fixing upper limit temperature (° C.) − Fixing lower limit temperature (° C.)

From the results obtained, the fixability was evaluated according to the following criteria.
A: Very good (fixing non-offset area is 50 ° C. or more)
○: Good (fixing non-offset area is 35 ° C or higher and lower than 50 ° C)
Δ: Slightly defective (Fixing non-offset area is 25 ° C or higher and lower than 35 ° C)
X: Defect (fixing non-offset area is less than 25 ° C)
Table 2 shows the evaluation results of the fixability.

From the results of Tables 1 and 2, a toner having a loss elastic modulus G ″ at a toner outflow start temperature Ti of less than 5 × 10 ⁵ and a slope of the toner storage elastic modulus G ′ of less than 0.05 is not fixed In other words, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of peeling failure and hot offset even with belt fixing with a small peeling angle after fixing, that is, with a wide area, that is, a fixable area of 35 ° C. or more, and with thin paper.
Therefore, such a toner can be applied to an image forming apparatus that achieves both a short warm-up time and low-temperature fixability.

40 Fixing device 41 Heating roller (supporting roller)
42 Peeling roller (supporting roller)
43 fixing belt 43a base material 43b elastic layer 43c release layer L1 inner diameter of fixing belt t1 thickness of base material t2 thickness of elastic layer t3 thickness of release layer 44 pressure roller (pressure member)
44a Core metal 44b Elastic layer 44c Release layer 45, 48 Heater lamp P Recording paper (recording material)
N Circulation direction of fixing belt

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 110Y Yellow visible image forming unit 110M Magenta visible image forming unit 110C Cyan visible image forming unit 110B Black visible image forming unit 111 Photosensitive drum 112 Charging roller 113 Exposure means (laser light irradiation means)
114 Developing Unit 115 Transfer Roller 116 Cleaner 120 Supply Tray 130 Recording Paper Conveying Means 131 Drive Roller 132 Idling Roller 133 Endless Conveying Belt A Drawing Direction Y Developing Unit Containing Developer Containing Yellow Toner C Developing Containing Cyan Toner Developer in which developer is contained M Developer in which developer containing magenta toner is contained B Developer in which developer containing black toner is contained

Claims (5)

It contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, a release agent and a charge control agent, has a loss elastic modulus G ″ at a flow start temperature Ti (° C.) of less than 5 × 10 ⁵ and a formula:
G = (log G′1−log G′2) / 60
(In the formula, G′1 and G′2 are storage elastic moduli G ′ at temperatures T1 = (Tm−30) ° C. and T2 = (Tm + 30) ° C., respectively, and Tm is a softening point (° C.)).
A toner having a slope G of storage elastic modulus represented by   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the binder resin is a polyester resin having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 9000 to 90000 and a ratio of the molecular weight of 100,000 or more in the molecular weight distribution of 10 to 30%.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the release agent is a hydrocarbon release agent having a melting point of 70 ° C. or lower.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner is a one-component developer further including an external additive, or a two-component developer further including an external additive and a carrier.   An image forming apparatus using the toner according to claim 1, and comprising a belt fixing device.

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