JP2013041195A - Fixing device, image forming apparatus, fixing method, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device and a fixing method using a material sensitive to heat as a base material on which a metal toner image is fixed, an image forming apparatus including the fixing device, and an image forming method using the fixing method.SOLUTION: A fixing device 150 uses metal toner 50 including metal fine particles 51 coated with a resin 52 to fix a metal toner image formed on a base material 40 on the base material 40. The fixing device includes fixing solution application means 140 for applying the metal toner image with a fixing solution 120 containing a softening agent for dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin 52 to soften the resin 52.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixing device and a fixing method for fixing an image formed on a base material using a metal toner to the base material, an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing device, and an image formation using the fixing method. It is about the method.

  Conventionally, there is a method of forming an electronic circuit board by forming a metal toner image of a circuit pattern on a plate-like substrate by using an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a so-called metal toner in which metal fine particles are coated with a resin. Known (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, etc.).

  A method for producing an electronic circuit board using an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described. First, the photosensitive member is charged by a charging device, and the charged photosensitive member is exposed by an exposure device to form a latent image of a circuit pattern. Next, the latent image is developed using a metal toner by a developing device to form a metal toner image. Then, after the metal toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor to the base material by the transfer device, the metal toner image on the base material is heated by the fixing device to melt the metal fine particles contained in the metal toner or soften the resin. To do. Accordingly, the metal fine particles sink in the resin due to the specific gravity of the metal fine particles being higher than that of the resin, so that the melted metal fine particles come into contact with each other and are electrically connected to form a circuit in the resin. Thereafter, the softened resin is cooled and cured, whereby the metal toner image is fixed on the base material and the creation of the electronic circuit board is completed.

  However, since it is necessary to heat the metal toner on the base material at the time of fixing, heat resistance is required for the base material, and it is difficult to use a heat-sensitive material for the base material, and there are few options for the base material that can be used. Problem arises.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that a fixing device and a fixing method that can use a heat-sensitive material as a base material for fixing a metal toner image, and an image including the fixing device. It is to provide a forming apparatus and an image forming method using the fixing method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a fixing method in which a metal toner image formed on a base material is fixed on the base material using a metal toner in which metal fine particles are surrounded by a resin. The apparatus includes a fixing solution applying unit that applies a fixing solution containing a softening agent that softens the resin by dissolving or swelling at least part of the resin to the metal toner image. .

  In the present invention, the fixing liquid containing the softening agent is applied to the metal metal toner image on the substrate to soften the resin of the metal toner. As a result, the specific gravity of the metal fine particles is higher than that of the resin, so that the metal fine particles sink in the resin, the metal fine particles come into contact with each other and are electrically connected, and a circuit with the metal fine particles can be formed in the resin. In addition, the resin that has been dissolved or swelled and softened is dried, and the resin is cured and the substrate and the resin are bonded to each other, whereby the metal toner image can be fixed on the substrate. Therefore, since the metal toner image can be fixed on the base material without heating the metal toner, a heat-sensitive material can be used for the base material, and the choices of usable base materials can be increased.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that a heat-sensitive material can be used as a base material for fixing a metal toner image.

1 is a main part configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus when a second pressurizing unit is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device in the substrate transport direction. (A) The figure which shows the state of the unfixed metal toner layer formed on the base material, (b) The figure which shows the state which applied the fixing liquid to the metal toner by the application roller, (c) The resin is softened and the metal fine particles The figure which shows the state which the metal toner which mutually conducted became fixed on the base material. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a metal toner including a plurality of metal fine particles. The figure used for description of the fixing mechanism when a foamy fixing solution is used. Bubble detailed illustration. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a foam-like fixing liquid generating device. FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a fixing liquid application device in the fixing device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a perspective explanatory view of a coating roller and a liquid film thickness control blade.

  Embodiments of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 300 that forms a metal toner image having a circuit pattern using the metal toner 50 on the substrate 40, and is located downstream of the image forming unit 300 in the substrate conveyance direction. Is provided with a foamy fixing solution generating device 130 and a fixing solution applying device 140, and a fixing device 150 for fixing the metal toner image on the substrate 40 is provided.

  The image forming unit 300 includes a photoreceptor 302 that is a drum-shaped image carrier that rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. The photoreceptor 302 includes an aluminum cylindrical base and an OPC (organic photo semiconductor) photosensitive layer that covers the surface of the photoreceptor. Around the photosensitive member 302, a charging roller 303 as a charging unit for charging the photosensitive member 302, and an exposure device 306 and a photosensitive member 302 are formed as an exposing unit for exposing the charged photosensitive member 302 to form a latent image. The latent image is developed using a metal toner charged with a predetermined polarity to form a metal toner image, and a developing device 301 is provided, and a cleaning blade 304 for cleaning residual toner on the photoreceptor 302 is provided. The exposure device 306 makes a laser beam emitted from a laser diode, which is a light source, troublesome by a polygon mirror or the like, scans the charged photosensitive member 302 while irradiating it, and forms a latent image on the photosensitive member 302. In addition, a transfer roller 305 that is a transfer unit that transfers the metal toner image on the photoconductor 302 onto the substrate 40 is provided.

  Next, the process of obtaining an image in the image forming unit 300 having the above configuration will be described. First, the photosensitive member 302 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 303. Thereafter, laser light is scanned and exposed by the exposure device 306 based on the image information of the circuit pattern formed on the substrate 40, optical recording is performed on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a latent image is formed. The latent image on the photosensitive member 302 is developed by the metal toner 50 carried on the developing device 301 to be visualized as a metal toner image. The developing device 301 carries a metal toner 50 as a developer. For example, in the case of two-component development, in addition to the metal toner 50 as a developer, a carrier for holding the metal toner 50 by electrolysis is also provided. The metal toner image on the photoreceptor 302 is transferred onto the substrate 40 by the action of a transfer electric field that is applied to the transfer roller 305 from a power source (not shown) and formed by a transfer bias. After the transfer, the surface of the photosensitive member 302 is cleaned by a cleaning blade 304 and is prepared for the next image formation.

  With such a configuration, a metallic toner image having a circuit pattern based on electronic image data can be created on the substrate 40 on demand and speedily without causing a printing plate.

  The metallic toner image created on the substrate 40 is applied with the foamy fixing solution 120 by the fixing solution applying device 140 of the fixing device 150 and fixed to the substrate 40. In the configuration of the fixing device 150 shown in FIG. 1, when the foamy fixing solution 120 is applied to the metal toner image by the application roller 141, the metal toner image is applied while being pressed by the pressure roller 143. It will be. As described above, when the metal toner image is pressurized, the contact between the metal fine particles becomes strong and the resistance can be reduced.

  Here, the role of the pressure roller 143 has two roles: the role of allowing the foamy fixing solution 120 to penetrate into the metal toner layer 55 and the role of strengthening the contact between the metal fine particles. For this reason, if the optimum values of the pressures are different, it is possible to obtain a better result by additionally providing another pressurizing means. In particular, if the pressure for allowing the foamy fixing solution 120 to permeate the metal toner layer 55 is too strong, the metal toner layer 55 may flow and collapse to disturb the metal toner image.

  FIG. 2 shows a pressing unit for pressing the metal toner image on the substrate 40 on the downstream side in the substrate transport direction from the fixing solution applying device 140, separately from the pressure roller 143 of the fixing solution applying device 140. FIG. 3 is a main part configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus when a pressure roller pair 144 is provided.

  If the optimum pressing force for strengthening the contact between the metal fine particles is larger than the optimum pressing force for penetrating the foam-like fixing liquid 120 into the metal toner layer 55, as shown in FIG. It is better to provide a pair of pressure rollers 144 for applying a pressing force to strengthen the contact between the metal fine particles on the downstream side in the substrate transport direction from the liquid applying device 140. Needless to say, the pressure roller pair 144 is set to have a stronger pressing force than the pressure roller 143 facing the application roller 141.

  In the case where the metal toner image is fixed on the base material, electrical continuity occurs due to the contact between the metal fine particles, and therefore, it is output as an electronic circuit board on which a desired circuit pattern is formed.

  In the present embodiment, the foamy fixing solution 120 containing a softening agent that softens the fine particles containing the resin 52 by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin 52 is used as the resin 52 of the metal toner 50 on the substrate 40. Is used to soften the resin 52 of the metal toner 50 on the substrate 40 and fix the metal toner 50 on the substrate 40 at room temperature.

  Here, “normal temperature” refers to a temperature achieved without being heated or cooled, and is preferably, for example, 5 [° C.] to 35 [° C.] defined in JIS Z8703. .

  The fixing principle of the metal toner 50 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a view showing a state of the unfixed metal toner layer formed on the base material 40, and FIG. 3B is a state in which the foamy fixing solution 120 is applied to the metal toner 50 by the application roller 141. FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a state where the metal toner 50 in which the resin 52 is softened and the metal fine particles are electrically connected to each other is fixed on the substrate 40.

  The purpose of fixing is to bind the metal toner 50 firmly to the substrate 40 and bring the metal fine particles in the metal toner 50 into contact with each other, thereby providing electrical conduction, and further realizing a low resistance and conducting. It is to generate a film or a circuit.

  First, when the metal toner layer 55 is formed on the substrate 40 as shown in FIG. 3A by the image forming unit 300 shown in FIG. 1, the metal fine particles 51 of the metal toner 50 are covered with the resin 52. Therefore, the metal toner layer 55 is kept insulated. At this time, the metal toner 50 is not fixed on the substrate 40.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the foamy fixing solution 120 is applied to the metal toner layer 55 by the application roller 141 of the fixing solution applying device 140. The foam-like fixing liquid 120 contains a softener component having a function of softening by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin 52 of the metal toner 50. The details of the softener component and the corresponding resin 52 will be described later. As a result, the resin 52 is softened, and an opportunity to contact the metal fine particles is given. For example, since the metal fine particles 51 have a higher specific gravity than the resin 52, the metal fine particles 51 may sink in the resin 52 and the metal fine particles may contact each other as they are. Although it depends on the viscosity of the softened resin 52, further pressurization by the application roller 141 makes the contact between the metal fine particles strong.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 3C, the metal fine particles in the metal toner 50 are in good contact with each other, and a thin film (conductive pattern) in which electrical continuity is obtained is formed on the substrate 40. become. Further, the softened resin 52 can provide a binding effect between the metal fine particles or between the metal fine particles 51 and the substrate 40, and the metal toner 50 can be fixed onto the substrate 40. Further, the softening agent that softens the resin 52 diffuses and volatilizes, so that if the resin 52 is re-cured, the fixing force becomes stronger. Therefore, it is desirable that the softener is volatile.

  The volume ratio between the metal fine particles 51 and the resin 52 contained in the metal toner 50 is not particularly limited, but as can be seen from FIG. It is desirable that the volume ratio is such that is filled without gaps. This is because in this case, both conduction between metal fine particles and binding force can be optimally achieved. When the metal fine particles 51 are all spheres of the same size, the metal fine particles 51 are 74 [%] and the resin 52 is 26 [%].

  After the metal toner 50 is fixed on the substrate 40, the metal fine particles 51 are covered with the resin 52, so that there is an effect on migration resistance. In particular, wiring formation with silver particles is often performed as a means for realizing a low resistance, but the problem is the progress of migration over time. In this case, since components other than silver are skipped in the sintering step, silver is exposed. However, in the method of the present embodiment, the migration resistance is improved because the metal fine particles 51 are covered with the resin 52 even after fixing.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a metal toner 50 including a plurality of metal fine particles 51. As the metal toner, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of fine metal particles 51 may be included in a resin 52. The merit of this type is that the metal fine particles 51 are made fine while maintaining the toner particle size (at least 2 [μm] or more) that meets the safety standard required for dry toner as the particle size of the metal toner 50. (So-called nano metal fine particles can be used. As the metal fine particles 51 are finer, the metal fine particles are more likely to aggregate after contact, which contributes to a reduction in resistance.

  Next, the configuration and effect of fixing using the foamy fixing solution 120 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a fixing mechanism when the foamy fixing solution 120 is used.

  As shown in FIG. 5, by using the foam-like fixing solution generator 130 as the foam-like fixing solution 120 composed of bubbles, the bulk density of the fixing solution can be lowered and the fixing solution layer on the application roller 141 can be reduced. It has been found that the offset of the metallic toner 50 to the application roller 141 can be prevented because the influence of the surface tension of the fixing liquid can be suppressed. Furthermore, in the case where the size of the metal toner 50 is about 5 [μm] to 10 [μm], in order to apply the foam-like fixing solution 120 to the metal toner 50 without disturbing the metal toner layer 55, the foam-like fixing solution 120 is used. It was found that the bubble diameter range of 5 [μm] to 50 [μm] is necessary.

  FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing the bubbles 122 of the foam-like fixing liquid 120. As shown in FIG. 6, the foam-like fixing liquid 120 composed of bubbles 122 is composed of liquid film boundaries (hereinafter referred to as plateau boundaries) 121 that separate the bubbles 122.

  On the other hand, generally, in the case of a large bubble of about 0.5 [mm] to 1 [mm], the bubble can be generated relatively easily by simple stirring or the like. (It takes less than 1 second). Therefore, paying attention to the fact that bubbles that are larger than the desired bubble diameter and that can be visually observed can be easily and quickly generated, and from the large bubbles, 5 [μm] can be quickly obtained. As a result of intensive studies on a method of generating fine bubbles of about 50 [μm], when large bubbles are separated by applying shearing force to large bubbles, the fine bubbles are generated from the liquid state as described above. It was found that microbubbles of a desired size can be generated very quickly compared to the method.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the foamy fixing solution generator 130.
As shown in FIG. 7, the large foam generation unit 138 in the foam-like fixer generating device 130 that generates large foams and then separates the large foams to generate finely formulated foams is provided in the fixer container 131 as shown in FIG. 7. The liquid fixing liquid 132 is supplied to the gas / liquid mixing unit 135 using liquid transporting means such as the transport pump 133 and the liquid transport pipe 134. The gas / liquid mixing unit 135 is provided with an air port 136, a negative pressure is generated in the air port 136 along with the flow of the liquid, and the gas is introduced from the air port 136 into the gas / liquid mixing unit 135. Are mixed and further passed through the microporous sheet 137, whereby a large bubble having a uniform bubble diameter can be generated. The pore diameter is preferably about 30 [μm] to 100 [μm]. The porous member is not limited to the microporous sheet 137 of FIG. 7, and may be a porous member having a continuous foam structure, and may be a sintered ceramic plate, a nonwoven fabric, or a foamed resin sheet having a pore diameter of about 30 [μm] to 100 [μm]. Good.

  As another method for generating large bubbles, the liquid fixer 132 supplied from the transport pump 133 and the air from the air port 136 are stirred with a blade-shaped stirrer, and large bubbles are generated while entraining bubbles in the liquid. A configuration in which the liquid fixing liquid 132 supplied from the transport pump 133 is bubbled by an air supply pump or the like to generate large bubbles is also desirable.

  Next, in order to divide a large bubble into two or more bubbles, a small bubble generation unit 138 in a foam-like fixer generation device 130 as shown in FIG. 7 is used to apply a shearing force to the large bubble. The closed double cylinder is configured so that the inner cylinder can rotate, and a larger foam-like fixing solution 120 is supplied from a part of the outer cylinder, and the gap between the inner rotating cylinder and the outer cylinder (this is the flow path) And a shearing force is received by the rotating cylinder. Due to this shearing force, the large bubbles are changed into minute bubbles, and the foam-like fixing liquid 120 having a desired minute bubble diameter can be obtained from the outlet of the bubbles provided in the outer cylinder.

Further, the liquid transport speed is determined by the number of rotations of the rotating inner cylinder and the length of the inner cylinder in the longitudinal direction. When the inner diameter of the outer cylinder is d1 [mm], the cylinder length is L [mm], the outer diameter of the inner cylinder is d2 [mm], and the rotation speed is R [rpm], liquid transport for generating minute bubbles is performed. The speed V [mm ³ / sec] is
It turns out that it is decided by the number 1.

For example, when d1 is 10 [mm], d2 is 8 [mm], L is 50 [mm], and the rotation speed is 1000 [rpm], the liquid conveyance speed is about 1400 [mm ³ / sec] (1.4 [ cc / sec]). Assuming that the foam fixing solution 120 necessary for fixing A4 paper is 3 [cc], the rise time is about 2 seconds to generate the necessary amount of foam fixing solution 120 from the liquid fixing solution 132. As a result, it is possible to generate the foam-like fixing solution 120 having a desired bubble diameter very quickly. A spiral groove may be provided in the inner cylinder to improve liquid transportability in the cylinder.

  In this way, by combining the large bubble generating unit 138 that changes the liquid fixing liquid 132 into a liquid having a large bubble diameter and the small bubble generating unit 138 that generates a small bubble by applying a shearing force to the large bubble. In addition, the liquid fixing solution 132 can be produced in a very short time in the form of a foamy fixing solution 120 having a fine bubble diameter of about 5 [μm] to 50 [μm].

  FIG. 8A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the fixing liquid applying device 140 in the fixing device of the present embodiment. FIG. 8B is a perspective explanatory view of the application roller 141 and the liquid film thickness control blade 142.

  The fixing liquid applying device 140 shown in FIG. 8A is a coating roller for applying the desired fine bubble foam fixing solution 120 generated by the above-described foam fixing liquid generating device 130 to the metal toner layer 55. 141 and a pressure roller 143 which is a pressure unit at a position facing it, and a liquid film thickness control blade 142 is further pressed against the surface of the coating roller, so that the film thickness of the desired fine bubble foam fixing solution 120 is obtained. Therefore, the optimum film thickness of the foam-like fixing liquid 120 is controlled. Further, the application roller cleaning blade 63 is formed on the surface of the application roller that has passed through the application position by a cleaning unit provided downstream of the application position in which the foamy fixing solution 120 is applied to the metal toner 50 in the rotation direction of the application roller. The remaining foamy fixing solution 120 is recovered.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, a layer of the foam-like fixing liquid 120 is formed on the coating roller 141 through the liquid film thickness controlling blade 142, and the liquid film thickness controlling blade 142 serves as a foam-like fixing liquid. The film thickness of the fixing liquid layer optimized for the penetration time of the foam-like fixing liquid 120 in the unfixed toner layer according to the size of the 120 bubbles, the foam viscosity, the applied pressure of the coating, and the layer thickness of the unfixed metal toner It becomes.

  By using the foamy fixing solution 120 applied by the fixing solution applying apparatus 140 shown in FIG. 8A, the metal toner 50 is not offset on the application roller 141. Even if the foamy fixing solution 120 is thickly applied to the layer of the metal toner 50 and the substrate 40, the bulk density of the foaming fixing solution 120 is extremely low, so that bubbles contained after a predetermined foaming time have elapsed. By defoaming, a minute amount can be imparted to the layer of the liquid metal toner 50 containing the softening agent.

  As described above, the desired fine bubble foam fixing solution 120 includes a large bubble generation unit 138 that generates large bubbles and a small bubble generation unit that generates small bubbles by dividing large bubbles with shearing force. 138 and is dripped between the liquid film thickness control blade 142 and the coating roller 141 from the liquid supply port of the liquid supply unit 139.

The bulk density of the foam-like fixing solution is preferably in the range of about 0.01 [g / cm ³ ] to 0.1 [g / cm ³ ]. Further, the fixer only needs to be foamed when applied to the layer of the metal toner 50 on the substrate 40, and need not be foamed in the storage container. In the storage container, it is a liquid that does not contain bubbles, and it is desirable to provide a means for forming a bubble in the liquid transport path until the liquid is supplied from the container or applied to the metal toner 50 layer. This is because the storage container is liquid, and the foamed configuration after the liquid is taken out from the container has a great advantage that the container can be downsized.

  Next, as a means for transporting the liquid fixer 132 from the fixer container 131 to the foaming mechanism, a transport pump 133 is used in FIG. Examples of the transport pump 133 include a gear pump and a bellows pump, and a tube pump is preferable. If there is a vibration mechanism or a rotation mechanism in the fixing liquid, such as a gear pump, the liquid foams in the pump, and the liquid may be compressible, resulting in a decrease in conveying ability.

  Moreover, there is a possibility that the above-mentioned mechanical parts or the like may contaminate the fixing liquid, or conversely deteriorate the mechanical parts. On the other hand, since the tube pump is a mechanism that pushes out the liquid in the tube while deforming the tube, the only member in contact with the fixing liquid is the tube. By using a member that has liquid resistance to the fixing liquid, No contamination or deterioration of pump system parts. In addition, since the tube is only deformed, the liquid does not foam, and the conveyance capacity can be prevented from being lowered.

  In addition to the blade for controlling the liquid film thickness, the wire bar controls the thickness of the foam-like fixing solution on the application roller 141, and the foam-like fixing solution 120 generates large bubbles as described above. The large bubbles are generated by a means configured to separate bubbles with a shearing force, and are dropped between the film control wire bar and the application roller 141 from the liquid supply port of the liquid supply unit 139. By using the wire bar as the film control means, the uniformity of the foam-like fixing liquid film in the axial direction of the coating roller surface is improved as compared with the blade.

Next, the liquid formulation of the fixing solution will be described.
As described above, the foam-like fixing liquid has a configuration in which bubbles are contained in a liquid containing a softening agent. The liquid containing the softening agent preferably contains a foaming agent and a foam-increasing agent in order to stably contain bubbles and to form a foam layer constituting a bubble layer having a uniform bubble size as much as possible. Moreover, it is desirable to contain a thickener since the bubbles are more stably dispersed in the liquid when the viscosity is higher to some extent.

  As the foaming agent, an anionic surfactant, particularly a fatty acid salt is desirable. Since the fatty acid salt has surface activity, the surface tension of the fixer containing water is lowered to make the fixer easier to foam, and the fatty acid salt has a layered lamellar structure on the surface of the foam, so the foam wall (plateau boundary) is another It is stronger than the surfactants and the foam stability is extremely high.

  Further, in order to make the foaming property of the fatty acid salt effective, it is desirable that the fixing solution contains water. As the fatty acid, a saturated fatty acid resistant to oxidation is desirable from the viewpoint of long-term stability in the air. However, the inclusion of a slight amount of unsaturated fatty acid salt in the fixing solution containing saturated fatty acid salt helps to dissolve and disperse the fatty acid salt in water, and is excellent at low temperatures from 5 [° C] to 15 [° C]. It is possible to have stable foaming in a wide environmental temperature range and to prevent separation of fatty acid salts in the fixing solution during standing for a long period of time.

  Further, as the fatty acid used in the saturated fatty acid salt, saturated fatty acids having 12, 14, 16, and 18 carbon atoms, specifically lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid are suitable. A saturated fatty acid salt having 11 or less carbon atoms has a large odor and is not suitable for an image forming apparatus used in offices and homes using the fixing solution.

  In addition, saturated fatty acid salts having 19 or more carbon atoms are less soluble in water and significantly lower the stability of the fixing solution. Saturated fatty acid salts with these saturated fatty acids are used alone or in combination as a foaming agent.

  An unsaturated fatty acid salt may be used, and an unsaturated fatty acid having 18 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 double bonds is desirable. Specifically, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid are suitable. Since the reactivity is strong when the double bond is 4 or more, the stability of the fixing solution is poor. These unsaturated fatty acid salts with unsaturated saturated fatty acids are used alone or in combination as a foaming agent. Moreover, you may mix and use the said saturated fatty acid salt and unsaturated fatty acid salt as a foaming agent.

  Further, in the saturated fatty acid salt or unsaturated fatty acid salt, when used as a foaming agent for the fixing solution, a sodium salt, potassium salt or amine salt is desirable. It is an important factor as a commercial value of the fixing device 150 to quickly fix the fixing device 150 after the power is turned on. In order to be able to fix in the fixing device 150, it is essential that the fixing solution is in the form of a suitable foam. However, the fatty acid salt is quickly foamed so that it can be fixed after the power is turned on. A state can be created in a short time. In particular, when an amine salt is used, the foaming solution 120 can be foamed in the shortest time when a shearing force is applied to the fixing solution, and the foamy fixing solution 120 can be easily produced. It is possible to create a state that can be fixed later in the shortest time.

  The softening agent that is softened by dissolving or swelling the resin 52 includes an aliphatic ester. This aliphatic ester is excellent in solubility or swelling property that dissolves or swells at least a part of the resin 52 contained in the toner or the like.

  The softening agent has an acute oral toxicity LD50 of more than 3 [g / kg], more preferably 5 [g / kg], from the viewpoint of safety to the human body. As aliphatic esters are frequently used as cosmetic raw materials, they are highly safe for the human body.

  Further, the fixing of the toner to the base material 40 is performed by equipment frequently used in a sealed environment, and the softening agent remains in the toner even after the fixing of the toner to the base material 40. It is preferable that the fixing of the toner is not accompanied by generation of a volatile organic compound (VOC) and an unpleasant odor. That is, the softener preferably does not contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) and substances that cause unpleasant odors. Aliphatic esters have a high boiling point and low volatility and have no irritating odor as compared to generally used organic solvents (toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, etc.).

  In addition, as a practical odor measurement scale that can measure odors in office environments with high accuracy, the odor index (10 × log) by the three-point comparison odor bag method that is sensory measurement The dilution factor of the substance until it disappears)) can be used as an indicator of odor. The odor index of the aliphatic ester contained in the softener is preferably 10 or less. In this case, an unpleasant odor is not felt in a normal office environment. Furthermore, it is preferable that not only the softening agent but also other liquid agents contained in the fixing solution have no unpleasant odor and irritating odor.

  In the fixing solution according to the exemplary embodiment, preferably, the aliphatic ester includes a saturated aliphatic ester. When the above aliphatic ester contains a saturated aliphatic ester, the storage stability (resistance to oxidation, hydrolysis, etc.) of the softener can be improved. In addition, saturated aliphatic esters are highly safe for the human body, and many saturated aliphatic esters can dissolve or swell the resin 52 contained in the toner within one second. Furthermore, the saturated aliphatic ester can reduce the tackiness of the toner provided on the substrate 40. This is considered to be because the saturated aliphatic ester forms an oil film on the surface of the dissolved or swollen toner.

  Therefore, in the fixing solution of the present embodiment, preferably, the general formula of the saturated aliphatic ester includes a compound represented by R1COOR2, wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 11 to 14 carbon atoms, and R2 Is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. If the number of carbon atoms in R1 and R2 is less than the desired range, odor is generated, and if it is greater than the desired range, the resin softening ability is lowered.

  That is, the saturated aliphatic ester includes a compound represented by the general formula R1COOR2, R1 is an alkyl group having 11 to 14 carbon atoms, and R2 is a straight chain having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. When the alkyl group is a branched or branched alkyl group, the solubility or swelling property with respect to the resin 52 contained in the toner can be improved. Moreover, the odor index of said compound is 10 or less, and said compound does not have an unpleasant odor and an irritating odor.

  Examples of the aliphatic monocarboxylic acid ester that is the above compound include ethyl laurate, hexyl laurate, ethyl tridecylate, isopropyl tridecylate, ethyl myristate, isopropyl myristate, and the like. Many of these aliphatic monocarboxylic acid esters, which are the above compounds, are soluble in oily solvents, but not in water. Therefore, for many of the aliphatic monocarboxylic acid esters which are the above-mentioned compounds, in an aqueous solvent, glycols are contained in the fixing solution as a solubilizing agent and are in the form of a solution or a microemulsion.

  In the fixing solution of the present embodiment, preferably, the aliphatic ester includes an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ester. When the aliphatic ester includes an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ester, the resin 52 contained in the toner can be dissolved or swollen in a shorter time. For example, in high-speed printing of about 60 [ppm], it is desirable that the time until the fixing liquid is applied to the unfixed toner on the base material 40 and the toner is fixed on the base material 40 is within one second. When the aliphatic ester includes an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ester, the time required for the toner to be fixed to the substrate 40 by applying a fixing solution to the unfixed toner or the like on the substrate 40 is set to 0. It can be made within 1 second. Furthermore, since the resin 52 contained in the toner can be dissolved or swollen by adding a smaller amount of the softening agent, the content of the softening agent contained in the fixing solution can be reduced.

Therefore, in the fixing solution in this embodiment, preferably, the general formula of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ester includes a compound represented by R3 (COOR4) ₂ , and R3 is an alkylene having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. R4 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 3 to 5 carbon atoms. If the number of carbon atoms in R3 and R4 is less than the desired range, odor is generated, and if it is greater than the desired range, the resin softening ability decreases.

That is, the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ester includes a compound represented by the general formula R3 (COOR4) ₂ , R3 is an alkylene group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and R4 has 3 or more carbon atoms. When the linear or branched alkyl group is 5 or less, the solubility or swelling property with respect to the resin 52 contained in the toner can be improved. Moreover, the odor index of said compound is 10 or less, and said compound does not have an unpleasant odor and an irritating odor.

  Examples of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid ester that is the above compound include diethylhexyl succinate, dibutyl adipate, diisobutyl adipate, diisopropyl adipate, diisodecyl adipate, diethyl sebacate, and dibutyl sebacate. Many of these aliphatic dicarboxylic acid esters, which are the above compounds, are soluble in oily solvents, but not in water. Therefore, in an aqueous solvent, glycols are contained in the fixing solution as a dissolution aid and are in the form of a solution or microemulsion.

  Further, in the fixing solution in the present embodiment, the aliphatic ester preferably contains a dialkoxyalkyl aliphatic dicarboxylate. When the above aliphatic ester contains an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid dialkoxyalkyl, the fixability of the toner to the substrate 40 can be improved.

In the fixing solution according to the exemplary embodiment, preferably, the general formula of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid dialkoxyalkyl includes a compound represented by R5 (COOR6-O-R7) ₂ , and R5 has 2 or more carbon atoms. An alkylene group having 8 or less, R6 is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and R7 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. If the number of carbon atoms in R5 and R6 is less than the desired range, odor is generated, and if it is greater than the desired range, the resin softening ability is lowered.

That is, the above-mentioned aliphatic dicarboxylate dialkoxyalkyl includes a compound represented by the general formula R5 (COOR6-O-R7) ₂ , wherein R5 is an alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and R6 is In the case where it is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R7 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, it can improve the solubility or swellability of the resin 52 contained in the toner. it can. Moreover, the odor index of said compound is 10 or less, and said compound does not have an unpleasant odor and an irritating odor.

  Examples of the aliphatic dicarboxylate dialkoxyalkyl which is the above compound include diethoxyethyl succinate, dibutoxyethyl succinate, diethoxyethyl adipate, dibutoxyethyl adipate, diethoxyethyl sebacate and the like. . In an aqueous solvent, these aliphatic dicarboxylic acid dialkoxyalkyls are contained in the fixing solution as a solubilizing agent, and dissolved or microemulsified.

  Although not fatty acid esters, citrate esters, ethylene carbonate, and propylene carbonate are also suitable as softening or swelling agents.

  By the way, in the foam-like fixing solution 120, when the foam-like fixing solution 120 is permeated while being pushed into the fine particle layer such as the toner in the coating contact nip portion, the penetration is inhibited. Therefore, a foam excellent in foam stability is required. For this reason, it is desirable to contain a fatty acid alkanolamide (1: 1) type in the fixing solution. The fatty acid alkanolamide has (1: 1) type and (1: 2) type, but it was found that the (1: 1) type is suitable for foam stability in this embodiment.

  Further, it is preferable that the foamed fixing solution has sufficient affinity for the water-repellent treated toner particles. Here, affinity means the degree of extended wetting of the liquid with respect to the surface of the solid when the liquid comes into contact with the solid. That is, it is preferable that the foamed fixing solution exhibits sufficient wettability with respect to the water-repellent treated toner. The surface of the toner subjected to water repellency treatment with hydrophobic fine particles such as hydrophobic silica and hydrophobic titanium oxide is covered with methyl groups present on the surface of hydrophobic silica and hydrophobic titanium oxide, and is approximately 20 [mN / M] surface energy. Actually, since the entire surface of the water-repellent treated toner is not completely covered with the hydrophobic fine particles, the surface energy of the water-repellent treated toner is approximately 20 [mN / m] to 30 [mN]. / M]. Therefore, in order to have affinity for the water-repellent toner (having sufficient wettability), the surface tension of the foamed fixing solution is 20 [mN / m] to 30 [mN / m]. Preferably there is.

  When an aqueous solvent is used, it is preferable that the surface tension is 20 [mN / m] to 30 [mN / m] by adding a surfactant. In the case of an aqueous solvent, it is desirable to contain a unit price or a polyhydric alcohol. These materials have the advantage of increasing the stability of bubbles in the foam-like fixing solution and making it difficult to break the bubbles. For example, monohydric alcohols such as cetanol, and polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, propylene glycol, and 1,3 butylene glycol are desirable. Further, containing these unit price or polyhydric alcohols has an effect of preventing curling of a medium such as paper.

  In addition, it is also desirable to form an O / W emulsion or a W / O emulsion containing an oil component in order to improve permeability and prevent curling of a medium such as paper, in which case, as a specific dispersant Are preferably sorbitan fatty acid esters such as sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monosterate and sorbitan sesquioleate, and sucrose esters such as sucrose laurate and sucrose stearate.

  In addition, as a method for dissolving the softening agent or fixing the microemulsion during fixing, for example, a mechanical stirring means such as a homomixer or a homogenizer using a rotary blade, and a means for applying vibration such as an ultrasonic homogenizer Is mentioned. In any case, a strong shear stress is added to the softener in the fixing solution to dissolve or disperse the microemulsion.

  In addition, the fixing device 150 pressurizes the dissolved or swollen toner by a member (softener) that dissolves or swells at least a part of the resin 52 included in the toner after supplying the fixing liquid in the present embodiment to the toner. A pair of smoothing rollers (hard rollers) may be provided. By pressurizing the dissolved or swollen toner with a pair of smoothing rollers (hard rollers), the surface of the layer of the dissolved or swollen toner can be smoothed to give gloss to the toner. Furthermore, by fixing the dissolved or swollen toner into the base material 40, the fixability of the toner to the base material 40 can be improved.

An example of a specific formulation of the fixing solution is shown below.
<Diluted solvent>
Ion exchange water: 53 [wt%]
<Softener>
Diethoxyethyl succinate (Croda Croda DES): 10 [wt%]
Propylene carbonate: 20 [wt%]
<Thickener>
Propylene glycol: 10 [wt%]
<Foaming agent>
Palm fatty acid diethanolamide (1: 1) type (Matsumoto Yushi Marpon MM): 0.5 [wt%]
<Foaming agent>
Amine palmitate: 2.5 [wt%]
Myristic acid amine: 1.5 [wt%]
Amine stearate: 0.5 [wt%]
<Dispersant>
POE (20) lauryl sorbitan (Kao Rheodor TW-S120V): 1 [wt%]
Polyethylene glycol monostearate (Kao Emanon 3199): 1 [wt%]

Next, the metal toner 50 will be described.
As described above, the metal toner 50 includes the metal fine particles 51 and the resin 52.
Since the function of the metal fine particles 51 is to provide electrical continuity, a conductive one is required. Typical examples include silver and copper. In the case of using silver particles, the silver particles are preferably obtained by a chemical reduction method. The chemical reduction method is a method of obtaining silver by using a water-soluble silver salt such as silver nitrate as a raw material and using a reducing agent such as caustic alkali, ammonium salt or hydrazine. Silver precipitated by these reducing agents is washed, dried and pulverized to obtain silver powder. As the silver powder obtained by the chemical reduction method, sill coat AgC-BO, sill coat AgC-74, AgC-H, etc. are used for spherical ones, and AgC-B, AgC-BW, AgC-GS, etc. are used for flat ones (above) Fukuda Metal Co., Ltd.).

  The function of the resin 52 is required to be made of a material that is softened by the softening agent described above in order to bind the metal fine particles 51. In addition, if an image is to be formed by electrophotography using an electrostatic process, insulation and charge retention are required. Therefore, a charge control agent and a resin such as a binder resin are included. Typical examples include polystyrene resins, styrene-acrylic copolymer resins, and polyester resins that are also used in electrophotographic toners.

  The base material 40 is suitable for an electronic circuit board and is typically a glass epoxy board, a silicon board, or the like. However, since the electrophotographic method is used without heating, it can also be used for a flexible board. It may be a polyimide substrate or a pet film. It is possible to cope with further thin layer substrates. Needless to say, it may be weak against heat. The fact that it can be applied to the heat-sensitive substrate 40 is the greatest merit of the fixing device 150 of this embodiment. Because of this, it can be applied to the roll-to-roll process, and can be applied to the thin base material 40. Therefore, it is possible to generate more circuits from a roll with a constant radius, thus saving resources. Can also contribute.

  Further, in the case of the roll-to-roll process, the circuit pattern of the plate generated by screen printing or the like is repeatedly formed, but the electrophotographic method according to the present embodiment can form an image on demand. As a result, different circuit patterns can be printed continuously at high speed, which is very useful for high-speed production in a variety of small lot production. The ink jet method can also cope with a wide variety of small lots, but the speed is remarkably inferior to the electrophotographic method because a drying process is required.

  In the description so far, it is assumed that the metal toner 50 is in a dry powder form. At present, it is common to use dry toner in electrophotography such as copying machines. This is because the dry method is more advantageous in many aspects such as supply of supply, configuration of developing means, configuration of cleaning, maintenance, and load on service personnel. Since it can be made simple, the cost is low and maintenance is easy.

  On the other hand, since dry toner is supplied in powder form, there is a reality that it is difficult to use toner having a toner particle size of 2 [μm] or less as a safety standard problem. The fact that there is a limit in reducing the toner particle size means that there is a limit in increasing the definition of the image. Usually, a dry toner having a particle size of about 5 [μm] is often used. However, a fine line image of about 10 [μm] cannot be clearly displayed. Furthermore, since this embodiment relates to the formation of an electronic circuit, if the contact between the metal toners is weak, the resistance increases and the electronic circuit cannot be established.

  Therefore, for high-definition use for circuit formation, the metal toner 50 is used in a state where the particle size is reduced and dispersed in the liquid. In this way, even if the metal toner particle size is made small, there is no problem with safety standards, so that high-definition wiring is possible.

  Furthermore, since the handling becomes complicated when it is a liquid, it may be in a form in which toner is made into a paste and its fluidity is suppressed. This makes it possible to achieve both a reduction in toner particle size and handleability.

  Examples relating to the metal toner 50 dispersed in the liquid will be described below (for details, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-337799).

  The dispersion medium used in the metal toner 50 of the present embodiment preferably includes any one of aliphatic hydrocarbons, silicone oils, and polyalphaolefins.

  As the metal fine particles 51 used in the metal toner 50 of the present embodiment, silver is the main component, and the weight ratio of silver to the resin 52 in the liquid toner is 65/35 to 95/5 for silver / resin. The resin 52 uses two or more different resins, the first resin of the two or more different resins functions to include silver, and the second resin is adsorbed to the first resin. It is preferable to use a plurality of different resins that are dispersed in the dispersion medium.

  The weight ratio of the first resin to the second resin is preferably such that (first resin) / (second resin) is in the range of 95/5 to 50/50, One resin is preferably a polyolefin resin (a resin having at least one of a polyolefin resin, an epoxy resin, and a modified polyolefin resin), and the second resin is preferably an acrylic resin.

  In particular, the second resin preferably has a portion having a high affinity for the first resin, a portion having a high affinity for the dispersion medium, and a portion for holding a charge.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the metal fine particles 51 have silver as a main component and the silver is obtained by a chemical reduction method.

  As the first resin component, a highly insulating resin is preferably used. For example, as the highly insulating resin, at least one selected from polyolefin resins and modified polyolefin resin epoxy resins is preferably selected. .

  Examples of the polyolefin resin include an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an EVAFLEX series manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Polychemical Co., Ltd., for example, EVAFLEX 45X, Y.M. W, 150, 210, 220, 250, 260, 310, 360, 410, 420, 450, 460, 550, 560, etc., Ultrasen series manufactured by Toyo Soda Industry Co., Ltd., for example, Ultrasen 510X, 515F, 530 537, 537L, 537S, 525, 520F, 540F, 541, 541L, 625, 630, 630F, 682, 627, 631, 633, 680, 681, 635, 634, 710, 720, 722, 725, 751 750, 760, etc., Summit series manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., for example, Summit DD-10, HA-20, HC-10, HE-10, KA-10, KA-20, KA-31, Soagren series manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Industry Co., Ltd., such as KC10, for example, Soagren BH, CH, CI, H, etc., Soarex series, such as Soarex RBH, RCH, RDH, etc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dumiran series, such as Dumiran D-219, D-229, D-251S, C-2280, C-2270, C-1590, C-1570, C-1550, etc., Yukaron-Eva manufactured by Mitsubishi Yuka Co., Ltd., Elpacs manufactured by DuPont, USA, and the like.

  Other low molecular weight types (which belong to polyolefin resins and have a relatively low molecular weight) include high waxes 720P, 410P, 420P, 320P, 210P, 220P, 110P, and 4202E manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals.

  Examples of the modified polyolefin include those obtained by modifying a polyolefin resin and introducing a carboxyl group.

  For example, N polymer manufactured by Nippon Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Tonen CMP-HA series manufactured by Tonen Petrochemical Co., Ltd., MODIC manufactured by Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Seixen manufactured by Steel Manufacturing Chemical Co., Ltd., Mitsui Toatsu Ronply manufactured by Chemical Co., Ltd., Admer manufactured by Mitsui Petrochemical Co., Ltd., and other modified polyolefins, for example, copolymers of ethylene (α-olefins such as ethylene and propylene) and acrylic acid can be used. Examples thereof include Dow EAA copolymer manufactured by Dow Chemical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Yuka Co., Ltd. Yukaron EAA, Mitsui-DuPont Polychemical Co., Ltd. Nukurel, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. ACRlift, and the like.

  Furthermore, it is also possible to use a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, or a modified polyolefin such as a so-called ionomer resin obtained by further cross-linking them, such as Surlyn manufactured by DuPont USA, Mitsui DuPont Poly High Miran from Chemical Co., Cobalene Latex from Asahi Dow Co., Ltd., EVA1 Wax from BASF Co., and DPD-6169 from Nippon Unicar Co., Ltd. for copolymers of ethylene and acrylate Furthermore, polyolefin resins having a carboxyl group or a carbonyl group can be exemplified.

  In addition, polyester resins, styrene acrylic resins, epoxy resins, natural resins, styrene-butadiene copolymers, vinyl chloride resins, vinyl acetate resins, and the like can also be used.

  The second resin is preferably a resin having a portion having a high affinity for the first resin, a portion having a high affinity for the dispersion medium, and a portion for holding a charge.

  Specifically, the second resin in this embodiment is acrylic acid (R1 = H group, n = 0), methacrylic acid (R1 = CH3 group, n = 0), ethacrylic acid (R1 is an ethyl group, n = 0), methyl acrylate (R1 = H group, n = 1), methyl methacrylate (R1 = CH3 group, n = 1), methyl ethacrylate (R1 = ethyl group, n = 1), ethyl acrylate ( R1 = H group, n = 2), ethyl methacrylate (R1 = CH3 group, n = 2), ethyl ethacrylate (R1 = ethyl group, n = 2), propyl acrylate (R1 = H group, n = 3) ), Propyl methacrylate (isopropyl methacrylate) (R1 = CH3 group, n = 3), propyl ethacrylate (R1 = ethyl group, n = 3), butyl acrylate (R1 = H group, n = 4), methacryl Acid butyl (R1 = CH3 group, n 4), n = 0-4 (meth or eth) acrylate monomers such as butyl ethacrylate (R1 = ethyl group, n = 4), lauryl (meth or eta) acrylate, stearyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, cetyl methacrylate (Meth or eta) acrylate monomer having n = 6 or more (in other words, having a group having a carbon number of C6 or more).

  In the above-described (meth or eta) acrylate monomer, the (meth or eta) acrylate monomer in which n = 0 is an ionic monomer, and thus can be a portion that retains a charge after polymerization.

  Further, the (meth or eta) acrylate monomer in which n = 1 to 4 can be a part that is hardly soluble in the dispersion medium after polymerization and has a high affinity for the first resin.

  In addition, the (meth or eta) acrylate monomer having n = 6 or more can be a site having high affinity for the dispersion medium after polymerization.

  Specifically, R4 which is a group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may have a cyclic group is, for example, a group having a heteroatom, preferably a heteroatom having at least one of a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom. A group having two heteroatoms, for example, a group having a nitrogen atom as a heteroatom is an aliphatic group having a primary to tertiary amine, a finger-ring amino group, or a pyridine group, and a group having an oxygen atom Can include, for example, a group having (meth or eta) acrylate, an oxetane group (for example, an epoxy group, a glycidyl group), and the like, and R 4 having 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may further have a cyclic group. Examples of the group include a phenyl group, a toluyl group, a vinylphenyl group, and a phenylsulfone group.

  Specific examples of such compounds include unsaturated dicarboxylic acid compounds in which R3 and R4 are both carboxyl groups and R1 is an H group, a CH3 group or an ethyl group, such as itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid. R3 and R1 are both H groups (hydrogen groups), and R4 is a piperidyl group, a pyrrolidone group, a caprolactam group, a phenyl group, a toluyl group, a vinylphenyl group, a phenylsulfone group, vinylpiperidine, vinylpyrrolidone, Examples thereof include vinyl lactam compounds such as vinyl caprolactam and vinyl laurolactam, styrene, vinyl toluene, divinylbenzene, styrene sulfonic acid or a salt compound thereof, R1 is H group, CH3 group or ethyl group, and R3 is hydrogen. A primary to tertiary amine as R4 Specific examples of the aliphatic group having aminomethyl acrylate, aminomethyl methacrylate, aminoethyl acrylate, aminoethyl methacrylate, aminopropyl acrylate, aminopropyl methacrylate, dimethylaminomethyl acrylate, dimethylaminomethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, dimethylamino Ethyl methacrylate, diethylaminomethyl acrylate, diethylaminomethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl acrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminopropyl acrylate, diethylaminopropyl methacrylate, etc., R1 is H group, CH3 group or ethyl group, R3 is hydrogen group, R4 (meth or eta) acrylate Examples of such groups include ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, glycerin diacrylate, glycerin dimethacrylate, R1 is H group, CH3 group or ethyl group, R3 is hydrogen group, and R4 is oxetane. Examples of the group (for example, epoxy group and glycidyl group) include glycidyl acrylate (GA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA).

  These (meth or eta) acrylate monomers A and vinyl compounds are one by one, or one or more selected from the monomers A to B, and the selected monomers. A copolymer or a graft copolymer can be used as the second resin used in the toner of the exemplary embodiment.

  As described above, after polymerization of the monomer that is the raw material of the second resin, C6 or more carbon atoms such as lauryl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, and cetyl methacrylate are used as materials having high affinity for the dispersion medium. (Meth or eta) acrylate compounds having the following groups:

  In addition, examples of materials that are hardly soluble in the dispersion medium after polymerization and have a high affinity for the first resin include methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, styrene, and vinyl toluene.

  As the vinyl compound having an ionic group, a polymer of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid in which n = 0 in the (meth or eta) acrylate monomer A is a charge in the second resin used in the toner of this embodiment. It can be a part (part) that holds.

  In addition, monomers that contain polar groups that are easily included in vinyl monomers and that easily give negative charges include itaconic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, styrene sulfonic acid, and salts thereof. Examples thereof include dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl piperidine, vinyl lactam, vinyl pyridines and the like.

  The silver particles preferably used as the metal fine particles 51 used in the present embodiment are desirably obtained by a chemical reduction method. The chemical reduction method is a method of obtaining silver by using a water-soluble silver salt such as silver nitrate as a raw material and using a reducing agent such as caustic alkali, ammonium salt or hydrazine. Silver precipitated by these reducing agents is washed, dried and pulverized to obtain silver powder.

  As the silver powder obtained by the chemical reduction method, sill coat AgC-BO, sill coat AgC-74, AgC-H, etc. are used for spherical ones, and AgC-B, AgC-BW, AgC-GS, etc. are used for flat ones (above) Fukuda Metal Co., Ltd.).

  The above is the description of the typical configuration in the present invention, but the configuration included in the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the description so far, the case where the fixing liquid applied to the metal toner 50 is the foam-like fixing liquid 120 has been described, but the fixing liquid may not be in the form of a foam. A liquid fixing solution containing a softener component may be used. As a method for applying the fixing liquid to the metal toner image on the substrate 40, it is considered difficult to offset the metal toner 50 by the roller method, but an ink jet method, a mist spraying method, and the like are conceivable. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressurizing step may be performed after the fixing liquid is applied by providing a pressure roller pair 144 as a pressing means downstream of the fixing liquid applying apparatus as a pressing means. At this time, in order to prevent the metal toner from being offset to the pressure roller pair 144, it is desirable that the roller surfaces of the pressure roller pair 144 have high releasability.

  In addition, the image forming unit 300 that is the image forming unit of the present embodiment uses an electrophotographic method, but the image forming unit may use another method. For example, typical examples include screen printing and an ink jet method. Even for such image forming means, a circuit board can be created in a non-heating process if a metal toner or the like can be fixed to a base material with a fixer containing a softening agent, and heat is not used. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an effect that the environmental load can be reduced and a material that is weak against heat can be used as the base material, and the choices of the base material can be increased.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
A metal toner image formed on a base material such as the base material 40 using a metal toner such as the metal toner 50 in which the periphery of the metal fine particles such as the metal fine particles 51 is wrapped with a resin such as the resin 52 is formed on the base material. In a fixing device such as the fixing device 150 for fixing, a fixing solution applying device 140 for applying a fixing solution containing a softening agent that softens the resin by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin to the metal toner image It has fixing solution application means. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since the metal toner image can be fixed on the base material without heating the metal toner, the environmental load can be reduced or the base material can be used. You can increase your options.
(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), it has a foam-like fixer generating means such as a foam-like fixer generating apparatus 130 that uses the fixer as a foam-type fixer in which bubbles are dispersed. The foamy fixing solution produced from the toner is applied to the metal toner image by the fixing solution applying means. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the metal toner can be fixed without being offset.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), a pressure roller that pressurizes the metal toner image at the same time as or after applying the fixing liquid or the foamy fixing liquid to the metal toner image by the fixing liquid applying unit. It has pressurizing means such as a pair 144. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to further strengthen the contact between the metal fine particles in the metal toner and obtain a further low-resistance conductor.
(Aspect D)
An image forming unit such as an image forming unit 300 that forms a metal toner image on a substrate using a metal toner in which the periphery of the metal fine particles is wrapped with a resin, and a fixing unit that fixes the metal toner image on the substrate. In the image forming apparatus, the fixing device according to (Aspect A), (Aspect B), or (Aspect C) is used as the fixing unit. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to form a low-resistance circuit pattern with metal fine particles on the substrate.
(Aspect E)
In (Aspect D), the image forming unit includes an image carrier such as a photoreceptor 302, a latent image forming unit such as an exposure device 306 that forms a latent image on the image carrier, and a development including the metal toner. Developing means such as a developing device 301 for developing the latent image using an agent to form a metal toner image, and transfer means such as a transfer roller 305 for transferring the metal toner image from the image carrier onto the substrate. And have. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the metal toner pattern image can be provided by high-quality and high-speed plateless on-demand printing, so that it is possible to cope with the manufacture of a small variety of circuits. .
(Aspect F)
In (Embodiment E), the metal toner is in a dry powder state in the developer. According to this, as described for the above-described embodiment, it is cheap and easy to maintain with a simple configuration.
(Aspect G)
In (Embodiment E), the metal toner is dispersed in a liquid in the developer. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to form a high-definition metal toner pattern image.
(Aspect H)
In (Embodiment E), the metal toner is pasty in the developer. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to form a high-definition metal toner pattern image with a simple configuration.
(Aspect I)
In a fixing method for fixing a metal toner image formed on a base material using a metal toner in which metal fine particles are wrapped with a resin, at least a part of the resin is dissolved or swollen. A fixing solution applying step of applying a fixing solution containing a softening agent for softening the resin to the metal toner image; According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since it is not necessary to heat the metal toner image on the base material at the time of fixing, the environmental load can be reduced, and the choice of usable base materials can be selected. It can be increased.
(Aspect J)
An image forming method comprising: an image forming step of forming a metal toner image on a substrate using a metal toner in which the periphery of the metal fine particles is wrapped with a resin; and a fixing step of fixing the metal toner image on the substrate. The fixing method of (Aspect I) is used in the fixing step. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since thermal energy is not applied at the time of fixing, it is possible to reduce the environmental load and increase the choice of base materials. Moreover, it becomes possible to form a low-resistance circuit pattern with metal fine particles on the substrate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Base material 50 Metal toner 51 Metal fine particle 52 Resin 55 Metal toner layer 120 Foam fixer 122 Bubble 130 Foam fixer generator 131 Fixer container 132 Liquid fixer 133 Transport pump 134 Liquid transport pipe 135 Gas / liquid mixing part 136 Air port 137 Micropore sheet 138 Foam generation unit 139 Liquid supply port 140 Fixing liquid application device 141 Application roller 142 Liquid film thickness control blade 143 Pressure roller 144 Pressure roller pair 150 Fixing device 300 Image forming unit 301 Developing device 302 Photoconductor 303 Charging roller 304 Cleaning blade 305 Transfer roller 306 Exposure device

Japanese Patent No. 4113892 JP 2006-077314 A JP 2006-337799 A

Claims (10)

In a fixing device for fixing a metal toner image formed on a base material using a metal toner in which the periphery of metal fine particles is wrapped with a resin, on the base material,
A fixing device comprising: a fixing solution applying unit that applies a fixing solution containing a softening agent that softens the resin by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin to the metal toner image. The fixing device according to claim 1.
It has a fixing solution foaming means for making the fixing solution into a foamy fixing solution in which bubbles are dispersed in the solution,
The fixing device, wherein the foamy fixing solution generated by the foaming fixing solution generating unit is applied to the metal toner image by the fixing solution applying unit. The fixing device according to claim 1 or 2,
A fixing device, comprising: a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the metal toner image simultaneously with or after applying the fixing solution or the foamy fixing solution to the metal toner image by the fixing solution applying unit. Image forming means for forming a metal toner image on a substrate using a metal toner in which the periphery of the metal fine particles is wrapped with a resin;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing unit that fixes the metal toner image on the base material;
An image forming apparatus using the fixing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 as the fixing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
The image forming means develops the latent image using an image carrier, a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the image carrier, and a developer containing the metal toner to form a metal toner image. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit; and a transfer unit that transfers the metal toner image from the image carrier onto the substrate. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the metal toner is in a dry powder state in a developer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the metal toner is dispersed in a liquid in a developer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the metal toner is in a paste form in the developer. In a fixing method of fixing a metal toner image formed on a base material using a metal toner in which the periphery of the metal fine particles is wrapped with a resin, on the base material,
A fixing method comprising: a fixing solution applying step of applying a fixing solution containing a softening agent that softens the resin by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin to the metal toner image. An image forming step of forming a metal toner image on a substrate using a metal toner in which the periphery of the metal fine particles is wrapped with a resin;
A fixing step of fixing the metal toner image on the base material,
An image forming method using the fixing method according to claim 9 in the fixing step.

Images