JP2013190678A - Capsule toner, image forming method using the same and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a transfer efficiency, and to provide a toner which outputs an image having a good long-term reproducibility and a manufacturing method of the same, a full-color image forming method and a device, and a process cartridge.SOLUTION: A toner manufacturing method, in which toner particles are granulated in an aqueous medium, includes: a process A of producing a solution or a dispersion liquid of a toner material by dissolving or dispersing the toner material including at least binder resin or its precursor in an organic solvent; a process B of continuously emulsifying the solution or the dispersion liquid of the toner material in the aqueous medium; and a process C of producing toner particles by removing the organic solvent from an emulsion or the dispersion liquid. A nucleus part of the toner particle comprises an aggregate of polyester resin fine particles, and outside of it, there is a layer comprises acrylic resin fine particles. The particle diameter of the acrylic resin fine particle is 10 to 500 nm, molecular weight Mw is 10,000 to 2,000,000, and Tg is within the range of 40 to 100°C. The process B includes the addition of a shear rate of 10 to 30 m/sec to a solution to be emulsified.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner, a manufacturing method thereof, an image forming method using the toner, and a process cartridge.

  In recent years, in the field of electrophotographic image forming technology, development competition of color image forming apparatuses capable of high-speed image formation and high image quality has intensified. For this reason, in order to obtain a full-color image at a high speed, a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive members are arranged in series in the image forming method, and an image for each color component is formed on each electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is superimposed on the intermediate transfer member. Many so-called tandem systems that collectively transfer onto a recording material have been adopted (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). When an intermediate transfer member is used, if background stains occur on the electrophotographic photosensitive member during development, there is an effect of preventing the background stains from being transferred directly to a recording material such as paper. The system to be used passes through two transfer processes: a transfer process from an electrophotographic photosensitive member to an intermediate transfer body (primary transfer) and a transfer process to obtain a final image from the intermediate transfer body (secondary transfer). Therefore, transfer efficiency is lowered.

  On the other hand, in addition to the above problems, there is a demand for higher-quality full-color image formation, and developers have been designed for higher image quality. In order to meet the demand for higher image quality, particularly full-color image quality, toners are increasingly becoming smaller in particle size and are being studied to faithfully reproduce latent images. To reduce the particle size, a toner manufacturing method using a polymerization method has been proposed as a means for controlling the toner to have a desired toner shape and surface structure. (For example, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4). In the case of the polymerization toner, in addition to controlling the particle size of the toner particles, shape control is possible. In addition, by reducing the particle size together with this, the reproducibility of dots and fine lines can be improved, the pile height (image layer thickness) can be lowered, and higher image quality can be expected.

However, when a small particle size toner is used, the non-electrostatic adhesion force between the toner particles and the electrophotographic photosensitive member or between the toner particles and the intermediate transfer member is increased, so that the transfer efficiency is likely to further decrease.
For this reason, when a small-diameter toner is used in a high-speed full-color image forming apparatus, the transfer efficiency is particularly lowered in the secondary transfer. The reason for this is that non-electrostatic adhesion to the intermediate transfer member per toner particle is increasing due to the reduction in toner particle size, and in the secondary transfer, a plurality of color toners are superimposed. This is because the time during which the toner particles are subjected to the transfer electric field at the nip portion of the secondary transfer is shortened as the speed is increased, which makes it difficult to transfer the toner particles.

  In order to cope with the above problem, it is conceivable to further increase the transfer electric field of the secondary transfer. However, if the transfer electric field is excessively increased, the transfer efficiency is lowered and there is a limit. In addition, it is conceivable to increase the time during which the toner particles are subjected to the transfer electric field by increasing the width of the nip portion of the secondary transfer. However, in the case of a contact-type voltage application method such as a bias roller, the nip width is increased. The only way to achieve this is to either increase the contact pressure of the bias roller or increase the roller diameter of the bias roller. Increasing the contact pressure has a limit due to the relationship with the image quality, and increasing the roller diameter has a limit due to the relationship with the downsizing of the apparatus. Further, in the case of a non-contact voltage application method using a charger or the like, there is a limit because the nip width of secondary transfer must be increased by increasing the number of chargers. For this reason, it can be said that it is practically impossible to increase the nip width until a transfer efficiency higher than this is obtained, particularly in a high-speed machine.

  In contrast, as a means for reducing the non-electrostatic adhesion between the toner particles and the electrophotographic photosensitive member, or between the toner particles and the intermediate transfer member, the type and amount of the additive are adjusted (especially addition with a large particle size). Have been proposed. (For example, Patent Document 5 and Patent Document 6). By this method, the toner particles can obtain the effect of reducing the non-electrostatic adhesion force and improve the transfer efficiency, and also can obtain the effects of improving the development stability and cleaning.

  Initially, the toner particles described above can improve the transfer efficiency of the image forming apparatus. However, if the toner is subjected to mechanical stress such as stirring for a long time in the developing device of the image forming apparatus, the additive is buried in the toner base, and the effect of reducing the adhesive force by the additive is not exhibited, The transfer efficiency of the image forming apparatus is reduced. Particularly in the case of a high-speed machine, since the stirring in the developing device is intense, this mechanical stress is large, and the embedding of the additive in the toner base is easily accelerated. For this reason, it is assumed that transfer efficiency is lowered at a relatively early stage.

  For this reason, in order to maintain high transfer efficiency stably over a long period of time on a high-speed machine, the surface properties of the toner must be such that the additive can be present on the surface without being embedded in the toner base even under mechanical stress. It is necessary to control (mechanical strength). Furthermore, if the surface property (mechanical strength) of the toner is too strong (hard), the toner melts during fixing, or in the case of a toner containing a release agent such as wax, a fixing roller during fixing. It is also necessary to pay attention to the side effect that the release of the release agent to the ink becomes insufficient and the fixing property deteriorates.

  The object of the present invention is based on the above problems, and in a high-speed full-color image forming method, a toner that improves transfer efficiency, eliminates image defects during each transfer, and outputs a long-term reproducible image, and a method for manufacturing the same, And a full-color image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge using the toner.

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have completed the following invention.
[1] A toner manufacturing method in which toner particles are granulated in an aqueous medium, and a toner material containing at least a binder resin or its precursor is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent to prepare a solution or dispersion of the toner material. A step A of continuously emulsifying a solution or dispersion of the toner material in an aqueous medium, and a step C of removing an organic solvent from the emulsion or dispersion to prepare toner particles. The core portion is made of an aggregate of polyester resin fine particles, and has a layer made of acrylic resin fine particles on the outside. The acrylic resin fine particles have a particle size of 10 to 500 nm and a molecular weight Mw of 10,000 to 2,000. , 000, and Tg within the range of 40 to 100 ° C., and the step B includes applying a shear rate of 10 to 30 m / sec to the emulsion to be emulsified. Method for producing a toner for electrophotography, wherein.
[2] The toner according to [1], wherein the acrylic resin fine particles are fine particles of a crosslinked resin or an uncrosslinked resin containing an acrylic ester polymer or a methacrylic ester polymer.
[3] The method for producing a toner according to [1] or [2], wherein the toner material includes an active hydrogen group-containing compound and a modified polyester resin capable of reacting with the compound.
[4] A method for producing an electrophotographic toner comprising a step B of continuously emulsifying a solution or dispersion of the toner material in an aqueous medium, wherein the step B includes the dissolution or dispersion of the toner material and an aqueous medium. Including a process step B1 for applying centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid and a process step B2 for applying shear force to the emulsified liquid. The process B1 for applying centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid is performed along the inner wall of the pipe. This is a spiral flow that gives centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid, gathers small particles in the vicinity of the center of the pipe, coalesces the small particles, and sends them to step B2 which gives shear force to the emulsified liquid The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the toner is for electrophotography.
[5] The pipe for applying a centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid has a spiral protrusion on the inner wall, and the pipe is incorporated into a part or all of the pipe in the continuous emulsifying device, and a spiral flow is formed in the pipe. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to the above item [4], wherein a mechanism for generating the toner is incorporated in the emulsifying apparatus.
[6] A mechanism (referred to as an axial flow generation mechanism) that generates an axial flow that applies a shearing force and has a rotating part (referred to as an axial flow generation mechanism) is disposed after the position where the mechanism that applies centrifugal force is provided. The method for producing a toner for electrophotography according to the item [4] or [5], wherein the mechanism is a pipeline homomixer.
The present invention also includes “electrophotographic toner production method”, “electrophotographic toner”, “image forming apparatus”, and “process cartridge” described in the following items [7] to [15].
[7] An electrophotographic toner produced by the production method according to any one of [1] to [6].
[8] The toner according to item [7], wherein the acrylic resin fine particles have an acid value in the range of 0 to 5 mgKOH / g.
[9] The toner according to [7] or [8], wherein the polyester resin fine particles have a molecular weight Mw in the range of 1,000 to 200,000.
[10] The toner according to any one of [7] to [9], wherein the polyester resin fine particles have a Tg in the range of 10 to 80 ° C.
[11] A charging step of charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member by a charging unit, an exposure step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member by an exposing unit, and the electrostatic latent image formed A developing step of forming a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member by a developing means containing toner, and a primary transfer step of transferring the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto the intermediate transfer member by a primary transfer unit; A secondary transfer step of transferring the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto a recording material by a secondary transfer means; and a fixing means including a heat and pressure fixing member for transferring the toner image transferred onto the recording material. A fixing process for fixing on the recording material, and a transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member having the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member by the primary transfer unit is cleaned by a cleaning unit. And a cleaning step, a full color image forming method, wherein the toner in the developing step is a toner according to any one of [7], wherein to [10], wherein.
[12] The linear velocity of transferring the toner image onto the recording material in the secondary transfer step is 100 to 1000 mm / sec, and the transfer time at the nip portion of the secondary transfer means is 0.5 to 60 msec. The full-color image forming method according to item [11], wherein
[13] An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member, and formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Developing means for converting the electrostatic latent image formed into a toner image with toner; transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto a recording material with or without an intermediate transfer member; A fixing unit fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording material onto the recording material by a heat and pressure fixing member; and an electrophotographic image after the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member or the recording material by the transfer unit. At least the electrophotographic photoreceptor and any one of the items [7] to [10] among the respective means in an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning means for cleaning the transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor. A process cartridge, wherein a developing means having a toner according were detachable to the image forming apparatus main body integrally supported to term.
[14] The process cartridge according to [13], further including at least one unit selected from the charging unit, the transfer unit, and the cleaning unit.
[15] Charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member by charging means, exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member charged by the charging means by selective exposure, and the electrostatic latent image Developing means for forming a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member formed with toner by a developer containing toner, and primary transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto an intermediate transfer member A secondary transfer means for transferring the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer body onto a recording material; a fixing means including a heat and pressure fixing member for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording material; Cleaning means for cleaning the transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member obtained by transferring the toner image onto the intermediate transfer body by the primary transfer means, and the developing means includes the [7] To [10] the full-color image forming apparatus, characterized in that for mounting the developer containing a toner according to any one of claims.

  According to the present invention, in electrophotographic image formation, particularly in high-speed full-color image formation, a toner that improves transfer efficiency, eliminates image defects at the time of each transfer, and outputs a long-term reproducible image, and its manufacturing method And an image forming apparatus and an image forming method using the toner, in particular, a full-color image forming apparatus and an image forming method, and a process cartridge can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the toner of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of an example of a contact-type roller charging device. It is a schematic block diagram of an example of a contact-type brush charging device. It is a schematic block diagram of an example of a developing device. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a fixing device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a layer configuration of a fixing belt. It is a schematic block diagram of an example of the process ridge of this invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the other example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of an apparatus suitable for performing the step B of continuously emulsifying a toner material dissolved or dispersed liquid in an aqueous medium according to the present invention.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings as needed. Note that it is easy for a person skilled in the art to make other embodiments by appropriately changing or correcting the above-described aspects of the present invention, and these changes and modifications are included in the present invention. The description is an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention.

In the toner of the present invention, a toner material containing at least a binder resin or a binder resin precursor and a colorant is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent to prepare a toner material solution or dispersion, and the toner material is dissolved or dispersed. The liquid is added to an aqueous medium and emulsified or dispersed to prepare an emulsified or dispersed liquid. After removing the organic solvent from the emulsified or dispersed liquid to form toner particles, the toner particles are dispersed with ion-exchanged water. The toner is obtained by preparing a dispersion and heat-treating the dispersion with stirring. The aqueous medium preferably contains anionic styrene / acrylic resin fine particles having an average particle diameter of 5 to 50 nm and a surfactant, preferably an anionic surfactant. The manufactured toner preferably has a weight average particle diameter of 1 to 6 μm.
In the step of preparing the emulsification or dispersion, acrylic resin fine particles having an average particle size of 10 to 500 nm are added to the aqueous medium. The acrylic resin fine particles are used as an emulsion and contain C, H, N, and O as elements. The acrylic resin fine particles may be added to the aqueous medium before or after the addition of the anionic styrene / acrylic resin fine particles or the anionic surfactant, or after the toner material is further dissolved or dispersed in the aqueous medium. Alternatively, the aqueous medium may be emulsified by stirring or the like or after emulsification.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the toner obtained as described above has acrylic resin fine particles adhering to the surface of the toner particle main body centered on a toner material mainly composed of a colorant and a binder resin. Styrene / acrylic resin fine particles are adhered to the surface. However, since the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles have a small particle size, they are buried in the toner particle main body or adhered between the toner particle main body and the acrylic resin fine particles. For this reason, if the toner is not observed very finely, the toner appears to have acrylic resin fine particles attached to the surface of the toner particle body. The average particle diameter of the toner is adjusted by emulsification or dispersion conditions such as stirring of the aqueous medium in the emulsification step. The acid value of each resin fine particle is preferably styrene / acrylic resin fine particle> polyester resin fine particle> acrylic resin fine particle.

  Usually, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when a small particle size toner is used, the non-electrostatic adhesion force between the toner particles and the electrophotographic photosensitive member or between the toner particles and the intermediate transfer member is increased. The transfer efficiency is further reduced. In particular, when a small-diameter toner is used in a high-speed machine, non-electrostatic adhesion to the intermediate transfer member is increased by reducing the particle diameter of the toner, and the transfer nip portion, It is known that the transfer efficiency in the secondary transfer is significantly reduced because the time during which the toner particles are subjected to the transfer electric field in the nip portion of the secondary transfer is shortened. However, in the toner of the present invention, the large particle size (acrylic resin particle) adheres to the surface of the toner particle and the large particle size particle has a certain degree of hardness. Even when the non-electrostatic adhesion force is reduced and the transfer time is shortened as in a high-speed machine, sufficient transfer efficiency can be obtained without hindering the fixing property. Furthermore, since the large particle size fine particles have sufficient hardness, the large particle size particles adhering to the surface of the toner particles can be adhered to the toner particles even when mechanical stress with time is large as in a high-speed machine. Since it can continue to exist without being buried in it, it is possible to maintain sufficient transfer efficiency even in the long term. At the same time, it is possible to prevent the external additive from adhering to the toner particle surface from being buried.

  According to this production method, the acrylic resin fine particles are added before or after emulsification. At this timing, since the organic solvent is present in the toner composition droplets, the acrylic resin particles adhere to the surface of the droplets after adhering to the surface of the droplets to some extent. It is possible to realize a desirable form. In that case, it is preferable that the zeta potential difference between the acrylic resin fine particles and the polyester resin fine particles is larger than the zeta potential difference between the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles and the polyester resin fine particles.

  The anionic styrene / acrylic resin fine particles adhere to the surface of the toner particles, and are fused and fused to form a relatively hard surface. Therefore, there is an effect of preventing the embedding and movement of the adhered and fixed acrylic resin fine particles due to mechanical stress. In addition, since the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles have an anionic property, they have an effect of adsorbing to the droplets containing the toner material and suppressing coalescence of the droplets, and are important for controlling the particle size distribution of the toner. Furthermore, negative chargeability of the toner can be given. In order to exert these effects, the anionic styrene / acrylic resin fine particles are preferably made smaller than the acrylic resin fine particles and the average particle diameter is 5 to 50 nm.

  In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the particle diameter of the toner is preferably controlled so that the weight average particle diameter is 1 to 6 μm. In particular, the weight average particle diameter of the toner is more preferably 2 to 5 μm. If it is smaller than 1 μm, toner dust is likely to occur in primary transfer and secondary transfer. Conversely, if it is larger than 6 μm, dot reproducibility becomes insufficient, and the graininess of the halftone portion also deteriorates. A high-definition image cannot be obtained.

  It is preferable that at least a large fine particle (acrylic resin fine particle) having a primary average particle size of 10 to 500 nm is attached and solidified on the surface of the toner, and particularly a large particle of 100 to 400 nm is attached and solidified. It is preferable. As a result, the non-electrostatic adhesion force of the toner particles can be reduced by the spacer effect, and even when the mechanical stress with the passage of time is large as in a high-speed machine, the static particles are buried by the surface of the toner. It is possible to suppress an increase in the electric adhesion force, and it is possible to maintain a sufficient transfer efficiency over a long period. In particular, the toner produced by the production method of the present invention is very effective when it has a primary transfer process, a secondary transfer process, and two transfer processes in the intermediate transfer system. The effect can be exerted particularly greatly in a relatively high-speed image forming process (transfer linear speed of 300 to 1000 mm / sec, transfer time at the secondary nip portion of 0.5 to 20 msec). In a process with a lower linear speed and a shorter secondary transfer time than this, the difference between the present invention and a toner having no acrylic resin fine particles on the surface is not large. Further, when the speed is higher than this, the transfer efficiency tends to be prevented from being lowered.

  When the primary average particle diameter of the acrylic resin fine particles is smaller than 10 nm, the spacer effect cannot be sufficiently obtained, so that the non-electrostatic adhesion force of the toner particles cannot be reduced. When the mechanical stress with time is large, the acrylic resin fine particles and the external additive are easily buried in the toner surface, and there is a possibility that sufficient transfer efficiency cannot be maintained for a long time. Further, when the primary average particle diameter of the acrylic resin fine particles is larger than 500 nm, the fluidity of the toner is deteriorated and the uniform transferability may be hindered.

In general, the toner filled in the developing machine is attached to the toner particles mainly by mechanical stress inside the developing machine because the resin particles on the toner surface are embedded in the toner or moved to the recesses on the surface of the toner particle main body. The effect of reducing the wearing force is lost. Further, when the external additive is exposed to the same stress, it is buried inside the toner, and the adhesion force of the toner is increased.
However, the toner according to the present invention has relatively large acrylic resin fine particles and is difficult to be embedded in the toner particle body. In particular, the acrylic resin fine particles are preferably crosslinked resin fine particles containing an acrylate polymer or a methacrylic acid ester polymer. Since such acrylic resin fine particles are cross-linked and relatively hard, they do not deform on the surface of the toner particles due to mechanical stress in the developing device, and also maintain the spacer effect, thereby preventing the external additive from being buried. It is more suitable for maintaining the adhesion force of.

  The binder resin is preferably a polyester resin. It is important that the binder resin is incompatible with the acrylic resin fine particles, and the polyester resin is mostly used when the acrylic resin fine particles are fine particles of a crosslinked resin containing an acrylate polymer or a methacrylate polymer. There is no compatibility. In the emulsification step, when the acrylic resin fine particles are added before or after the emulsification, the organic resin is present in the droplets of the toner material, so that the acrylic resin fine particles may dissolve after adhering to the droplet surface. When the resin component constituting the toner is a polyester resin, and the acrylic resin fine particles are fine particles of a crosslinked resin containing an acrylate polymer or a methacrylic ester polymer, the acrylic resin fine particles are It exists in a state of adhering without being compatible with the droplets of the toner material. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a desirable form in which the ink enters to some extent from the surface of the droplet and is adhered and fixed to the toner surface after the organic solvent is removed. Compatibilized or incompatible is determined by dissolving the unmodified binder resin in a 50% weight ratio with respect to the organic solvent, and adding various solutions to the solution. If not separated, it is judged visually that it is compatible.

The acrylic resin fine particles preferably have a property of forming aggregates in an aqueous medium containing an anionic surfactant. In the production method of the present invention, when the acrylic resin fine particles are added before or after emulsification in the emulsification step, it is not preferable that the acrylic resin fine particles exist independently and stably without adhering to the droplets of the toner material. Since the acrylic resin fine particles have the property of forming aggregates in an aqueous medium containing an anionic surfactant, the resin fine particles present on the aqueous phase side after emulsification or after emulsification are deposited on the droplet surface of the toner material. It can move and easily adhere to the droplet surface of the toner material. That is, in an aqueous medium containing an anionic surfactant, the acrylic resin fine particles are unstable and usually aggregate, and if there is a droplet of toner material, the attractive force with the droplet of toner material is strong. In some cases, a complex of different particles is formed.
Anionic surfactants include fatty acid salts, alkyl sulfate salts, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl diaryl ether disulfonates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl phosphates, naphthalene sulfonate formalin condensates, polyoxyethylene Examples thereof include alkyl phosphate ester salts and glyceryl borate fatty acid esters.

  The resulting composite exhibits a strong adhesive force as it is, but after emulsification the resin fine particles move to the surface of the toner material droplets and adhere to the surface of the toner material droplets, and then become stronger by a heating process. Can be fixed on the toner surface. The fixing temperature is preferably higher than the glass transition point of the resin used for the toner.

The toner material preferably contains an active hydrogen group-containing compound as a binder resin precursor and a modified polyester resin capable of reacting with the compound. By including an active hydrogen group-containing compound and a modified polyester resin capable of reacting with the compound in the droplets of the toner material, the mechanical strength of the resulting toner is increased and the embedding of acrylic resin fine particles and external additives is suppressed. Can do. When the active hydrogen group-containing compound has a cationic polarity, the acrylic resin fine particles can be attracted electrostatically. Further, the fluidity of the toner during heat fixing can be adjusted, and the fixing temperature range can be widened.
The addition amount of the acrylic resin fine particles is preferably 0.5 to 5% by mass, particularly preferably 1 to 4% by mass with respect to 100% by mass of the toner. When the added ratio is less than 0.5% by mass, the spacer effect cannot be sufficiently obtained, so the non-electrostatic adhesion force of the toner particles cannot be reduced, and the amount is more than 5% by mass. In such a case, the fluidity of the toner is deteriorated, the uniform transferability is hindered, the fine particles cannot be sufficiently fixed to the toner and are easily detached, and the toner adheres to the carrier or the photoconductor to contaminate the photoconductor. There is a risk.

The toner has a surface hardness value of 1 to 3 GPa, particularly 1.2 to 2.6 GPa in the nano-indentation method, and a surface hardness value of 40 in the micro-indentation method. It is preferable that it is -120N / mm < ² >, especially 60-110N / mm < ² >.
The nanoindentation method represents the hardness of the outermost surface of the toner in order to measure microscopic hardness, and the microindentation method represents the hardness of the entire toner in order to measure macroscopic hardness. Therefore, the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface by the nanoindentation method is an index representing the difficulty of embedding the fine particles added to the toner surface.

  If the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface in the nanoindentation method is smaller than 1 GPa, the fine particles added to the toner surface may be easily buried when subjected to mechanical stress. If the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface in the nano-indentation method is larger than 3 GPa, the fine particles added to the toner surface are difficult to be buried even if the toner is subjected to mechanical stress, but the toner surface is too hard. In fixing, the toner may not be sufficiently melted, and the fixability may be deteriorated. Further, if the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface in the nano-indentation method is 1 to 3 GPa, it is not certain whether the toner 1 particle surface has an appropriate tackiness or an appropriate elasticity. Even when no large particle size fine particles are added, the non-electrostatic adhesion of toner particles tends to be reduced. This characteristic and the spacer effect due to the large particle size fine particles can be combined to further reduce the non-electrostatic adhesion force of the toner particles. In addition, when the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface in the nano-indentation method is other than 1 to 3 GPa, the tendency of reducing the non-electrostatic adhesion force of the toner particles when the large particle size fine particles are not added is can not see.

Further, the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface in the microindentation method is an index representing the difficulty of melting in fixing the toner. When the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface in the microindentation method is smaller than 40 N / mm ² , the toner 1 particle as a whole is soft and has good fixing properties. When the toner is easily deformed due to the transfer pressure of the toner, the image quality is disturbed, or when a release agent such as WAX is contained in the toner particles, the release agent is precipitated and spent on the carrier or the photoreceptor. There is a risk of contamination. If the value of the hardness of the toner 1 particle surface in the microindentation method is larger than 120 N / mm ² , the toner 1 particle as a whole is hard, so even if the toner is subjected to mechanical stress, the fine particles added to the toner surface Although it is difficult to embed, the toner surface is too hard, so that the toner cannot be sufficiently melted during fixing, and the fixability may be deteriorated.

  As described above, in order to suppress the embedding of the acrylic fine particles and external additives added to the toner surface due to mechanical stress and the deterioration of the fixing property, the toner is hardened on the surface of the toner 1 particle by the nanoindentation method. It is preferable to control so as to satisfy both the range of the thickness value and the range of the hardness value of the toner 1 particle surface in the microindentation method. In order to satisfy both ranges of values, it is preferable that the toner is provided with a spacer portion made of acrylic resin fine particles on the outermost surface, and the toner particle body is relatively soft to achieve functional separation.

  The average circularity of the toner according to the present invention is preferably from 0.950 to 0.990. When the average circularity is lower than 0.950, the image uniformity during development is deteriorated, or the average circularity from the electrophotographic photoreceptor is intermediate. The toner transfer efficiency from the transfer body or intermediate transfer body to the recording material is lowered, and uniform transfer cannot be obtained. The toner according to the production method of the present invention is prepared by emulsification in an aqueous medium. In particular, in order to obtain a shape having a smaller particle diameter and an average circularity in the above range in a color toner. It is effective.

  In the present invention, the ratio (Dw / Dn) of the weight average particle diameter (Dw) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) of the toner particles is preferably 1.30 or less, and preferably 1.00 to 1.30. More preferred. When the ratio of the weight average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (Dw / Dn) is less than 1.00, in the two-component developer, the toner is fused to the surface of the carrier during long-term agitation in the developing device, and the carrier It tends to lead to a decrease in charging ability and deterioration in cleaning performance. In the case of a one-component developer, toner filming on the developing roller and toner fusion to a member such as a blade are likely to occur because the toner is thinned. Further, when Dw / Dn exceeds 1.30, it becomes difficult to obtain a high-resolution and high-quality image, and when the balance of the toner in the developer is performed, the fluctuation of the toner particle diameter increases. Sometimes.

Further, when the ratio of the weight average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (Dw / Dn) of the toner is 1.00 to 1.30, any of storage stability, low-temperature fixability, and hot offset resistance can be obtained. Also tends to be an excellent toner. In particular, when used in a full-color copying machine, the glossiness of the image is excellent.
Even if the toner balance over a long period of time is achieved with a two-component developer, the toner particle diameter in the developer is less likely to fluctuate, and good and stable developability can be obtained even with long-term agitation in the developing device. With toner balance, the fluctuation of the toner particle size is reduced, and there is no toner filming on the developing roller or toner fusion to a member such as a blade for thinning the toner. Good and stable developability can be obtained even during long-term use (stirring) of the apparatus, and high-quality images can be obtained.

The toner according to the present invention preferably has a BET specific surface area of 0.5 m ² / g to 4.0 m ² / g, particularly preferably 0.5 m ² / g to 2.0 m ² / g. When the BET specific surface area is smaller than 0.5 m ² / g, the entire surface of the toner particles is densely covered, and the styrene / acryl resin fine particles adhere to the binder resin component inside the toner particles and the fixing paper. And the minimum fixing temperature is increased. Further, the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles inhibit the exudation of the wax, and the effect of releasing the wax cannot be obtained, and the occurrence of offset is observed. When the BET specific surface area is larger than 4.0 m ² / g, the organic fine particles remaining on the surface of the toner particles largely protrude as convex portions, or the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles remain as a multilayer in a rough state. Styrene / acrylic resin fine particles inhibit the adhesion between the binder resin component inside the toner particles and the fixing paper, and an increase in the minimum fixing temperature is observed. Further, the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles inhibit the exudation of the wax, and the effect of releasing the wax cannot be obtained, and the occurrence of offset is observed. Further, the additive is raised, and the image quality is likely to be affected by the unevenness of the surface.

  The particle size of the carrier used together with the toner according to the present invention is preferably 15 to 40 μm in weight average particle size, and when it is smaller than 15 μm, the carrier is likely to be transferred together with the carrier in the transfer step. On the other hand, if it is larger than 40 μm, carrier adhesion is unlikely to occur, but if the toner concentration is increased in order to obtain a high image density, there is a possibility that scumming is likely to occur. In addition, when the dot diameter of the latent image is small, the variation in dot reproducibility increases, and the graininess of the highlight portion may be deteriorated.

The full color image forming method of the present invention comprises a charging step of charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a charging unit, an exposure step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member with an exposing unit, and the electrostatic A developing step of forming a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member on which the latent image is formed by a developing unit including toner, and a toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member by a primary transfer unit. A primary transfer step, a secondary transfer step of transferring a toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto a recording material by a secondary transfer means, and heat and pressure fixing of the toner image transferred onto the recording material. A fixing step of fixing on a recording material by a fixing means including a member, and cleaning of residual toner adhering to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member having the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member by the primary transfer means. And a cleaning step of cleaning the stage.
The toner in the developing process is the above-described toner of the present invention. In this full-color image forming method, the linear speed of transfer of the toner image to the recording material in the secondary transfer step, the so-called printing speed is 100 to 1000 mm / sec, and the transfer time at the nip portion of the secondary transfer means is 0. It is preferably 5 to 60 msec.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus for carrying out the full color image forming method of the present invention may be a tandem type having a plurality of sets of electrophotographic photosensitive members, charging means, exposure means, developing means, primary transfer means, and cleaning means. preferable. In a so-called tandem type in which a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive members are arranged and developed one color at a time of each rotation, a latent image forming process and a developing / transfer process are performed for each color to form a toner image of each color. Therefore, the difference between the single-color image forming speed and the full-color image forming speed is small, and there is an advantage that it can cope with high-speed printing. However, since each color toner image is formed on a separate electrophotographic photosensitive member and each color toner layer is stacked (color overlap) to form a full color image, the chargeability between the toner particles of each color is different. If the characteristics are varied, a difference occurs in the amount of toner developed by toner particles of each color, and the change in the hue of the secondary color due to color superposition is increased, resulting in a decrease in color reproducibility.

  In the toner used in the tandem type image forming method, the amount of developing toner for controlling the balance of each color is stabilized (there is no variation among the toner particles of each color), and the toner between the toner particles of each color is electronic. The adhesion to the photographic photosensitive member and the recording material is required to be uniform. In this regard, the toner of the present invention is suitable.

  The charging means preferably applies at least a DC voltage on which an alternating voltage is superimposed. By applying a DC voltage superimposed with an alternating voltage, the surface voltage of the electrophotographic photosensitive member can be stabilized to a desired value compared to the case where only a DC voltage is applied. It becomes. Further, the charging means preferably performs charging by bringing a charging member into contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member and applying a voltage to the charging member. By further charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a charging member and applying a voltage to the charging member to perform charging, in particular, the effect of uniform charging obtained by applying a DC voltage superimposed with an alternating voltage can be further improved. Is possible.

  The fixing means is composed of a magnetic metal and heated by electromagnetic induction, is stretched between the fixing roller arranged in parallel with the heating roller, the heating roller and the fixing roller, and is heated by the heating roller. An endless belt-shaped toner heating medium (heating belt) rotated by these rollers is pressed against the fixing roller via the heating belt and is rotated in the forward direction with respect to the heating belt to form a fixing nip portion. By having the pressure roller, the temperature of the fixing belt rises in a short time, and stable temperature control becomes possible. Even when a recording material having a rough surface is used, the fixing belt acts in a state corresponding to the surface of the transfer paper to some extent at the time of fixing, so that sufficient fixing property can be obtained.

  The fixing means is preferably oilless or a small amount of oil application type. In order to achieve this, it is preferable to fix the toner particles containing a release agent (WAX) and further finely dispersed in the toner particles. In the case where the release agent is easily leached during fixing due to the toner in which the release agent is dispersed in a small amount in the toner particles, and the oil application effect is reduced in the oil-less fixing device or in the trace amount oil application fixing device. Also, the transfer of toner to the belt side can be suppressed. In order for the release agent to exist in a dispersed state in the toner particles, it is preferable that the release agent and the binder resin are not compatible. In order to finely disperse the release agent in the toner particles, for example, there is a method of using a shearing force of kneading at the time of toner production. The dispersion state of the release agent can be determined by observing a thin film slice of toner particles with a TEM. The dispersion diameter of the release agent is preferably small, but if it is too small, there are cases where the seepage during fixing is insufficient. Therefore, if the release agent can be confirmed at a magnification of 10,000, it is determined that the release agent exists in a dispersed state. If the size is 10,000 times and the release agent cannot be confirmed, even if finely dispersed, there is a case where the bleeding at the time of fixing is insufficient.

[Toner characteristics measurement method]
<Weight average particle diameter (Dw), volume average particle diameter (Dv), and number average particle diameter (Dn)>
The weight average particle diameter (Dw), volume average particle diameter (Dv), and number average particle diameter (Dn) of the toner were measured using a particle size measuring device (“Multisizer III”, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) with an aperture diameter of 100 μm. It measured and analyzed with the analysis software (Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3 Version3.51). Specifically, 0.5 ml of 10 wt% surfactant (alkylbenzene sulfonate Neogen SC-A; Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku) was added to a glass 100 ml beaker, 0.5 g of each toner was added, and the mixture was mixed with a micropartel. Then, 80 ml of ion exchange water was added. The obtained dispersion was subjected to a dispersion treatment for 10 minutes with an ultrasonic disperser (W-113MK-II, manufactured by Honda Electronics Co., Ltd.). The dispersion was measured using the Multisizer III and Isoton III (manufactured by Beckman Coulter) as the measurement solution. In the measurement, the toner sample dispersion was dropped so that the concentration indicated by the apparatus was 8 ± 2%. In this measurement method, it is important that the concentration is 8 ± 2% from the viewpoint of the reproducibility of the particle size. Within this concentration range, no error occurs in the particle size.

<Average circularity>
The average circularity of the toner is defined by the average circularity SR = (peripheral length of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter length of the particle projection image) × 100%. Measurement was performed using a flow type particle image analyzer (“FPIA-2100”; manufactured by Sysmex Corporation), and analysis was performed using analysis software (FPIA-2100 Data Processing Program for FPIA version 00-10). Specifically, 0.1 to 0.5 ml of 10 wt% surfactant (alkylbenzene sulfonate Neogen SC-A; Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku) is added to a glass 100 ml beaker, and each toner 0.1 to 0 is added. 0.5 g was added and stirred with a microspatel, and then 80 ml of ion-exchanged water was added. The obtained dispersion was subjected to a dispersion treatment for 3 minutes with an ultrasonic disperser (manufactured by Honda Electronics Co., Ltd.). The shape and distribution of the toner were measured using the FPIA-2100 until the density of the dispersion was 5000 to 15000 / μl. In this measurement method, it is important that the concentration of the dispersion liquid is 5000 to 15000 / μl from the viewpoint of measurement reproducibility of the average circularity. In order to obtain the dispersion concentration, it is necessary to change the conditions of the dispersion, that is, the amount of surfactant to be added and the amount of toner. The amount of the surfactant varies depending on the hydrophobicity of the toner as in the measurement of the toner particle diameter described above. If it is added in a large amount, noise due to bubbles is generated. It will be enough. Further, the toner addition amount differs from the particle size, and it is necessary to decrease the small particle size and increase the large particle size. When the toner particle size is 3 to 7 μm, the toner amount is 0.1 to 0. By adding 0.5 g, the dispersion concentration can be adjusted to 5000 to 15000 / μl.

<BET specific surface area>
The BET specific surface area of the toner was measured using an automatic specific surface area / pore distribution measuring device TriStar 3000 (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). 1 g of toner was put in a dedicated cell, and the degassing process in the dedicated cell was performed using TriStar degassing dedicated unit, Bacuprep 061 (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). The deaeration treatment was performed at room temperature, and was performed for 20 hours under a reduced pressure condition of at least 100 mtorr or less. A dedicated cell that has been deaerated can automatically obtain a BET specific surface area using TriStar 3000. Note that nitrogen gas was used as the adsorption gas.

<Nanoindentation method>
The hardness of the toner 1 particle surface in the nano-indentation method was measured by Hysitron Inc. Measurements are made using a Tribo Indenter. Detailed conditions are as shown below.
Working indenter: Berkovich (triangular pyramid)
Maximum indentation depth: 20nm
Under the above conditions, an indenter is pressed from the surface of one toner particle, and the hardness H [GPa] is measured from the size of the indentation at the time of maximum press-fitting. In actual measurement, 100 toner particles in the product form (for one particle, the measurement location was changed and N = 10 was measured and averaged), and the average value was measured by the nanoindentation method. The toner was one particle of hardness.

<Microindentation method>
The hardness of the toner 1 particle surface by the microindentation method is measured using a Fischer Scope H100 (microhardness test system) of Fischer Instruments. Detailed conditions are as shown below.
Working indenter: Vickers indenter Maximum indentation depth: 2 μm
Maximum indentation load: 9.8 mN
Creep time: 5 sec
Load (unloading) time: 30 sec
Under the above conditions, a Vickers indenter is pressed from the surface of one toner particle, and the Martens hardness [N / mm ² ] is measured. In the actual measurement, 100 toner particles in the product form were measured, and the average value was defined as the hardness of the toner 1 particle surface by the microindentation method.

[Method for measuring carrier characteristics]
<Weight average particle size>
The weight average particle diameter Dw of the carrier is calculated based on the particle diameter distribution (relationship between the number frequency and the particle diameter) of the particles measured on the basis of the number. The weight average particle diameter Dw in this case is represented by the calculation formula (1).

Dw = {1 / Σ (nD ³ )} × {Σ (nD ⁴ )} Expression (1)

In the calculation formula (1), D represents a representative particle size (μm) of particles existing in each channel, and n represents the total number of particles present in each channel. The channel indicates a length for equally dividing the particle size range in the particle size distribution diagram, and 2 μm is adopted in the present invention.
In addition, as the representative particle size of the particles present in each channel, the lower limit value of the particle size of the particles stored in each channel was adopted.

  Further, the number average particle diameter Dp of the carrier and the core material particles of the carrier is calculated based on the particle diameter distribution of the particles measured on the basis of the number. The number average particle diameter Dp in this case is expressed by the calculation formula (2).

Dp = (1 / ΣN) × (ΣnD) (2)
(In formula (2), N represents the total number of particles measured, n represents the total number of particles present in each channel, and D represents the lower limit of the particle size of the particles stored in each channel (2 μm)). Indicates the value.)

In the present invention, a microtrack particle size analyzer model HRA9320-X100 (manufactured by Honeywell) can be used as a particle size analyzer for measuring the particle size distribution. The measurement conditions are as follows.
[1] Particle size range: 8 to 100 μm
[2] Channel length (channel width): 2 μm
[3] Number of channels: 46
[4] Refractive index: 2.42

Hereinafter, an example of a method for producing the toner of the present invention will be specifically described.
The present invention is not limited to the toner production method exemplified here.
To obtain a structure in which acrylic resin fine particles are adhered and fixed on the surface of the toner particle main body and styrene / acrylic resin fine particles are fixed and fixed on the outer surface of the toner particle, a toner material containing a binder resin or its precursor is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent. Then, the toner binder resin or its precursor is dissolved or dispersed in an anionic surfactant and an aqueous medium, preferably styrene / acrylic resin fine particles having an anionic average particle diameter of 5 to 50 nm. When the toner particles are emulsified or dispersed in the aqueous medium contained therein and the organic solvent is removed and then subjected to a heat treatment to produce toner particles, an acrylic having an average particle diameter of 10 to 500 nm is introduced into the aqueous medium before the organic solvent is removed. Add resin fine particles. After removing the organic solvent to form toner particles, water containing the toner particles is heated at 40 to 60 ° C. to adhere and immobilize the acrylic resin fine particles.
In emulsification or dispersion, a dispersant is preferably used from the viewpoint of stabilizing the oil droplets and sharpening the particle size distribution while obtaining a desired shape, if necessary. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a dispersing agent, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, surfactant, a slightly water-soluble inorganic compound dispersing agent, a polymeric protective colloid, etc. can be used. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, a surfactant is preferable, and an anionic surfactant is more preferable.

[Raw materials used in the production of the toner of the present invention]
(Styrene / acrylic resin fine particles)
The resin for styrene / acrylic resin fine particles used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a resin that can form an aqueous dispersion in an aqueous medium, and may be appropriately selected from known resins according to the purpose. Can do. The resin for styrene / acrylic resin fine particles may be a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. For example, vinyl resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, polyimide resin, silicon resin, phenol resin Melamine resin, urea resin, aniline resin, ionomer resin, polycarbonate resin, and the like can be used. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, at least one selected from vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, and polyester resins is preferable because an aqueous dispersion of fine spherical resin fine particles can be easily obtained. The vinyl resin is a polymer obtained by homopolymerizing or copolymerizing a vinyl monomer. For example, a styrene- (meth) acrylic ester resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a (meth) acrylic acid-acrylic ester polymer, Examples thereof include a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, and a styrene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymer.

  The styrene / acrylic resin fine particles are required to be anionic. This is because they are not aggregated when used together with the anionic surfactant shown above. Styrene / acrylic resin fine particles can also be prepared by using an anionic activator in the production method described later or by introducing an anionic group such as a carboxylic acid group or a sulfonic acid group into the resin. As the particle size, an average particle size of primary particles of 5 to 50 nm is important for controlling the particle size and particle size distribution of the emulsified particles, and more preferably 10 to 25 nm. The particle diameter can be measured by SEM, TEM, light scattering method or the like. Preferably, the measurement may be performed by diluting to an appropriate concentration so as to be in the measurement range by LA-920 manufactured by HORIBA, Ltd. using a laser scattering measurement method. The particle diameter is determined as a volume average diameter.

The styrene / acrylic resin fine particles can be obtained by polymerization according to a known method appropriately selected according to the purpose, but is preferably obtained as an aqueous dispersion of styrene / acrylic resin fine particles. As a method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of styrene / acrylic resin fine particles, for example, the following method is preferably exemplified.
(1) In the case of vinyl resin, styrene / acrylic resin fine particles are directly formed by any polymerization reaction selected from a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion polymerization method, a seed polymerization method and a dispersion polymerization method using a vinyl monomer as a starting material. A method for producing an aqueous dispersion.
(2) In the case of polyaddition or condensation resin such as polyester resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, etc., a precursor (monomer, oligomer, etc.) or a solvent solution thereof was dispersed in an aqueous medium in the presence of an appropriate dispersant. Thereafter, heating or adding a curing agent to cure to produce an aqueous dispersion of styrene / acrylic resin fine particles.
(3) In the case of polyaddition or condensation resin such as polyester resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin and the like, a precursor (monomer, oligomer, etc.) or a solvent solution thereof (liquid) is preferable.
A method in which a suitable emulsifier is dissolved in a solution which may be liquefied by heating, and then water is added to perform phase inversion emulsification.
(4) Resin prepared in advance by a polymerization reaction (which may be any polymerization reaction mode such as addition polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polyaddition, addition condensation, condensation polymerization, etc.) A styrene / acrylic resin fine particle is obtained by pulverizing and then classifying, and then dispersing in water in the presence of a suitable dispersant.
(5) A spray of a resin solution prepared by previously dissolving a resin prepared in a polymerization reaction (any polymerization reaction mode such as addition polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polyaddition, addition condensation, condensation polymerization, etc.) in a solvent. A method of obtaining fine particles of styrene / acrylic resin by dispersing the fine resin particles in water in the presence of an appropriate dispersant.
(6) A poor solvent is added to a resin solution in which a resin prepared in advance by a polymerization reaction (any polymerization reaction mode such as addition polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polyaddition, addition condensation, condensation polymerization, etc.) is dissolved in a solvent. Or by precipitating styrene / acrylic resin fine particles by cooling a resin solution previously heated and dissolved in a solvent, and then removing the solvent to obtain resin fine particles, and then dispersing the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles with an appropriate dispersant. A method of dispersing in water in the presence.
(7) A resin solution prepared by previously dissolving a resin prepared by a polymerization reaction (any polymerization reaction mode such as addition polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polyaddition, addition condensation, condensation polymerization, etc.) in a solvent is appropriately dispersed. A method in which the solvent is removed by heating or decompression after being dispersed in an aqueous medium in the presence of an agent.
(8) A suitable emulsifier in a resin solution in which a resin prepared in advance by a polymerization reaction (any polymerization reaction mode such as addition polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polyaddition, addition condensation, condensation polymerization, etc.) is dissolved in a solvent. After water is dissolved, water is added to perform phase inversion emulsification.

(Acrylic resin fine particles)
The acrylic resin fine particles can be prepared in the same manner as the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles. As the particle size, an average particle size of primary particles of 10 to 500 nm is important for controlling the particle size and particle size distribution of the emulsified particles, and more preferably 10 to 200 nm. The particle size and particle size distribution of the acrylic resin fine particles can be measured by the same method as that for the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles. Those having the property of being unstable and agglomerating when mixed with the above-mentioned anionic surfactant solution are more likely to adhere to the droplet surface of the toner material. For that purpose, it can be prepared by using a nonionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a cationic surfactant, or introducing a cationic group such as an amine group or an ammonium base into the resin by the production method described above.

Examples of the cationic surfactant include amine salt type surfactants and quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactants. Examples of amine salt type surfactants include alkylamine salts, aminoalcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, imidazolines, and the like.
Examples of the quaternary ammonium salt type cationic surfactant include alkyltrimethylammonium salt, dialkyldimethylammonium salt, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salt, pyridinium salt, alkylisoquinolinium salt, benzethonium chloride and the like. It is done. Among cationic surfactants, aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts such as aliphatic primary, secondary or tertiary amine acids having a fluoroalkyl group, and perfluoroalkyl (6 to 10 carbon atoms) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt Benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, and the like are preferable.

  Commercially available cationic surfactants include, for example, Surflon S-121 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.); Florard FC-135 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.); Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Kogyo Co., Ltd.), MegaFuck F -150, F-824 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.); Xtop EF-132 (Tochem Products Co., Ltd.);

Examples of nonionic surfactants include fatty acid amide derivatives and polyhydric alcohol derivatives.
Examples of the amphoteric surfactant include alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine, N-alkyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betaine and the like.

  The resin component for the acrylic resin fine particles is preferably incompatible with the resin constituting the toner, and is a styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, a styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, or a styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer. , Styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene -Acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer are preferably mentioned, and as a copolymer with styrene-other resin, styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, Styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylna Tallinn copolymer, styrene - vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene - butadiene copolymer, styrene - isoprene copolymer, styrene - maleic acid copolymer, styrene - maleic acid ester copolymers and the like.

  The acrylic resin fine particles are white emulsions that are incompatible with the binder resin, and the degree of swelling with respect to the organic solvent varies depending on the difference in crosslink density. As a method for controlling the swelling property, there are a crosslinking density and a constituent monomer. However, since the constituent monomer may be changed in order to control physical properties other than the swelling property of the acrylic resin fine particles, it is preferably controlled by the crosslinking density.

  In order to be fixed on the surface without dissolving when adhering to the emulsified droplets, the acrylic resin fine particles are preferably a crosslinked polymer, and are copolymerized with a monomer having at least two unsaturated groups. Are preferred. The monomer having at least two unsaturated groups is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a sodium salt of methacrylic acid ethylene oxide adduct sulfate (“Eleminol RS-30”) Manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries), divinyl compounds such as divinylbenzene, and diacrylate compounds such as 1,6-hexanediol acrylate.

(Function and action of acrylic resin fine particles)
If the acrylic resin fine particles have swellability with respect to an organic solvent, not only a stable transfer rate and a target fixing upper and lower limit temperature can be expected, but also a circularity of 0.950 to 0.975, and A deformed toner having a smooth surface property with a BET specific surface area of about 0.2 to 4.0 m ² / g and excellent cleaning properties can be produced. However, if the degree of swelling is too large, the degree of circularity tends to be too low, and if the degree of swelling is too small, a toner having a large BET specific surface area and inferior transfer rate tends to be produced.
If the specific surface area of the toner is less than 0.2 m ² / g, cleaning failure may occur, and if it exceeds 4.0 m ² / g, the stability may be insufficient.

(Anionic surfactant)
Examples of the anionic surfactant used in the production of the toner of the present invention include alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters and the like, and anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include Preferably mentioned. Examples of the anionic surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group include a fluoroalkylcarboxylic acid having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a metal salt thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonylglutamate, 3- [ω-fluoroalkyl (having 6 to 6 carbon atoms). 11) Sodium oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-4) sulfonate, sodium 3- [ω-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-8) -N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonate, fluoroalkyl ( Carbon number 11-20) carboxylic acid or metal salt thereof, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (carbon number 7-13) or metal salt thereof, perfluoroalkyl (carbon number 4-12) sulfonic acid or metal salt thereof, perfluorooctane Sulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) par -Fluorooctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (carbon number 6-10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (carbon number 6-10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (carbon number 6-6) 16) Ethyl phosphate and the like.

  Examples of commercially available anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include Surflon S-111, S-112, and S-113 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.); Fluorard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC -129 (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M); Unidyne DS-101, DS-102 (manufactured by Daikin Industries); Megafac F-110, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 ( Dainippon Ink, Inc.); Xtop EF-102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (manufactured by Tochem Products); Etc.).

(Binder resin)
The binder resin contained in the toner material used in the toner production method of the present invention is not particularly limited, and is a polyester resin, silicone resin, styrene / acryl resin, styrene resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, diene resin, Known binder resins such as phenol resin, terpene resin, coumarin resin, amideimide resin, butyral resin, urethane resin, ethylene / vinyl acetate resin can be used.

Among these, as the binder resin used in the method for producing the toner of the present invention, a polyester-based resin having sufficient flexibility even when the molecular weight is lowered because it can sharply melt during fixing and smooth the image surface. It is preferable to use a polyester resin in combination with another resin.
The polyester resin used in the present invention is one or two or more polyols represented by the following general formula (1) and one or two or more polycarboxylic acids represented by the following general formula (2). And polyester.

A- (OH) m ... General formula (1)
B- (COOH) n ... General formula (2)
[In the above formula, A represents an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkylene group, or an aromatic group or heterocyclic aromatic group which may have a substituent. m represents an integer of 2 to 4. ]
1 or 2 or more types of polycarboxylic acids represented by the following general formula (2) are polyesterified, and B has an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkylene group, and a substituent. Represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic aromatic group. n represents an integer of 2 to 4. ]

  Specific polyols represented by the general formula (1) include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,4-butenediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, sorbitol, 1,2, 3,6-hexanetetrol, 1,4-sorbitan, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,5-pentanetriol, glycerol, 2-methyl Propanetriol, 2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, 1,3,5-trihydroxymethylbenzene, bisphenol A, bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct, bisphenol A propylene oxide addition Products, hydrogenated bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct, hydrogenated bisphenol A propylene oxide adduct, and the like.

Specific polycarboxylic acids represented by the general formula (2) include maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, glutaconic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid. Azelaic acid, malonic acid, n-dodecenyl succinic acid, isooctyl succinic acid, isododecenyl succinic acid, n-dodecyl succinic acid, isododecyl succinic acid, n-octenyl succinic acid, n-octyl succinic acid, isooctenyl succinic acid, Isooctyl succinic acid, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 2,5,7-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5 -Hexanetricarboxylic acid, 1,3-dicarboxyl-2-methyl-2-methylenecarboxyprop 1,2,4-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid, tetra (methylenecarboxyl) methane, 1,2,7,8-octanetetracarboxylic acid, pyromellitic acid, emporic trimer acid, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, cyclohexenedicarboxylic acid, Examples include butanetetracarboxylic acid, diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic acid, and ethylene glycol bis (trimellitic acid).
In the present invention, an unmodified binder resin and a binder resin precursor (prepolymer) can be used as the binder resin component. In this case, the final reaction of the binder resin precursor and the unmodified binder resin component is possible. The binder resin is a binder resin, but the acrylic resin particles are incompatible with the unmodified binder resin.

(Active hydrogen group-containing compound)
By including an active hydrogen group-containing compound and a modified polyester resin capable of reacting with the compound in the toner material of the present invention, the mechanical strength of the resulting toner is increased, and the embedding of acrylic resin fine particles and external additives is suppressed. be able to. When the active hydrogen group-containing compound has a cationic polarity, the acrylic resin fine particles can be attracted electrostatically. Further, the fluidity of the toner during heat fixing can be adjusted, and the fixing temperature range can be widened. It can be said that the active hydrogen group-containing compound and the modified polyester resin capable of reacting with the compound are binder resin precursors.

  The active hydrogen group-containing compound acts as an elongation agent, a crosslinking agent, or the like when a polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound undergoes an extension reaction, a crosslinking reaction, or the like in an aqueous medium. The active hydrogen group-containing compound is not particularly limited as long as it has an active hydrogen group, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a polymer that can react with the active hydrogen group-containing compound contains an isocyanate group. In the case of the polyester prepolymer (A), the amines (B) are preferable because they can be increased in molecular weight by a reaction such as an elongation reaction and a crosslinking reaction with the isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A).

  The active hydrogen group is not particularly limited as long as it has an active hydrogen group, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a hydroxyl group (alcoholic hydroxyl group or phenolic hydroxyl group), amino group, carboxyl group, mercapto group. , Etc. can be used. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as amines (B), According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, diamine (B1), trivalent or more polyamine (B2), amino alcohol (B3), amino mercaptan (B4) ), Amino acid (B5), amino acid block of B1 to B5 (B6), and the like can be used. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, diamine (B1), a mixture of diamine (B1) and a small amount of a trivalent or higher polyamine (B2) are particularly preferable.

  Examples of the diamine (B1) include aromatic diamines, alicyclic diamines, aliphatic diamines, and the like. Examples of the aromatic diamine include phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′diaminodiphenylmethane, and the like. Examples of the alicyclic diamine include 4,4′-diamino-3,3′dimethyldicyclohexylmethane, diaminecyclohexane, and isophoronediamine. Examples of the aliphatic diamine include ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, and hexamethylene diamine.

  Examples of the trivalent or higher polyamine (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. Examples of amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline. Examples of amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan, aminopropyl mercaptan, and the like. Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid.

  Examples of the blocked B1-B5 amino group (B6) include, for example, ketimine compounds, oxazolidone compounds, and the like obtained from any of B1 to B5 amines and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.) Is mentioned.

  A reaction terminator can be used to stop the elongation reaction, crosslinking reaction, etc. between the active hydrogen group-containing compound and the polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound. This is preferable because the molecular weight of the material can be controlled within a desired range. As the reaction terminator, monoamines (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, etc.), or those obtained by blocking them (ketimine compounds) can be used.

  As a mixing ratio of the amines (B) and the isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A), an isocyanate group [NCO] in the isocyanate group-containing prepolymer (A) and an amino group in the amines (B) [ The mixing equivalent ratio of NHx] ([NCO] / [NHx]) is preferably 1/3 to 3/1, more preferably 1/2 to 2/1, and more preferably 1 / 1.5 to Particularly preferred is 1.5 / 1. This is because if the mixing equivalent ratio ([NCO] / [NHx]) is less than 1/3, the low-temperature fixability may decrease. If it exceeds 3/1, the molecular weight of the urea-modified polyester resin is low. This is because the hot offset resistance may deteriorate.

(Polymer capable of reacting with active hydrogen group-containing compound)
The polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound (hereinafter referred to as “prepolymer”) is not particularly limited as long as it has at least a site capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound. For example, a polyol resin, a polyacrylic resin, a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, a derivative resin thereof, or the like can be used.
Among these, a polyester resin is particularly preferable in terms of high fluidity and transparency during melting.
In addition, these may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  The site capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound in the prepolymer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known substituents. For example, an isocyanate group, an epoxy group, a carboxylic acid, an acid chloride Group, and the like. These may be contained singly or in combination of two or more. Among these, an isocyanate group is particularly preferable. Among prepolymers, it is easy to adjust the molecular weight of the polymer component, ensuring oil-free low-temperature fixing characteristics for dry toners, especially good release and fixing properties even without a release oil coating mechanism for the heating medium for fixing. In view of the capability, a urea bond-forming group-containing polyester resin (RMPE) is particularly preferable.

  As a urea bond production | generation group, an isocyanate group etc. are mentioned, for example. When the urea bond generating group in the urea bond generating group-containing polyester resin (RMPE) is the isocyanate group, the polyester resin (RMPE) is particularly preferably an isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A). The isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A) is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, it is a polycondensate of a polyol (PO) and a polycarboxylic acid (PC), and Examples include those obtained by reacting an active hydrogen group-containing polyester resin with polyisocyanate (PIC). There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a polyol (PO), According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, diol (DIO), trihydric or more polyol (TO), diol (DIO), and trihydric or more polyol ( TO) and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, diol (DIO) alone or a mixture of diol (DIO) and a small amount of a trivalent or higher polyol (TO) is preferable.

Examples of the diol (DIO) include alkylene glycol, alkylene ether glycol, alicyclic diol, alkylene oxide adduct of alicyclic diol, bisphenol, alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol, and the like.
As the alkylene glycol, those having 2 to 12 carbon atoms are preferable, and examples thereof include ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and the like. It is done. Examples of the alkylene ether glycol include diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and polytetramethylene ether glycol. Examples of the alicyclic diol include 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and hydrogenated bisphenol A. Examples of the alkylene oxide adduct of alicyclic diol include those obtained by adding an alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide to the alicyclic diol. Examples of bisphenols include bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and bisphenol S. Examples of the alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenols include those obtained by adding an alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and butylene oxide to bisphenols. Among these, alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols and the like are preferable, and alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols, alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols and alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms. Mixtures are particularly preferred.

  The trivalent or higher polyol (TO) is preferably 3 to 8 or higher, for example, a trihydric or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, a trihydric or higher polyphenol, an alkylene of a trihydric or higher polyphenol. And oxide adducts. Examples of the trivalent or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohol include glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, and the like. Examples of the trihydric or higher polyphenols include trisphenol bodies (such as Trisphenol PA manufactured by Honshu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), phenol novolacs, cresol novolacs, and the like. Examples of the alkylene oxide adduct of trihydric or higher polyphenols include those obtained by adding an alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or butylene oxide to trihydric or higher polyphenols.

  The mixing mass ratio (DIO: TO) of the diol (DIO) and the trihydric or higher polyol (TO) in the mixture of the diol (DIO) and the trihydric or higher polyol (TO) is 100: 0.01 to 10 Is preferable, and 100: 0.01-1 is more preferable.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as polycarboxylic acid (PC), Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, dicarboxylic acid (DIC), trivalent or more polycarboxylic acid (TC), dicarboxylic acid (DIC) And a mixture of trivalent or higher valent polycarboxylic acids. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, dicarboxylic acid (DIC) alone or a mixture of dicarboxylic acid (DIC) and a small amount of trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC) is preferable.

  Examples of the dicarboxylic acid (DIC) include alkylene dicarboxylic acid, alkenylene dicarboxylic acid, aromatic dicarboxylic acid, and the like. Examples of the alkylene dicarboxylic acid include succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid. Moreover, as alkenylene dicarboxylic acid, a C4-C20 thing is preferable, For example, a maleic acid, a fumaric acid, etc. are mentioned. Moreover, as aromatic dicarboxylic acid, a C8-C20 thing is preferable, for example, a phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, a terephthalic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid etc. are mentioned. Among these, alkenylene dicarboxylic acid having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic dicarboxylic acid having 8 to 20 carbon atoms are preferable.

  The trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC) is preferably 3 to 8 or higher, and examples thereof include aromatic polycarboxylic acids. Moreover, as an aromatic polycarboxylic acid, a C9-C20 thing is preferable, for example, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, etc. are mentioned.

  The polycarboxylic acid (PC) is selected from dicarboxylic acid (DIC), trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC), and a mixture of dicarboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid. These acid anhydrides or lower alkyl ester compounds can also be used. Examples of the lower alkyl ester include methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester and the like.

  As a mixing mass ratio (DIC: TC) of dicarboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC) in a mixture of dicarboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC), There is no restriction | limiting, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, 100: 0.01-10 are preferable and 100: 0.01-1 are more preferable.

  The mixing ratio for the polycondensation reaction between the polyol (PO) and the polycarboxylic acid (PC) is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. OH] and the equivalent ratio ([OH] / [COOH]) of the carboxyl group [COOH] in the polycarboxylic acid (PC) are usually preferably 2/1 to 1/1, and 1.5 / The ratio is more preferably 1-1 / 1, and particularly preferably 1.3 / 1-1.02 / 1.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content in the isocyanate group containing polyester prepolymer (A) of a polyol (PO), Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 0.5-40 mass% is preferable, for example. -30 mass% is more preferable, and 2-20 mass% is especially preferable. This is because if the content is less than 0.5% by mass, the hot offset resistance deteriorates, and it may be difficult to achieve both the heat-resistant storage stability and the low-temperature fixability of the toner. This is because the low temperature fixability may be deteriorated if the temperature exceeds.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as polyisocyanate (PIC), Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, aliphatic polyisocyanate, alicyclic polyisocyanate, aromatic diisocyanate, araliphatic diisocyanate, isocyanurates And those blocked with phenol derivatives, oximes, caprolactams, and the like.
Examples of the aliphatic polyisocyanate include tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, octamethylene diisocyanate, decamethylene diisocyanate, dodecamethylene diisocyanate, tetradecamethylene diisocyanate, trimethylhexane diisocyanate, tetra And methyl hexane diisocyanate. Examples of the alicyclic polyisocyanate include isophorone diisocyanate and cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate. Examples of the aromatic diisocyanate include tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate, diphenylene-4,4′-diisocyanate, 4,4′-diisocyanato-3,3′-dimethyldiphenyl, 3 -Methyldiphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, diphenyl ether-4,4'-diisocyanate and the like. Examples of the araliphatic diisocyanate include α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate. Examples of isocyanurates include tris-isocyanatoalkyl-isocyanurate and triisocyanatocycloalkyl-isocyanurate. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  As a mixing ratio when the polyisocyanate (PIC) is reacted with an active hydrogen group-containing polyester resin (for example, a hydroxyl group-containing polyester resin), an isocyanate group [NCO] in the polyisocyanate (PIC) and a hydroxyl group in the hydroxyl group-containing polyester resin [ The mixing equivalent ratio with [OH] ([NCO] / [OH]) is usually preferably 5/1 to 1/1, more preferably 4/1 to 1.2 / 1. It is particularly preferable that the ratio is from / 1 to 1.5 / 1. This is because if the isocyanate group [NCO] exceeds 5, low-temperature fixability may deteriorate, and if it is less than 1, offset resistance may deteriorate.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content in the isocyanate group containing polyester prepolymer (A) of polyisocyanate (PIC), Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, 0.5-40 mass% is preferable, 1-30 mass% is more preferable, and 2-20 mass% is further more preferable. This is because, when the content is less than 0.5% by mass, the hot offset resistance is deteriorated, and it may be difficult to achieve both heat-resistant storage stability and low-temperature fixability, and exceeds 40% by mass. This is because the low-temperature fixability deteriorates.

  As an average number of the isocyanate groups contained per molecule of the isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A), 1 or more is preferable, 1.2 to 5 is more preferable, and 1.5 to 4 is more preferable. This is because if the average number of isocyanate groups is less than 1, the molecular weight of the polyester resin (RMPE) modified with a urea bond-forming group becomes low, and the hot offset resistance deteriorates.

  The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound is preferably 3,000 to 40,000 in terms of molecular weight distribution by GPC (gel permeation chromatography) soluble in tetrahydrofuran (THF). 4,000 to 30,000 are more preferable. This is because when the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is less than 3,000, the heat resistant storage stability may be deteriorated, and when it exceeds 40,000, the low temperature fixability may be deteriorated.

The molecular weight distribution can be measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), for example, as follows. That is, first, the column was stabilized in a 40 ° C. heat chamber, and at this temperature, tetrahydrofuran (THF) was flowed as a column solvent at a flow rate of 1 ml / min to adjust the sample concentration to 0.05 to 0.6% by mass. Measurement is performed by injecting 50 to 200 μl of a tetrahydrofuran sample solution of the resin. In measuring the molecular weight of the sample, the molecular weight distribution of the sample is calculated from the relationship between the logarithmic value of the calibration curve prepared by several monodisperse polystyrene standard samples and the number of counts. As a standard polystyrene sample for preparing a calibration curve, Pressure Chemical Co. Or Toyo Soda Kogyo Co., Ltd. having a molecular weight of ^{6 × 10 2, 2.1 × 10} 2, 4 × 10 2, 1.75 × 10 4, 1.1 × 10 5, 3.9 × 10 5, 8.6 It is preferable to use those of × 10 ⁵ , 2 × 10 ⁶ , and 4.48 × 10 ⁶ and use at least about 10 standard polystyrene samples. An RI (refractive index) detector can be used as the detector.

(Other ingredients)
Other components are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include colorants, mold release agents, charge control agents, inorganic fine particles, fluidity improvers, cleaning improvers, and magnetic materials. , Metal soap, and the like.

(Coloring agent)
The colorant for the toner used in the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known dyes and pigments according to the purpose. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), Cadmium yellow, Yellow iron oxide, Ocher, Yellow lead, Titanium yellow, Polyazo yellow, Oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), Pigment yellow L, Benzidine Yellow (G, GR), Permanent Yellow (NCG), Vulcan Fast Yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, Isoindolinone Yellow, Bengala, Red Sand, Red Zhu , Cadmium Red, Cadmium Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Par Nent Red 4R, Para Red, Faise Red, Parachlor Ortho Nitroaniline Red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carnmin BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Risor Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Rake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake, Thioindigo Red B, Chi Indigo Maroon, Oil Red, Quinacridone Red, Pyrazolone Red, Polyazo Red, Chrome Vermilion, Benzidine Orange, Perinone Orange, Oil Orange, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Peacock Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue Phthalocyanine blue, fast sky blue, indanthrene blue (RS, BC), indigo, ultramarine, bitumen, anthraquinone blue, fast violet B, methyl violet lake, cobalt purple, manganese purple, dioxane violet, anthraquinone violet, chrome green, Zinc green, chromium oxide, pyridian, emerald green, pigment green B, naphthol green B, green Examples include lean gold, acid green lake, malachite green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, lithopone, and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular in content in the toner of a coloring agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 1-15 mass% is preferable and 3-10 mass% is more preferable. When the content of the colorant is less than 1% by mass, a reduction in the coloring power of the toner is observed. When the content exceeds 15% by mass, poor pigment dispersion occurs in the toner, resulting in a reduction in the coloring power, and the toner. The electrical characteristics may be degraded.

  The colorant may be used as a master batch combined with a resin. The resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, polyester, styrene or a substituted polymer thereof, styrene copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl Methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic hydrocarbon resin, alicyclic Examples thereof include hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, and paraffin waxes. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  Examples of the polymer of styrene or a substituted product thereof include polyester resin, polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyl toluene, and the like. Examples of the styrene copolymer include a styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, a styrene-propylene copolymer, a styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, a styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, and a styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer. Polymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene- Butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene N-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, Styrene - maleic acid copolymer, styrene - maleic acid ester copolymer, and the like.

  The master batch can be produced by mixing or kneading a resin for a master batch and a colorant with a high shear force. At this time, it is preferable to add an organic solvent in order to enhance the interaction between the colorant and the resin. Also, the so-called flushing method is preferable in that the wet cake of the colorant can be used as it is, and there is no need to dry it. This flushing method is a method in which an aqueous paste containing water of a colorant is mixed or kneaded together with a resin and an organic solvent, and the colorant is transferred to the resin side to remove moisture and organic solvent components. For the mixing or kneading, for example, a high shear dispersion device such as a three-roll mill is preferably used. The colorant can be arbitrarily contained in both the first resin phase and the second resin phase by utilizing the difference in affinity for the two resins. It is well known that the colorant deteriorates the charging performance of the toner when present on the toner surface. Therefore, the charging performance (environmental stability, charge retention ability, charge amount, etc.) of the toner can be improved by selectively incorporating a colorant into the first resin phase present in the inner layer.

(Release agent)
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a mold release agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, The low melting-point mold release agent whose melting | fusing point is 50-120 degreeC is preferable. The low melting point release agent, when dispersed with the resin, effectively acts as a release agent between the fixing roller and the toner interface, thereby preventing oilless (a release agent such as oil on the fixing roller). Even if it is not applied), the hot offset property is good.

  Preferable examples of the mold release agent include waxes and waxes. Examples of waxes and waxes include plant waxes such as carnauba wax, cotton wax, wood wax, and rice wax; animal waxes such as beeswax and lanolin; mineral waxes such as ozokerite and cercin; paraffin and microcrystalline. And natural waxes such as petroleum waxes such as Petrolatum; In addition to these natural waxes, synthetic hydrocarbon waxes such as Fischer-Tropsch wax and polyethylene wax; synthetic waxes such as esters, ketones and ethers; Furthermore, fatty acid amides such as 12-hydroxystearic acid amide, stearic acid amide, phthalic anhydride imide, chlorinated hydrocarbons; poly-n-stearyl methacrylate and poly-n-lauryl which are low molecular weight crystalline polymer resins A homopolymer or copolymer of a polyacrylate such as methacrylate (for example, a copolymer of n-stearyl acrylate-ethyl methacrylate, etc.); a crystalline polymer having a long alkyl group in the side chain, or the like may be used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as melting | fusing point of a mold release agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 50-120 degreeC is preferable and 60-90 degreeC is more preferable. If the melting point is less than 50 ° C., the wax may adversely affect the heat-resistant storage stability, and if it exceeds 120 ° C., a cold offset may easily occur during fixing at a low temperature. The melt viscosity of the release agent is preferably 5 to 1000 cps, more preferably 10 to 100 cps, as a measured value at a temperature 20 ° C. higher than the melting point of the wax. When the melt viscosity is less than 5 cps, the releasability may be lowered, and when it exceeds 1,000 cps, the effect of improving hot offset resistance and low-temperature fixability may not be obtained. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content in the said toner of a mold release agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 0-40 mass% is preferable and 3-30 mass% is more preferable. When the content exceeds 40% by mass, the fluidity of the toner may be deteriorated.

  The release agent utilizes the difference in affinity for the two resins, so that the resin in the toner particle body (first resin phase), the acrylic resin fine particle resin (second resin phase), and the styrene / acrylic resin fine particle Any of the resins (third resin phase) can be arbitrarily contained. By selectively including in the second and third resin phases present in the outer layer of the toner, the release of the release agent occurs sufficiently even in a short heating time during fixing, so that sufficient release properties can be obtained. . Further, by selectively including the release agent in the first resin phase present in the inner layer, the spent of the release agent to other members such as a photoreceptor and a carrier can be suppressed. In the present invention, the arrangement of the release agent may be designed relatively freely, and an arbitrary arrangement can be taken according to each image forming process.

(Charge control agent)
The charge control agent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known materials according to the purpose. For example, a nigrosine dye, a triphenylmethane dye, a chromium-containing metal complex dye, a molybdate chelate pigment, Rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (including fluorine-modified quaternary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus alone or compounds thereof, tungsten alone or compounds thereof, fluorine activators, metal salts of salicylic acid, And metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  A commercially available product may be used as the charge control agent. Examples of the commercially available product include bontron 03 of a nigrosine dye, bontron P-51 of a quaternary ammonium salt, bontron S-34 of a metal-containing azo dye, O-naphthoic acid metal complex E-82, salicylic acid metal complex E-84, phenolic condensate E-89 (above, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries), quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex TP-302, TP-415 (above, manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium salt copy charge PSY VP2038, triphenylmethane derivative copy blue PR, quaternary ammonium salt copy charge NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 ( As mentioned above, Hoechst Co., Ltd.), LRA-901, LR-147 (Nippon Kabushiki Kaisha) which is a boron complex -Lit Co., Ltd.), copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone, azo pigments, and other polymer compounds having functional groups such as sulfonic acid groups, carboxyl groups, and quaternary ammonium salts.

  The charge control agent utilizes the difference in affinity between the resin in the toner particle main body and the acrylic resin fine particle, or the styrene / acrylic resin, so that the resin phase in the toner particle main body, the resin phase of the acrylic resin fine particle, styrene / acrylic Any of the resin phases of the resin fine particles can be arbitrarily contained. By selectively containing it in the resin phase of the acrylic resin fine particles or styrene / acrylic resin fine particles present on the toner surface, it becomes easy to obtain the effect against power failure with a smaller amount of charge control agent. Further, by selectively containing the charge control agent in the resin phase in the toner particle main body existing in the inner layer, the spent of the charge control agent on other members such as a photoreceptor and a carrier can be suppressed. In the toner manufacturing method of the present invention, the arrangement of the charge control agent may be designed relatively freely, and an arbitrary arrangement may be taken according to each image forming process.

  The content of the charge control agent with respect to the toner varies depending on the type of the resin, the presence or absence of the additive, the dispersion method, and the like, and cannot be generally specified. -10 mass parts is preferable, and 0.2-5 mass parts is more preferable. When the content of the charge control agent is less than 0.1 parts by mass, the charge controllability may not be obtained. When the content exceeds 10 parts by mass, the chargeability of the toner becomes too large, By reducing the effect, the electrostatic attraction force with the developing roller may increase, leading to a decrease in developer fluidity and a decrease in image density.

(Inorganic fine particles)
The inorganic fine particles are used as an external additive for imparting fluidity, developability, chargeability and the like to the toner particles. The inorganic fine particles are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, titanate Strontium, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, pengala, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, carbonized Silicon, silicon nitride, or the like can be used. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

As the inorganic fine particles for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the colored particles obtained in the present invention, in addition to the large-sized inorganic fine particles having a primary average particle diameter of 80 to 500 nm, small particles Inorganic fine particles having a diameter can be preferably used. In particular, hydrophobic silica and / or hydrophobic titanium oxide are preferred. The primary average particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 to 50 nm, particularly preferably 10 to 30 nm. Moreover, it is preferable that the specific surface area by BET method is 20-500 m < ² > / g. The proportion of the inorganic fine particles used is preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight, particularly 0.01 to 2.0% by weight, based on the toner, each having a large particle size and a small particle size. preferable.

(Fluidity improver)
A fluidity improver is an agent that increases surface hydrophobicity by surface treatment and prevents deterioration of flow characteristics and charging characteristics even under high humidity. For example, a silane coupling agent, a silylating agent, and a fluoride are used. Silane coupling agents having an alkyl group, organic titanate coupling agents, aluminum coupling agents, silicone oils, modified silicone oils, and the like. Silica and titanium oxide are particularly preferably subjected to surface treatment with such a fluidity improver and used as hydrophobic silica and hydrophobic titanium oxide.

(Cleaning improver)
The cleaning property improving agent is an agent added to the toner in order to remove the developer after transfer remaining on the photoreceptor or the primary transfer medium. For example, fatty acid such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, stearic acid, etc. Examples thereof include polymer fine particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization such as metal salts, polymethyl methacrylate fine particles, and polystyrene fine particles. The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution, and those having a volume average particle size of 0.01 to 1 μm are suitable.

(Magnetic material)
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a magnetic material, According to the objective, it can select suitably from well-known things, For example, iron powder, a magnetite, a ferrite, etc. can be used. Among these, white is preferable in terms of color tone.

[Method for Producing Toner of the Present Invention]
In the method for producing a toner of the present invention, a solution or dispersion formed by dissolving or dispersing a toner material mainly composed of a binder resin or a binder resin precursor and a colorant in an organic solvent is used as a styrene. / Emulsified or dispersed in an aqueous medium containing acrylic resin fine particles and acrylic resin fine particles to prepare an emulsified or dispersed liquid, granulated, and adhered to the toner precursor containing the emulsified or dispersed toner material. Thereafter, the organic solvent is removed to form toner particles, and then water containing the toner particles is heat-treated to produce a desired toner. Preferably, a solution or dispersion of a toner material containing an active hydrogen group-containing compound and a polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound is emulsified or dispersed in an aqueous medium, and the active hydrogen group is contained in the aqueous medium. Toner precursor particles including an adhesive base material obtained by reacting a containing compound and a polymer capable of reacting with an active hydrogen group-containing compound are produced, and a desired toner is produced by attaching acrylic resin fine particles.

(Dissolution or dispersion of toner material)
The solution or dispersion of the toner material is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the toner material in a solvent. The toner material is not particularly limited as long as the toner can be formed, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the binder resin and / or its precursor (for example, an active hydrogen group-containing compound, the active material) A precursor such as a polymer (prepolymer) capable of reacting with a hydrogen group-containing compound) and a colorant, and if necessary, may contain the above-mentioned other components such as a release agent and a charge control agent. Good. The solution or dispersion of the toner material is preferably prepared by dissolving or dispersing the toner material in an organic solvent. The organic solvent is preferably removed during or after the toner granulation.

(Organic solvent)
The organic solvent that dissolves or disperses the toner material is not particularly limited as long as it is a solvent that can dissolve or disperse the toner material, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Preferred are those having a boiling point of less than 150 ° C. from the viewpoint of ease of removal, for example, toluene, xylene, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, chloroform In addition to water-insoluble solvents such as monochlorobenzene, dichloroethylidene, methyl acetate, and ethyl acetate, water-soluble solvents such as alcohol, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, Cellsolve (registered trademark), acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and water A miscible solvent can be used. Further, ester solvents are preferable, and ethyl acetate is particularly preferable. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as the usage-amount of an organic solvent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 40-300 mass parts is preferable with respect to 100 mass parts of toner materials, 60-140 mass parts is more preferable, 80 -120 mass parts is more preferable. The toner material is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent in an active hydrogen group-containing compound, a polymer that can react with the active hydrogen group-containing compound, an unmodified polyester resin, a release agent, a colorant, charge control. The toner material such as an agent can be dissolved or dispersed. In the toner material, components other than the polymer (prepolymer) capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound may be added and mixed in the aqueous medium in the preparation of the aqueous medium described later. When the dissolved or dispersed liquid of the toner material is added to the aqueous medium, it may be added to the aqueous medium together with the dissolved or dispersed liquid.

(Aqueous medium)
The aqueous medium is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known ones. For example, water, a solvent miscible with water, a mixture thereof, and the like can be used. Is particularly preferred. The solvent miscible with water is not particularly limited as long as it is miscible with water. For example, alcohol, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, Cellsorb (registered trademark), lower ketones, and the like can be used. Examples of the alcohol include methanol, isopropanol, and ethylene glycol. Examples of lower ketones include acetone and methyl ethyl ketone. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  The aqueous medium is prepared, for example, by dispersing styrene / acrylic resin fine particles in an aqueous medium in the presence of an anionic surfactant. The addition amount of the anionic surfactant and the styrene / acrylic resin fine particles in the aqueous medium is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, it is preferably 0.5 to 10% by mass, respectively. . The acrylic resin fine particles are then added to the aqueous medium. When the acrylic resin fine particles have cohesiveness with the anionic surfactant, the aqueous medium is preferably dispersed with a high-speed shearing disperser before emulsification.

(Emulsification or dispersion)
The dissolution or dispersion of the toner material in the aqueous medium is preferably carried out by dispersing the toner material dissolution or dispersion in the aqueous medium while stirring. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a dispersion method, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, it can carry out using a well-known disperser etc. Examples of the disperser include a low speed shear disperser and a high speed shear disperser. In this toner production method, an adhesive base material is formed when an active hydrogen group-containing compound and a polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound are subjected to an extension reaction or a crosslinking reaction during emulsification or dispersion. . The acrylic resin fine particles may be added to the aqueous medium during or after emulsification. It is carried out while dispersing with a high-speed shearing disperser, or after switching to emulsification and switching to low-speed stirring, or appropriately while checking the adhesion of the acrylic resin fine particles to the toner and the immobilization state.

(Adhesive substrate)
The adhesive base material is an adhesive polymer obtained by reacting an active hydrogen group-containing compound and a polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound in an aqueous medium. It is preferable to contain. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a weight average molecular weight of an adhesive base material, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 3,000 or more are preferable, 5,000-1,000,000 are more preferable, 7, 000 to 500,000 is particularly preferred. This is because if the weight average molecular weight is less than 3,000, the hot offset resistance may deteriorate.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as glass transition temperature (Tg) of binder resin used as a raw material, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, 30-70 degreeC is preferable and 40-65 degreeC is more preferable. This is because if the glass transition temperature (Tg) is less than 30 ° C., the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner may deteriorate, and if it exceeds 70 ° C., the low-temperature fixability may not be sufficient. In the electrophotographic toner of the present embodiment, since a polyester resin subjected to a crosslinking reaction and an extension reaction coexists, good storability is exhibited even when the glass transition temperature is lower than that of a conventional polyester toner.

Here, the glass transition point (Tg) in the present invention is specifically determined by the following procedure. Using Shimadzu TA-60WS and DSC-60 as measuring devices, the measurement was performed under the following measurement conditions.
Measurement conditions Sample container: Aluminum sample pan (with lid)
Sample amount: 5mg
Reference: Aluminum sample pan (alumina 10mg)
Atmosphere: Nitrogen (flow rate 50 ml / min)
Temperature conditions Starting temperature: 20 ° C
Temperature increase rate: 10 ° C / min
End temperature: 150 ° C
Holding time: None Temperature drop: 10 ° C / min
End temperature: 20 ° C
Holding time: None Temperature increase rate: 10 ° C / min
End temperature: 150 ° C

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

The binder resin contained in the toner is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Polyester resins and the like are particularly preferable. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a polyester-type resin, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, a urea modified polyester resin, an unmodified polyester resin, etc. are mentioned as a particularly suitable thing.
The urea-modified polyester resin comprises an amine (B) as an active hydrogen group-containing compound and an isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A) as a polymer that can react with the active hydrogen group-containing compound in an aqueous medium. Obtained by reaction. The urea-modified polyester resin may contain a urethane bond in addition to the urea bond. In this case, the content molar ratio of the urea bond and the urethane bond (urea bond / urethane bond) is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is 100/0 to 10/90. Preferably, 80/20 to 20/80 is more preferable, and 60/40 to 30/70 is particularly preferable. This is because if the urea bond is less than 10, the hot offset resistance may be deteriorated.

Preferable specific examples of the urea-modified polyester resin and the unmodified polyester resin include the following.
(1) A polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and isophthalic acid with isophorone diisocyanate and uread with isophorone diamine, bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and isophthalic acid Mixture with polycondensate.
(2) A polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct and isophthalic acid with isophorone diisocyanate and uread with isophorone diamine, bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct and terephthalic acid Mixture with polycondensate.
(3) A bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct / bisphenol A propylene oxide 2-mole adduct and a polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of terephthalic acid with isophorone diisocyanate and urethanized with isophorone diamine, and bisphenol A ethylene Mixture of oxide 2 mol adduct / bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 mol adduct and polycondensate of terephthalic acid.
(4) A polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct / bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 mol adduct and terephthalic acid with isophorone diisocyanate, and bisphenol A propylene Mixture of oxide 2 mol adduct and terephthalic acid polycondensate.
(5) A polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct and terephthalic acid with isophorone diisocyanate and uread with hexamethylenediamine, bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct, and terephthalate Mixture with acid polycondensate.
(6) Polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and terephthalic acid with isophorone diisocyanate and uread with hexamethylenediamine, and bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct / bisphenol A Mixture of propylene oxide 2 mol adduct and polycondensate of terephthalic acid.
(7) A polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and terephthalic acid with isophorone diisocyanate with urea and ethylenediamine 2 mol adduct and terephthalic acid Mixture with condensate.
(8) Polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and isophthalic acid with diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and urethanized with hexamethylenediamine, bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and isophthalic acid A mixture with the polycondensate.
(9) A polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct / bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 mol adduct and terephthalic acid / dodecenyl succinic anhydride with diphenylmethane diisocyanate was uread with hexamethylenediamine. And a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct / bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 mol adduct and terephthalic acid.
(10) A polyester prepolymer obtained by reacting a polycondensate of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and isophthalic acid with toluene diisocyanate and uread with hexamethylenediamine, bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct and isophthalic acid A mixture with the polycondensate.

  The urea-modified polyester resin is, for example, a solution or dispersion of a toner material containing a polymer (for example, an isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A)) that can react with an active hydrogen group-containing compound. It may be produced by emulsifying or dispersing in an aqueous medium together with a compound (for example, amines (B)), forming oil droplets, and subjecting both to an extension reaction or a crosslinking reaction in the aqueous medium. ) A toner material solution or dispersion is emulsified or dispersed in an aqueous medium to which an active hydrogen group-containing compound has been added in advance, oil droplets are formed, and the two are extended or cross-linked in the aqueous medium. You may let them. Alternatively, (3) after dissolving and dispersing the toner material in an aqueous medium, the active hydrogen group-containing compound is added to form oil droplets, and both extend from the particle interface in the aqueous medium. It may be generated by a reaction or a crosslinking reaction. In the case of (3), the modified polyester resin is preferentially produced on the surface of the toner to be produced, and it becomes possible to provide a concentration gradient on the toner particles.

  The reaction conditions for producing an adhesive substrate by emulsification or dispersion are not particularly limited, and are appropriately selected according to the combination of the polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound and the active hydrogen group-containing compound. be able to. In addition, as reaction time, 10 minutes-40 hours are preferable, and 2 hours-24 hours are more preferable.

  Examples of a method for stably forming a dispersion containing a polymer capable of reacting with an active hydrogen group-containing compound (for example, an isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A)) in an aqueous medium include, for example, an activity in an aqueous medium. Dissolve or disperse a toner material such as a polymer capable of reacting with a hydrogen group-containing compound (for example, an isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer (A)), a colorant, a release agent, a charge control agent, and an unmodified polyester resin in an organic solvent. For example, a method of adding a solution or dispersion of a toner material prepared in such a manner and dispersing the toner material by shearing force may be used.

In emulsification or dispersion, the amount of the aqueous medium used is preferably 50 to 2,000 parts by mass, more preferably 100 to 1,000 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner material. This is because if the amount used is less than 50 parts by mass, the toner material is in a poorly dispersed state and toner particles having a predetermined particle size may not be obtained. Because it becomes.
In addition to the anionic surfactant and styrene / acrylic resin fine particles described above, the following inorganic compound dispersants and polymeric protective colloids can be used in combination with the aqueous medium. Examples of the hardly water-soluble inorganic compound dispersant include tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, colloidal silica, and hydroxyapatite.

  Examples of the polymeric protective colloid include acids, (meth) acrylic monomers containing hydroxyl groups, vinyl alcohol or ethers of vinyl alcohol, esters of vinyl alcohol and a compound containing a carboxyl group, amide compounds Alternatively, homopolymers or copolymers such as those having methylol compounds, chlorides, nitrogen atoms or heterocyclic rings thereof, polyoxyethylenes, celluloses, and the like can be given. Examples of the acids include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-cyanoacrylic acid, α-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, and the like. Examples of the (meth) acrylic monomer containing a hydroxyl group include β-hydroxyethyl acrylate, β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, β-hydroxypropyl acrylate, β-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and γ-acrylate. Hydroxypropyl, γ-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol Examples thereof include monomethacrylic acid ester, N-methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide and the like.

  Examples of vinyl alcohol or ethers with vinyl alcohol include vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, and the like. Examples of esters of a compound containing vinyl alcohol and a carboxyl group include vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, and vinyl butyrate. Moreover, as an amide compound or these methylol compounds, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide acid, or these methylol compounds etc. are mentioned, for example.

  Examples of chlorides include acrylic acid chloride and methacrylic acid chloride. Examples of homopolymers or copolymers having a nitrogen atom or a heterocyclic ring thereof include, for example, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole, and ethylene imine.

  Examples of the polyoxyethylene type include polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene Examples include ethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, and polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ester. Examples of celluloses include methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose.

  When using a dispersion stabilizer that is soluble in acids and alkalis such as calcium phosphate, remove the calcium phosphate from the fine particles by dissolving the calcium phosphate with an acid such as hydrochloric acid and then washing with water or decomposing with an enzyme. It becomes possible to do.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, an example of a manufacturing method using the apparatus for performing the above-mentioned continuous emulsification step B in the present invention, in particular, spiral protrusions on the inner wall for applying centrifugal force to the emulsion. An example of a manufacturing method using an apparatus having a mechanism having a rotating part that generates an axial flow that gives a shearing force after a pipe having the pipe will be described.
As the continuous emulsification equipment, tanks for storing [oil oil phase], [β oil phase], and [water phase] described later are used as tanks for [α oil phase] (001) and [β oil phase] (002) has a [water phase] tank (003), and is equipped with a liquid feed pump (004) (rotary pump) as a pump for accurately and continuously feeding these liquids.

[Α oil phase] and [β oil phase] fed using these pumps are premixed by passing through a static mixer (005) to become [oil phase] (described later).
The [oil phase] and [aqueous phase] are charged into the continuous emulsification mechanism through the pre-emulsification liquid charging port (Α).
The continuous emulsification mechanism in the present invention includes a cooler (006), an emulsifier (007) (pipeline homomixer), and a circulation piping section (008). The combined volume is the retention portion volume.
The emulsifier (007) (pipeline homomixer) hits the emulsifier using an apparatus such as an emulsifier and a disperser.

  Liquid introduced into the circulation piping section (008) in the continuous emulsification mechanism from the inlet (Α) of the pre-emulsified liquid (organic liquid phase (oil phase) before becoming emulsified, liquid containing the same, aqueous medium liquid) That is, the [oil phase] (organic liquid phase) and the [aqueous phase] are subjected to the first pass shearing by the emulsifier (007) (pipeline homomixer).

  The liquid leaving the emulsifier and passing through the circulation pipe (008) and the cooler (006) reaches the emulsified liquid discharge port (Z). Here, a part of the liquid is discharged from the circulation piping section (008) and sent to the emulsified liquid collection tank (009).

The principle that a part of the liquid is discharged is that the slurry liquid overflows from the staying part due to continuous introduction of the pre-emulsification liquid into the staying part.
The remaining liquid that has not been discharged passes through the circulation pipe section (008) and the cooler (006), and then passes through the flow rate adjustment valve (010) that is installed for the purpose of adjusting the circulation flow rate, and then emulsified again. It leads to the front liquid inlet (口).
Here, the [oil phase] and [water phase] are always newly added, and in the emulsifier (007) (pipeline homomixer), the remaining liquid that has not been discharged is sheared in the second pass, The newly introduced [oil phase] and [aqueous phase] undergo shear in the first pass.
As a result of permanently repeating this series of operations, toner particles having different numbers of passes are constantly sent to the emulsification completion liquid recovery tank (009) as an emulsification completion liquid present at a rate determined by the emulsification conditions. .

(Removal of organic solvent)
The organic solvent is removed from the emulsified slurry obtained by emulsification or dispersion. The organic solvent is removed by (1) a method of gradually raising the temperature of the entire reaction system to completely evaporate and remove the organic solvent in the oil droplets, and (2) spraying the emulsified dispersion in a dry atmosphere, Examples thereof include a method in which the water-insoluble organic solvent in the droplets is completely removed to form toner fine particles, and the aqueous dispersant is removed by evaporation. When the organic solvent is removed, toner particles are formed.

(Washing)
After removing the organic solvent to form toner particles, the formed toner particles are washed with ion-exchanged water to prepare a dispersion having a desired conductivity.

(Heat treatment)
The dispersion is heated. Examples of the heat treatment include (1) a method of heat-treating in a stationary state, and (2) a method of heat-treating with stirring, and when heat-treated, toner particles having a smooth surface are formed. Further, when the toner particles are dispersed with ion-exchanged water, the heat treatment may be performed before or after cleaning.

(Dry)
The formed toner particles are dried and then classified as desired.
The classification is performed, for example, by removing fine particle portions in a liquid by a cyclone, a decanter, centrifugation, or the like. The classification operation may be performed after obtaining the powder after drying.

  The toner particles thus obtained are mixed with particles such as a colorant, a release agent, and a charge control agent, and further a mechanical impact force is applied to the particles such as a release agent from the surface of the toner particles. Can be prevented from desorbing. As a method of applying a mechanical impact force, for example, a method of applying an impact force to a mixture with a blade rotating at high speed, a mixture of particles in a high-speed air stream and acceleration to mix particles or a composite particle is a suitable collision plate. And the like. As an apparatus used in this method, for example, an ong mill (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), an I-type mill (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.) and a pulverization air pressure is lowered, and a hybridization system (Nara Machinery). Mfg. Co., Ltd.), Kryptron System (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.), automatic mortar, and the like.

[Full-color image forming method]
The full color image forming method of the present invention comprises a charging step of charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a charging unit, an exposure step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member with an exposing unit, and the electrostatic A developing step of forming a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member on which the latent image is formed by a developing unit including toner, and a toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member by a primary transfer unit. A primary transfer step, a secondary transfer step of transferring a toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto a recording material by a secondary transfer means, and heat and pressure fixing of the toner image transferred onto the recording material. A fixing step of fixing on a recording material by a fixing means including a member, and cleaning of residual toner adhering to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member having the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member by the primary transfer means. And a cleaning step of cleaning the stage. The toner used in the development process is the above-described toner of the present invention. In the full-color image forming method of the present invention, in the secondary transfer step, the linear velocity of transfer of the toner image to the recording material is 100 to 1000 mm / sec, and the transfer time at the nip portion of the secondary transfer means is 0.5. It is preferable to be set to ˜60 msec. The full color image forming method of the present invention preferably employs a tandem electrophotographic image forming process.

(Charging process)
As the charging device used in the image forming method of the present invention, for example, the contact type charging device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be used.

<Roller type charging device>
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an example of a roller charging device (500) which is a kind of contact charging device. A photosensitive member (505) as an image bearing member, which is a member to be charged, is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed (process speed) in the direction of the arrow. The charging roller (501), which is a charging member brought into contact with the photosensitive member (505), has a core metal (502) and a conductive rubber layer (503) formed on the roller concentrically and integrally on the outer periphery of the core metal (502). The basic structure is such that both ends of the core metal are held freely rotating by a bearing member (not shown), and are pressed against the photosensitive drum with a predetermined pressure by a pressing means (not shown). The roller (501) rotates following the rotational drive of the photoreceptor (505). The charging roller (501) is formed to a diameter of 16 mm by coating a medium resistance conductive rubber layer (503) of about 100,000 Ω · cm on a core metal having a diameter of 9 mm. The cored bar (502) of the charging roller (501) and the illustrated power source (504) are electrically connected, and a predetermined bias is applied to the charging roller (501) by the power source (504). As a result, the peripheral surface of the photoconductor (505) is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential.

<Fur brush type charging device>
The shape of the charging device used in the present invention may take any form, such as a magnetic brush type charging device or a fur brush type charging device, in addition to the roller type charging device. Can be selected. When a magnetic brush charging device is used, the magnetic brush is composed of various ferrite particles such as Zn-Cu ferrite as a charging member, a non-magnetic conductive sleeve for supporting the charging member, and a magnet roll included therein. The In addition, when using a fur brush type charging device, for example, as a material of the fur brush, a fur treated with carbon, copper sulfide, metal, and metal oxide is used, and this is used as a metal or other conductive treated core. A charging device is formed by winding or sticking on gold.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of an example of a contact-type brush charging device (510). A photoconductor (515) as an image carrier as a member to be charged is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed (process speed) in the direction of the arrow. A fur brush roller (511) constituted by a fur brush is brought into contact with the photoconductor (515) with a predetermined nip width with a predetermined pressing force against the elasticity of the brush portion (513).

  The fur brush roller (511) as a contact charging device in this example is composed of a metal cored bar (512) having a diameter of 6 mm which also serves as an electrode, and a conductive rayon fiber REC manufactured by Unitika Ltd. as a brush part (513). A tape with -B piled is wound spirally into a roll brush with an outer diameter of 14 mm and a longitudinal length of 250 mm. The brush of the brush portion (513) has a density of 300 denier / 50 filaments and 155 brushes per square millimeter. This roll brush was inserted into a pipe having an inner diameter of 12 mm while rotating in one direction, and the brush and the pipe were set to be concentric, and left in a high-temperature and high-humidity atmosphere to bend and bevel.

The resistance value of the fur brush roller (511) is 1 × 10 ⁵ Ω at an applied voltage of 100V. This resistance value was converted from the current that flows when a fur brush roller is brought into contact with a metal drum having a diameter of φ30 mm with a nip width of 3 mm and a voltage of 100 V is applied. The resistance value of the brush-type charging device (510) is such that even when a low-voltage defective portion such as a pinhole is generated on the photosensitive member (515) to be charged, an excessive leak current flows into this portion. In order to prevent an image defect in which the nip portion is poorly charged, it is necessary to be 10 ⁴ Ω or more, and in order to sufficiently inject charges onto the surface of the photoreceptor (515), it is necessary to be 10 ⁷ Ω or less.

  As the material of the brush, in addition to REC-B manufactured by Unitika Ltd., REC-C, REC-M1, REC-M10, SA-7 manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc., manufactured by Nippon Kashiwa Co., Ltd. Possible examples include Sanderlon, Kanebo Beltron, Kuraray Co., Ltd., Krabobo, carbon dispersion in rayon, Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. global. One brush is 3 to 10 denier, and preferably has a density of 10 to 100 filaments / bundle and 80 to 600 brushes / mm. The hair foot is preferably 1 to 10 mm.

The fur brush roller (511) is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed (surface speed) in a direction (counter) opposite to the rotation direction of the photoconductor (515), and contacts the photoconductor surface with a speed difference. A predetermined charging voltage is applied to the brush roller (511) from the power source (514), so that the surface of the rotating photosensitive member is uniformly contact-charged to a predetermined polarity and potential.
In this example, the contact charging of the photoreceptor (515) by the fur brush roller (511) is performed by direct injection charging, and the surface of the rotating photoreceptor is almost equal to the applied charging voltage to the fur brush roller (511). Charged to potential.
In addition to the fur brush roller (511), the charging member used in the present invention may take any form such as a charging roller or a fur brush, and can be selected according to the specifications and form of the electrophotographic apparatus. is there. When a charging roller is used, it is generally used by coating a medium resistance rubber layer of about 100,000 Ω · cm on a cored bar. In the case of using a magnetic brush, the magnetic brush is made up of various ferrite particles such as Zn-Cu ferrite as a charging member, a nonmagnetic conductive sleeve for supporting it, and a magnet roll included therein.

  As a magnetic brush as a contact charging member in this example, Zn—Cu ferrite particles having an average particle diameter of 25 μm and Zn—Cu ferrite particles having an average particle diameter of 10 μm are mixed at a weight ratio of 1: 0.05, Magnetic particles obtained by coating ferrite particles having an average particle diameter of 25 μm and having a peak at each average particle diameter position with a medium resistance resin layer were used. The contact charging member is composed of the coated magnetic particles prepared above, a nonmagnetic conductive sleeve for supporting the coated magnetic particles, and a magnet roll included therein, and the coated magnetic particles are formed on the sleeve with a thickness. Coating was performed at 1 mm to form a charging nip having a width of about 5 mm between the photosensitive member and the photosensitive member. The gap between the magnetic particle holding sleeve and the photosensitive member was about 500 μm. Further, the magnet roll is rotated so that the sleeve surface rubs in the opposite direction at twice as fast as the peripheral speed of the surface of the photoconductor, and the photoconductor and the magnetic brush are in uniform contact with each other. I did it.

(Development process)
In developing the latent image on the photoreceptor in the present invention, it is preferable to apply an alternating electric field. In the developing device (600) shown in FIG. 4, during development, a vibration bias voltage obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage is applied to the developing sleeve (601) as a developing bias by a power source (602). The background portion potential and the image portion potential are located between the maximum value and the minimum value of the vibration bias potential. As a result, an alternating electric field whose direction changes alternately is formed in the developing portion (603). In this alternating electric field, the developer toner and the carrier vibrate vigorously, and the toner (605) flies to the photosensitive member (604) by shaking off the electrostatic binding force to the developing sleeve (601) and the carrier. It adheres corresponding to the latent image. The toner (605) is a toner manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method of the present invention.

  The difference (maximum peak voltage) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the vibration bias voltage is preferably 0.5 to 5 kV, and the frequency is preferably 1 to 10 kHz. As the waveform of the vibration bias voltage, a rectangular wave, a sine wave, a triangular wave, or the like can be used. As described above, the DC voltage component of the vibration bias is a value between the background part potential and the image part potential, but the value closer to the background part potential than the image part potential is more likely to cover the background part potential region. This is preferable for preventing toner adhesion.

  When the vibration bias voltage waveform is a rectangular wave, the duty ratio is preferably 50% or less. Here, the duty ratio is a ratio of time during which the toner is directed to the photosensitive member during one period of the vibration bias. By doing so, the difference between the peak value at which the toner is directed to the photoreceptor and the time average value of the bias can be increased, so that the movement of the toner is further activated and the potential of the latent image surface is increased. It can adhere to the distribution and improve the roughness and resolution. In addition, since the difference between the peak value of the carrier having a charge opposite to that of the toner and the time average value of the bias toward the photosensitive member can be reduced, the movement of the carrier is reduced, and the background portion of the latent image is reduced. The probability of carriers adhering to the substrate can be greatly reduced.

(Fixing device)
As the fixing device used in the image forming method of the present invention, for example, the fixing device shown in FIG. 5 can be used. The fixing device shown in FIG. 5 includes a heating roller (710) heated by electromagnetic induction of the induction heating means (760), and a fixing roller (720) (opposite rotating body) arranged in parallel with the heating roller (710). And an endless belt-like fixing belt that is stretched between a heating roller (710) and a fixing roller (720), heated by the heating roller (710), and rotated in the direction of arrow A by at least rotation of any of these rollers. A heat-resistant belt (toner heating medium) (730) and a pressure roller (740) that is pressed against the fixing roller (720) via the fixing belt (730) and rotates in the forward direction with respect to the fixing belt (730). (Pressure rotator).

The heating roller (710) is made of, for example, a hollow cylindrical magnetic metal member such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or an alloy of these metals, and has an outer diameter of, for example, 20 to 40 mm and a wall thickness of, for example, 0.3 to 1.0 mm. It has a low heat capacity and quick temperature rise.
The fixing roller (720) (opposite rotating body) is made of, for example, a metal core (721) made of stainless steel or the like and a heat-resistant silicone rubber that is solid or foamed and covered with the core (721). It consists of a member (722). In order to form a contact portion having a predetermined width between the pressure roller (740) and the fixing roller (720) by the pressing force from the pressure roller (740), the outer shape is set to about 20 to 40 mm. 710). The elastic member (722) has a thickness of about 4 to 6 mm. With this configuration, since the heat capacity of the heating roller (710) is smaller than the heat capacity of the fixing roller (720), the heating roller (710) is rapidly heated and the warm-up time is shortened.

  The fixing belt (730) stretched between the heating roller (710) and the fixing roller (720) is heated at the contact portion (W1) with the heating roller (710) heated by the induction heating means (760). . Then, the inner surface of the fixing belt (730) is continuously heated by the rotation of the heating roller (710) and the fixing roller (720). As a result, the entire belt is heated.

FIG. 6 shows a layer structure of the fixing belt (730). The belt (730) has the following four layers from the inner layer to the surface layer, and can be configured as follows.
-Substrate (731): Resin layer such as polyimide (PI) resin-Heat generation layer (732): Conductive material layer such as Ni, Ag, SUS-Intermediate layer (733): Elastic layer for uniform fixing-Release layer (734): Resin layer such as fluorine resin material for releasing effect and oil-less

  The thickness of the release layer (734) is preferably about 10 μm to 300 μm, particularly about 200 μm. In this manner, in the fixing device (700) as shown in FIG. 5, the toner image (T) formed on the recording material (770) is sufficiently wrapped by the surface layer portion of the fixing belt (730). The image (T) can be heated and melted uniformly. The thickness of the release layer (734), that is, the surface release layer, needs to be at least 10 μm in order to ensure wear resistance over time. Further, when the thickness of the release layer (734) is larger than 300 μm, the heat capacity of the fixing belt (730) is increased and the time required for warm-up is increased. Further, the surface temperature of the fixing belt (730) is hardly lowered in the toner image fixing step, and the effect of aggregating the melted toner at the fixing portion outlet cannot be obtained, and the releasability of the fixing belt (730) is lowered. The toner of the toner image (T) adheres to the fixing belt (730), and so-called hot offset occurs. The heat generating layer (732) made of the above metal may be used as the base of the fixing belt (730), but the heat resistance of fluorine resin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin, polyamideimide resin, PEEK resin, PES resin, PPS resin, etc. A resin layer having properties may be used.

  The pressure roller (740) includes, for example, a metal core (741) made of a metal cylindrical member having a high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum, and heat resistance and toner separation provided on the surface of the metal core (741). It is comprised from the elastic member (742) with high moldability. In addition to the above metal, SUS may be used for the core metal (741). The pressure roller (740) presses the fixing roller (720) via the fixing belt (730) to form a fixing nip (N). In this embodiment, the pressure roller (740) By making the hardness harder than that of the fixing roller (720), the pressure roller (740) bites into the fixing roller (720) (and the fixing belt (730)), and by this biting, the recording material (770) becomes. The recording material (770) is easily separated from the surface of the fixing belt (730) because it follows the circumferential shape of the surface of the pressure roller (740). The outer diameter of the pressure roller (740) is about 20 to 40 mm, which is the same as that of the fixing roller (720), but the wall pressure is about 0.5 to 2.0 mm and is thinner than the fixing roller (720).

  As shown in FIG. 5, an induction heating means (760) for heating the heating roller (710) by electromagnetic induction includes an excitation coil (761) as a magnetic field generation means and a coil around which the excitation coil (761) is wound. And a guide plate (762). The coil guide plate (762) has a semi-cylindrical shape disposed close to the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller (710), and the excitation coil (761) has a single long excitation coil wire as the coil guide plate (762). Along the axial direction of the heating roller (710). The excitation coil (761) has an oscillation circuit connected to a drive power supply (not shown) whose frequency is variable. On the outside of the exciting coil (761), a semi-cylindrical exciting coil core (763) made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite is fixed to the exciting coil core support member (764) and is disposed close to the exciting coil (761). Yes.

[Process cartridge]
The process cartridge of the present invention includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Developing means for converting the electrostatic latent image formed on the body into a toner image with toner, and transferring the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto a recording material with or without an intermediate transfer member. A transfer unit; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording material onto the recording material by a heat and pressure fixing member; and a toner image that has been transferred onto the intermediate transfer member or the recording material by the transfer unit. Among the means in the image forming apparatus provided with the cleaning means for cleaning the transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the above means including at least the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing means. Supporting the body is obtained by detachable to the image forming apparatus main body. The developing means includes a toner manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method of the present invention. As the developing unit and the charging unit, the above-described developing device and charging device can be preferably used.

  An example of the process cartridge of the present invention is shown in FIG. The process cartridge (800) shown in FIG. 7 includes a photoreceptor (801), a charging unit (802), a developing unit (803), and a cleaning unit (806). The operation of the process cartridge (800) will be described. The photosensitive member (801) is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed. In the rotating process, the photosensitive member (801) is uniformly charged at a predetermined positive or negative potential on its peripheral surface by the charging means (802), and then from an image exposure means (not shown) such as slit exposure or laser beam scanning exposure. In this way, an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor (801), and the formed electrostatic latent image is then converted into a toner image by the developing means (802) and developed. The toner image is sequentially transferred from the paper feeding unit to the recording material fed between the photosensitive member (801) and a transfer unit (not shown) in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive member (801) by the transfer unit. . The recording material that has undergone image transfer is separated from the surface of the photosensitive member, introduced into an image fixing means (not shown), and fixed on the image, and printed out as a copy (copy). The surface of the photoconductor (801) after the image transfer is cleaned by removing the transfer residual toner by the cleaning means (806), and after being further discharged, it is repeatedly used for image formation.

(Full color image forming method)
As the full-color image forming apparatus used in the full-color image forming method of the present invention, for example, the tandem image forming apparatus (100) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be used.
In FIG. 8, an image forming apparatus (100) includes an image writing unit (120Bk, 120C, 120M, 120Y), an image forming unit (130Bk, 130C, 130M, 130Y), a supply for performing color image formation by electrophotography. It is mainly composed of a paper portion (140). Based on the image signal, image processing is performed by an image processing unit (not shown) and converted into black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) color signals for image formation, It transmits to an image writing part (120Bk, 120C, 120M, 120Y). The image writing unit (120Bk, 120C, 120M, 120Y) is, for example, a laser scanning optical system including a laser light source, a deflector such as a rotary polygon mirror, a scanning imaging optical system, and a mirror group (none of which are shown). Yes, it has four writing optical paths corresponding to the respective color signals, and performs image writing corresponding to the respective color signals to the image forming units (130Bk, 130C, 130M, 130Y).

  The image forming unit (130Bk, 130C, 130M, 130Y) includes photoconductors (210Bk, 210C, 210M, 210Y) for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and photoconductors (210Bk, 210C, 210M and 210Y) are usually OPC photoreceptors. Around each of the photoconductors (210Bk, 210C, 210M, 210Y), there are charging devices (215Bk, 215C, 215M, 215Y), and laser light exposure units from the image writing unit (120Bk, 120C, 120M, 120Y). , Developing devices for respective colors (200Bk, 200C, 200M, 200Y), primary transfer devices (230Bk, 230C, 230M, 230Y), cleaning devices (300Bk, 300C, 300M, 300Y), static eliminators (not shown), etc. Is arranged. The developing device (200Bk, 200C, 200M, 200Y) uses a two-component magnetic brush developing system. An intermediate transfer belt (220) is interposed between each photoconductor (210Bk, 210C, 210M, 210Y) and the primary transfer device (230Bk, 230C, 230M, 230Y), and the intermediate transfer belt (220). The toner images of the respective colors are sequentially transferred from the respective photoconductors so as to carry the toner images on the respective photoconductors.

  In some cases, a pre-transfer charger as a pre-transfer charging unit is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt (220) at a position after passing through the primary transfer position of the final color and before passing through the secondary transfer position. preferable. This pre-transfer charger converts the toner image into a toner image before transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) transferred to the photosensitive member (210) in the primary transfer portion onto a transfer sheet as a recording material. It is uniformly charged to the same polarity.

  The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) transferred from each photoconductor (210Bk, 210C, 210M, 210Y) includes a halftone portion and a solid portion, or includes a portion where the amount of toner overlap is different. Therefore, the charge amount may vary. Further, when the discharge amount generated in the gap adjacent to the downstream side of the primary transfer portion in the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt causes variation in charge amount in the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) after the primary transfer. There is also. Such variation in the charge amount in the same toner image lowers the transfer margin in the secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) onto the transfer paper. Therefore, the toner image before being transferred to the transfer paper by the pre-transfer charger is uniformly charged to the same polarity as the toner image, thereby eliminating the variation in the charge amount in the same toner image and the transfer margin in the secondary transfer portion. Has improved.

  As described above, according to this image forming method, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) transferred from each photoconductor (210Bk, 210C, 210M, 210Y) is uniformly charged by the pre-transfer charger, whereby the intermediate transfer belt. Even if there is a variation in the charge amount in the toner image on (220), the transfer characteristics in the secondary transfer portion can be made substantially constant across the portions of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220). Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in transfer margin when transferring to transfer paper and to stably transfer a toner image.

  In this image forming method, the amount of charge charged by the pre-transfer charger varies depending on the moving speed of the intermediate transfer belt (220) that is the object to be charged. For example, if the moving speed of the intermediate transfer belt (220) is slow, the time for the same portion of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) to pass through the charging area by the pre-transfer charger becomes long, and the charge amount increases. Conversely, when the moving speed of the intermediate transfer belt (220) is fast, the charge amount of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) becomes small. Therefore, when the moving speed of the intermediate transfer belt (220) changes while the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) passes through the charging position by the pre-transfer charger, the intermediate transfer belt (220 It is desirable to control the pre-transfer charger so that the charge amount with respect to the toner image does not change in the middle according to the movement speed of ().

  Conductive rollers (241), (242), and (243) are provided between the primary transfer devices (230Bk, 230C, 230M, and 230Y). The transfer paper is fed from the paper feed unit (140), and is then carried by the transfer belt via the registration roller pair (160). The secondary transfer is performed when the intermediate transfer belt (220) and the transfer belt are in contact with each other. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt (220) is transferred onto the transfer paper by the roller (170), and a color image is formed.

  Then, the transfer paper after image formation is conveyed to the fixing device (150) by the secondary transfer belt (180), and the image is fixed to obtain a color image. The toner on the intermediate transfer belt (220) remaining without being transferred is removed from the belt by an intermediate transfer belt cleaning device.

  Since the toner polarity on the intermediate transfer belt (220) before transfer onto the transfer paper is the same negative polarity as that during development, a positive transfer bias voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller (170), and the toner is transferred. It is transferred onto paper. The nip pressure at this portion affects the transfer property and greatly affects the fixability. Further, the toner on the intermediate transfer belt (220) remaining without being transferred is discharged and charged to the positive polarity side and charged from 0 to the positive side at the moment when the transfer paper and the intermediate transfer belt (220) are separated. Note that the toner image formed when the transfer paper is jammed or in the non-image area is not affected by the secondary transfer, and of course remains in the negative polarity.

  The thickness of the photosensitive layer is 30 μm, the beam spot diameter of the optical system is 50 × 60 μm, and the light quantity is 0.47 mW. The developing process is carried out with the charging (exposure side) potential V0 of the photoconductor (black) (210Bk) set to -700V, the post-exposure potential VL set to -120V, and the developing bias voltage set to -470V, ie, the developing potential 350V. The visible image of the toner (black) formed on the photoconductor (black) (210Bk) is then transferred (intermediate transfer belt and transfer paper) and completed as an image through a fixing process. First, all the colors are transferred from the primary transfer device (230Bk, 230C, 230M, 230Y) to the intermediate transfer belt (220), and then transferred to the transfer paper by applying a bias to another secondary transfer roller (170). Transcribed.

  Next, the photoconductor cleaning device will be described in detail. In FIG. 8, each developing device (200Bk, 200C, 200M, 200Y) and each cleaning device (300Bk, 300C, 300M, 300Y) are connected to each other by a toner transfer pipe (250Bk, 250C, 250M, 250Y). (Dotted line in FIG. 8). Each toner transfer pipe (250Bk, 250C, 250M, 250Y) contains a screw (not shown), and the toner collected by each cleaning device (300Bk, 300C, 300M, 300Y) Each developing device (200Bk, 200C, 200M, 200Y) is transferred.

  In the conventional direct transfer method using the combination of the four photosensitive drums and the belt conveyance, paper dust adheres when the photoreceptor and the transfer paper come into contact with each other, and the paper dust is contained when the toner is collected. The image was deteriorated such as toner missing and could not be used. Furthermore, in the conventional system combining a single photoconductor drum and intermediate transfer, the use of an intermediate transfer member eliminates paper dust adhesion to the photoconductor during transfer paper transfer, but recycling of residual toner on the photoconductor In practice, it is practically impossible to separate the mixed color toners. There is also a proposal to use a mixed color toner as a black toner, but even if all the colors are mixed, it does not become black, and the color changes depending on the print mode. Therefore, it is impossible to recycle the toner with one photoconductor configuration.

  On the other hand, in this full-color image forming apparatus, since the intermediate transfer belt (220) is used, paper dust is hardly mixed, and adhesion of paper dust to the intermediate transfer belt (220) during paper transfer is prevented. The Since each photoconductor (210Bk, 210C, 210M, 210Y) uses independent color toner, it is not necessary to contact or separate each photoconductor cleaning device (300Bk, 300C, 300M, 300Y), and only the toner is reliably collected. can do.

  The positively charged toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt (220) is cleaned by a conductive fur brush (262) to which a negative voltage is applied. The method of applying a voltage to the conductive fur brush (262) is exactly the same as that of the conductive fur brush (261) except for the polarity. The toner remaining without being transferred is also almost cleaned by the two conductive fur brushes (261) and (262). Here, toner, paper powder, talc, and the like remaining without being cleaned by the conductive fur brush (262) are negatively charged by the negative voltage of the conductive fur brush (262). The next black primary transfer is a transfer using a positive voltage, and negatively charged toner or the like is attracted to the intermediate transfer belt (220) side, so that the transfer to the photoconductor (black) (210Bk) side can be prevented.

  Next, the intermediate transfer belt (220) used in this image forming apparatus will be described. As described above, the intermediate transfer belt is preferably a single resin layer, but may have an elastic layer or a surface layer as necessary.

  As the resin material constituting the resin layer, polycarbonate, fluororesin (ETFE, PVDF), polystyrene, chloropolystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-vinyl chloride copolymer, styrene -Vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer) Styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer and styrene-phenyl acrylate copolymer), styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene- (Methacrylic acid phenyl copolymer, etc.), styrene -Styrenic resins (monopolymer or copolymer containing styrene or a styrene-substituted product) such as methyl α-chloroacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid ester copolymer, methyl methacrylate resin, methacrylic acid Butyl resin, ethyl acrylate resin, butyl acrylate resin, modified acrylic resin (silicone modified acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin modified acrylic resin, acrylic / urethane resin, etc.), vinyl chloride resin, styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride -Vinyl acetate copolymer, rosin modified maleic acid resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyester polyurethane resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, polyvinylidene chloride, ionomer resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin , Ketone resin, ethylene - ethyl acrylate copolymer, may be used xylene resin and polyvinyl butyral resin, polyamide resin, one kind or two kinds or more selected from the group consisting of modified polyphenylene oxide resin. However, it is a matter of course that the material is not limited to the above materials.

  Examples of the elastic material (elastic material rubber, elastomer) constituting the elastic layer include butyl rubber, fluorine-based rubber, acrylic rubber, EPDM, NBR, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene rubber natural rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, Butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene terpolymer, chloroprene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, urethane rubber, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, epichlorohydrin rubber, ricone rubber, fluororubber, Polysulfide rubber, polynorbornene rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, thermoplastic elastomer (eg polystyrene, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyamide, polyurea, polyester) It is possible to use one kind or two kinds or more selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon resin) or the like. However, it is a matter of course that the material is not limited to the above materials.

  The material for the surface layer is not particularly limited, but a material that reduces the adhesive force of the toner to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and increases the secondary transfer property is required. For example, materials that use one or more of polyurethane, polyester, epoxy resin, etc. to reduce surface energy and increase lubricity, such as fluorine resin, fluorine compound, fluorocarbon, titanium dioxide, silicon carbide, etc. One kind or two or more kinds of powders and particles or particles having different particle diameters can be dispersed and used. Further, it is also possible to use a material having a surface energy reduced by forming a fluorine-rich layer on the surface by heat treatment, such as a fluorine-based rubber material.

  A resistance value adjusting conductive agent is added to the resin layer and the elastic layer. The conductive agent for adjusting the resistance value is not particularly limited. For example, carbon black, graphite, metal powder such as aluminum and nickel, tin oxide, titanium oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, potassium titanate, antimony oxide-tin oxide Conductive metal oxides such as composite oxide (ATO) and indium oxide-tin oxide composite oxide (ITO), and conductive metal oxide covered with insulating fine particles such as barium sulfate, magnesium silicate, and calcium carbonate. It may be a thing. Of course, the conductive agent is not limited thereto.

FIG. 9 shows another example of the image forming apparatus used in the image forming method of the present invention, which is a copying apparatus (100) provided with a tandem indirect transfer type electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 9, reference numeral (110) is a copying apparatus main body, (200) is a paper feed table on which the copying apparatus is placed, (300) is a scanner mounted on the copying apparatus main body (110), and (400) is an automatic document to be mounted thereon. It is a transport device (ADF). The copying machine main body (110) is provided with an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member (10) in the center.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, in this example, it is wound around three support rollers (14), (15), (16) so as to be able to rotate and convey clockwise in the figure. In this illustrated example, an intermediate transfer body cleaning device (17) for removing residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body (10) after image transfer is provided on the left of the second support roller (15) among the three. Further, among the three, the intermediate transfer member (10) stretched between the first support roller (14) and the second support roller (15) has yellow, cyan and magenta along the transport direction. The black image forming means (18) are arranged side by side to constitute a tandem image forming apparatus (120).

An exposure device (21) is further provided on the tandem image forming apparatus (120) as shown in FIG. Meanwhile, a secondary transfer device (22) is provided on the side opposite to the tandem image forming device (120) with the intermediate transfer member (10) interposed therebetween. In the illustrated example, the secondary transfer device (22) includes a secondary transfer belt (24), which is an endless belt, spanned between two rollers (23), and the second transfer device (22) passes through an intermediate transfer member (10). 3 is pressed against the support roller (16), and the image on the intermediate transfer body (10) is transferred to the sheet. Next to the secondary transfer device (22), a fixing device (25) for fixing the transferred image on the sheet is provided. The fixing device (25) is configured by pressing a pressure roller (27) against a fixing belt (26) which is an endless belt. The secondary transfer device (22) described above is also provided with a sheet transport function for transporting the image-transferred sheet to the fixing device (25). Of course, as the secondary transfer device (22), a transfer roller or a non-contact charger may be arranged. In such a case, it is difficult to provide this sheet conveying function together.
In the illustrated example, a sheet is placed under such a secondary transfer device (22) and a fixing device (25) to record an image on both sides of the sheet in parallel with the tandem image forming device (120). A sheet inverting device (28) for inverting is provided.

  Now, when making a copy using this color electrophotographic apparatus, the document is set on the document table (130) of the automatic document feeder (400). Alternatively, the automatic document feeder (400) is opened, a document is set on the contact glass (32) of the scanner (300), and the automatic document feeder (400) is closed and pressed by it.

  When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, when the document is set on the automatic document feeder (400), the document is transported and moved onto the contact glass (32), and then the other contact glass (32). When a document is set on the scanner, the scanner (300) is immediately driven to travel on the first traveling body (33) and the second traveling body (34). Then, the first traveling body (33) emits light from the light source, and the reflected light from the document surface is further reflected toward the second traveling body (34) and reflected by the mirror of the second traveling body (34). Then, the image is placed in the reading sensor (36) through the imaging lens (35) and the content of the original is read.

  When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, one of the support rollers (14), (15), and (16) is driven to rotate by the drive motor (not shown), and the other two support rollers are driven to rotate. The transfer body (10) is rotated and conveyed. At the same time, the individual image forming means (18) rotates the photoreceptor (40) to form monochrome images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan on each photoreceptor (40). Then, along with the conveyance of the intermediate transfer member (10), these monochrome images are sequentially transferred to form a composite color image on the intermediate transfer member (10).

  On the other hand, when a start switch (not shown) is pressed, one of the paper feed rollers (142) of the paper feed table (200) is selectively rotated, and one of paper feed cassettes (144) provided in multiple stages in the paper bank (143). The sheet is fed out from the sheet, separated one by one by a separation roller (145), put into a sheet feeding path (146), and conveyed by a conveying roller (147) to a sheet feeding path (148) in the copying machine main body (100). Guide and stop against the registration roller (49).

  Alternatively, the sheet feeding roller (50) is rotated to feed out the sheets on the manual feed tray (51), separated one by one by the separation roller (58), and put into the manual sheet feeding path (53). ) And stop.

  Then, the registration roller (49) is rotated in time with the composite color image on the intermediate transfer member (10), and the sheet is fed between the intermediate transfer member (10) and the secondary transfer device (22). The image is transferred by the next transfer device (22) and a color image is recorded on the sheet.

  The sheet after the image transfer is conveyed by the secondary transfer device (22) and sent to the fixing device (25). The fixing device (25) applies heat and pressure to fix the transferred image, and then the switching claw. It is switched at (55), discharged by the discharge roller (56), and stacked on the discharge tray (57). Alternatively, it is switched by the switching claw (55) and put into the sheet reversing device (28), where it is reversed and guided again to the transfer position, and an image is recorded also on the back surface, and then the paper discharge tray (56) is discharged by the discharge roller (56). 57) Drain up.

  On the other hand, the intermediate transfer body (10) after the image transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device (17) to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body (10) after the image transfer, and the tandem image forming apparatus (120). To prepare for image formation again. Here, the registration roller (49) is generally used while being grounded, but it is also possible to apply a bias for removing paper dust from the sheet.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to the Example and comparative example which are illustrated here. In addition, the part in an Example represents a mass part unless there is particular description.
First, the measurement method will be described.

(Measurement method of particle size of dispersed particles and dispersed particle size of toner material liquid)
In the present invention, “Microtrac UPA-150” (manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) is used to measure the dispersoid particle size and dispersion particle size distribution of the toner material liquid, and analysis software “Microtrac Particle Size Analyzer-Ver. Analysis was performed using “10.1.2-016EE” (manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.). Specifically, the toner material liquid and then the solvent used for the toner material liquid preparation were added to a glass 30 ml sample bottle to prepare a 10 mass% dispersion. The obtained dispersion was subjected to a dispersion treatment for 2 minutes with an “ultrasonic disperser W-113MK-II” (Honda Electronics Co., Ltd.).
After measuring the background with the solvent used for the toner material liquid to be measured, the dispersion was dropped, and the dispersed particle size was measured under the condition that the sample loading value of the measuring device was in the range of 1-10. In this measurement method, it is important to measure under the condition that the sample loading value of the measuring device is in the range of 1 to 10 from the viewpoint of measurement reproducibility of the dispersed particle size. In order to obtain the sample loading value, it is necessary to adjust the dripping amount of the dispersion.
Measurement and analysis conditions were set as follows.
Distribution display: volume, particle size classification selection: standard, number of channels: 44, measurement time: 60 sec, number of measurements: once, particle permeability: transmission, particle refractive index: 1.5, particle shape: non-spherical, density: 1 g / cm ³
The value of the solvent refractive index was the value of the solvent used in the toner material liquid among the values described in “Guidelines on Input Conditions at Measurement” published by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.

(BET specific surface area of toner)
The BET specific surface area of the toner was measured using an automatic specific surface area / pore distribution measuring device TriStar 3000 (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). 1 g of toner was put in a dedicated cell, and the degassing process in the dedicated cell was performed using TriStar degassing dedicated unit, Bacuprep 061 (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). The deaeration treatment was performed at room temperature, and was performed for 20 hours under a reduced pressure condition of at least 100 mtorr or less. The dedicated cell that has been deaerated can automatically obtain the BET specific surface area using TriStar 3000. Note that nitrogen gas was used as the adsorption gas.

[Production of toner]
A specific preparation example of the toner used for the evaluation will be described. The toner used in the present invention is not limited to these examples.

(Preparation of solution or dispersion of toner material)
~ Synthesis of unmodified polyester (low molecular weight polyester) ~
In a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling tube, a stirrer and a nitrogen introduction tube, 67 parts by mass of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct, 84 parts by mass of bisphenol A propion oxide 3 mol adduct, 274 parts by mass of terephthalic acid, and dibutyltin oxide 2 parts by mass were added and reacted at 230 ° C. under normal pressure for 8 hours. Next, the reaction solution was reacted for 5 hours under a reduced pressure of 10 to 15 mmHg to synthesize an unmodified polyester, and an aqueous dispersion was obtained by phase inversion emulsification.
The obtained unmodified polyester has an acid value of 17 mgKOH / g, a particle size of 100 nm, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 2,100, a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 5,600, and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 50. ° C.

-Preparation of masterbatch (MB)-
1000 parts by mass of water, 540 parts by mass of carbon black (“Printex35”; manufactured by Degussa, DBP oil absorption = 42 ml / 100 g, pH = 9.5) and 1200 parts by mass of the unmodified polyester were combined with a Henschel mixer (Mitsui Mine). Mixed). The mixture was kneaded for 30 minutes at 150 ° C. with two rolls, rolled and cooled, and pulverized with a pulverizer (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron) to prepare a master batch.

~ Synthesis of prepolymer ~
In a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling tube, a stirrer and a nitrogen introduction tube, 682 parts by mass of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct, 81 parts by mass of bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 mol adduct, 283 parts by mass of terephthalic acid, trimellitic anhydride 22 parts by mass of acid and 2 parts by mass of dibutyltin oxide were charged and reacted at 230 ° C. for 8 hours under normal pressure. Subsequently, it was made to react under reduced pressure of 10-15mHg for 5 hours, and the intermediate polyester was synthesize | combined. The obtained intermediate polyester has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 2,100, a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 9,600, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 55 ° C., an acid value of 0.5, and a hydroxyl value of 49.
Next, 411 parts by mass of the intermediate polyester, 89 parts by mass of isophorone diisocyanate, and 500 parts by mass of ethyl acetate are charged in a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling tube, a stirrer, and a nitrogen introduction tube, and reacted at 100 ° C. for 5 hours. Thus, a prepolymer (polymer capable of reacting with the active hydrogen group-containing compound) was synthesized. The free isocyanate content of the obtained prepolymer was 1.60% by mass, and the solid content concentration of the prepolymer (after standing at 150 ° C. for 45 minutes) was 50% by mass.

-Preparation of toner material phase-
In a beaker, 100 parts by mass of the unmodified polyester and 130 parts by mass of ethyl acetate were stirred and dissolved. Next, 10 parts by mass of carnauba wax (molecular weight = 1,800, acid value = 2.5, penetration = 1.5 mm (40 ° C.)) and 10 parts by mass of the master batch were charged, and a bead mill (“Ultra Visco” Mill "; manufactured by Imex Co., Ltd.), a raw material solution was prepared by three passes under the condition that the liquid feeding speed was 1 kg / hr, the disk peripheral speed was 6 m / s, and 80% by volume of 0.5 mm zirconia beads were filled, After adding 40 parts by mass of the prepolymer and stirring, [Dissolution or Dispersion of Toner Material] was prepared.

(Preparation of styrene / acrylic resin fine particles)
In a reaction vessel in which a stir bar and a thermometer were set, 683 parts of water, 16 parts of sodium salt of ethylene oxide methacrylate adduct sulfate (Eleminol RS-30, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries), 83 parts of styrene, 83 parts of methacrylic acid, When 110 parts of butyl acrylate and 1 part of ammonium persulfate were added and stirred at 400 rpm for 15 minutes, a white emulsion was obtained. The system was heated to raise the system temperature to 75 ° C. and reacted for 5 hours. Further, 30 parts of a 1% ammonium persulfate aqueous solution was added, and the mixture was aged at 75 ° C. for 5 hours, and an aqueous vinyl resin (a copolymer of styrene-methacrylic acid-butyl acrylate-methacrylic acid ethylene oxide adduct sulfate sodium salt) A dispersion was obtained. The volume average particle size of the styrene / acrylic resin fine particle dispersion (measured by LA-920 manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.) was 14 nm, the acid value was 45 mgKOH / g, the molecular weight Mw was 300,000, and Tg was 60 ° C.

(Preparation of acrylic resin fine particles)
In a reaction vessel equipped with a stir bar and thermometer, 683 parts of water, 10 parts of distearyldimethylammonium chloride (cation DS, manufactured by Kao), 144 parts of methyl methacrylate, 50 parts of butyl acrylate, 1 part of ammonium persulfate, ethylene glycol When 2 parts of dimethacrylate was charged and stirred at 400 rpm for 15 minutes, a white emulsion was obtained. The mixture was heated to raise the temperature in the system to 65 ° C. and reacted for 10 hours. Further, 30 parts of a 1% ammonium persulfate aqueous solution was added, and the mixture was aged at 75 ° C. for 5 hours to obtain an aqueous dispersion of an acrylic resin (methyl methacrylate) and an acrylic resin fine particle dispersion. The volume average particle diameter of the acrylic resin fine particles (measured by LA-920 manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.) was 35 nm, the acid value was 2 mgKOH / g, the molecular weight Mw was 30,000, and Tg was 63 ° C.

[Example 1]
-Manufacture of toner a-
-Preparation of toner material phase-
660 parts by mass of water, 25 parts by mass of the above styrene / acrylic resin fine particle dispersion, 25 parts by mass of an aqueous solution of 48.5% by mass of sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate (“Eleminol MON-7”; manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries), and ethyl acetate 60 parts by mass were mixed and stirred to obtain a milky white liquid (aqueous phase). Further, 50 parts by weight of acrylic resin fine particles were added. When observed with an optical microscope, several hundred μm aggregates were observed. When this aqueous medium phase was stirred at 8000 rpm using a TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.), it was confirmed by an optical microscope that the aggregates were loosened and could be dispersed into small aggregates of several μm. Accordingly, in the subsequent emulsification step of the toner material, it was expected that the acrylic resin fine particles were dispersed and adhered to the droplets of the toner material component. As described above, the acrylic resin fine particles are aggregated but are loosened by shearing in order to uniformly adhere to the toner surface.

~ Emulsification or preparation of dispersion ~
150 parts by mass of the aqueous medium phase is placed in a container, and stirred at a rotational speed of 12,000 rpm using a TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.). After the addition, emulsification or dispersion (emulsion slurry) was prepared by continuous emulsification at a shear rate of 20 m / sec.

~ Removal of organic solvent ~
Into a flask equipped with a deaeration pipe, a stirrer, and a thermometer, 100 parts by mass of the emulsified slurry was charged, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure at 30 ° C. for 12 hours while stirring at a stirring peripheral speed of 20 m / min. did.

~Washing~
After filtering the whole amount of the solvent removal slurry under reduced pressure, 300 parts by mass of ion-exchanged water was added to the filter cake, mixed and redispersed (at 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes) with a TK homomixer, and then filtered. Addition of 300 parts by mass of ion-exchanged water to the obtained filter cake, mixing with a TK homomixer (at 12,000 rpm for 10 minutes) and then filtering three times, the conductivity of the redispersed slurry Was 0.1 μS / cm or more and 10 μS / cm or less to obtain a cleaning slurry.

~ Dry ~
The obtained filter cake was dried at 45 ° C. for 48 hours with a forward air dryer and sieved with a mesh having a mesh size of 75 μm to obtain toner base particles a.

~ External treatment ~
To 100 parts by mass of toner base particles a, 0.6 parts by mass of hydrophobic silica having an average particle size of 100 nm, 1.0 part by mass of titanium oxide having an average particle size of 20 nm, and hydrophobic silica fine powder having an average particle size of 15 nm 0.8 part of the body was mixed with a Henschel mixer to obtain toner a.

[Example 2]
-Manufacture of toner b-
A toner b was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the shear rate during emulsification was 10 m / sec using the continuous emulsification apparatus of FIG.
The toner b was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 3]
-Manufacture of toner c-
A toner c was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the shear rate during emulsification was 30 m / sec using the continuous emulsification apparatus of FIG.
This toner c was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 4]
-Manufacture of toner d-
Toner d was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a particle diameter of 10 nm were used. The toner d is equivalent or superior to the toner a in terms of storage stability, and can sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storage stability.

[Example 5]
-Manufacture of toner e-
A toner e was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a particle diameter of 500 nm were used. The toner e was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storage stability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storage stability.

[Example 6]
-Manufacture of toner f-
Toner f was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a molecular weight of Mw 10,000 were used. This toner f was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 7]
-Manufacture of toner g-
Toner g was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a molecular weight Mw of 2,000,000 were used. The toner g was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storage stability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storage stability.

[Example 8]
-Manufacture of toner h-
Toner h was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a Tg of 40 ° C. were used. The toner h was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 9]
-Manufacture of toner i-
Toner i was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a Tg of 100 ° C. were used. The toner i is equivalent or superior to the toner a in terms of storage stability, and can sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storage stability.

[Example 10]
-Manufacture of toner j-
Toner j was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having an acid value of 0 mgKOH / g were used. This toner j was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 11]
-Manufacture of toner k-
Toner k was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having an acid value of 5 mgKOH / g were used. This toner k was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 12]
-Manufacture of toner l-
Toner l was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that polyester resin fine particles having a molecular weight of Mw 1,000 were used. This toner l is equivalent or superior to the toner a in terms of storage stability, and can sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storage stability.

[Example 13]
-Manufacture of toner m-
Toner m was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that polyester resin fine particles having a molecular weight of Mw 200,000 were used. The toner m was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 14]
-Manufacture of toner n-
Toner n was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that polyester resin fine particles having a Tg of 10 ° C. were used. The toner n was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Example 15]
~ Manufacture of toner o ~
Toner o was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that polyester resin fine particles having a Tg of 80 ° C. were used. The toner o was the same as or better than the toner a in terms of storability, and could sufficiently achieve the problems in both transfer rate and storability.

[Comparative Example 1]
-Manufacture of toner b'-
A toner b ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the shear rate during emulsification was 9 m / sec using the continuous emulsifier of FIG.
The toner b ′ was expected to improve the transfer rate but not the fixability as compared with the toner a.

[Comparative Example 2]
-Manufacture of toner c'-
A toner c ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the shear rate at the time of emulsification was 31 m / sec using the continuous emulsification apparatus of FIG. The toner c ′ was expected to improve the transfer rate but not the fixability as compared with the toner a.

[Comparative Example 3]
-Manufacture of toner d'-
A toner d ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a particle diameter of 5 nm were used. The toner d ′ was not expected to improve both the transfer rate and the storage stability as compared with the toner a.

[Comparative Example 4]
-Manufacture of toner e'-
A toner e ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a particle diameter of 550 nm were used. The toner e ′ was not expected to improve both the transfer rate and the storage stability as compared with the toner a.

[Comparative Example 5]
-Manufacture of toner f'-
A toner f ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a molecular weight of Mw 9,500 were used. The toner f ′ was expected to improve the transfer rate but not the fixability as compared with the toner a.

[Comparative Example 6]
-Manufacture of toner g'-
A toner g ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a molecular weight Mw of 2,005,000 were used after Step B. The toner g ′ was expected to improve the fixability but not the transfer rate compared to the toner a.

[Comparative Example 7]
-Manufacture of toner h'-
A toner h ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a Tg of 35 ° C. were used. The toner h ′ was expected to improve the transfer rate but not the fixability as compared with the toner a.

[Comparative Example 8]
-Manufacture of toner i'-
A toner i ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acrylic resin fine particles having a Tg of 105 ° C. were used. The toner i ′ was expected to improve the transfer rate but not the fixability as compared with the toner a.

[Comparative Example 9]
~ Manufacture of toner o '~
A toner o ′ was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that polyester resin fine particles having a Tg of 85 ° C. were used. The toner o ′ was expected to improve the transfer rate but not the fixability as compared with the toner a.
Table 1 shows the physical properties of the toners obtained in Examples 1 to 15 and Comparative Examples 1 to 9.

[Creation of carrier]
Next, a specific example of manufacturing the carrier used for the actual toner evaluation will be described. The carrier used in the present invention is not limited to these examples.
~ Career ~
Acrylic resin solution (solid content 50 wt%) 21.0 parts Guanamin solution (solid content 70 wt%) 6.4 parts Alumina particles [0.3 μm, specific resistance 10 ¹⁴ (Ω · cm)] 7.6 parts Silicone resin solution 65 0.0 part [solid content 23 wt% (SR2410: manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone)]
Aminosilane 1.0 part [Solid content 100 wt% (SH6020: manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone)]
Toluene 60 parts Butyl cellosolve 60 parts The carrier raw material was dispersed with a homomixer for 10 minutes to obtain a coating film forming solution of acrylic resin and silicone resin containing alumina particles. Firing ferrite powder [(MgO) _1.8 (MnO) _49.5 (Fe ₂ O ₃ ) _48.0 : average particle size; 25 μm] as the core material is coated with the coating film forming solution on the surface of the core material. The coated ferrite powder was obtained by applying with a Spira coater (Okada Seiko Co., Ltd.) to a thickness of 15 μm and drying. The obtained coated ferrite powder was fired in an electric furnace at 150 ° C. for 1 hour. After cooling, the ferrite powder bulk was crushed using a sieve having an aperture of 106 μm to obtain a carrier. The measurement of the binder resin film thickness was performed by observing the cross section of the carrier with a transmission electron microscope so that the coating film covering the carrier surface could be observed. Thus, carrier A having a weight average particle diameter of 35 μm was obtained.

[Preparation of two-component developer]
Using the toners a to o ′ and the carrier A, the toner is uniformly mixed and charged using a turbuler mixer of a type in which 7 parts by mass of the toner rolls with respect to 100 parts by mass of the carrier and is stirred. Developers a to o ′ were prepared.

[Evaluation of toner]
(Transfer efficiency (%))
Using an evaluation machine modified from Fuji Xerox's DocuColor 8000 Digital Press and tuned to a linear speed of 162 mm / sec and a transfer time of 40 msec, each developer has an A4 size and a toner adhesion amount of 0.6 mg / cm ² . A running test was performed to output a solid pattern as a test image. At the initial stage of the test image and after 100K output, the transfer efficiency in the primary transfer was calculated from the following formula (3), and the transfer efficiency in the secondary transfer was calculated from the following formula (4). The evaluation criteria are as follows.
Primary transfer efficiency (%) = (amount of toner transferred onto intermediate transfer body / amount of toner developed on electrophotographic photosensitive member) × 100 (3)
Secondary transfer efficiency (%) = (amount of toner transferred onto intermediate transfer member−amount of residual toner on intermediate transfer member / amount of toner transferred onto intermediate transfer member) × 100 (4)
As the evaluation criteria, an average value of the primary transfer rate and the secondary transfer rate was calculated and evaluated according to the following criteria.
◎ ・ ・ ・ 90% or more ○ ・ ・ ・ 85% or more and less than 90% △ ・ ・ ・ 80% or more and less than 85% × ・ ・ ・ less than 80%

(Fixing lower limit temperature)
The fixing unit of the Ricoh full-color MFP Imagio NeoC600Pro has been modified so that the temperature and linear velocity can be adjusted, and transfer paper for plain paper and cardboard (type 6000 <70W> made by Ricoh Co., Ltd. and copy printing) Fixation was evaluated with a solid image on paper <135>) with a toner adhesion amount of 0.85 ± 0.1 mg / cm ² . The fixing roll temperature at which the residual ratio of the image density after rubbing the fixed image with a pad becomes 70% or more was determined as the minimum fixing temperature.
Evaluation criteria are
A: Less than 120 ° C. O: Less than 140 ° C. 120 ° C. or more Δ: Less than 160 ° C. 140 ° C. or more X: 160 ° C. or more

(Fixing upper limit temperature)
~ Hot offset generation temperature ~
Using a fixing device in which the fixing unit of Ricoh's full-color MFP Imagio NeoC600Pro has been modified so that the temperature and linear velocity can be adjusted, a solid image of 0.85 ± 0.3 mg / cm ² toner on the plain paper Was adjusted to develop. The obtained image was fixed by changing the temperature of the heating roller, and the fixing temperature at which hot offset occurs (offset generation temperature) was measured.
Evaluation criteria are
A: 210 ° C. or higher B: less than 210 ° C. 190 ° C. or higher Δ: lower than 190 ° C. 170 ° C. or higher ×: lower than 170 ° C.

  The toner of the present invention improves the transfer efficiency in a high-speed full-color image forming method, eliminates image defects during transfer, and outputs an image with good reproducibility in the long term. The electrophotographic apparatus can be suitably used in an electrophotographic apparatus that undergoes two transfer processes, a transfer process to a body (primary transfer) and a transfer process (secondary transfer) onto a recording material for obtaining a final image from an intermediate transfer body.

(About Figure 1)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner structure 2 Toner base particle 3 Acrylic resin fine particle (about FIGS. 2-7)
500 roller type charging device 501 charging roller 502 core metal 503 conductive rubber layer 504 power source 505 photoconductor 510 brush type charging device 511 fur brush roller 512 core metal 513 brush portion 514 power source 515 photoconductor 600 developing device 601 developing sleeve 602 power source 603 developing Section 604 Photoconductor 605 Toner 700 Fixing device 710 Heating roller 720 Fixing roller 721 Core metal 722 Elastic member 730 Endless belt-shaped fixing belt 731 Base 732 Heat generation layer 733 Intermediate layer 734 Release layer 740 Pressure roller 741 Core metal 742 Elastic member 760 Induction heating means 761 Excitation coil 762 Coil guide plate 763 Excitation coil core 764 Excitation coil core support member 770 Recording material 800 Process cartridge 801 Photoconductor 802 Charging means 803 Development means 804 Developer 805 Development Stage 806 cleaning means (for Figure 8)
100 Image forming devices 120Bk, 120C, 120M, 120Y Image writing units 130Bk, 130C, 130M, 130Y Image forming unit 140 Paper feed unit 150 Fixing device 160 Registration roller pair 170 Secondary transfer roller 180 Secondary transfer belts 210Bk, 210C, 210M, 210Y Photoconductors 215Bk, 215C, 215M, 215Y Charging devices 200Bk, 200C, 200M, 200Y Developing device 220 Intermediate transfer belt 230Bk, 230C, 230M, 230Y Primary transfer device 241 Conductive roller 242 Conductive roller 243 Conductive roller 250Bk, 250C, 250M, 250Y Toner transfer tube 261 Conductive fur brush 262 Conductive fur brush 300Bk, 300C, 300M, 300Y Cleaning device (FIG. 9)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Intermediate transfer bodies 14, 15, 16 Support roller 17 Intermediate transfer body cleaning device 18 Image forming means 21 Exposure device 22 Secondary transfer device 23 Roller 24 Secondary transfer belt 25 Fixing device 26 Fixing belt 27 Pressure roller 28 Sheet reversing device 32 Contact glass 33 First traveling body 34 Second traveling body 35 Imaging lens 36 Reading sensor 40 Photosensitive body 49 Registration roller 50 Paper feed roller 51 Manual feed tray 53 Paper feed path 55 Switching claw 56 Ejection roller 57 Ejection tray 58 Separation roller 62 Transfer Charger 100 Copier 110 Copier Main Body 120 Tandem Image Forming Device 130 Document Base 142 Paper Feed Roller 143 Paper Bank 144 Paper Feed Cassette 145 Separation Roller 146 Paper Feed Path 147 Transport Roller 148 Paper Feed Path 200 Paper Feed Table 300 Scanner 400 Automatic document transport Apparatus (ADF)
(About Figure 10)
001 [α oil phase] tank 002 [β oil phase] tank
003 [Water phase] tank
004 Liquid feed pump
005 Static mixer
006 Cooling machine
007 Emulsifier
008 Circulation piping section
009 Emulsification completion liquid recovery tank 010 Flow rate adjustment valve A Pre-emulsification liquid inlet
Z Emulsification completion liquid outlet

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-209952 JP 2000-077551 Japanese Patent No. 3640918 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-250439 JP 2001-0666820 A Japanese Patent No. 3692929

Claims (6)

  A method for producing toner in which toner particles are granulated in an aqueous medium, wherein a toner material containing at least a binder resin or a precursor thereof is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent to prepare a solution or dispersion of the toner material. And a step B of continuously emulsifying the toner material dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium, and a step C of removing an organic solvent from the emulsified or dispersed liquid to form toner particles. Consists of an aggregate of polyester resin fine particles, and has a layer made of acrylic resin fine particles on the outside thereof, and the acrylic resin fine particles have a particle size of 10 to 500 nm and a molecular weight Mw of 10,000 to 2,000,000, Tg is in the range of 40 to 100 ° C., and the step B includes applying a shear rate of 10 to 30 m / sec to the liquid to be emulsified. Method for producing a toner for electrophotography.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the acrylic resin fine particles are fine particles of a crosslinked resin or an uncrosslinked resin containing an acrylic ester polymer or a methacrylic ester polymer.   3. The toner production method according to claim 1, wherein the toner material includes an active hydrogen group-containing compound and a modified polyester resin capable of reacting with the compound.   An electrophotographic toner manufacturing method comprising a step B of continuously emulsifying a solution or dispersion of the toner material in an aqueous medium, wherein the step B includes the solution or dispersion of the toner material and an aqueous medium. The process step B1 for applying centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid and the process step B2 for applying shear force to the emulsified liquid are provided. The process B1 for applying centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid spirally forms the emulsion liquid along the inner wall of the pipe To give centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid, gather small particles near the center of the pipe, coalesce the small particles, and send them to step B2 to give shear force to the emulsified liquid The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The pipe for applying centrifugal force to the emulsified liquid has a spiral protrusion on the inner wall, and the pipe is incorporated into a part or all of the pipe in the continuous emulsifying device to generate a spiral flow in the pipe. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 4, wherein the mechanism is incorporated in an emulsifying apparatus.   After the position where the mechanism for applying centrifugal force is provided, a mechanism (referred to as an axial flow generation mechanism) that generates an axial flow for applying a shearing force and has a rotating part is disposed, and the axial flow generation mechanism is a pipe. 6. The method for producing an electrophotographic toner according to claim 4, wherein the toner is a line homomixer.

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