JP5058742B2 - Toner particle manufacturing apparatus and toner particle manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing toner particles contained in toner for developing an electrostatic latent image in an image forming method such as an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, and a toner jet method.

  In recent years, toners are roughly classified into pulverized toners and wet granulated toners. The roughly classified toners have greatly different configurations of manufacturing apparatuses and manufacturing methods. For example, the pulverized toner is uniformly dispersed by melting and mixing a colorant in a thermoplastic resin with a kneader or the like. The obtained melt-kneaded product is cooled and solidified, and then finely pulverized by a fine pulverizer, and the finely pulverized product is further classified by a classifier to obtain toner particles having a desired particle diameter. Thereafter, a predetermined additive is added to the toner particles to produce a toner.

  On the other hand, various types of toner production methods such as suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, and dissolution suspension have been proposed for wet granulated toner, depending on the material constituting the toner and the desired toner particle shape. The configuration of the manufacturing apparatus is also different.

  For example, in the suspension polymerization method / dissolution suspension method, toner particles having a desired particle diameter are formed in a liquid dispersion medium to obtain a dispersion of toner particles. Thereafter, the toner particles are separated from the dispersion liquid of the toner particles by using a separation unit typified by a solid-liquid separation device such as a filtration device, and washed to remove impurities. The obtained cake of toner particles is dried and classified as necessary. Thereafter, a predetermined additive is added in the same manner as the pulverized toner to produce a toner (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the emulsion polymerization method, a monomer composition containing a polymerizable monomer, a polymerization initiator, a surfactant, and, if necessary, a crosslinking agent, a chain transfer agent, and other additives is stirred into an aqueous medium. The emulsion resin particles (fine resin particles) having a desired particle size are obtained by dispersing using a machine and causing a polymerization reaction. On the other hand, a colorant is uniformly finely dispersed in an aqueous medium containing a surfactant and is associated (aggregated and fused) with the emulsified resin particles to obtain a toner particle dispersion having a desired particle size. Yes.

  Thereafter, the toner is manufactured through filtration, washing, drying, and classification in the same manner as in the suspension polymerization method and the dissolution suspension method (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Such wet-granulated toner particles are produced in a liquid dispersion medium, and therefore the surface thereof is easily affected by various components dispersed or dissolved in the liquid dispersion medium. For example, in the suspension polymerization method, an aqueous medium containing various dispersion stabilizers is generally used as a liquid dispersion medium. The dispersion stabilizer adheres to the surface of the toner particles to be generated.

  In addition, in order to improve the chargeability, the toner produced by the suspension polymerization method is generally polymerized by containing a positively or negatively chargeable charge control agent in the polymerizable monomer composition. A part of the charge control agent having a high polarity dissolves in the aqueous dispersion medium and adheres to the surface of the toner particles to be generated. If the various components adhering to the surface of the toner particles are not washed and removed sufficiently and uniformly in the filtration / washing process after the polymerization, the toner triboelectric charge distribution becomes broad, especially under high temperature and high humidity conditions. The image density is lowered and fog is likely to occur.

  Furthermore, when producing toner particles by the emulsion aggregation method, it is necessary to use a large amount of surfactant as an emulsifier. If a large amount of surfactant remains on the surface of the toner particles to be produced, the image density is lowered and fogging tends to occur more markedly than in the suspension polymerization method.

  For this reason, various methods for separating and washing the generated toner particles have been proposed in a method for producing toner particles that are granulated by wet.

  For example, a method of separating and cleaning toner particles from a toner particle dispersion using a belt filter in which a filter cloth and a vacuum tray are in close contact with each other as a filter cleaning machine has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3). According to the method described in Patent Document 3, a toner having excellent image characteristics can be obtained by efficiently separating and washing the toner particles from the toner particle dispersion.

  However, in recent years, with the diversification of needs by users, high-definition images such as photographic image quality are required for electrophotographic images. In order to obtain a high-definition image in an electrophotographic image, one effective means is to reduce the toner particle size. If this particle size reduction is performed by a pulverization method, a large amount of pulverization energy is required, such being undesirable. On the other hand, in the wet granulation method, it is easy to reduce the toner particle size. However, when this particle size reduction is performed, when separating the toner particles from the dispersion of toner particles, the conventional separation / washing method decreases the water drainage and increases the water content of the obtained toner particle cake. Tend to be. This is presumably because the surface area of the particles contained per unit volume of the cake formed with toner particles increases. The decrease in water drainage leads to insufficient cleaning of various components adhering to the surface of the toner particles. Further, the load of the subsequent drying process increases, and the toner particles are thermally damaged.

  As a method for avoiding a decrease in water drainage, a filtration / cleaning method using a ditarancy effect has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 4). In this method, it is described that a moisture content is lowered by obtaining a ditarancy effect by impact and vibration and liquefying the cake. However, studies by the present inventors have not been able to obtain a desired water content reduction, and an apparatus and method for reducing the water content are desired.

  Further, a filter cloth traveling type belt filter provided with a squeeze roll has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 5). This device is a device for reducing the moisture content of the cake by allowing the cake to pass between two upper and lower pressing rolls to perform dehydration.

  When this apparatus was used as a means for separating and washing toner particles from a dispersion of toner particles, a sufficient pressing effect could not be obtained and the water content could not be reduced.

  In addition, the filtration device described in Patent Document 6 allows the pressure cake having a plurality of through holes to contact the slurry cake to be filtered while allowing the pressure fluid to pass through the through holes, thereby allowing the slurry cake to pass through the slurry cake. The pressure plate is pressurized with the pressure fluid. The slurry cake is pressurized by both of them, and the liquid substance is squeezed out and recovered by the recovery means provided on the back side of the slurry cake. As a result, it can be filtered.

  When this apparatus is used as a means for separating and washing the toner particles from the dispersion of toner particles, the wet toner particle cake is pushed outward from the pressurizing region during the pressurization, or cake cracking occurs. Then there was a risk of scattering. Thus, when the wet toner particle cake falls into an unstable state, there has been a problem that the water content cannot be lowered sufficiently.

  In addition, according to the solid-liquid separation device described in Patent Documents 7 and 8, it is described that after solid-liquid separation, warm air can be sent to the toner cake and dried to a moisture content of 10% by mass or less. However, in this apparatus, it takes a very long time to achieve a water content of 10% by mass or less. Furthermore, it takes a long time for solid-liquid separation and toner cake discharge, and productivity is significantly reduced.

  As described above, the toner particle separation / cleaning apparatus and the manufacturing method are required to improve productivity in addition to improvement of cleaning performance and drainage.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 51-14895 JP-A-5-265252 JP 2002-365839 A JP 2004-302099 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-309409 Japanese Patent No. 3311417 JP 2005-156937 A JP-A-2005-193123

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toner particle manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method that solve the above-described problems. That is, the present invention relates to a dehydrated toner particle obtained by dehydrating wet toner particles obtained by separating and washing toner particles from a dispersion of toner particles in a wet granulated toner particle production apparatus and method. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner particle production apparatus and production method that efficiently reduce the moisture content of a cake.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner particle production apparatus and production method in which various components adhering to the surface are sufficiently washed and removed, and thermal degradation of the toner particles is suppressed, and which has excellent image characteristics. And

  The inventor forms a sealed space on the upper part of the wet toner particle cake obtained by the belt filter by using an elastic member that expands with gas, and the compressed toner is filled in the space so that the gas is contained in the wet toner particles. The present invention was completed by finding that it can be ventilated and dehydrated.

  Furthermore, it has been found that the water content of the dehydrated toner particle cake obtained is sufficiently reduced by effectively forming a sealed space by the sealing means including the elastic member and allowing gas to pass through the wet toner particle cake. Completed the invention.

  Furthermore, it has been found that by reducing the water content of the dehydrated toner particle cake, the load of the drying process, which is a subsequent process, can be reduced, and damage to the toner particles due to heat can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, the toner particles obtained according to the present invention can suppress thermal degradation, and therefore have been found to exhibit excellent image characteristics, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention has the following features:
The toner particles produced in an aqueous dispersion medium is an apparatus for producing toner particles having a dewatering device for filter cloth traveling type belt filter for filtration from the dispersion medium, wet toner dehydrating apparatus, obtained by filtration A venting means for venting and dehydrating gas through the cake of particles and a sealing means for sealing the aerated gas;
(I) The seal means is a seal unit having an elastic member that expands at least with gas,
(II) The ventilation means is a ventilation unit that has a gas discharge part and vents gas through the cake of wet toner particles.
The toner particle manufacturing apparatus, wherein the seal unit is a mechanism for performing a seal so that at least gas flowing from between the cake of the wet toner particles and the seal unit does not leak;
A method for producing toner particles, comprising a filtration step of solid-liquid separation and dehydration of a toner particle dispersion produced in an aqueous dispersion medium using a filter cloth traveling belt filter equipped with a dehydration device, the dehydration device Is provided with a venting means for venting and dehydrating gas through a cake of wet toner particles obtained by filtration, and a sealing means for sealing the aerated gas.
(I) The seal means is a seal unit including at least an elastic member that expands with gas,
(II) The ventilation means is a ventilation unit that has a gas discharge part and vents gas through the cake of wet toner particles.
The sealing unit is a unit that performs sealing so as not to leak gas flowing between at least the wet toner particle cake and the seal unit, and the wet toner particle cake is dehydrated by the ventilation. A method for producing toner particles.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner particle manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method capable of efficiently reducing the water content from a wet toner particle cake in the filtration step in the toner particle manufacturing step.

  Further, by efficiently reducing the water content, various components adhering to the surface of the wet toner particles can be reduced, and a toner particle manufacturing apparatus and method having excellent image characteristics can be provided.

  Further, since the water content of the obtained dehydrated toner particle cake can be reduced, it is not necessary to perform drying by excessive heating in the drying step, which is a subsequent step, and thermal deterioration of the toner particles can be reduced.

  Further, by using an expansion / contraction member that expands with gas as the sealing means of the dehydrating device, the incidental equipment used for both the sealing means and the ventilation means can be shared, so that the toner particle manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing excellent in energy efficiency can be used. A method can be provided.

  Further, by using an expansion / contraction member that expands with gas as the sealing means of the dehydrator, fine adjustment of the sealing pressure can be easily performed at low cost. If the sealing pressure can be easily and finely adjusted, it is easy to balance with the aeration pressure. Therefore, it is possible to provide a toner particle manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method capable of appropriately controlling the water content of the dehydrated toner particle cake.

  A filter cloth traveling belt filter with a dehydrating device preferably used in the present invention is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a filter cloth traveling belt filter with a dehydrator according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the dehydrating device portion in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dehydrating device portion in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the sealing means according to the present invention. 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1 is a roll, 2 is a filter cloth, 3 is a liquid feeding port, 4 is a vacuum tray, 5 is a wet toner particle cake, 6 is a filter cloth cleaning device, and 7 is a cake. A cleaning device, 8 is a dehydrating device, 9 is a ventilation unit, 10 is an expansion / contraction member included in the seal unit, and an air cylinder is used as a representative example of the expansion / contraction member. Reference numeral 11 denotes a seal member included in the seal unit, and shows an example provided with two locations, that is, an upstream seal member 11a and a downstream seal member 11b in the arrow B direction. Reference numeral 17 denotes a dehydrated toner particle cake, and 21 denotes a stationary member 21 that fixes the ventilation unit 9 to the vacuum tray 9.

  5 shows that when the sealing member 11 which is a part of the sealing unit and the wet toner particle cake 5 are in contact with each other and sealed so that the gas to be vented does not leak, at least the gas discharge part 14 and the sealing member 11 are wet. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a space 13 composed of toner particle cake 5. FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 15 denotes a gas supply pipe, and the gas supply pipe 15 is configured to supply gas from the side wall toward the buffer chamber 16.

  6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 5, and the gas accumulated in the buffer chamber 16 fills the space 13 with the compressed gas through the perforations 18 provided in the gas discharge unit 14. It has become.

  FIG. 7 shows that when an air bag is used as the expansion / contraction member 10, the sealing member 11 which is a part of the sealing unit and the ventilation unit come into contact with each other and the first sealing is performed so that the gas to be vented does not leak. This is an example in which the seal member 11 which is a part of the unit and the wet toner particle cake 5 are in contact with each other and the second seal is performed so that the gas to be vented does not leak. In FIG. 7, when at least the first seal and the second seal are performed, the space 13 is constituted by the gas discharge portion 14, the seal member 11, and the wet toner particle cake 5.

  However, these are representative examples of the filter cloth traveling belt filter with a dehydrating device used in the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

  A preferred embodiment of the toner particle production apparatus and production method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the belt filters shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the filter cloth 2 is stretched between the rolls 1 and is continuously or intermittently driven in the direction of arrow B by the rotation of the rolls 1. Below the filter cloth 2, a fixed vacuum tray 4 that is integrated or divided into a plurality of pieces is installed. The vacuum tray 4 has a structure in which a vacuum action can be obtained (that is, a vacuum can be drawn ) by a vacuum pump (not shown).

  Various dispersion stabilizers exist on the surface of the toner particles in the toner particle dispersions obtained by the various wet granulation methods described above. In order to dissolve or remove the dispersion stabilizer, a pretreatment suitable for each wet granulation method is performed. After this pretreatment, the toner particle dispersion is supplied onto the filter cloth 2 via the liquid feeding port 3, and is filtered and separated by the cake forming step by the vacuum action.

  For example, in the case of a wet granulation method using a suspension polymerization method, an acid treatment is performed to dissolve a dispersant present on the surface of the toner particles. This foaming phenomenon adversely affects the filtration / separation effect in the cake forming process, and may reduce the efficiency. Therefore, when acid treatment is performed, it is preferable to select an apparatus and a method that suppress foaming.

The filtered filtrate is collected in a vacuum tray 4 and sent to a vacuum tank (not shown) through a filtrate tube (not shown). At this time, in order to make the vacuum action work effectively, the filter cloth 2 is preferably driven intermittently (that is, the filter cloth intermittent motion type) . While the vacuum action is being obtained, the filter cloth 2 and the vacuum tray are used. It is preferable that 4 adheres and does not rub. If the filter cloth is continuously driven, the adhesion between the filter cloth 2 and the vacuum tray 4 is likely to be defective, and it is difficult to obtain a high degree of vacuum. If the degree of vacuum is not obtained, the filtration and separation effects will be insufficient. It becomes difficult to effectively separate the toner particles from the liquid dispersion medium.

  Next, the pre-washing toner particle cake and the filter cloth 2 filtered and separated are sent in the direction of arrow B by the rotation of the roll 1 and sent to a washing process having one or more cake washing devices 7 on the upper part. It is done. From the cake washing apparatus 7, one or more kinds of washing liquids are sprayed as necessary, and thereby the dissolved substance or the dispersed substance in the toner particle cake before washing is washed and removed. These substances are discharged together with the filtrate collected in the vacuum tray 4. At this time, in order to obtain a high degree of vacuum as described above, it is preferable that the filter cloth 2 and the vacuum tray 4 are in close contact with each other and do not rub.

  Next, the washed wet toner particle cake 5 and the filter cloth 2 are sent in the direction of arrow B by the rotation of the roll 1 and sent to the dehydration process. As shown in FIG. 1, the dewatering step is preferably divided into a plurality of spans (FIG. 1 shows a case where the dewatering step is two spans), and the dewatering according to the present invention is performed on the span on the downstream side with respect to the arrow B direction. It is preferable that the apparatus 12 is installed in at least one span.

  As shown in the figure, by providing the dewatering device 12 on the most downstream side, the water that could not be squeezed out in the previous span can be further squeezed out in the final span.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the dehydrating device 12 is composed of a ventilation means and a sealing means.

  The ventilation unit 9 as a ventilation means is fixed to the upper portion of the vacuum tray 4 as shown in FIGS. Specifically, it is preferable that a stationary seal member is sandwiched between the casing 8 fixed to the end of the vacuum tray 4 and is fixed via a stationary member 21 such as a bolt. A rubber packing is preferably used as the stationary seal member, but is not particularly limited as long as the gas vented from the fixed portion does not leak. As described above, since the gas discharge unit 14 provided in the ventilation unit 9 is fixed to the end of the vacuum tray, the gas to be vented from the fixed surface hardly leaks. Further, since the gas discharge unit 14 does not come into contact with the wet toner cake 5, the perforation 18 provided in the discharge unit is not easily clogged or soiled, and the ventilation is not hindered. On the other hand, when the ventilation unit is driven up and down, for example, there is a possibility that the gas discharge part is inclined due to the problem of accuracy of the apparatus. This inclination makes it difficult to efficiently pass the gas to be passed through the wet toner particle cake 5. When the ventilation unit is moved up and down, for example, the sealing member 11 needs to be provided as a single body over the entire circumference so as to surround the gas discharge portion 14. In this case, when the ventilation unit is inclined due to the above-described problem of apparatus accuracy, the seal member 11 is also inclined at the same time. When the seal member 11 is inclined, there is a problem that a sufficient seal cannot be obtained between the wet toner particle cake.

  In order to prevent such a problem, the sealing accuracy increases when the contact area between the wet toner particle cake 5 and the seal member 11 is reduced as much as possible. Further, the wet toner particle cake 5 that has been subjected to the cake forming process and the washing process is sent to the lower part of the dehydrating device 12 with a certain degree of unevenness. This unevenness is also a cause of deteriorating the sealing accuracy, and it is preferable to reduce the contact area of the sealing member 11 as much as possible in order to minimize this influence.

In the present invention, as described above, the sealing is performed by the sealing members 11a and 11b provided at least at the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the traveling direction B of the wet toner particle cake 5 (that is, the traveling direction of the filter cloth) . Is preferably configured to be fixed and sealed with a vacuum tray and a stationary seal member, and the seal area is kept to a minimum.

  The seal member 11 is moved by the elastic member 10 in conjunction with the intermittent movement of the belt filter described above, and forms a space 13 in close contact with the wet toner particle cake 5 as shown in FIG. Next, in the formed space 13, the gas filled in the buffer chamber 16 in the ventilation unit 9 is supplied through the perforations 18, and the gas is uniformly filled. The filled compressed gas passes through the wet toner particle cake 5 to reduce the moisture contained in the cake 5, thereby obtaining a dehydrated toner particle cake 17 having a sufficiently reduced water content.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the configuration of the gas discharge unit 14 includes a plurality of perforations 18 (compressed gas outlets) penetrating through a suitable iron plate or polypropylene plate by punching.

  The number of perforations (compressed gas outlets) is not particularly limited, but the strength of the gas discharge unit 14 is such that the total area of the holes formed by the plurality of holes is 20% to 70% with respect to the flat plate surface area before punching. It is preferable to obtain a surface and an appropriate air flow rate.

  At this time, if the gas discharge unit 14 provided in the ventilation unit 9 is soiled or clogged by blowing up from the wet toner particle cake 5 or the like, it may be covered with a filter, mesh or the like to prevent the dirt or clogging. good.

  When the durability of the sealing member 11 is deteriorated by direct contact with the wet toner particle cake 5, the sealing member may be covered with a filter or the like to prevent the deterioration.

  The expansion / contraction member 10 in the seal unit is preferably one in which the wet toner particle cake 5 and the seal member 11 can move toward and away from each other, and is preferably an air cylinder, a diaphragm, an air bag, or an air spring.

  As described above, it is preferable in terms of energy efficiency that the expansion / contraction member 10 in the seal unit is an expansion / contraction member that expands with gas, since the incidental equipment used for both the sealing means and the ventilation means can be shared. Further, it is preferable to use an expansion / contraction member that expands with gas as a sealing means of the dehydrating device because fine adjustment of the sealing pressure can be easily performed at low cost. It is preferable that the sealing pressure can be easily finely adjusted, since it is easy to balance the ventilation pressure, and the water content of the dehydrated toner particle cake 17 can be controlled appropriately.

  Further, when the seal portion is operated by air driving using the expansion / contraction member 10 that expands with gas, for example, it becomes possible to set the sealing pressure in multiple stages with a simple device as compared with hydraulic driving. If the sealing pressure can be set in multiple stages, it is convenient to try appropriate dehydration by changing the air flow rate in the first half and second half of the dehydration time. In the present invention, it is preferable to change the sealing pressure to a pressure higher than that according to the ventilation pressure. However, the air pressure is preferable because the sealing pressure can be easily changed. In particular, when the intermittent filter cloth running type belt filter and the dehydrating apparatus of the present invention are combined as described above, the dehydrating time is limited to a very short time of the primary stop period of the belt filter. It needs to be done instantly and simply. From these viewpoints, air driving using an expandable member that expands with gas is preferable.

  The members of the air cylinder or the diaphragm, the air bag, and the air spring that are the elastic members 10 are not particularly limited, and any member that inflates with gas can be used without particular limitation.

  The material that can be preferably used as the material for the contact surface with the seal member 11, that is, the wet toner particle cake 5, is polyisoprene, butadiene / styrene copolymer, polybutadiene, polychloroprene, ethylene propylene copolymer, butadiene / acrylonitrile copolymer. The polymer is preferably a polymer selected from any one of a polymer, an acrylate ester copolymer, polyurethane, an organic polysiloxane, polyethylene, and polypropylene, and the structure of the polymer is a rubber-like elastic body or a foam containing bubbles. Preferably there is.

  The foam structure has a single cell structure in which each bubble is independent, an open cell structure in which each bubble communicates, and a semi-open cell structure in which a single cell structure and an open cell structure are mixed. Preferably used. The single cell structure is very excellent in sealing performance but slightly inferior in durability and compression recovery. Further, the open cell structure is very excellent in durability and compression recovery property, but is slightly inferior in sealing properties. For these reasons, semi-open cells are most preferably used.

  The hardness of the rubber is preferably 10 ° to 40 °. If it is less than 10 °, it cannot withstand the aeration pressure and impair the sealing performance. If it is larger than 40 °, the unevenness of the wet toner particle cake cannot be dealt with, and the sealing performance is impaired.

  There are various methods for measuring the rubber hardness. In the present invention, a predetermined shape of the push needle is pressed against the surface of the sample by the force of the spring to cause deformation, and the resistance of the sample and the force of the spring are reduced. It measured using the Asker rubber hardness meter (model C / JIS K7312 conformity standard) which measures hardness based on "the indentation depth to a sample" in the balance position.

  Assuming that the distance from the gas discharge section 14 and the bottom surface of the vacuum tray at the bottom of the filter cloth 2 in the present invention is K (see FIG. 5 or 7), the distance is in the range of 15 (mm) ≦ K ≦ 400 (mm). It is preferable to be fixed to.

  Within the above range, the aerated gas can be dehydrated without collapsing the wet toner particle cake 5. When K <15 outside the above range, the aerated gas blows up the cake on the cake surface of the toner particles. When this cake blow-up occurs, the wet toner particle cake 5 collapses, and thus the aerated gas passes through the collapsed portion. If the gas that is ventilated in this way causes a short pass, dehydration unevenness occurs, which is not preferable.

  Further, when 400 <K, the seal member 11 becomes very large, which not only increases the cost of the device but also reduces the accuracy of the seal, which is not preferable.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the gas which expands an expansion-contraction member is compressed air.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the internal pressure P2 at the time of expanding the expansion / contraction member is 100 (kPa) ≦ P2 ≦ 800 (kPa). In the case of P2 <100 (kPa), the sealing performance is lowered, which is not preferable. In the case of P2> 800 (kPa), it is necessary to increase the strength of the stretchable member, and as a result, the stretchability is reduced and the cake is excessively crushed.

  Further, the gas to be ventilated from the aeration means can be used without particular limitation as long as it is a dry gas, but preferably compressed air is used.

  The pressure P1 of the gas vented from the vent means is preferably 10 (kPa) ≦ P1 ≦ 700 (kPa). When 10 (kPa)> P1, the air permeability is lowered and it is difficult to obtain a desired moisture content. If P1> 700 (kPa), the cake collapses during dehydration and a short pass of the aeration gas occurs, so that it is difficult to obtain a homogeneous and sufficiently dehydrated toner cake.

  The gas ventilation from the ventilation means and the sealing of the ventilation gas by the sealing means are preferably interlocked with the intermittent driving of the filter cloth described above. When the filter cloth 2 is stopped during the intermittent motion, it is preferable to perform the sealing of the aeration gas by blowing out the aeration gas and expanding the expansion / contraction member. On the other hand, when the filter cloth 2 is running, it is preferable to stop the gas flow from the ventilation means and open the seal by contraction of the elastic member. Further, since it is preferable to form a vacuum state from the vacuum tray 4 even when the gas is vented, it is preferable that the filter cloth 2 and the vacuum tray 4 are in close contact with each other and do not rub. If a high degree of vacuum is formed from the vacuum tray 4, the cake 5 on the filter cloth 2 is maintained in a good cake state during gas ventilation.

  The dehydrated dehydrated toner particle cake 17 is peeled from the filter cloth 2 due to the curvature provided by the roll 1.

  The water content of the cake 17 of the obtained dehydrated toner particles is preferably 30% or less. If it exceeds 30%, the transportation to the subsequent drying step is hindered, and the efficiency of the drying step itself is lowered, which is not preferable. The drying step is preferably airflow drying in which the cake of the dehydrated toner particles is dispersed in a powder form in a hot air stream and dried while being sent in parallel with the hot air stream. Airflow drying can dry a large amount of dehydrated toner particles at a low cost in a short time. As the air dryer, it is preferable to use an air dryer having a cycle tube in order to perform uniform drying.

  Specifically, a flash jet dryer (manufactured by Seishin Enterprise Co., Ltd.) is preferably used. However, when the above-mentioned air dryer is used, as the moisture content of the material to be dried increases, the residence time in the cycle tube increases, the toner particles deteriorate, and problems in image characteristics tend to occur.

  Therefore, it is important to reduce the water content of the dehydrated toner particle cake 17 before drying in the dehydrating apparatus according to the present invention.

  The method for producing toner particles of the present invention can also be preferably used for a method for producing magnetic toner particles. For example, a magnetic material used in the production of magnetic toner particles in the case of wet granulation by suspension polymerization will be described below.

  The surface of the magnetic material used in the magnetic toner is preferably hydrophobized. When hydrophobizing the magnetic material, it is very preferable to use a method in which the surface treatment is carried out while hydrolyzing the coupling agent while dispersing the magnetic material particles so as to have a primary particle size in an aqueous medium. In this hydrophobization method, the magnetic particles are less likely to coalesce than in the gas phase, and the magnetic repulsion action between the magnetic particles due to the hydrophobization treatment works, so the magnetic material is almost in the state of primary particles. Surface treatment with.

  The method of treating the surface of the magnetic material while hydrolyzing the coupling agent in an aqueous medium does not require the use of a coupling agent that generates gas, such as chlorosilanes and silazanes. In addition, since the magnetic particles can be easily united in the gas phase so far, it is possible to use a highly viscous coupling agent that has been difficult to perform well, so the effect of hydrophobization is tremendous. It is.

  Examples of the coupling agent that can be used in the surface treatment of the magnetic material according to the present invention include a silane coupling agent, which is particularly preferably used.

  For example, in the case of a wet granulation method using a suspension polymerization method, it is preferable to use 10 to 200 parts by mass of the magnetic substance with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer or the binder resin. More preferably, 20 to 180 parts by mass are used. If it is less than 10 parts by mass, the coloring power of the toner is poor, and it is difficult to suppress fogging. On the other hand, when the amount exceeds 200 parts by mass, not only the retention force of the obtained toner due to the magnetic force on the toner carrier increases, but the developability decreases, and it is difficult not only to uniformly disperse the magnetic material to individual toner particles. , The fixing property is lowered.

  The content of the magnetic substance in the toner is measured with a thermal analyzer, TGA7, manufactured by PerkinElmer. In the measurement method, the toner is heated from normal temperature to 900 ° C. at a temperature increase rate of 25 ° C./min in a nitrogen atmosphere, and the weight loss from 100 ° C. to 750 ° C. is defined as the binder resin amount, and the residual mass is approximately calculated. The amount of magnetic material.

  The magnetic material can be suitably used as a colorant contained in the toner particles, but as a colorant other than the magnetic material that can be suitably used in the toner produced in the present invention, carbon black and The following non-magnetic colorants of yellow / magenta / cyan are listed.

  As a colorant suitable for the yellow color, a pigment or a dye can be used. Specific examples of yellow pigments include the following. C. I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 23, 62, 65, 73, 74, 81, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 109, 110, 111, 117, 120, 127, 128, 129, 137, 138, 139, 147, 151, 154, 155, 167, 168, 173, 174, 176, 180, 181, 183, 191 and C.I. I. Bat yellow 1, 3, 20 The following are mentioned as a yellow dye. C. I. Solvent yellow 19, 44, 77, 79, 81, 82, 93, 98, 103, 104, 112, 162. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  As a colorant suitable for magenta, a pigment or a dye can be used. Specific examples of the magenta pigment include the following. C. I. Pigment Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 48; 2, 48; 3, 48; 4, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 57; 1, 58, 60, 63, 64, 68, 81, 81; 1, 83, 87, 88, 89, 90, 112, 114, 122, 123, 144, 146, 150, 163, 166, 169, 177, 184, 185, 202, 206, 207, 209, 220, 221, 238, 254; I. Pigment violet 19; C.I. I. Vat Red 1, 2, 10, 13, 15, 23, 29, 35. Examples of the magenta dye include the following. C. I. Solvent Red 1, 3, 8, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30, 49, 52, 58, 63, 81, 82, 83, 84, 100, 109, 111, 121, 122; I. Disper thread 9, C.I. I. Solvent Violet 8, 13, 14, 21, 27; C.I. I. Oil-soluble dyes such as Disperse Violet 1; I. B. Basic Red 1, 2, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40; I. Basic dyes such as basic violet 1,3,7,10,14,15,21,25,26,27,28. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  As a colorant suitable for cyan, a pigment or a dye can be used. Specifically, the following are mentioned as a cyan pigment. C. I. Pigment Blue 1, 7, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 16, 17, 60, 62, 66; I. Bat Blue 6, C.I. I. Acid Blue 45. Examples of the cyan dye include the following. C. I. Solvent Blue 25, 36, 60, 70, 93, 95. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The colorants can be used alone or in admixture of two or more, and further can be used in the form of a solid solution. The colorant of the present invention is selected from the viewpoints of hue angle, saturation, brightness, weather resistance, OHP transparency, and dispersibility in the toner. For example, in the case of the wet granulation method by the suspension polymerization method, the colorant is added in an amount of 1 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer or resin.

  The toner particles produced in the present invention may contain a release agent. Examples of the release agent that can be used for the toner particles in the present invention include petroleum waxes such as paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum and derivatives thereof, montan wax and derivatives thereof, hydrocarbon waxes and derivatives thereof according to the Fischer-Tropsch method, polyethylene And natural waxes and derivatives thereof such as carnauba wax and candelilla wax, which include oxides, block copolymers with vinyl monomers, and graft modified products. Furthermore, fatty acids such as higher aliphatic alcohols, stearic acid and palmitic acid, or compounds thereof, acid amide waxes, ester waxes, ketones, hydrogenated castor oil and derivatives thereof, plant waxes, animal waxes and the like can also be used.

  A charge control agent may be blended in the toner particles used in the present invention. Known charge control agents can be used. Further, for example, in the case of a wet granulation method using a suspension polymerization method, when producing toner particles, a charge control agent having a low polymerization inhibitory property and substantially free from a solubilized product in an aqueous dispersion medium is particularly preferable. Specific compounds include, as negative charge control agents, metal compounds of aromatic carboxylic acids such as salicylic acid, alkylsalicylic acid, dialkylsalicylic acid, naphthoic acid, dicarboxylic acid, metal salts or metal complexes of azo dyes or azo pigments, sulfones Examples thereof include a polymer compound having an acid or carboxylic acid group in the side chain, a boron compound, a urea compound, a silicon compound, and a calixarene. Examples of the positive charge control agent include quaternary ammonium salts, polymer compounds having the quaternary ammonium salt in the side chain, guanidine compounds, nigrosine compounds, and imidazole compounds.

  In the present invention, for example, in the case of wet granulation by emulsion polymerization or suspension polymerization, examples of the polymerizable monomer contained in the toner include the following.

  Examples of the polymerizable monomer include styrene monomers such as styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, p-methoxystyrene, and p-ethylstyrene; methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, Acrylate esters such as n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, and phenyl acrylate Types; methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, Methacrylic acid dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylic acid esters such as diethylaminoethyl methacrylate; and other acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, and the like monomers acrylamide.

  In the toner production method of the present invention, for example, in the case of wet granulation by suspension polymerization, resin may be added to the polymerizable monomer for polymerization. Since monomers are water-soluble, they cannot be used because they dissolve in aqueous suspension and cause emulsion polymerization, and cannot be used as simple units containing hydrophilic functional groups such as amino groups, carboxylic acid groups, hydroxyl groups, sulfonic acid groups, glycidyl groups, and nitrile groups. When it is desired to introduce the monomer component into the toner, it is in the form of a random copolymer of these and a vinyl compound such as styrene or ethylene, a copolymer such as a block copolymer, or a graft copolymer, or a polyester or polyamide. It can be used in the form of a polycondensate such as a polyaddition polymer such as polyether or polyimine.

  The addition amount of these resins is preferably 1 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the monomer. If the amount is less than 1 part by mass, the effect of addition is small, while if it exceeds 20 parts by mass, it becomes difficult to design various physical properties of the polymerized toner.

  Further, a polymer having a molecular weight different from the molecular weight range of the toner obtained by polymerizing the monomer may be dissolved in the monomer for polymerization.

  In the method for producing a toner of the present invention, when a polymerization initiator is used, a polymerization initiator having a half-life of 0.5 to 30 hours is 0.5 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer. When the polymerization reaction is carried out with a part addition amount, a polymer having a maximum between 10,000 and 100,000 in molecular weight can be obtained, and the toner can be provided with desired strength and suitable melting characteristics. Examples of polymerization initiators include 2,2′-azobis- (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, 1,1′-azobis (cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile) Azo or diazo polymerization initiators such as 2,2′-azobis-4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile, azobisisobutyronitrile; benzoyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, diisopropyl peroxycarbonate, Examples thereof include peroxide-based polymerization initiators such as cumene hydroperoxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, t-butylperoxy 2-ethylhexanoate, and t-butylperoxypivalate.

  When the toner of the present invention is produced, a crosslinking agent may be added, and a preferable addition amount is 0.001 to 15 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer.

  Here, as the crosslinking agent, a compound having two or more polymerizable double bonds is mainly used, for example, an aromatic divinyl compound such as divinylbenzene, divinylnaphthalene, etc .; for example, ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol diester Carboxylic acid ester having two double bonds such as methacrylate, 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, etc .; Divinyl compounds such as divinylaniline, divinyl ether, divinyl sulfide, divinyl sulfone, etc .; and having three or more vinyl groups Are used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

  In the present invention, for example, a specific toner production method when a wet granulation method by a suspension polymerization method is selected will be described.

First, components necessary as a toner, such as pigments, mold release agents, plasticizers, charge control agents, cross-linking agents, and other additives in the polymerizable monomer (for example, to reduce the viscosity of the polymer produced by the polymerization reaction) An organic solvent, a high molecular weight polymer, and a dispersing agent) are appropriately added and uniformly dissolved or dispersed to obtain a colorant-containing polymerizable monomer composition. At this time, you may perform temperature control operation as needed. This polymerizable monomer composition is suspended and granulated in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a dispersion stabilizer (hereinafter, the aqueous dispersion medium is also referred to as an aqueous medium or a dispersion medium) .

  At this time, the polymerizable monomer composition is granulated, or after granulation, the polymerization initiator is added to polymerize the composition (polymerization step). The specific timing of addition of the polymerization initiator may be added simultaneously with the addition of other additives in the polymerizable monomer, or may be mixed immediately before being suspended in the aqueous medium. Moreover, a polymerization initiator dissolved in an additional polymerizable monomer or solvent during the polymerization reaction can be added immediately after granulation and before starting the polymerization reaction.

  After granulation, stirring may be performed to such an extent that the particle state is maintained and particle floating and sedimentation are prevented by using a normal stirrer while adjusting the temperature.

  When producing toner particles, known surfactants and organic / inorganic dispersants can be used as dispersion stabilizers. Among these, inorganic dispersants are preferred because they are less likely to produce harmful ultrafine powders, and because dispersion stability is obtained due to their steric hindrance, stability is not easily lost even when the reaction temperature is changed. The following are mentioned as an inorganic dispersing agent. Polyvalent metal phosphates such as calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, aluminum phosphate and zinc phosphate; carbonates such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate; inorganic salts such as calcium metasuccinate, calcium sulfate and barium sulfate; calcium hydroxide and hydroxide Inorganic hydroxides such as magnesium and aluminum hydroxide; inorganic oxides such as silica, bentonite and alumina.

  These inorganic dispersants are preferably used alone in an amount of 0.2 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer. 0.001 to 0.1 parts by mass of a surfactant may be used in combination.

  Examples of the surfactant include the following. Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfate, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sodium pentadecyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, sodium oleate, sodium laurate, sodium stearate, potassium stearate.

  When these inorganic dispersants are used, they may be used as they are, but in order to obtain finer particles, the inorganic dispersant particles can be generated and used in an aqueous medium. For example, in the case of calcium phosphate, a sodium phosphate aqueous solution and a calcium chloride aqueous solution can be mixed with high-speed stirring to produce water-insoluble calcium phosphate, which enables more uniform and fine dispersion. At the same time, a water-soluble sodium chloride salt is produced as a by-product. However, if a water-soluble salt is present in the aqueous medium, dissolution of the polymerizable monomer in water is suppressed, and an ultrafine toner based on emulsion polymerization is produced. Since it becomes difficult to generate | occur | produce, it is more convenient. The inorganic dispersant can be dissolved with an acid or an alkali after the completion of the polymerization and removed almost completely by the next step such as filtration and washing.

  In the polymerization step, the polymerization is performed at a polymerization temperature of 40 ° C. or higher, generally 50 to 90 ° C. When the polymerization is carried out in this temperature range, the release agent or wax to be sealed inside is precipitated by phase separation, and the encapsulation becomes more complete. Further, in order to consume the remaining polymerizable monomer, the reaction temperature can be increased to 90 to 150 ° C. at the end of the polymerization reaction. After the completion of the polymerization reaction, the obtained dispersion of toner particles is filtered, washed and dehydrated with a belt filter equipped with a dehydrating apparatus according to the present invention, and then preferably dried with an airflow drying apparatus.

  In general, it is preferable that toner particles obtained by removing coarse powder and fine powder out of a desired particle size range are obtained from the toner particles obtained in the classification step. The classification step can be carried out by a known method used in conventional toner production, and is not particularly limited. A toner can be obtained by mixing the toner particles obtained through the classification step with an external additive such as an inorganic fine powder and adhering them to the surface of the toner particles. In the present invention, it is one of preferred modes to directly obtain the toner by omitting the classification process from the manufacturing process, or to cut the coarse powder and fine powder with high precision by performing a more accurate classification process.

  In the present invention, it is a preferred embodiment that toner particles are added with inorganic fine particles having a number average primary particle size of 4 to 80 nm as an external additive (fluidizing agent).

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples.

  First, each measurement method used in the present invention will be described below.

<Measurement of toner particle size distribution and calculation of number variation coefficient>
The particle size distribution of the toner can be measured by various methods. In the present invention, it is preferable to use a Coulter counter.

As a measuring device, Coulter Counter Multisizer III type, number average distribution,
An interface that outputs a weight average distribution (manufactured by Nikka) and a general personal computer are connected, and a 1% NaCl aqueous solution is prepared as an electrolyte using special grade or first grade sodium chloride.

  As a measurement method, 1.5 ml of a surfactant (preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate) is added as a dispersant to 130 ml of the electrolytic aqueous solution, and 10 mg of a measurement sample is further added. The electrolyte in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment for 2 minutes by an ultrasonic disperser, and the particle size distribution of particles of 2 to 40 μm on the basis of the number is used with the Coulter counter multisizer type III using a 100 μm aperture as the aperture. By measuring, various values such as the number average diameter (μm) of toner particles: D1 and the weight average particle diameter (μm) of toner: D4 are obtained.

The coefficient of variation in the number distribution is calculated from the following equation.
Coefficient of variation (%) = [S / D1] × 100
[Wherein S represents a standard deviation in the number distribution of toner particles. ]

<Evaluation of dehydrated toner particle cleaning state>
The washing state was evaluated by the amount of the dispersion stabilizer remaining on the surface of the dehydrated toner particles. The amount of residual dispersion stabilizer was quantitatively analyzed using a fluorescent X-ray analyzer (RIX3000). The amount of the residual dispersion stabilizer is preferably 180 ppm or less from the viewpoint of chargeability.

<Measurement of moisture content>
The moisture content in the present invention is determined by collecting 5 g of dehydrated toner particle cake in an aluminum dish, precisely weighing it (A [g]), leaving it in a dryer set at 105 ° C. for 1 hour, [G]) and the value calculated by the following equation.
Moisture content [%] = ((A−B) / A) × 100

<Evaluation of image performance / fogging>
To 100 parts by mass of the toner particles obtained after drying, 3 parts by mass of hydrophobic silica having a specific surface area by the BET method of 200 m ² / g was externally added to obtain a toner. This toner was used as a one-component developer and evaluated using LBP5800; manufactured by Canon.

First, 100 g of the obtained toner was filled in a cartridge, and fog after endurance of 5000 sheets was measured in an endurance test under N / L and H / H environments. As a method, the average reflectance Dr (%) of plain paper before image printing was measured with a reflectometer ("REFLECTOMETER ODEL TC-6DS" manufactured by Tokyo Denshoku Co., Ltd.) equipped with a green filter. On the other hand, a solid white image was drawn on plain paper, and then the reflectance Ds (%) of the solid white image was measured. Fog: Fog (%) is the following formula Fog (%) = Dr (%)-Ds (%)
Calculate from

(Evaluation criteria)
A: Very good (less than 1.1%)
B: Good (1.1% or more and less than 2.5%)
C: Normal (2.5% or more and less than 4.0%)
D: Poor (4% or more)

[Example 1]
After charging 5 parts by mass of Na ₃ PO ₄ .12H ₂ O into 332 parts by mass of ion-exchanged water and heating to 60 ° C., 58.3 revolutions per second (3500 rpm) using CLEARMIX (M Technique) Was stirred at. To this was added 27 parts by mass of a 1.0 mol / liter-CaCl ₂ aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous medium containing Ca ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ .

Styrene monomer 70 parts by weight n-butyl acrylate 30 parts by weight Saturated polyester resin 8 parts by weight <Polycondensation product of propylene oxide modified bisphenol A (2 mol adduct) and terephthalic acid (polymerization molar ratio 10:12) ), Tg = 68 ° C., Mw = 10000, Mw / Mn = 5.12>
・ 8 parts by mass of HNP-5 (Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.) ・ Carbon black (BET specific surface area = 80 m ² / g, oil absorption = 120 ml / 100 g)
8 parts by mass / E-88 (manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1 part by mass / 0.1 parts by mass of zinc phthalocyanine The above materials were heated to 60 ° C. and dissolved and mixed for 30 minutes. In this, 8 parts by mass of 2,2′-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as a polymerization initiator was dissolved to prepare a polymerizable monomer composition.

The polymerizable monomer composition is put into the aqueous medium and stirred at 75 ° C. (4500 rpm) for 15 minutes with Claremix at 60 ° C. in an N ₂ atmosphere to obtain the polymerizable monomer composition. Granulated.

  Thereafter, while stirring with a full zone stirring blade (manufactured by Shinko Pantech Co., Ltd.), the temperature was raised to 70 ° C. and reacted for 10 hours. After the completion of the polymerization reaction, saturated steam (pure steam / steam pressure 205 kPa / temperature 120 ° C.) was introduced while stirring was continued with a full zone stirring blade. Twenty minutes after the start of the introduction of saturated steam, the temperature of the contents in the container reached 100 ° C., and a distillation fraction began to come out. The residual monomer was distilled off by obtaining a predetermined amount of the fraction, and the mixture was cooled to obtain a dispersion of toner particles.

  After adding hydrochloric acid to the toner particle dispersion to dissolve the calcium phosphate on the surface of the toner particles, it is sent to a belt filter (manufactured by Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd., synchro filter modified type) equipped with a dehydrator 12 while suppressing foaming. The dehydrated toner particle cake was obtained by washing and dehydrating under the following conditions.

<Dehydration and cleaning conditions for belt filters equipped with a dehydrator>
Filtration area: 0.02m ²
Toner particle dispersion supply amount: 180 kg / hr
Treatment time: treatment time (filter cloth stop time) / travel time 90 sec / 20 sec
Decompression degree: -60 kPa
Cake washing liquid 7a: 3 times the solid content in the alkaline water (pH 10) supply slurry Cake washing liquid 7b: 3 times the solid content in the pure water (pH 6) supply slurry Aeration pressure (compressed air): 250 kPa
Gas ventilation time: 80 seconds Sealing time (expansion / expansion member expansion time): 85 seconds (Dehydration device was installed in the final span, and sealing was performed for 85 seconds during the 90 seconds when the belt stopped in the final span.)
Internal pressure when expanding / contracting member: 500 kPa Atmospheric pressure when sealing is not performed Expandable member material: airbag (polyester, surface coat: chloroprene rubber)
Seal material: Chloroprene (CR) rubbery elastic body Single cell structure Hardness 25 °
Distance K between the gas discharge part and the bottom of the vacuum tray: 35 mm

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles obtained as described above was 21% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the cake of the dehydrated toner particles at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 100 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  Thereafter, the cake of dehydrated toner particles was crushed and air-dried under the following conditions to obtain toner particles.

<Air dryer drying conditions>
Air dryer (manufactured by Seishin Enterprise Co., Ltd .: flash jet dryer: pipe diameter 0.1016 m)
Blowing temperature: 90 ° C
Blowing air volume: 10m ³ / min
Dehydrated toner particle supply amount: 55 kg / hr
Dryer outlet temperature: 40 ° C

  The weight average particle diameter (D4) of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass.

  The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Example 2]
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the air pressure (compressed air) was 350 kPa.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 19% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 90 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 3
In the same manner as in Example 1, a dispersion of toner particles was obtained.

  After adding hydrochloric acid to the toner particle dispersion to dissolve the calcium phosphate on the surface of the toner particles, it is sent to a belt filter (manufactured by Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd., synchro filter modified type) equipped with a dehydrator 12 while suppressing foaming. The dehydrated toner particle cake was obtained by washing and dehydrating under the following conditions.

<Dehydration and cleaning conditions for belt filters equipped with a dehydrator>
Filtration area: 0.02m ²
Toner particle dispersion supply amount: 180 kg / hr
Treatment time: treatment time (filter cloth stop time) / travel time 90 sec / 20 sec
Decompression degree: -60 kPa
Cake washing liquid 7a: 3 times the solid content in the alkaline water (pH 10) supply slurry Cake washing liquid 7b: 3 times the solid content in the pure water (pH 6) supply slurry Aeration pressure (compressed air): 250 kPa
Gas ventilation time: 80 seconds Sealing time (expansion / expansion member expansion time): 85 seconds (Dehydration device was installed in the final span, and sealing was performed for 85 seconds during the 90 seconds when the belt stopped in the final span.)
Stretching member pressure: 500 kPa Depressurization when not sealed. Stretching member material: Air cylinder (SELC cylinder double-acting type manufactured by CKD)
Seal material: Chloroprene (CR) rubbery elastic body Single cell structure Hardness 25 °
Distance K between the gas discharge part and the bottom of the vacuum tray: 35 mm

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles obtained as described above was 18% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the cake of the dehydrated toner particles at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 85 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  Thereafter, the dehydrated toner particle cake was crushed and air-dried under the same conditions as in Example 1 to obtain toner particles.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 4
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the air pressure (compressed air) was 350 kPa.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 15% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 80 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The weight average particle size of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.15% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 5
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the air pressure (compressed air) was 150 kPa.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 23% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 110 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The toner particles after the drying step had a weight average particle size of 6.2 μm and a water content of 0.3% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 6
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 3, except that the air pressure (compressed air) was 40 kPa and the amount of dehydrated toner particles supplied to the dryer was 30 kg / hr.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 28% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 170 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  Further, the weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.4 μm, and the water content was 0.3 mass%. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 7
Toner particles were prepared in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the elastic member pressure was 600 kPa and the air pressure (compressed air) was 400 kPa.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 14% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 80 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The weight average particle size of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.15% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 8
Toner particles were prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that the seal part contact surface material was ethylene propylene (EPDM) copolymer rubbery elastic body (single cell structure) and the hardness was 30 °.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 19% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 90 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 9
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the seal part contact surface material was polyurethane rubber-like elastic body (open cell structure) and the hardness was 20 °.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 22% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 110 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The toner particles after the drying step had a weight average particle size of 6.2 μm and a water content of 0.3% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 10
Toner particles were prepared in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the seal portion contact surface material was polyurethane rubber-like elastic body (semi-open cell structure) and the hardness was 25 °.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 17% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-described X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 85 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 11
Toner particles were prepared in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the distance K between the gas discharge portion and the bottom surface of the vacuum tray was set to 400 mm.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 24% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 140 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The toner particles after the drying step had a weight average particle size of 6.3 μm and a water content of 0.3% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 12
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the distance K between the gas discharge part and the bottom surface of the vacuum tray was 15 mm.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles after the filtration step was 20% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 90 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 13
In the same manner as in Example 1, a dispersion of toner particles was obtained.

  After adding hydrochloric acid to the toner particle dispersion to dissolve the calcium phosphate on the surface of the toner particles, it is sent to a belt filter (manufactured by Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd., synchro filter modified type) equipped with a dehydrator 12 while suppressing foaming. The dehydrated toner particle cake was obtained by washing and dehydrating under the following conditions.

<Dehydration and cleaning conditions for belt filters equipped with a dehydrator>
Filtration area: 0.02m ²
Toner particle dispersion supply amount: 180 kg / hr
Treatment time: treatment time (filter cloth stop time) / travel time 90 sec / 20 sec
Decompression degree: -60 kPa
Cake washing liquid 7a: 3 times the solid content in the alkaline water (pH 10) supply slurry Cake washing liquid 7b: 3 times the solid content in the pure water (pH 6) supply slurry Aeration pressure (compressed air): 250 kPa
Gas ventilation time: 80 seconds Sealing time (expansion / expansion member expansion time): 85 seconds (Dehydration device was installed in the final span, and sealing was performed for 85 seconds during the 90 seconds when the belt stopped in the final span.)
Expansion member pressure: 500 kPa Depressurization when not sealed Expansion member material: Air spring Sumimount (Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.)
Seal material: Chloroprene (CR) rubbery elastic body Single cell structure Hardness 25 °
Distance K between the gas discharge part and the bottom of the vacuum tray: 35 mm

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles obtained as described above was 20% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the cake of the dehydrated toner particles at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 100 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  Thereafter, the dehydrated toner particle cake was crushed and air-dried under the same conditions as in Example 1 to obtain toner particles.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 14
After charging 5 mass parts of Na ₃ PO ₄ .12H ₂ O into 332 mass parts of ion-exchanged water and heating to 60 ° C., 58.3 revolutions per second (3, (500 rpm). To this was added 27 parts by mass of a 1.0 mol / liter-CaCl ₂ aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous medium containing Ca ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ .

Styrene monomer 70 parts by mass n-butyl acrylate 30 parts by mass Silane coupling agent-treated magnetic material obtained by the following method 80 parts by mass Saturated polyester resin 8 parts by mass <Propylene oxide modified bisphenol A (2 mol addition) Product) and terephthalic acid polycondensate (polymerization molar ratio 10:12), Tg = 68 ° C., Mw = 10000, Mw / Mn = 5.12>
Ester wax (Mw = 1200, Mn = 750, Mw / Mn = 1.6)
7 parts by mass / E-88 (manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1 part by mass The above materials were heated to 60 ° C. and dissolved and mixed for 30 minutes. In this, 8 parts by mass of 2,2′-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as a polymerization initiator was dissolved to prepare a polymerizable monomer composition.

<Manufacture of magnetic material>
In aqueous ferrous sulfate solution, 1.0 to 1.1 equivalents of caustic soda solution with respect to iron element, 1.5 mass% sodium hexametaphosphate in terms of phosphorus element with respect to iron element, silicon element with respect to iron element An aqueous solution containing ferrous hydroxide was prepared by mixing 1.5 mass% sodium silicate in terms of conversion.

  While maintaining the aqueous solution at pH 9, air was blown and an oxidation reaction was performed at 80 to 90 ° C. to prepare a slurry liquid for generating seed crystals.

  Subsequently, after adding ferrous sulfate aqueous solution so that it may become 0.9-1.2 equivalent with respect to the original alkali amount (sodium component of caustic soda) to this slurry liquid, the slurry liquid is maintained at pH 8 and air is supplied. The oxidation reaction was promoted while blowing to obtain a slurry liquid containing magnetic iron oxide. This slurry was filtered and washed. Next, this water-containing slurry was re-dispersed in another aqueous medium, and then the pH of the re-dispersed liquid was adjusted to about 4.5, and n-hexyltrimethoxysilane was added to 100 parts by mass of magnetic iron oxide with sufficient stirring. Then, 2.0 parts by mass was added to perform hydrolysis. Thereafter, the pH of the dispersion was adjusted to about 10, a condensation reaction was performed, and a coupling treatment was performed. The produced hydrophobic magnetic fine particles were washed, filtered and dried by a conventional method, and the resulting particles were crushed. The obtained magnetic fine particles had a volume average particle size of 0.20 μm.

The polymerizable monomer composition is charged into the aqueous medium, and stirred at 75 ° C. (4500 rpm) for 15 minutes with Claremix in an N ₂ atmosphere at 60 ° C. to prepare a polymerizable monomer mixture. Grained.

  Thereafter, while stirring with a full zone stirring blade (manufactured by Shinko Pantech Co., Ltd.), the temperature was raised to 70 ° C. and reacted for 10 hours. After the completion of the polymerization reaction, saturated steam (pure steam / steam pressure 205 kPa / temperature 120 ° C.) was introduced while stirring was continued with a full zone stirring blade. Twenty minutes after the start of the introduction of saturated steam, the temperature of the contents in the container reached 100 ° C., and a distillation fraction began to come out. The residual monomer was distilled off by obtaining a predetermined amount of the fraction, and the mixture was cooled to obtain a dispersion of toner particles.

  After adding hydrochloric acid to the toner particle dispersion to dissolve the calcium phosphate on the toner particle surface, it is sent to a belt filter (Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd., synchro filter modified type) equipped with a dehydrator 3 while suppressing foaming. Dehydrated and washed under the conditions of Example 1 to obtain a cake of dehydrated toner particles.

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles obtained as described above was 15% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the dehydrated toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 70 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  Thereafter, the dehydrated toner particle cake was crushed and air-dried under the same conditions as in Example 1 to obtain toner particles.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.3 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass.

  The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 15
In Example 3, dehydrated toner particles were obtained under the same conditions except that the conditions of the dehydrator were as follows.

Dehydration and cleaning conditions for belt filters equipped with a dehydrator>
Filtration area: 0.02m ²
Toner particle dispersion supply amount: 180 kg / hr
Treatment time: treatment time (filter cloth stop time) / travel time 90 sec / 20 sec
Decompression degree: -60 kPa
Cake washing liquid 7a: 3 times the solid content in the alkaline water (pH 10) supply slurry Cake washing liquid 7b: 3 times the solid content in the pure water (pH 6) supply slurry Aeration pressure 1 (compressed air): 250 kPa
Ventilation pressure 2 (compressed air): 400 kPa
Gas ventilation time 1 (at the time of ventilation pressure 1): 40 seconds Gas ventilation time 2 (at the time of ventilation pressure 2): 40 seconds Sealing time 1 (corresponding to the sealing time at the time of expansion / contraction member expansion time / venting time 1): 43 Second Sealing time 2 (corresponding to the sealing time at the time of expansion / contraction member expansion time / ventilation time 2): 42 seconds (Installing a dewatering device on the final span and sealing the belt on the final span for a total of 85 seconds in 90 seconds Was done.)
Telescopic member pressure 1: 500 kPa (during sealing time 1)
Elastic member pressure 2: 600 kPa (during sealing time 2)
However, when sealing is not performed, the pressure release material is expanded and contracted: Air cylinder (SELC cylinder double-acting type manufactured by CKD)
Seal material: Chloroprene (CR) rubbery elastic body Single cell structure Hardness 25 °
Distance K between the gas discharge part and the bottom of the vacuum tray: 35 mm

  The water content of the obtained dehydrated toner particles was 16% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the cake of the dehydrated toner particles at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 80 ppm, which was satisfactory.

  Thereafter, the dehydrated toner particle cake was crushed and air-dried under the same conditions as in Example 1 to obtain toner particles.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.2 μm, and the water content was 0.2% by mass.

  The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 1]
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the dehydrating apparatus was not operated and the amount of dehydrated toner particles supplied to the dryer was 20 kg / hr.

  The moisture content of the wet toner particles (non-dehydrated) after the filtration step was 35% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the wet toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the dispersion stabilizer remaining was 250 ppm.

  The toner particles after the drying step had a weight average particle size of 6.5 μm and a water content of 0.5% by mass. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 2]
Toner particles were produced in the same manner as in Example 13 except that the dehydrating apparatus was not operated and the amount of dehydrated toner particles supplied to the dryer was 20 kg / hr.

  The moisture content of the wet toner particles after the filtration step was 30%. Further, when the washing state of the wet toner particle cake at this time was analyzed with the above-described X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 230 ppm.

  The weight average particle size of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.6 μm, and the water content was 0.4%. The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 3]
The toner particle dispersion obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 is sent to a belt filter having a pressing roll having the form shown in FIG. 8 and dehydrated and washed under the following conditions to obtain a cake of dehydrated toner particles. Obtained.

<Dehydration / cleaning conditions for belt filter with squeezing roll>
Filtration area: 0.02m ²
Toner particle dispersion supply amount: 180 kg / hr
Treatment time: treatment time (filter cloth stop time) / movement time 90 sec / 20 sec
Decompression degree: -60 kPa
Cake washing liquid 10a: 3 times the solid content in the alkaline water (pH 10) supply slurry Cake washing liquid 10b: Pure water (pH 6) 3 times the solid content in the supply slurry Upper pressing roll: fixed to be rotatable.
Lower pressing roll: Driven to be rotatable and pressurizable to the upper pressing roll.
Lower pressing roll pressing pressure: 0.3Mpa

  The water content of the dehydrated toner particles obtained as described above was 31% by mass. Further, when the washing state of the cake of the dehydrated toner particles at this time was analyzed by the above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the amount of the remaining dispersion stabilizer was 230 ppm.

  Thereafter, airflow drying was performed under the conditions of Example 1 except that the supply amount was reduced to 20 kg / hr while pulverizing the cake of dehydrated toner particles to obtain toner particles.

  The weight average particle diameter of the toner particles after the drying step was 6.4 μm, and the water content was 0.3 mass%.

  The obtained toner particles were evaluated according to the image performance evaluation method described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

The side view of the filtration system containing a filter cloth traveling type belt filter and a dehydrator is shown. The side view of a dehydrator is shown. The perspective view of a dehydrator is shown. The enlarged view of the sealing means concerning this invention is shown. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a space composed of a gas discharge portion, a seal member, and a wet toner particle cake. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ′ in FIG. 5. The other example of the schematic sectional drawing which shows the space comprised from a gas discharge part, a sealing member, and a wet toner particle cake is shown. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the other conventional solid-liquid separation and dehydration apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Roll 2 Filter cloth 3 Feed port 4 Vacuum tray 5 Wet toner particle cake 6 Filter cloth washing | cleaning apparatus 7 7a, 7b, 7c Cake washing apparatus 8 Dehydration apparatus 9 Ventilation unit 10 Expandable member 11 11a, 11b Seal member 12 Dehydration apparatus 13 Space 14 Gas discharge section 15 Gas supply pipe 16 Buffer chamber 17 Dehydrated toner cake 18 Perforation 19 Upper pressing roll 20 Lower pressing roll 21 Stationary member

Claims (37)

A toner particle manufacturing apparatus having a dehydrating device for use in a filter cloth traveling belt filter for separating toner particles manufactured in an aqueous dispersion medium from the dispersion medium, wherein the dehydrating device is a wet toner obtained by filtration. A venting means for venting and dehydrating gas through the cake of particles and a sealing means for sealing the aerated gas;
(I) The seal means is a seal unit having an elastic member that expands at least with gas,
(II) The ventilation means is a ventilation unit that has a gas discharge part and vents gas through the cake of wet toner particles.
The apparatus for producing toner particles, wherein the seal unit is a mechanism for performing a seal so that at least gas flowing from between the cake of the wet toner particles and the seal unit does not leak. Filtrate cloth traveling type belt filter, the upper portion of the vacuum tray and traveling filter cloth, a configuration to form a wet toner particle cake was filtered off toner particles from the dispersion medium by filtrate cloth, vacuum trays, 2. The toner particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein vacuuming can be performed from a lower portion of the filter cloth.   The ventilation unit has at least the gas discharge part and a buffer chamber for storing gas provided above the gas discharge part, and is fixed to the vacuum tray via a stationary member. The toner particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1. The seal unit is provided in at least two locations on the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the filter cloth traveling direction of the filter cloth traveling belt filter, and has a mechanism for sealing so that the gas vented from the ventilation unit does not leak. apparatus for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there.   The seal unit is at least (1) between the wet toner particle cake and the seal unit, or at least (2) between the wet toner particle cake and the seal unit, and between the ventilation unit and the seal unit. 5. The toner particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner particle manufacturing apparatus is a mechanism for sealing so as not to leak a gas vented from the toner. The elastic member is a diaphragm or an air bag, gas toner particles according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is configured to stretch to deform by being supplied and discharged Manufacturing equipment. The elastic member is an air cylinder, apparatus for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the gas is configured to stretch to deform by being supplied and discharged . The contact surface material of at least the seal unit and the wet toner particle cake is polyisoprene, butadiene / styrene copolymer, polybutadiene, polychloroprene, ethylene propylene copolymer, butadiene / acrylonitrile copolymer, acrylate copolymer , polyurethane, organopolysiloxane, polyethylene, apparatus for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a polymer selected from one of polypropylene. Heavy structure of coalescing apparatus for manufacturing a toner particle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a rubber-like elastic material.   10. The toner particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the polymer structure is a foam containing bubbles.   The toner particle production apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the foam has a structure of an open cell structure, a semi-open cell structure, or a single cell structure. A gas is discharged from the gas discharge section into a space constituted by at least the (I) gas discharge section (II) seal unit (III) wet toner particle cake, and is dehydrated by venting the wet toner particle cake. The toner particle manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11. The gas discharge portion has a perforation, apparatus for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that for discharging the gas from the perforations.   The ventilation unit is fixed so that the distance from the bottom of the vacuum tray at the lower part of the gas discharge section and the filter cloth is K (K) ≦ K ≦ 400 (mm). The toner particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1.   15. The toner particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt filter is a filter cloth intermittent motion type belt filter. The driving of the sealing member, the manufacturing apparatus of the toner particles according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that in conjunction with the intermittent movement of the filter cloth intermittent motion type belt filter. A method for producing toner particles, comprising a filtration step of solid-liquid separation and dehydration of a toner particle dispersion produced in an aqueous dispersion medium using a filter cloth traveling belt filter equipped with a dehydration device, the dehydration device Is provided with a venting means for venting and dehydrating gas through a cake of wet toner particles obtained by filtration, and a sealing means for sealing the aerated gas.
(I) The seal means is a seal unit including at least an elastic member that expands with gas,
(II) The ventilation means is a ventilation unit that has a gas discharge part and vents gas through the cake of wet toner particles.
The sealing unit is a unit that performs sealing so as not to leak gas flowing between at least the wet toner particle cake and the seal unit, and the wet toner particle cake is dehydrated by the ventilation. A method for producing toner particles. Filtrate cloth traveling type belt filter, the upper portion of the vacuum tray and traveling filter cloth, a configuration to form a wet toner particle cake was filtered off toner particles from the dispersion medium by filtrate cloth, vacuum trays, 18. The method for producing toner particles according to claim 17, wherein vacuuming can be performed from a lower part of the filter cloth.   The ventilation unit has at least the gas discharge part and a buffer chamber for storing gas provided above the gas discharge part, and is fixed to the vacuum tray via a stationary member. The method for producing toner particles according to claim 17 or 18. The seal unit is provided at least at two locations on the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the filter cloth traveling direction of the filter cloth traveling type belt filter, and sealing is performed so that the gas vented from the ventilation unit does not leak. 20. The method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the toner particles are produced. The seal unit is at least (1) between the wet toner particle cake and the seal unit, or at least (2) between the wet toner particle cake and the seal unit, and between the ventilation unit and the seal unit. so as not leak gas venting from, method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that for sealing. The toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the elastic member is a diaphragm or an air bag, and is configured to expand and contract when gas is supplied and discharged. Production method. The method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the expandable member is an air cylinder, and is configured to expand and contract when gas is supplied and discharged. . The contact surface material of at least the seal unit and the wet toner particle cake is polyisoprene, butadiene / styrene copolymer, polybutadiene, polychloroprene, ethylene propylene copolymer, butadiene / acrylonitrile copolymer, acrylate copolymer The method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 23, which is a polymer selected from any of polyurethane, organic polysiloxane, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 24, wherein the polymer structure is a rubber-like elastic body.   The method for producing toner particles according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the polymer structure is a foam containing bubbles.   27. The method for producing toner particles according to claim 26, wherein the foam has an open cell structure, a semi-open cell structure, or a single cell structure. A gas is discharged from the gas discharge section into a space constituted by at least the (I) gas discharge section (II) seal unit (III) wet toner particle cake, and is dehydrated by venting the wet toner particle cake. The method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 27. The method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 28, wherein the gas discharge unit has perforations, and gas is discharged from the perforations. The ventilation unit is fixed so that the distance from the bottom of the vacuum tray at the lower part of the gas discharge section and the filter cloth is K (K) ≦ K ≦ 400 (mm). A method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 29. Method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 30, wherein the belt filter is a belt filter cloth intermittent motion type. The driving of the sealing member, the manufacturing method of the toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 31, characterized in that in conjunction with the intermittent movement of the filter cloth intermittent motion type belt filter. The pressure P1 of the gas vented by the venting means is
10 (kPa) ≦ P1 ≦ 700 (kPa)
The method for producing toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 32, wherein: 34. The toner particles according to claim 17, wherein the toner particles are toner particles produced by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer composition having at least a polymerizable monomer and a colorant in an aqueous dispersion medium. The method for producing toner particles according to claim 1 . 35. Production of toner particles according to any one of claims 17 to 34, wherein the toner particles are toner particles produced by aggregating at least fine resin particles and a colorant in an aqueous dispersion medium. Method.   36. The method for producing toner particles according to claim 34, wherein the colorant is a non-magnetic colorant.   36. The method for producing toner particles according to claim 34 or 35, wherein the colorant is a magnetic material treated with a silane coupling agent.

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