JPS6310175A - Developing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for enabling image development in an electrostatographic system. More specifically,
The present invention improves the electrostatic latent image by providing a means for transporting the developing particles to a deflected, flexible imaging member (one example of which includes a rotating magnet incorporated within a rotating sleeve). The present invention relates to an improved method and improved apparatus for high speed development. Accordingly, an important aspect of the present invention provides a conveying means incorporating a rotating magnet within a movable shell, and a flexible conveying means deflected at an arc of about 10° to about 70° with respect to the conveying means. A development zone is provided between the imaging member and the imaging member. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a means for transporting specific synthetic developer particles to a development zone between a flexible imaging member and a toner transport means incorporating a movable stone within a rotating shell. relates to an improved development method and apparatus in which the developer particles are desirably agitated and tangled in the development zone to enable satisfactory development of the image.

When using the method and apparatus of the present invention, upon rotation or tumbling of the carrier particles in the development zone, toner particles are immediately available without interruption for development of the latent image on the flexible imaging member. Thus, using the method and apparatus of the present invention, for example, 120 copies per minute can be produced in J! ! Continuous development of images, including efficient and effective solid development, can be obtained at high speeds with excellent resolution. Furthermore, as will be pointed out later, since only one transport or development roll is required, development at the above speed can be achieved economically.

Development of & by electrostatic means is well known. In these systems, toner particles are applied to the electrostatic latent image by various methods such as cascade, magnetic brush, powder cloud, and touchdown development.

Although cascade development and powder cloud development methods are particularly suitable for producing rites common to business documents, images that overlap solid areas have not been faithfully reproduced by these methods. However, magnetic brush development is an improved method for reproducing both line and solid images.

In magnetic brush development methods, it is usually desirable to control the thickness of the developer composition conveyed over the roller by driving the roller past a metering blade. Adjustment of the metering blade is important because the flow of developer in the development zone is determined by the narrow restricting aperture provided between the transport roller and the forming surface. Therefore, supplying sufficient toner particles to the imaging surface generally involves compressing the developer ear to make the toner particles attached to the sharp particles near the tip of the ear available for processing. is necessary. Fluctuations of ±10% or unevenness in the metered developer hanging on the transport rollers or in the gap between the transport rollers and the imaging member can result in undesirable developer flow and irregularities. A uniform phenomenon may occur.

Non-uniform development is usually minimized by careful control of the developer running on the guide roller and on the imaging member, and by controlling the relative position of the metering blade and the developer (g! roller and imaging member). This is done by providing side-to-side adjustment means.

Appropriate solid development with a magnetic brush is usually achieved by conveying the developer composition on a roller at a speed that exceeds the process speed of the acid-carrying member. At high process speeds, the speed of the developer and transport rollers is subject to approximately υ1 due to the centrifugal force that strips the developer material from the rollers. Therefore, in order to obtain satisfactory solid development at a high process speed, it is necessary to improve the development suitability by using a plurality of development rolls.

The electrical conductivity of the developer materials currently used in magnetic brush development varies widely, and in extreme cases it is electrically insulating such that only a low current is measured when a voltage is applied across the developer material. It is also possible that there is. Solid development with an insulating developer composition is achieved by metering a thin layer of developer onto a developer roll in close proximity to the image bearing member, and the developer roll is separated as an electrode to form a layer of toner particles. increases the electrostatic force acting on the

In this system, the IN gap between the imaging member and the developer roller is controlled to ensure proper developer flow and uniform solid development, and the minimum average gap is generally greater than 1.5 am. .

The developer composition can be coated electrically conductively by utilizing a material that helps conduct high currents in response to an applied potential. - The conductivity of the developer composition is determined by the conductivity of the magnetic carrier, the concentration of the toner particles, the magnetic field strength, the gap between the imaging member and the developer roll, and the deterioration of the developer due to toner smear on the carrier particles. Depends on a number of factors, including: Also, if the insulating toner particles are permanently attached to the conductive carrier, the conductivity drops to a critical value below which solid development is insufficient; however, within certain limits the process and the material parameters can be adjusted to compensate for the reduction in solidification ability.

When a conductive developer is used in an electrostatographic imaging system, the development electrode assembly is kept at a close working distance from the carrier member, and high electrostatic forces act only on toner particles adjacent to the imaging member. do. Therefore, in such a system, since the electrostatic force for development does not strongly depend on the V of the developer, uniformity of solid development is achieved despite variations in the gap between the image bearing member and the developing roller member. is improved.

More specifically, in magnetic brush development using, for example, a 13-charged developer, a solid applicator can remove the net charged developer near the imaging member, as long as the gap is sufficiently filled to allow contact. It is not limited by tiers.

This is because this charge is dissipated by four passes to the developer roller. However, solid buildup is limited by image field neutralization as long as there is sufficient . Toner supply is limited to the tip of the spike because the toner cannot be drained from inside the developer mixture. The high conductivity of the developer material causes the electric field to collapse anywhere within the developer material, confining the field to the region between the latent image and the developer material. At low toner concentrations, even with insulating or conductive developers, solid buildup is limited by the toner supply, which is limited by the magnetic field stiffening the developer and inhibiting developer mixing in the development zone. Because of interference, it is limited to the layer of carrier adjacent to the imaging member.

The above method results in undesirable deterioration of the developer particles. This generally depends on various factors, such as the frequency and strength of collisions between adjacent particles contained in the developer composition, the conductivity of the developer, and the (which adversely affects the triboelectrification relationship between the two). Then, for example, 11! on the toner particles! A decrease in the triboelectric charge value causes an increase in solid development and an increase in toner particles adhering to the background area of the image, which is usually a white area.
Therefore, to maintain the quality of the original image in such situations, the I+ on the toner particles must be increased.
Reducing the concentration of such particles in the mixture of developer MI compositions is done to increase the I triboelectric charge. Once both toner charge and toner density decrease, the developer must be replaced to obtain an image with acceptable solid development and low foreground adhesion.

Several improved types of toner and carrier materials and materials have been developed for development, but are not economical in the interim to provide high solid development rates, low backside adhesion, and long-term stability. Designing a reliable two-component stock system is still in the summer! Yes. Current magnetic brush systems are not efficient. The main reason for this is that only a small portion of the l/toner transported through the development zone is accessible for deposition on the image carrier member. With insulating developer, solid area marking is limited by the layer of net charged carrier particles created by toner development onto the preceding band T1a forming member. Since the developer entering the development zone has a neutral charge, the deposition of charged toner on the imaging member creates a layer of oppositely charged developer, which absorbs any further 1-toner. interfere with adhesion. Also, the net electrostatic force due to charged image scraping and the net charged developer layer is zero for that toner between the developer and the electrostatic latent image: and the electrostatic force or electric field acting on the charged toner is Collapse.

This is the case even if the toner charge deposited on the photoreceptor does not neutralize the image charge. However, if a sufficiently high developer flow rate and a large number of developer rollers are present, neutralization of the image field may be achieved. Neutralization of the image field occurs when the potential due to the layer of charged toner deposited on the imaging member is equal but of opposite sign to the potential due to the charged imaging member. If there is no bias against the developer roller, neutralization of the image results in zero development! & Since the electric field is generated and the thickness of the top layer is limited,
The charge density of a single layer of toner is smaller than the image charge density. Since the thickness of the charged toner layer should be much smaller than the imaging member, image neutralization occurs when the toner charge density neutralizes the image charge density.

Many of the above-mentioned shortcomings are addressed by the development of the imaging apparatus and method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,42'9 J5 and U.S. Pat. resolved by. These patents contain tensioned and flexed possible VAt! An imaging method and apparatus is described having a developing means comprising a TE forming member and a transport means, with a development zone between the imaging means and the transport means. The development zone can contain electrically insulating toner particles and electrically insulating carrier particles. The movement of the flexible imaging member and the transport means in opposite directions at equal speeds desirably disturbs the developer particles contained in the development zone. However, there is no magnetic field in this process, and no synthetic developer compositions have been selected for the system.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,813 discloses forming a magnetic brush with a developer composition comprising a magnetic toner of resistivity around the outer circumferential surface of a developer sleeve containing a magnet, and An improved reversal development method is described that involves brushing the surface of the latent image with a magnetic brush. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,014@ selected a two-component developing material containing electrically insulating magnetic particles as a carrier material and electrically insulating non-magnetic particles as a ]-ner composition. An electric brush development method is disclosed. Accordingly, this patent describes developer compositions consisting of carrier particles of, for example, magnetite, ferrite, or pure iron, containing a binder material such as a thermosetting resin such as a phenolic resin ( (See No. 31m, line 60 et seq. of the '014 patent).

In general, U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,694 discloses toner particles containing ferromagnetic materials in powder form, or toner particles and carrier particles (which may also contain iron particles or other ferromagnetic materials). A developing device is described in which a mixture of
[See below around line 40).

Also, U.S. Application No. 552.934 (U.S. Pat. No. 4.565.765, Development Method, Part 1) filed by the same applicant as the present application.
(incorporated herein in its entirety by reference) provides a development zone surrounded by an imaging member and a stationary transport member containing transport magnets, and provides an imaging member with an approximately 5 cIR. /second to advance at a speed of approximately 501/second,
The conveying magnet is rotated at a speed of about 200 to about 2000 revolutions per minute, and the distance between the V1 imaging member and the fixed member is about 0.1
0M to about 1.5am, toner particles and carrier
゛Particles (contains 84 fat and magnetite particles)
characterized in that the toner particles are transferred in the development zone from a layer of four-layer powder to another layer of carrier particles by introducing phenomenon-side particles consisting of and into the development zone,
Electrostatic i! on the imaging member A method of developing the image is described.

In one specific method disclosed in this U.S. application, 11) a development zone is provided between the imaging member and the transport 8IS41; (3) transporting the synthetic developer composition to the development zone by rotating a magnet within the stationary shell; and (4) advancing the imaging member in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the rotating magnet. , the developer particles are desirably agitated in the development zone by magnetic means such that developer particles consisting of toner resin particles and A7S11 particles (consisting of resin particles and magnetite) are immediately adjacent to the imaging member. An improved electrostatic latent image method is provided in which the distance between the image form/11! member and the fixed shell is from about 0.1a to about 1.5as+. As an example of an imaging member selected for the purpose of the present invention, a flexible photosensitive device of the WI type is disclosed. A movable shell was selected that allows for numerous advantages of the current Fl!77 method and device of J3.
The advantage will be explained later! ], including, for example, substantially preventing carrier particles from stagnation on the surface of the rotating charging roll and substantially eliminating excessive bead carrier clouds that result in poor developability. Furthermore, using the method and apparatus of the present invention, there is a substantial so-called suppression of developer flow at the entrance to the JJ2 image nip.

Additionally, as xerographic technology continues to advance, there continues to be a need for improved methods and apparatus for developing images in a timely and economical manner. Additionally, there remains a need for improved development methods that can provide high quality, low resolution images at speeds up to 12 o copies/min. In general, there remains a need for fast development systems that require only -wood developer rollers to transport the toner. Also, an improved developer composition in which toner particles and carrier particles are selected and the developer composition is rapidly agitated or tumbled in the development zone to make the toner particles continuously and immediately available for development. There is a need for a developing method and apparatus. Additionally, there is a need for improved development methods and apparatus in which background development is substantially eliminated and developer composition longevity is increased. There is also a need for an improved development method and apparatus in which the size of the carrier particles is in a size range that prevents carrier odor or consumption of the Carrier X7 particles during the electrophotographic process. In this application,
During development, the carrier beads are deflected by the flexible photoreceptor and are transported out of the development subsystem and consumed, e.g., onto an output copy or into a cleaner assembly. It means that.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome some of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
J. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved developing method and apparatus.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetically perturbed development method and apparatus that allows the production of high quality images at speeds in excess of 120 copies per minute.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed developing method J3 and apparatus in which a single toner conveying means consisting of a rotating magnet is selected.

In general, it is an object of the invention that the synthetic developer composition is desirably disturbed or It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-speed electrostatic latent image developing apparatus and method that uses tumble rotation.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention that toner particles are continuously and immediately available adjacent to the surface of the flexible imaging member, thereby allowing complete development of the image, including any solid development, at high speeds. An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetically disturbed developing method and apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is high speed development selecting a single toner transport means to 1v1 and perturb synthetic developer compositions.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a movable magnet within the rotating shell to provide a transport means capable of forming and developing images at a speed of about 20 to about 120 copies/minute, and capable of forming and developing images at speeds of about 20 to about 120 copies/minute. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing method and apparatus that can self-maintain a gap between a flexible image forming member and a toner transporting member.

These and other objects of the present invention are such that toner particles are continuously and immediately available adjacent to a self-spacing, deflected imaging member, thereby allowing, for example, high speed development of electrostatic latent images. More specifically, the improved method and apparatus of the present invention provides a flexible imaging member that rotates within a movable shell. A development zone is provided between the toner transport means containing a magnet; and a synthetic developer composition comprising toner resin particles and carrier particles (composed of specific toner resin particles and magnetite) is applied to the toner transport member. a deflected flexible imaging member advancing at a relative velocity and allowing the developer particles to be desirably agitated and tumbled in the development zone by introducing the developer particles into the development zone at a relative velocity; The conveying members are close to each other, i.e. the spacing between them is about 0.1M to about 1.0M.
0 am, preferably about 0.4 aw to about 0.8 a.

- g, the present invention comprises a housing means, a toner mixing means, a toner conveying means comprising a rotating magnet housed in a movable shell, and an angle of about 10° to the toner conveying means.
It consists of a flexible imaging member bent at an arc of approximately 50° and a development zone between the toner transport means and the flexible imaging member. The present invention relates to a high speed development apparatus in which the agent particles are desirably agitated or tumbled in the development zone so that they are continuously and quickly available for development of the particles present on the deflected member. The device can be operated at different development speeds, depending, for example, on the number of magnetic poles present in the movable shell. In addition, and of particular importance to the above-described apparatus, the 81 rotation of the carrier particles in the development zone continuously utilizes the toner particles on the outer surface of each carrier particle for electrostatic attraction to the flexible imaging member. can be made possible.

Another aspect of the present invention provides (1) a development zone positioned between the deflected flexible imaging member and the toner transport member; (3) advancing the synthetic developer composition to the development zone by the transport member; and (4) toner transport. advancing a flexible imaging member, the flexible imaging member having an arc of about 10°/about 50° relative to the member, in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the rotating magnet, such that the developer particles are The flexible imaging member is desirably agitated or tumbled in the zone, and these developer particles, consisting of toner resin particles and carrier particles (composed of 81 fat particles and magnetite), are immediately flexed. the electrostatic latent image at a speed of from about 20 copies/min to greater than about 120 copies/min, wherein the distance between the imaging member and the toner transport member is from about 0.1 m to about 1.0 m+; This is an improved method for developing. In one embodiment of this method, the imaging member is about 5
cm/sec to about 50 α/sec, and the conveying magnet moves at a speed of about 200 revolutions/min to about 2000 revolutions/min.

The shell also rotates at a speed of about 100 to about 400 revolutions per minute.

In summary, according to the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic method for developing a static IJI image by a device comprising an image forming means, a charging means, a fogging means, a developing means, and a fixing means, the developing means comprising: , a toner conveying means comprising a rotating magnet provided in a movable shell, and a flexible image forming means deflected at an arc of about 10° to 70° with respect to the toner conveying means. a member and a development zone between the flexible imaging member means and the toner transport means, the development zone having toner particles and carrier particles (comprised of resin particles and magnetite). the imaging means advances at a speed of about 5 oa/sec to about 50 cIR/sec, and the transport means advances at a rate of about 30 cIR/sec.
The developer particles are advanced at a speed of about 135 r:II/sec to about 135 r:II/sec, and the distance between the image forming means and the transport means is about 0.1 M to about 1.0 jw, and such A single toner transport means (-) provides an improved method that allows for high speed development.

Preferred Embodiments For a better understanding of the present invention, various preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings! The following details are provided below.

The first vA includes receiving or housing means 1, developer particles 3 consisting of toner resin particles 5 and synthetic carrier particles 7 (consisting of resin particles and magnetic particles), paddle wheel means 9 with a packet 11, a rotating magnet 17 and an arrow 20. a toner transport means 15 comprising a movable sleeve 19 that moves in the direction of the toner transport means 15; a developer trim bar means 21; a flexible imaging member 23 deflected in an arc of about 10" to about 50 degrees with respect to the toner transport means 15; , a development zone 25, and a stripper shim means 27. Generally, in operation, the deflected flexible imaging member and the shell are moved at relative speeds. , moves in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the rotating magnet.

This movement enables the transport of developer particles to the development zone 25 located rm between the imaging member and the toner transport means, whereby the toner particles contained in this zone are desirably disturbed. Developer particles 3 are transferred to toner transport means 1 by paddle wheel means 9 moving in the direction of arrow 10.
5 is first supplied. In addition, the trimmer bar 21 serves to maintain the thickness of the layer of developer composition present on the toner transport means. In general, the stripper shim means 27 allow developer particles, particularly carrier particles (substantially depleted of toner particles), to be returned to the developer housing 1 for mixing with the toner particles.

A rotating magnet present in the movable shell of the toner transport means provides a magnetic force that enables transport of the synthetic developer particles 3;
The composite developer particles are first brought into contact with an adjustable trim bar means 21 so that selected suspended developer particles can remain on the movable shell. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that as the magnetic pole pair rotates, the synthetic developer material, which may be in the form of a chain, continually flips. Since the chains of these mi agents travel approximately a chain-length path and then flip and move forward along the movable shell, high turbulence is obtained at high rotation rates and, therefore, flexible imaging is possible. An NR supply of toner particles is obtained that allows for high speed development of - present on the member.

Thus, in particular, as the carrier particles, which are initially surrounded by toner particles, enter the development zone, the toner particles, as a result of electrostatic forces created by the latent image present on the deflected flexible imaging member, can be depleted. Without rotation or flipping, toner particles located, for example, on the sides or bottom of the carrier particles are not available for attraction to the imaging member. Accordingly, in the method and apparatus of the present invention, the carrier particles are tumbled or flipped to allow toner particles that would otherwise not be made available for development to be attached to the imaging member by electrostatic attraction. This is very important. In this method, the process speed depends on the number of magnetic poles present in the movable shell i, I
J all can. Thus, with the present invention, high process speeds are possible, ie, images of excellent resolution can be developed at speeds of up to 120 copies per minute or more.

In the context of a high speed development process, developer agitation causes toner particles bound to carrier 17 particles to migrate toward the flexible imaging member. The toner particles closest to the flexible imaging member adhere thereto. Thus, the carrier particles adjacent to the imaging member lose some of the toner particles bound to them and must be replenished to replace the lost toner particles in order to achieve high quality development, especially solid development. It won't happen. As noted herein, movement or disturbance of the carrier particles causes toner particles bound to carrier particles in other portions to become available for attraction to the electrostatic imaging member. The preferred maximum perturbation is obtained when the development zone is thin, i.e. the developer particles contained in the developer zone have a thickness of from about 0.1 aw to about 1.0 am, preferably from about 0.3 am+ to about 0.8 m. Obtained when the value is within the range of For example, 16 poles, 24 poles, and 3 poles.
The bipolar magnet is fixed to the movable shell by various suitable means (eg adhesive bonding to the support, magnetizing cylinder, etc.). These magnets generally have a length of about 200#~
It has a width of approximately 400 m, a width of approximately 5 Jw to approximately 20 mm, and a thickness of approximately 15 m to approximately 30 III&. Additionally, the magnets selected are commercially available and may be constructed from known materials such as ceramic magnetic materials such as strontium ferrite.

The magnets can be driven at different speeds depending on, for example, the desired perturbation and the number of copies to be made. However, generally the speed of magnets is about 200 revolutions/minute to about 2000 revolutions/minute,
Preferably it runs at a speed of about 900 revolutions per minute to about 1100 revolutions per minute. Also, each magnet has a power of about 450 Gauss to about 1000 Gauss.
produces a Gaussian magnetic field, and preferably the magnet is approximately 700 gaussian.
It is selected to produce a magnetic field of Gauss to about 900 Gauss.

Further, with respect to the device of the present invention, the sleeve means 19 generally comprises an aluminum shell having a circumference of about 6C11 to about 25 cm, preferably about 10α to about 200 cm.

The shell generally has a thickness of about 1/32 inch to about 3/32 inch.

Other suitable materials that can be selected for the movable shell include, for example, stainless steel, brass, molded plastic with a conductive coating, and the like.

Specific examples of trimmer bars and stripper shims that may be selected for the method and apparatus of the present invention include aluminum, true! 1
1 etc. Examples of means for moving the synthetic developer composition to the toner transport means include paddle wheels, augers, chutes, etc. as illustrated in FIG.

Specific examples of flexible imaging members are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265.99.
No. 0, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, such as a layered organic photoreceptor consisting of a support, a photogenerating layer, and an amine transport layer. Examples of photogenerating layers for the above components include metal phthalocyanine,
It can be selected from metal-free phthalocyanine, squarine compositions, vanadyl phthalocyanine, selenium, trigonal selenium, and the like, with vanadyl phthalocyanine and trigonal selenium being preferred.

Examples of transport layer molecules include diamine compositions such as those described in US Pat. No. 4,265,990.

Generally, photogenerated pigments and amine transport molecules are dispersed in inert resinous binder compositions with varying effectiveness. Thus, for example, the photogenerating pigment vanadyl phthalocyanine is present in the photogenerating layer in an amount of about 5% to about 35%, and the amine transport molecule is present in the resinous binder in an amount of about 10% to about 80%.

Examples of resinous materials include polycarbonate, polyvinyl carbazole, polyester, etc.
These include those described in No. 5.990.

Further, the imaging member is approximately 10° relative to the toner transport means.
It is deflected through an arc of from about 70°, preferably from about 10° to about 50°. This deflection is primarily exerted by the pressure exerted on the flexible imaging member by developer particles present in the development zone. As a result of the presence of these particles, a pressure of between about 0.01 bonds/in 2 and 1 bond/in 2 , preferably between about 0.1 bonds/in 2 and about 1 bonds/in 2 is exerted on the imaging member. . Since the pressure exerted on the imaging member also depends on the member tension and the arc radius, the pressure P is expressed as the force per unit width of the deflected imaging member under the belt tension. It is obtained by dividing by , and is expressed by the formula PT/R.

A very important feature of the method and apparatus of the present invention is the use of synthetic developer compositions. This developer composition is identified as synthetic because it contains resin particles and magnetic particles as carrier particles, as will be explained in detail later.

A variety of suitable toner compositions can be selected for use in the developer of the present invention. These compositions include resin particles and pigment particles, optionally a low molecular weight waxy material, and also optional charge-enhancing additives. (e.g., to impart a triboelectric charge to the toner particles. : iJI material particles Particles containing a low molecular weight wax such as polyethylene or boria 0 pyrene having a particle size of 1,000 to about 6,000 particles and a charge-enhancing additive selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridium halide, an organic sulfate, and an organic sulfonate additive. Examples of alkylpyridinium compounds include cetylpyridinium chloride (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,672, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and stearyldimethylphenethyltoluene. sulfonates (U.S.A.) (see No. 4.338.390@, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

Specific examples of toner resins include polyester, styrene/methacrylate or styrene/acrylate, polyamide,
diolefin, epoxy, polyurethane, vinyl resin,
and esterification products of dicarboxylic acids and diols consisting of diphenols. Typical examples of vinyl monomers are styrene, p-chlorostyrene vinylnaphthalene, vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, vinyl fluoride: ethylenically unsaturated monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene,
Isobutylene; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl butyrate; esters of α-methylene aliphatic monocarboxylic acids such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, gn-butyl acrylate,
Acrylic isobutyl, dodecyl acrylate, ln-octyl acrylic, M2-chloroethyl acrylic, phenyl acrylic, methyl α-chloroacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, etc.: acrylonitrile, methacrylaterile, acrylamide, vinyl ether vinyl ketones such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone, methyl isopropenyl ketone; nylidene halides such as vinylidene chloride, vinylidene fluoride; styrene butadiene and the like.

Preferred toner resins of the present invention are polystyrene methacrylates; polyester resins such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,374, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; Polyester resin obtained from the condensation of dimethyl terephthalate, 1°3-butanediol, and pentaerythritol: I
3 and bryolide resin. Briolide resin is a copolymer resin of styrene and butadiene, and the styrene content ranges from about 80+1!1% to about 95%! f! 1% of catfish, and butadiene is present in about 500% to about 20%
It seems that it exists in amounts of . A particular styrene-butadiene resin found to be highly effective in the present invention is about 8
Consists of 9% styrene and 11% butadiene.

Various suitable known colorant and/or pigment particles may be present in the toner particles: for example, carbon black, nigrosine dyes, magnetic particles such as mapico black (composed of a mixture of iron III oxides), and the like. The pigment particles are present in the toner in a sufficient amount so that the toner is highly pigmented to form a visible image on the recording member. Thus, for example, the pigment particles, other than the magnetic material, may be present in the toner composition at about 2% to about 15% by weight, preferably from about 500% to about 15% by weight.
It should be present at a concentration of about 10ff11%. For magnetic pigments like Mavico Black, it is generally around 10
% to about 60% by weight, preferably about 20% by weight
~30% by weight is incorporated into the toner composition.

Although possible since magnetic particles are present in the toner composition as the only pigment! ! It is possible to combine bamboo powder particles with other pigments such as carbon black. Thus, for example, in this FP version of the present invention, other pigments such as carbon black are present in an amount of about 5% to about 10% by weight, and magnetic pigments are present in an amount of about 10% to about 60% by weight. Other percentage combinations of magnetic pigments with other pigments are also possible as long as the objectives of the invention are achieved.

Low molecular weight waxy substances are also present in the toner composition at approximately 1% by weight.
It may be introduced in an amount of from about 10% by weight, preferably from about 2% to about 5% by weight. These waxes generally have a molecular weight of about 500 to about 20,000, and preferably about 1. A molecule of OOQ ~ 6.000 has.

Allied Chemical & Vetrolite is a representative example of the low molecular weight waxy substance included in Box 95 of the present invention.
i: /) X et al commercially available polyethylene; Evolene N-15 commercially available from Eastman Chemical Products Company; Viscol 550-P (low molecular weight a polypropylene) available from Sanyo Chemical; and similar materials. It is. The commercially available polyethylene selected has a molecular weight of about 1000 to about 1500, and
The commercially available polypropylene incorporated into the toner compositions of the present invention has a molecular weight of about 4000. Many of the polyethylene and polypropylene compositions useful in the present invention are described in British Patent No. 1.442.835, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Further, the charge improving additive is present in the developer composition in an amount of about 0.5cm11% to about 20wt%, preferably about 1000 to about 5ff1M1%, based on the total illumination of toner particles. May be mixed. These charge control additives may be blended into the developer mixture or coated onto pigment particles such as carbon black. A preferred charge enhancing additive incorporated into the toner compositions of the present invention is cetylpyridium chloride (U.S. Pat. No. 4,298
．． No. 672, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) and steflyldimethylphenethylammonium o-toluenesulfonate.

Additionally, the toner resin is present at approximately 100% of all components of the toner composition. Therefore, for non-magnetic toner compositions, the toner resin is generally about 6011
% to about 90 μ%, preferably about 80% to about 85% by weight.

Therefore, the toner composition in the - embodiment has 90 resin particles!
1ffi%, 5% by weight of pigment particles such as carbon black, 3% by weight of a charge improver, and up to 2% by weight of low molecular weight wax.

One preferred toner resin material is about 88 to 91% by weight styrene and about 8 to about 12% by weight styrene. Styrene-butadiene copolymer containing 1% of 7tadiene 67ffiM%; or a branched polyester resin obtained from the reaction of bisphenol A with propylene oxide and fumaric acid 67% strain: 58% styrene and 422% crosslinked styrene n-butyl methacrylate tiA fat containing 25% by weight n-butyl methacrylate, 6% by weight carbon black, and 2ffi 1% Volip O pyrene wax having a molecular weight of about 2000 to about 7000. The crosslinked resin is about 0.
Contains 2% divinylbenzene. Another preferred toner composition is a polyester resin such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. (present at about 20% by weight) and no carbon black is present in this composition.

In addition, various additives can be added to the toner composition, such as silica particles such as Aerosil R972 and various known fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate (U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,374). No. 3,720.6
No. 17, and No. 3.900.588, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety).

This harmful substance is mainly added to promote or impart a negative triboelectric charge to the toner particles.

The carrier composition of the present invention (having a diameter of about 50 microns to about 250 microns) consists of resin particles, magnetic particles, and carbon black. Thus, for example, Kirelya particles may contain resin particles (such as a polymer of styrene and butyl methacrylate or polymethacrylate, as will be explained later), about 50μ to about 30%, and magnetite (such as the well-known magnetite, which has a cubic or acicular shape). about 50% by weight to about 70% by weight of carbon black (in either clear or non-conductive form).
It can be comprised from 8% to about 10% by weight.

Examples of useful resin particles for carrier compositions include polyamide,
Epoxy, diolefin, polyurethane, vinyl resin,
It is a polymer esterification product of a dicarboxylic acid and a diol consisting of a diphenol.

Typical vinyl monomers are styrene, p-chlorostyrene vinylnaphthalene, vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, vinyl fluoride, ethylenically unsaturated monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate. , vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl butyrate; esters of α-methylene aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, ln-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate,
Dodecyl acrylate, Mn-octyl acrylate, M2-chloroethyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methyl α-chloroacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, etc.; acrylic O nitrile,
Methacrylate [■ Nitrile, acrylamide, vinyl ether: vinyl ketone, such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone, methyl isobrobenyl ketone; - vinylidene halide, such as vinylidene chloride, vinylidene fluoride; styrene butadiene di, etc. Preferred materials for the carrier particles are styrene-butadiene copolymer resins,
and styrene methacrylic 1ln-butyl copolymer resin.

As one of the preferred carrier resins, esterification products of dicarboxylic acids and diols consisting of diphenols can be selected. These materials are covered by U.S. Patent No. 3.65.
No. 5,374, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, the diphenol reactant has the formula shown in Section 4al of that patent, lines 5 et seq. , and the dicarboxylic acid has the formula shown in column 6. Other preferred toner resins include styrene/methacrylate copolymers, styrene/butadiene copolymers, and the like.

Other specific preferred resins selected for the carrier compositions of the present invention are polymethyl methacrylate, vinyl halide copolymers, especially vinyl chloride copolymers, and the like.

Examples of magnetite contained in the carrier resin particles are cubic-shaped Mapicoblack, commercially available from City Services; acicular magnetite, commercially available from Pfizer; etc., with cubic-shaped Mavicoblack being preferred. These magnetites seem to consist of a mixture of iron oxides.

Conductive or non-conductive 3! J-electrocarbon black particles can be included in the carrier composition in an amount from about 0% to about 1 ota% by weight. According to the present invention, "conductivity" is defined as 200 volts/1 for Carry V particles containing carbon black.
Approximately 1O-6 (Ω-cm) to approximately 1 in 1III
0 (Ω-1), preferably from about 10 (Ω-G)-1 to about 10 (Ω-cm) at 200 volts/IMR
−' means that the conductivity is right.

A developer composition can be prepared by combining the active ingredients of the toner compositions described herein with carrier particles comprised of FA fat particles, magnetite particles, and carbon black particles. In particular, a developer composition can be prepared by mixing about 98% carrier particles and about 2% toner particles.

The method of the present invention is useful in a number of imaging systems, including electronic printers and electrostatographic copiers, such as those utilizing known electrographic equipment. Figure 2 shows U.S. Pat.
．． No. 4,459,009, and U.S. Application No. 588.265.990M, entitled Toner Particle Charging Method/Apparatus.
No. 181, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, on a conductive substrate such as an electrically grounded aluminum evaporated mylar. a flexible imaging member 5c having a flexible surface and an amine transport layer disposed thereon;
An electrophotographic printing machine using m is illustrated.

Although the imaging member 5 cm can be constructed from a number of suitable materials as described in this application, in this 191 example the photoelectrically conductive material includes a photogenerating layer of trigonal selenium or vanadyl phthalocyanine and a wi Subverted, small molecule N,N,N'-tetraphenyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)4,4'-diamine, or into a polycarbonate resinous binder! It consists of a transport layer containing the same diamine. Furthermore, referring to Figure 2,
The 5 cm of deflected flexible imaging nI material moves in the direction of arrow 57, advancing the photoconductive surface sequentially through each process station disposed about its travel path. The imaging member is mounted around sheet peel roller 58 and drive roller 60. The tensioning system, not shown, includes rollers 61 with flanges on both sides to define the path through which the member 5 cm passes.

A roller 61 is mounted at each end of a guide attached to a spring. Spring 62 (not shown)
is tensioned such that roller 61 pushes against imaging belt member 5 cm. The 5 cm member is thus placed under the desired tension. The level of tension is relatively low allowing the member 5 cm to be deformed relatively easily. Further, referring to FIG. 2, the driving roller 60 is rotatably mounted and engaged with a member 5 cm. The motor 63 rotates the roller 60 to rotate the member 5 cm.
is advanced in the direction of arrow 57. Roller 60 is connected to motor 63 by suitable means such as a belt device. The sheet peeling roller 58 has a section T of 45 cm.
It is freely rotatable so that it can be easily started in the direction of arrow 57 with the minimum amount a.

First, the 5 cm portion of the image forming member is placed at the charging station H.
pass through. At charging station H, the photoconductive surface of the imaging member 5 cm is charged to a relatively high, substantially uniform potential by a corona generating device, generally designated by the reference numeral 64.

The charged portion of the photoconductive surface is then passed through exposure station I. An original document 65 is placed face down on a transparent platen 66. Reflected from original document 65, the light beam passes through lens 68 forming its optical image.

Lens 68 focuses a light image onto the charged portion of the photoconductive surface to selectively dispose of the charge on the charged portion.

This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface that corresponds to the information ata contained in the original document 65.

The imaging member 5 cm then advances the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface to the development station J detailed above. Development station J is equipped with the magnetically perturbed development system described herein (reference number 69).
(commonly expressed by ) means that the developer is electrostatically
Encourage contact with the statue. The magnetically agitated development system 69 includes a developer roller or shelf 0 over which a composite developer material consisting of resin and magnetic carrier particles and toner particles is conveyed to create a flexure. 5 cm of flexible imaging member. As shown, the developer roller 70 is arranged such that the developer blanket deforms the imaging member 5 cm into an arc, i.e. the side 5 cm at least partially conforms to the shape of the composite developer. It is located. The electrostatic latent image attracts toner particles from the carrier particles to form a toner powder image on the photoconductive surface of the 5 cm member. Also shown in this figure are developer particles 91, developer storage means 93, and toner distribution means 95.

The imaging member 5 cm then advances the toner powder image to transfer station K. At the transfer station, a sheet of support material 74 is advanced into contact with the toner powder image. A sheet of support FI 74 is advanced to a transfer station by a sheet feeder (not shown).

Preferably, the sheet feeding device includes a feeding roll in contact with the top sheet of the sheet stack. The feed roll rotates to advance the top sheet from the stack into the chute. The chute brings the advancing sheet of support material into sequential contact with the photoconductive surface of the 5 cm imaging member so that the toner powder image developed on the photoconductive surface is transferred to the transfer station and the advancing sheet of support material. I have contact with 1.

The transfer station includes a corona generator 76 that bombards the backside of the sheet 74 with ions.

This causes the toner powder image to be drawn from the photoconductive surface to sheet 74. After transfer, sheet 74 is advanced on a conveyor (not shown) in the direction of arrow 78 to aS station L.

Fusing station L includes a fuser assembly (designated generally by reference numeral 8o) that permanently fuses the transferred toner powder image to sheet 74. Preferably, the fuser assembly 80 is a heated fuser.
〇-'5-82 and backup roller 84 are included. Sheet 74 passes between a fuser roller 82 and a backup roller 84 such that the toner powder image contacts fuser roller 82. In this manner, the toner powder image is permanently affixed to sheet 74.

At -11tl, the advancing sheet 74 is guided by a chute to a catch tray and then removed from the printing machine by an operator.

A sheet of support material forms a photoconductive surface or imaging member 5c.
After separation from M, residual particles from the photoconductive surface remain attached to the photoconductive surface, and these particles are removed from the photoconductive surface at a cleaning station M. Cleaning station M includes a fibrous brush 86 rotatably mounted in contact with the photoconductive surface. Particles are cleaned from the photoconductive surface by brush 86 rotating in contact with the photoconductive surface. After cleaning, a discharge lamp (not shown) directs light onto 5 cm of the photoconductive surface to dissipate any residual static charge remaining thereon prior to charging for the next successive imaging cycle.

Next, preferred specific examples of the present invention will be explained with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to the prohis parameters disclosed therein. Parts and % in Examples
By weight unless otherwise specified.

Tomi Wataru” Positively charged toner composition with triple stone% [Styrene/methacrylic ln-butyl tree Jlt (58/42) 92.5ful1
% and Regal 0330 carbon black 6% by weight and charge improver methyl sulfate distearyl dimethyl ammonium 1 %
．． 5wt 1% and has an average particle diameter of 9.6μ] and a 97fi11% carrier (styrene/
Consists of 26% by weight of butadiene copolymer (89/11), 70% by weight of magnetite Mavico black, and 4% by weight of Palkane carbon black, with an average particle diameter of approximately 88~
A synthetic developer composition having a diameter of approximately 177μ] was incorporated into the apparatus of FIG. The photoreceptor has an aluminum substrate, a triangular selenium photogenerating layer dispersed in a polyvinylcarbazole resinous binder, and an arylamine N,N,N'-tetraphenyl-(1,1'-
biphenyl)-4゜4゛-diamine, and a charge transport layer of polycarbonate resin (U.S. Pat.
．． 265.990). Further, referring to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the diameter of the charging roll was 2.5 inches. The magnets, rotating at a speed of 910 revolutions per minute, were constructed of ceramic material, had 24 poles, and each magnet produced a magnetic field of 900 Gauss. Furthermore, the shell made of stainless steel rotates at a speed of 230 revolutions per minute, and the W!
The A gap was 0.020 inch. The paddle wheel in the developer sump rotated at 100 revolutions/minute. Also, the process speed was 18 inches/second.

After charging the toner particles and imagewise exposing the imaging member,
Images of excellent resolution were obtained with virtually no background artifacts. In addition, the developed lines had sharp edges without jagged edges, and the line aspect ratio was close to 1, i.e., the line temperature in one direction was divided by the line temperature in the perpendicular direction for the same manual concentration. The value was close to 1. In addition, the halftone N tone showed excellent resolution, and its density was also faithfully reproduced.

The selected process speed is 13.3 inches/second;
The speed of the magnet is 420 revolutions per minute and the speed of the shell is 1
The speed of the paddle wheel was 120 rpm for 27 minutes, and the selected Kirelya was composed of 301 n% of styrene-butadiene resin (89/11) and 701 M% of magnetite Mavico black, and the average particle diameter 75-120μ, except that the selected toner had an average particle diameter of 9.1μ.
The method of Example 1 was repeated. Virtually the same result is obtained: and, for example, short I! A high-resolution image with an image was obtained. In addition, the solid portion had no jagged edges, and the lines had sharp edges. Using the method of Example 1, the 1s7 spectrum ratio was close to 1.

Other variations of the invention will become possible to those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure. These are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the developing method and apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as applied to an electrostatographic imaging apparatus.

Claims (35)

[Claims] (1) in operative relationship a flexible imaging member means and a toner transport means incorporating a rotating magnet within a movable shell;
a development zone between the flexible imaging member means and the toner transport means, wherein the developer composition is agitated in the development zone to form toner composition particles and carrier particles (comprised of resin particles and magnetite). ) are available immediately adjacent to the imaging member, and the distance between the imaging member and the movable shell is from about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 mm;
An improved electrostatic latent image development device, and wherein the imaging member is deflected at an arc of about 10° to about 70° relative to the toner transport member. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising developer housing means, paddle wheel means, toner trim bar means, and developer stripping means. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein between about 16 pole magnets and about 32 pole magnets are disposed within the movable sleeve. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet rotates at a speed of about 200 revolutions per minute to about 2000 revolutions per minute. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet rotates at a speed of about 900 revolutions per minute to about 1100 revolutions per minute. (6) The sleeve moves about 1 inch in the opposite direction to the direction of magnet movement.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus rotates at a speed of from 0.00 revolutions per minute to about 400 revolutions per minute. (7) The deflected flexible imaging member is about 5 cm/sec ~
2. The device of claim 1, which advances at a speed of about 100 cm/sec. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the developer particles are agitated in the development zone by movement of a rotating magnet, sleeve means, and imaging member means. (9) Development of the image present on the flexible imaging member is approximately 60
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is operated at a rate of from about 120 cycles/minute to about 120 cycles/minute. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging member comprises a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and an arylamine charge transport layer. (11) The photogenerating layer is selected from the group consisting of metal phthalocyanines, metal-free phthalocyanines, vanadyl phthalocyanines, squarylium pigments, and trigonal selenium, optionally dispersed in an inert resinous binder. 10. The apparatus of claim 10. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the carrier particles consist of a styrene butadiene resin or a styrene n-butyl methacrylate resin. (13) resin particles are present in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight, and magnetite particles are present in an amount of about 60% to about 8% by weight;
13. The device of claim 12, present in an amount of 0% by weight. 14. The device of claim 13 further comprising about 1% to about 10% by weight carbon black in the carrier particles. (15) Carrier particles are polymethacrylate resin of about 20%
wt% to about 40 wt% and magnetite particles about 60 wt%
80% by weight of the device of claim 1. (16) The device according to claim 15, further comprising carbon black particles contained in the carrier particles. (17) the carrier particles have a diameter of 50μ to 200μ;
The device according to claim 1. (18) (i) providing a development zone between a flexible imaging member and a toner transport member incorporating a rotating magnet within a movable shell; (ii) introducing a synthetic developer composition into the development zone; (iii) advancing the imaging member in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the rotating magnet, wherein the developer composition is desirably agitated by magnetic means in the development zone to mix the toner resin and pigment. and carrier particles (consisting of resin particles and magnetite) are available immediately adjacent to the imaging member, and the distance between the flexible imaging member and the stationary shell is from about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm. .0 mm and the imaging member is deflected in an arc of about 10° to about 70° relative to the transport member. (19) The imaging member advances at a speed of about 5 cm/sec to about 100 cm/sec, and the transport means containing the rotating magnet advances at a speed of about 6 cm/sec to about 100 cm/sec. Section method. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the imaging member is flexible and comprises a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and an amine charge transport layer. (21) The photogenerating layer is selected from the group consisting of metal phthalocyanines, metal-free phthalocyanines, vanadyl phthalocyanines, and trigonal selenium, optionally dispersed in an inert resinous binder. , the method of claim 20. (22) The method of claim 18, wherein the carrier particles consist of a styrene butadiene resin or a styrene n-butyl methacrylate resin. (23) The resin particles are present in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight, and the magnetite particles are present in an amount of about 60% to about 8% by weight.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method is present in an amount of 0% by weight. 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising about 1% to about 10% by weight carbon black particles in the carrier particles. 25. The method of claim 18, wherein the carrier particles comprise from about 20% to about 40% by weight polymethyl methacrylate resin particles and from about 60% to about 80% by weight magnetite particles. (26) The method according to claim 25, wherein the carrier particles further contain carbon black particles. (27) The method of claim 18, wherein the magnet rotates at a speed of about 200 revolutions per minute to about 2000 revolutions per minute. (28) The method of claim 18, wherein the carrier resin particles comprise a styrene polymer composition. (29) the carrier particles have a diameter of about 50 to 250 μ;
The method of claim 18. (30) The method of claim 18, wherein the toner resin particles are made of a polystyrene polymer. (31) The method of claim 18, wherein the toner resin particles are comprised of a polyester composition or a styrene-butadiene copolymer. (32) The method according to claim 1, wherein the toner particles contain a low molecular weight wax and an additive for improving charging. (33) The method of claim 32, wherein the wax is polypropylene and the charge-enhancing additive is cetylpyridinium chloride. (34) The sleeve rotates at approximately 100 rotations/minute to approximately 400 rotations/minute.
19. The method of claim 18, which proceeds at a speed of 1 minute. 35. The method of claim 18, wherein between about 8 pole magnets and about 32 pole magnets are present within the movable shell.