Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G9/00—Developers
  • G03G9/08—Developers with toner particles
  • G03G9/097—Plasticisers; Charge controlling agents
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G9/00—Developers
  • G03G9/08—Developers with toner particles
  • G03G9/10—Developers with toner particles characterised by carrier particles
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G9/00—Developers
  • G03G9/08—Developers with toner particles
  • G03G9/10—Developers with toner particles characterised by carrier particles
  • G03G9/107—Developers with toner particles characterised by carrier particles having magnetic components
  • G03G9/1075—Structural characteristics of the carrier particles, e.g. shape or crystallographic structure

Definitions

• This invention relates to electrostatography, and more particularly to improved electrostatographic developing materials and the use thereof.
• Electrostatography is best exemplified by electrophotography.
• the basic electrophotographic process as taught by C. F. Carlson in US. Pat. No. 2,297,691, involves placing a uniform electrostatic charge on a photoconductive insulating layer, exposing the layer to a light-and-shadow image to dissipate the charge on the areas of the layer exposed to the light and developing the resulting latent electrostatic image by depositing on the image a finely divided electroscopic material referred to in the art as toner".
• the toner will normally be attracted to those areas of the layer which retain a charge, thereby forming a toner image corresponding to the latent electrostatic image.
• This powder image may then be transferred to a support surface such as paper.
• the transferred image may subsequently be permanently affixed to the support surface as by heat.
• latent image formation by uniformly charging the photoconductive layer and then exposing the layer to a light-and-shadow image
• the powder image may be fixed to the photoconductive layer if elimination of the powder image transfer step is desired.
• Other suitable fixing means such as solvent or overcoating treatment may be substituted for the foregoing heat fixing steps.
• the electrophotographic processes generally involve positive to positive development; i.e., the production of a positive print from a positive original. In some cases, however, negative to positive development is required; i.e., the production of a positive print from a negative original.
• the production of positive prints from negative originals generally involves a change in the developing material.
• the electrostatographic recording surface is positively charged and exposed to the negative original, resulting in a discharge of the image areas, with a negative charge being induced on the surface of the recording surface near the edges of the image area as a result of the fringing field effect.
• the use of a positively charged toner results in a deposition of the toner in the negatively charged areas, resulting in the development of a positive image on the recording surface, which can then be transferred as known in the art.
• the use of a negatively charged toner will result in the development of a positive image.
• An object of the present invention is to provide for improved electrostatographic development.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide for electrostatographic development capable of producing both negative and positive copies from both negative and positive originals.
• a further object of this invention is to provide for electrostatographic development capable of producing both negative and positive copies from both negative and positive originals without changing developer.
• the objects of this invention are broadly accomplished, in one aspect, by forming an electrostatographic latent image corresponding to a positive or negative original and subsequently developing the latent image with both positively and negatively charged toner whereby toner of one polarity is deposited in the image area and toner of the other polarity is deposited in at least the background area immediately adjacent the image area.
• a positive or negative print of the original is then produced by transferring toner of one polarity to a receiving surface.
• the positive and negative toner used in the development may be provided by the use of: two different toners and a single carrier with the two toners being selected with respect to their triboelectric properties so that one of the toners is above and the other below the carrier material in the triboelectric series whereby the carrier material imparts a positive charge to one toner and a negative charge to the other; a single toner and two different carriers with at least the surface of the two carriers being formed of materials selected with respect to their triboelectric properties so that one of the carriers is above and the other below the toner in the triboelectric series whereby one carrier imparts a negative charge to the toner and the other carrier a positive charge to the toner; or a single toner and a single carrier with at least the surface of the carrier being formed of a material 3 which is capable of imparting both a negative and a positive charge to a single toner.
• development is effected by the use of a developer of a single toner electrostatically coated on a single carrier, the toner being both positively and negatively charged.
• a single developer may be employed to provide both electropositive and electronegative toner.
• an electrostatographic developer carrier is formed of a material which is capable of imparting both a negative and a positive charge to a single toner.
• the carrier may have at least its surface formed from either a single component, as in the case of an electret, as hereinafter described, or from two or more components, with such two or more components being selected with respect to their triboelectric properties so that one of the materials is above, and the other below, a single toner in the triboelectric series, whereby the single toner is triboelectrically positively and negatively charged by the carrier surface.
• a single carrier from two or more materialsgsuch materials are intimately mixed with each other (the two materials are incompatible; i.e., the materials do not produce solid solutions) in a manner such that the domain size of each of the components is at least equal to the average particle size of the toner to be employed, whereby each of the components is capable of imparting the desired charge to the toner.
• the domain size of each of the components could be larger than the average particle size of the toner, and in some cases, slightly smaller than the average particle size of the toner, provided the domain size is of a size sufficient to impart the desired charge to the single toner.
• the intimate mixture of the two or more components may be formed by intimately mixing the components; e.g., by milling, as known in the art.
• one of the components may be formed with pores and vacuum impregnated or otherwise filled with the other component.
• the domain size ofeach of the various components may be controlled in such techniques by selection of the particle size of the components and the pore size of the porous material, respectively.
• the precise method of producing an intimate mixture of the at least two components is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and no further explanation is deemed necessary for a complete understanding of the present invention.
• the carrier surface thereof could also be comprised of a single component; e.g., an electret; an electret is a material which will sustain the coexistence of segregated positive and negative charges which are in close proximity to each other.
• an electret as a result of the coexistence of segregated positive and negative charges, is capable of charging a single toner both electropositively and electronegatively.
• Electrets are disclosed in more detail in the following articles; F. Gutman, Review of Modern Physics 20, pp. 457472, (July 1948); Turek, Direct Current, pp. 204-211, (Dec. 1959); and Wiseman et al, Electrical Engineering, pp. 869-872, (Oct. 1953).
• An electret particularly preferred for the purposes of the present invention is one formed from calcium titanate.
• the developer of the present invention could becomprised of two carriers and a single toner with at least the surface of each of the carriers being formed of two different components, one of which is capable of imparting a positive charge to the toner and the other of which is capable of imparting a negative charge to the toner.
• two different toners may be employed with a single carrierwith one toner being capable of being charged negatively by the carrier and the other toner being capable of being charged positively by the carrier.
• the materials which are to be employed for producing the developers of the present invention may be readily selected by referring to any of the tribeelectric series known in the art. As representative examples of such triboelectric series, there may be mentioned the following: Shaw and Levy, E. W.
• glass As representative examples of materials which are generally electropositive (these materials impart a negative charge to the toner), there may be mentioned: glass, metal oxides, such as calcium oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide, calcium titanate, etc.; metals, such as lead, nickel, copper, etc.; ferrite; polymers such as ethyl cellulose, acrylic polymers, acrylate polymers, etc.; and the like.
• metal oxides such as calcium oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide, calcium titanate, etc.
• metals such as lead, nickel, copper, etc.
• ferrite polymers such as ethyl cellulose, acrylic polymers, acrylate polymers, etc.; and the like.
• materials which are generally electronegative there may be mentioned: metals such as selenium; polymers such as halopolymers; e.g., polymers of tetrafluoroethylene, polymers of vinyl chloride, polymers of vinyl fluoride, polymers of vinylidene fluoride, polymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene; butyl rubber; and the like.
• metals such as selenium
• polymers such as halopolymers
• polymers of tetrafluoroethylene polymers of vinyl chloride, polymers of vinyl fluoride, polymers of vinylidene fluoride, polymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene
• butyl rubber and the like.
• the concentration of toner (ratio of toner to carrier) and the relative proportions of electropositive and electronegative material used in two different carriers or in a single carrier, in accordance with the present invention, has been found to affect print quality.
• the concentration of toner ratio of toner to carrier
• the relative proportions of electropositive and electronegative material used in two different carriers or in a single carrier has been found to affect print quality.
• the Halo effect the halo is a concentration of background in the area immediately around the images
• the selection of the optimum toner concentration and the optimum electropositive carrier materials to electronegative carrier material ratio is governed by the particular toners and carriers used.
• the selection of optimum concentrations and proportions may be easily accomplished by a series of tests. In most cases, a toner concentration of from about 0.9 to 1.2 weight percent provides the best results.
• development can be effected by fur brush development by using a brush in which: the fibers are of the same material and two different toners are employed one of which is positively charged by the brush material and the other of which is negatively charged by the brush material; some of the fibers are formed of one material which is capable of charging a single toner positively and some of the fibers are formed of another material which is capable of charging the single toner negatively; or the fibers may be formed of a composite of materials one of which positively charges the toner and the other of which negatively charges the toner.
• a cascade development type of developer may be employed to develop images, as known in the art, by techniques other than cascade development; e.g., magnetic brush development, fluidized development, etc.
• the toners used in the present invention may be any one of the wide variety of pigmented or dyed resins used in the art, with the resin generally containing a dye or pigment in a quantity up to about by weight, and particularly from about 1 to about 20% by weight, of the toner.
• Typical toner materials include: gum copal, gum sandarac, rosin, cumaroneindene resin, asphaltum, gilsonite, phenol-formaldehyde resins, rosin-modified phenol-formaldehyde resins, methacrylic resins, polystyrene resins, polypropylene resins, epoxy resins, polyethylene resins, polyamide resins, and mixtures thereof.
• the particular toner material to be employed obviously depends upon the separation of the toner particles from the carrier in the triboelectric series.
• patents describing electroscopic toner compositions are U.S. Pat. No. 2,659,670 to Copley; U.S. Pat. No.
• the colored toner may be prepared by any one of a wide variety of procedures for forming a uniform dispersion of the dye or pigment in the resinous material.
• the resinous material and a suitable pigment may be heated and blended on a rubber mill and then allowed to cool and harden to encase the pigment within the resinous material.
• the pigmented or dyed resinous material is then micronized; e.g., in a jet pulverizer, to particles having a particle size generally employed for a toner.
• the finely divided toner may be prepared by spray drying a toner composition of the colorant and resin dissolved in a solvent.
• the toner may also include other materials generally employed for modifying the characteristics of a toner, such as conductive materials to modify the triboelectric properties thereof, magnetic materials to modify the physical properties of the toner or the like, and the use of such materials is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.
• the developers of the present invention are preferably of the type used in the cascade development technique, as more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,551 to Walkup, US. Pat. No. 2,618,552 to Wise and U.S. Pat. No. 2,638,416 to Walkup et al.
• the carrier particles are larger than the toner particles by at least one order of magnitude of size and are shaped to roll across the latent image-bearing surface.
• the carrier particles should be of sufficient size so that their gravitational or momentum force is greater than the force of attraction of the toner particles in the area of the image-bearing surface where the toner particles are retained, whereby the carrier will not be retained by the toner particles which are attracted to the image-bearing surface.
• the carrier particles generally have a particle size from about 30 to about 1000 microns, but it is to be understood, that the carrier particles may be of a size other than as particularly described, provided that the carrier flows easily over the image-bearing surface, without requiring special means for effecting removal of the carrier particles from the image-bearing surface.
• the cascade development type of developer comprised of toner and carrier, as hereinabove described, may also be used for developing electrostatic latent images by other techniques, such as magnetic brush development and fluidized development, and such uses are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
• the developers of the present invention may be used for producing positive or negative copies from positive or negative originals.
• the electrostatographic recording surface may be positively charged and exposed to the positive original, resulting in dissipation of the charge in the non-image area and retention of the charge in the image area, with a negative charge being induced around the edges of the image area as a result of the fringing field effect.
• the electropositive portion of the toner is deposited in the fringe areas around the image, and the electronegative portion of the toner is deposited in the image area, whereby both a positive and negative image is produced on the recording surface; i.e., the negative toner portion defines a positive image on the recording surface and the positive toner portion defines a negative image on the recording surface.
• transfer is effected by the use of a positive charge whereby only the negative toner portion, defining the positive image, is transferred to the support surface.
• transfer is effected by the use of a negative charge, whereby only the positive toner portion, defining the negative image, is transferred to the support surface.
• the recording surface is originally charged negatively, there will be a negative charge in the image areas and an induced positive charge in the fringe areas.
• the negative portion of the toner defines the negative image
• the positive portion of the toner defines the positive image
• either a positive or negative copy may be produced by appropriate selection of the polarity of the charge used for transferring of the toner to the support surface.
• the electrostatographic recording surface may be positively charged and exposed to the negative original, resulting in dissipation of the charge in the image area, and retention of the charge in the non-image area, with a negative charge being induced around the edges of the image area as a result of the fringing field effect.
• the electropositive portion of the toner is deposited in thee image areas and the electronegative portion of the toner is deposited in the image areas and the electronegative portion of the toner is deposited in the fringe area around the image, whereby both a positive and negative image is produced on the recording surface; i.e., the negative toner portion defines a negative image on the recording surface and the positive toner portion defines a positive image on the recording surface. If a positive reproduction of the negative original is desired, transfer is effected by the use of a negative charge, whereby only the positive toner portion, defining the positive image, is transferred to the support surface.
• transfer is effected by the use of a positive charge, whereby only the negative toner portion, defining the negative image, is transferred to the support surface Similarly, if the recording surface is originally charged negatively, there will be a negative charge in the non-image areas and an induced positive charge around the fringe of the image areas. In this case, the positive portion of the toner defines the negative image, and the negative portion of the toner defines the positive images, and either a positive or negative copy may be produced by appropriate selection of the polarity of the charge used for transferring of the toner to the support surface.
• both positive and negative copies may be produced from both positive and negative solid area originals, as hereinabove described, except that as known in the art, a development electrode is employed to increase the field above the solid areas.
• EXAMPLE I A solid composite of barium ferrite in butyl rubber, containing 60% barium ferrite, is broken into small pieces (size 40 mesh) and used as an electrostatographic development carrier with a toner comprising styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral and carbon black produced as disclosed in Example I of US. Pat. No. 3,079,324 to Insalaco, the developer composition containing 1%, by weight, of the toner.
• a toner comprising styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral and carbon black produced as disclosed in Example I of US. Pat. No. 3,079,324 to Insalaco, the developer composition containing 1%, by weight, of the toner.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE n Selenium is melted and calcium titanate having an average particle size of 15 microns is uniformly dispersed in the selenium to provide a composite having 40%, by weight, calcium titanate.
• the composite is formed into particles (size 20-40 mesh) for use as an electrostatographic development carrier and combined with 1%, by weight, of the toner described in Example
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE III A developer carrier of 250 micron steel beads coated with a polymer mixture of vinyl chloride vinyl acetate polymer and styrenemethyl methacrylate vinyl triethoxy silane polymer (1:1 weight ratio of polymers) is combined with 2%, by weight, of the toner described in Example I.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE IV An electret of calcium titanate having segregated positive and negative charges is combined with 2%, by weight, of the toner described in Example I.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positiveoriginal is produced.
• EXAMPLE V A developer carrier (-40 mesh) of polytetrafluroethylene having dispersed therein copper metal (particle size of greater than 20 microns) in a weight ratio of about 1:1 is combined with 1%, by weight, of the toner of Example I.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE VI A developer carrier of 250 micron. sand coated with a mixture of ethyl cellulose and poly vinyl fluoride (1:1 weight ratio) is combined with 2%, by weight, of the toner described in Example I.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE VII A developer carrier (20-40 mesh) of polytetrafluoroethylene having dispersed therein 40%, by weight, of titanium dioxide (particle size of greater than 20 microns) is combined with 1%, by weight, of the toner of Example I.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE VIII A developer carrier (20-40 mesh) of polyvinyl chloride having dispersed therein 40%, by weight, of barium ferrite (particle size of greater than 20 micron) is 10 combined with 1%, by weight, of the toner of Example I.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE IX A developer carrier (20-40 mesh) of selenium having dispersed therein 40%, by weight, of iron (particle size of greater than 20 microns) is combined with 2%, by weight, of the toner of Example I.
• the developer is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• EXAMPLE X Examples I- IX are repeated with a toner comprising a propoxylated bisphenol A fumarate polyester (ATLAC 382, sold by Atlas Chemical Industries Inc.) and carbon black (5%) with similar results.
• a toner comprising a propoxylated bisphenol A fumarate polyester (ATLAC 382, sold by Atlas Chemical Industries Inc.) and carbon black (5%) with similar results.
• EXAMPLE XI A Xerox microprinter commercially available from Xerox Corporation in Stamford, Connecticut, is modified by the addition of 720 DC power supply and the installation of a transfer corotron polarity switch to provide for rapid switching from positive to negative mode copying and vice versa.
• a developer is formed from the toner of Example I and a first carrier (electropositive) of 600 micron diameter flintshot coated with styrene methyl methacrylate vinyl triethoxy silane polymer and a second carrier (electronegative) of 600 micron diameter flintshot coated with vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate polymer.
• the developer is used in various runs at electropositive to electrone'gative carrier weight ratios which range from 1:1.23 to 1:1.44 and toner concentrations which range from about 0.9 to about 1.2 percent, by weight. Transfer is effected in both the positive mode (positive copy from positive original) and the negative mode (positive copy from negative original at 10.5 amp.
• the printer is operated in both the positive and negative mode and prints of satisfactory quality are obtained in both modes.
• the prints, in both the positive and negative mode generally have an image density of greater than 1.2, a background density of less than .03,
• a developer carrier of 250 micron steel beads coated with poly (vinylidene fluoride) is combined with a first toner comprising:
• styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer polyvinyl butyral and carbon black and a second toner comprised of styrene-n-butyl methacrylate copolymer and carbon black, both produced as disclosed in Example I of US. Pat. No. 3,079,324 to Insalaco.
• the developer comprised of a single carrier and two toners (the first toner acquires a positive charge and the second a negative charge) is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed from a positive original on a flat selenium plate charged to +700 volts by cascading the developer (three times) over the plate.
• the image is transferred to paper using +700 volts and a positive copy of the positive original is produced.
• the present invention is particularly advantageous in that a single machine is capable of producing either positive or negative prints from either positive or negative originals by selecting the charge of polarity placed on the toner receiving surface during transfer.
• a single machine is capable of producing either positive or negative prints from either positive or negative originals by selecting the charge of polarity placed on the toner receiving surface during transfer.
• the addition of a simple switch which alters the polarity of charge placed on the paper during transfer provides the desired flexibility.
• the use of a single carrier and a single toner to provide both negatively and positively charged toner is particularly advantageous in that there is no necessity to coordinate the amounts of two or more toners, and- /or carriers as would be required in the case where more than one carrier and/or toner is employed to provide both negative and positive toner.
• An electrostatographic developer comprising: finely-divided toner particles of a single type and carrier therefor of a single type, the carrier particles being larger than the toner particles, at least the surface of the carrier being formed of at least two incompatible materials one of which is triboelectrically negative with respect to said toner and the other of which is triboelectrically positive with respect to said toner, and said incompatible materials are capable of imparting both a negative and a positive charge to said toner, whereby said toner electrostatically adhering to said carrier is both negatively and positively charged on said carrier, the toner of one polarity capable of being deposited in the image area during development and the toner of the other polarity capable of being deposited in at least the background area immediately adjacent the image area during development.
• An electrostatographic developer comprising: finely-divided toner particles of a single type and an uncoated carrier therefor of a single type, said carrier comprising calcium titanate dispersed in selenium, whereby said toner electrostatically adhering to said carrier is both negatively and positively charged on said carrier.

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• 1972
  • 1972-07-24 US US274394A patent/US3926824A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1972-10-17 CA CA154,041A patent/CA985552A/en not_active Expired
  • 1972-10-31 AR AR244896A patent/AR192480A1/es active
  • 1972-10-31 DE DE2253409A patent/DE2253409A1/de active Pending
  • 1972-12-05 JP JP47121937A patent/JPS4878932A/ja active Pending
  • 1972-12-20 FR FR7245403A patent/FR2170490A5/fr not_active Expired
  • 1972-12-21 GB GB5917672A patent/GB1417179A/en not_active Expired
  • 1972-12-27 SE SE7216977A patent/SE383931B/xx unknown
  • 1972-12-27 NL NL7217694A patent/NL7217694A/xx unknown
  • 1972-12-29 AU AU50636/72A patent/AU466319B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1972-12-29 ES ES410171A patent/ES410171A1/es not_active Expired
  • 1972-12-29 IT IT34025/72A patent/IT973327B/it active

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