Adhesive method, toner set, and adhesive apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a bonding method, a toner set, and a bonding apparatus. A bonding method includes forming a pattern obtained by sequentially overlapping a layer of a first toner and a layer of a second toner on a sheet, and heating the pattern in a state in which the sheets are overlapped with each other such that the layers of the second toner are in contact with each other, thereby bonding the sheets, wherein in a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve of the toner obtained by raising the temperature to 180 DEG C and then cooling, a calorific value H1 (J / g) of the first toner and a calorific value H2 (J / g) of the second toner in a range of 35 DEG C to 75 DEG C of an exothermic peak satisfy the following formulae (1) and (2). 6.0 < = H2 < = 24.0 (1) H1lt; h2 (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bonding method, a toner set, and a bonding apparatus for producing a bonded printed matter by using an electrophotographic method or the like. Background Art

[0002] In the conventional technology that has been disclosed, a pattern of a powder adhesive (hereinafter referred to as "toner") is formed on a sheet as an adherend by using an image forming device such as a printer or a copier, and then a bonding process depending on the stacking of such sheets is performed to process the sheet into a paper bag. In addition, a technology has been disclosed in which, in a booklet production device as a post-processing device, a sheet bundle formed by stacking a plurality of sheets is subjected to a bonding process to obtain a booklet. In the case where such a booklet production device is installed in an image forming device that forms a color image using toners of multiple colors, the toner used to form the toner layer for bonding is usually predetermined to be a given color.

[0003] However, when only one color toner is used to form an adhesive toner layer, the consumption of the adhesive toner is correspondingly greater than that of the toners of other colors. Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-209858 proposes a configuration in which, in order not to increase the consumption of a specific toner, a plurality of toners are used to form an adhesive toner layer in an image forming apparatus for forming a color image. Summary of the invention

[0004] However, as a result of diligent research, the inventors have found that in the production of the booklet as described above, in the case where a plurality of toners are used to form the toner layer for bonding, in some cases, the bonding strength of the produced booklet may be insufficient depending on the physical properties of the toner and the stacking order of the toner layers. In addition, depending on the stacking order of the toner layers that provides sufficient bonding strength for the booklet, a phenomenon may occur in which the image portion melts so that a portion of the image portion is transferred to the fixing unit (high-temperature defacement). Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to achieve both high bonding strength and high-temperature defacement resistance.

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a bonding method, a toner set, and a bonding apparatus that can provide both excellent bonding strength and high-temperature offset resistance even when a bonding image pattern is formed relying on a plurality of toner layers.

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a bonding method, comprising:

[0007] forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of the sheet using a first toner;

[0008] forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner;

[0009] a step of fixing the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet by heating from the surface of the second unfixed toner layer, thereby forming an image pattern for bonding on the sheet; and

[0010] A step of obtaining an adhered product by heating the adhesive image patterns formed on the same sheet or on different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets, wherein

[0011] The bonding image pattern has a fixed toner image derived from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface, and

[0012] When H1 (J / g) represents the calorific value of the first toner and H2 (J / g) represents the calorific value of the second toner, H1 and H2 satisfy the following equations (1) and (2):

[0013] 6.0≤H2≤24.0 (1)

[0014] H1 <H2 (2)

[0015] wherein H1 and H2 are each a calorific value within a range of 35°C to 75°C of an exothermic peak in a DSC curve obtained in the following cooling step (ii) when the following steps are performed:

[0016] (i) a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature from 20°C to 180°C at a rate of 10°C / min, and

[0017] (ii) A cooling step of maintaining at 180°C for 10 minutes and then cooling from 180°C to 20°C at a rate of 10°C / min.

[0018] The present disclosure also relates to a toner set used in the bonding method, the toner set separately having a first toner and a second toner.

[0019] According to the present disclosure, even when a bonding image pattern is formed relying on a plurality of toner layers, a bonding method, a toner set, and a bonding apparatus that achieve both excellent bonding strength and high-temperature offset resistance can be provided.

[0020] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a bonding device (image forming device);

[0022] Figures 2A to 2D is a diagram illustrating a method of aligning sheets;

[0023] Figures 3A to 3C is a diagram illustrating a thermal compression bonding unit;

[0024] Figure 4A and 4B is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image pattern for bonding;

[0025] Figure 5A and 5B is a diagram for explaining a method for evaluating the adhesive strength of a booklet; and

[0026] Figure 6 It is a figure explaining the image pattern for bonding. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The present disclosure will be described in detail below, but the present disclosure is not limited to the following description. In the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the expression "XX or more and YY or "XX to YY" indicating a numerical range refers to a numerical range including a lower limit and an upper limit as endpoints. In addition, when describing a numerical range in stages, the upper limit and the lower limit of each numerical range can be arbitrarily combined.

[0028] The bonding method disclosed herein is a bonding method comprising the following:

[0029] forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of the sheet using a first toner;

[0030] forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner;

[0031] a step of fixing the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet by heating from the surface of the second unfixed toner layer, thereby forming an image pattern for bonding on the sheet; and

[0032] A step of obtaining an adhered product by heating the adhesive image patterns formed on the same sheet or on different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets, wherein

[0033] The bonding image pattern has a fixed toner image derived from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface, and

[0034] When H1 (J / g) represents the calorific value of the first toner and H2 (J / g) represents the calorific value of the second toner, H1 and H2 satisfy the following equations (1) and (2):

[0035] 6.0≤H2≤24.0 (1)

[0036] H1 <H2 (2)

[0037] wherein H1 and H2 are each a calorific value within a range of 35°C to 75°C of an exothermic peak in a DSC curve obtained in the following cooling step (ii) when the following steps are performed:

[0038] (i) a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature from 20°C to 180°C at a rate of 10°C / min, and

[0039] (ii) A cooling step of maintaining at 180°C for 10 minutes and then cooling from 180°C to 20°C at a rate of 10°C / min.

[0040] The inventors have found that the above structure can have both sufficient bonding strength and high temperature fouling resistance. The inventors speculate the potential reasons as follows.

[0041] The calorific value in the range of 35°C to 75°C in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the toner corresponds to the amount of crystalline components such as wax and crystalline polyester resin precipitated on the surface of the toner during the fixing process. Therefore, it is considered that the calorific value H2 (J / g) corresponds to the amount of crystalline components precipitated on the surface of the second toner in the fixing process. The case where the toner contains wax as a crystalline component will be described. The larger the H2 value, the more the high-temperature stain resistance is improved by the demolding effect of the wax precipitated on the surface of the second toner layer. The high-temperature stain resistance can be enhanced by setting H2 to 6.0 J / g or more. In the case where H2 is less than 6.0 J / g, the high-temperature stain resistance is insufficient due to insufficient wax precipitation.

[0042] On the other hand, the smaller the value of H2 is, the greater the bonding strength in the bonding process after the fixing process, in which the bonding image pattern having the fixing toner image formed by the second toner on the surface is stacked and bonded. This is because the adhesion hindrance caused by the wax precipitated on the surface of the bonding image pattern can be suppressed. Sufficient bonding strength can be obtained by setting H2 to 24.0 J / g or less. In the case where H2 exceeds 24.0 J / g, the adhesion hindrance effect of the wax is more obvious, making it difficult to achieve sufficient bonding strength.

[0043] However, the inventors' research revealed that it is difficult to achieve both high-temperature offset resistance and adhesive strength by controlling H2 alone as described above. The inventors found that by making the calorific value H1 (J / g) of the first toner obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) smaller than H2, that is, by satisfying the above formula (2), both high-temperature offset resistance and adhesive strength can be achieved.

[0044] Generally, in unmelted toner, wax exists in the interior of toner particles in an unevenly distributed state due to the difference in crystallinity between the wax and the binder resin contained in the toner particles. In the fixing process (process of forming an image pattern for bonding) and the bonding process (process of obtaining an adhesive), the toner becomes fully melted. As a result, the melted wax can move freely in the melted binder resin. During fixing, the wax that can move freely in the binder resin at this time oozes out onto the surface of the fixed image (the image pattern for bonding), and as a result, separation between the fixed image and the fixing unit is achieved.

[0045] On the other hand, in the bonding process performed after the fixing process, heating is performed in a state where the surfaces of the bonding image patterns overlap each other. Since the bonding image patterns to be overlapped have a high wax concentration on the surface, the wax concentration in the overlapping portion is locally significantly increased. It is believed that at this time, the molten wax diffuses from the overlapping portion (bonding portion) toward the sheet side, making the concentration gradient smaller.

[0046] Therefore, it is considered that when H1 is less than H2, the wax unevenly distributed on the surface of the bonding image pattern moves toward the sheet side during the bonding process. Due to this effect, the deviation of the wax toward the bonding surface (the portion where the bonding image patterns overlap each other) is alleviated, so that the bonding strength is improved. As a result, both high temperature stain resistance and bonding strength can be achieved.

[0047] As to why the wax behaves differently in the fixing process and the bonding process, the inventor speculates on the potential reasons as follows. In the fixing process, the wax is heated from the surface of the second unfixed colorant layer, and only for a short time of a few milliseconds when passing through the fixing unit, which makes the wax that becomes movable by melting easily move toward the heat source, that is, toward the surface of the bonding image pattern. On the other hand, in the bonding process, the bonding image pattern is heated across the sheet, so the heat source is located on the sheet side. In addition, as described later, the heating time in the bonding process is about 2 seconds, which is longer than the heating time in the fixing process, and the wax is in a molten state for a longer time. As a result, it is believed that the wax that is unevenly distributed closer to the bonding surface moves toward the sheet side, so that the above-mentioned offset is alleviated.

[0048] The difference between H2 and H1 (H2-H1) is preferably 1.5 J / g or more. Preferably, H2-H1 is 1.5 to 23.5 J / g, more preferably 5.0 to 20.0 J / g. When H2-H1 is 1.5 J / g or more, the wax moves toward the sheet more easily; as a result, the bonding strength is further improved, and both high temperature fouling resistance and bonding strength can be achieved to a greater extent.

[0049] Preferably, H1 is 2.0 to 18.0 J / g, more preferably 4.0 to 15.0 J / g. By setting H1 to 2.0 J / g or more, the release effect of the wax is well exerted, and the high temperature offset resistance when printing is performed using the first colorant alone can be further improved. By setting H1 to 18.0 J / g or less, the precipitation of the wax is further suppressed, the fixing performance of the first colorant and the sheet is further improved, and the bonding strength is further improved.

[0050] From the viewpoint of achieving both high-temperature fouling resistance and adhesive strength to a greater extent, H2 is preferably from 10.0 to 24.0 J / g, more preferably from 10.0 to 21.0 J / g.

[0051] Here, H1 and H2 can be controlled, for example, by changing the amount and type of crystalline components such as wax; for example, the calorific value can be increased by increasing the amount of wax, and the calorific value can be reduced by reducing the amount of wax.

[0052] Preferably, the first toner is a black toner containing carbon black. For example, the first toner preferably contains toner particles, and the second toner preferably contains toner particles. Preferably, the toner particles in the first toner contain carbon black. Carbon black exhibits a high oil absorption, so in the case where the first toner is a black toner containing carbon black, when the second toner and the first toner are melted in the bonding process, the wax of the second toner is easily absorbed by the carbon black of the first toner. Therefore, the amount of wax on the surface of the second toner layer as the bonding surface is further reduced, and the bonding strength is further improved.

[0053] Preferably, when the first toner and the second toner contain hydrocarbon wax, the content W1 (parts by mass) of the hydrocarbon wax per 100 parts by mass of the binder resin or polymerizable monomer in the first toner and the content W2 (parts by mass) of the hydrocarbon wax per 100 parts by mass of the binder resin or polymerizable monomer in the second toner satisfy the following formulas (3) and (4). By satisfying the above, high temperature offset resistance and adhesive strength can be better balanced.

[0054] 5.8≤W2≤13.1 (3)

[0055] W1 <W2 (4)

[0056] The larger the value of W2, the more significant the mold release effect of the hydrocarbon wax, resulting in better high temperature offset resistance. By setting W2 to 5.8 parts by mass or more, the high temperature offset resistance can be enhanced.

[0057] The difference between W2 and W1 (W2-W1) is preferably 0.5 parts by mass or more. More preferably, W2-W1 is 0.5 to 9.7 parts by mass, and even more preferably 2.1 to 8.1 parts by mass. When W2-W1 is 0.5 parts by mass or more, the action of hydrocarbon wax moving toward the sheet material occurs more easily, so the bonding strength is further improved, and both high temperature stain resistance and bonding strength can be achieved to a greater extent.

[0058] Preferably, W1 is 4.0 to 10.7 parts by mass, more preferably 5.0 to 9.4 parts by mass. By setting W1 to 4.0 parts by mass or more, the demoulding effect of the hydrocarbon wax is well exerted, and the high temperature offset resistance when printing is performed using the first toner alone can be further improved. By setting W1 to 10.7 parts by mass or less, the precipitation of the wax is further suppressed, the fixing performance of the first toner and the sheet is further improved, and the bonding strength is further improved.

[0059] From the viewpoint of achieving both high-temperature fouling resistance and adhesive strength to a greater extent, W2 is preferably 7.1 to 13.1 parts by mass, and more preferably 7.1 to 11.2 parts by mass.

[0060] Preferred embodiments of the toner will be described below, but the present disclosure is not limited to the following preferred embodiments. Preferably, the first toner and the second toner contain toner particles and an external additive.

[0061] The toner particles may contain a binder resin. There is no particular limitation on the binder resin, and any known binder resin may be used herein. For example, homopolymers of aromatic vinyl compounds and their substituted products, such as polystyrene and polyvinyltoluene; copolymers of aromatic vinyl compounds, such as styrene-propylene copolymers, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymers, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymers, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymers, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymers, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymers, styrene-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymers, styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymers, styrene -vinyl ethyl ether copolymers, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-isoprene copolymers, styrene-maleic acid copolymers and styrene-maleic acid ester copolymers; homopolymers of aliphatic vinyl compounds and their substitution products, such as polyethylene and polypropylene; vinyl resins, such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl propionate, polyvinyl benzoate, polyvinyl butyrate, polyvinyl benzoate, polyvinyl formate and polyvinyl butyral; vinyl ether resins; vinyl ketone resins; acrylic polymers; methacrylic polymers; silicone resins; polyester resins; polyamide resins; epoxy resins; phenolic resins; and rosin, modified rosin and terpene resins. The above can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0062] Preferably, the binder resin comprises a copolymer of an aromatic vinyl compound. Among the above, the binder resin more preferably comprises a styrene acrylic resin, such as a styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, a styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, a styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, a styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, a styrene-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate copolymer, a styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, a styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, a styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer or a styrene-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, and still more preferably comprises a styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer.

[0063] Examples of the polymerizable monomer forming the copolymer of the aromatic vinyl compound include the following.

[0064] Styrene and its derivatives, such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, β-methylstyrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, p-butylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, p-hexylstyrene, p-octylstyrene, p-nonylstyrene, p-decylstyrene, p-dodecylstyrene, p-methoxystyrene and p-phenylstyrene.

[0065] Examples of the polymerizable monomers that form the acrylic polymer include acrylic polymerizable monomers such as acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, n-pentyl acrylate, n-hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, n-nonyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, benzyl acrylate, dimethyl phosphate ethyl acrylate, diethyl phosphate ethyl acrylate, dibutyl phosphate ethyl acrylate and 2-benzoyloxyethyl acrylate.

[0066] Examples of the polymerizable monomers that form the methacrylic acid polymer include methacrylic acid polymerizable monomers such as methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, tert-butyl methacrylate, n-pentyl methacrylate, n-hexyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, n-nonyl methacrylate, diethyl phosphate ethyl methacrylate, and dibutyl phosphate ethyl methacrylate.

[0067] The following polycondensates of carboxylic acid components and alcohol components can be used as polyester resins. Examples of carboxylic acid components include terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and trimellitic acid. Examples of alcohol components include bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol, ethylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A, propylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A, glycerol, trimethylolpropane and pentaerythritol.

[0068] The polyester resin may be a polyester resin containing a urea group. The carboxyl group in the polyester resin, such as the carboxyl group at the end, is preferably not capped (substituted by other substituents). For example, in addition to the copolymer of the aromatic vinyl compound, the binder resin also contains the polyester resin. The content ratio of the aromatic vinyl compound copolymer in the binder resin is preferably 50 to 100 mass %, more preferably 80 to 99 mass %, and further more preferably 90 to 98 mass %.

[0069] There is no particular limitation on the production method of the polymer, and any known method may be used.

[0070] Next, the wax will be described. Preferably, the first toner and the second toner contain wax. The wax is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include the following.

[0071] Hydrocarbon waxes and their derivatives, such as low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, microcrystalline wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax and paraffin wax; oxides of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes, such as oxidized polyethylene wax or its block copolymers; waxes having fatty acid esters as main components, such as carnauba wax and montanate wax; partially or fully deoxygenated fatty acid esters, such as deoxygenated carnauba wax; saturated straight-chain fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, stearic acid and montanic acid; unsaturated fatty acids, such as brazinic acid, eleostearic acid and parinaric acid; saturated alcohols, such as stearyl alcohol, eicosanol, behenyl alcohol, tetracosanol, seryl alcohol, t-But ... fatty acid amides such as linoleic acid amide, oleic acid amide and lauryl amide; saturated fatty acid bisamides such as methylene bis(stearamide), ethylene bis(capramide), ethylene bis(lauramide) and hexamethylene bis(stearamide); unsaturated fatty acid amides such as ethylene bis(oleamide), hexamethylene bis(oleamide), N,N'-dioleyl adipamide and N,N'-dioleyl sebacic acid amide; aromatic bisamides such as meta-xylene bis(stearamide) and N,N'-distearylisophthalamide; fatty acid metal salts (commonly known as metal soaps) such as calcium stearate, calcium laurate, zinc stearate and magnesium stearate; aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes grafted with vinyl monomers such as styrene and acrylic acid; partial esterification products of fatty acids and polyols such as monoglyceride of behenic acid; and methyl ester compounds having a hydroxyl group obtained by, for example, hydrogenation of vegetable oils and fats. The above waxes can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0072] Preferably, the wax comprises a hydrocarbon wax. For example, H1 and H2 are calorific values ​​corresponding to the exothermic peak of the wax (preferably a hydrocarbon wax). The hydrocarbon wax is, for example, a mold release agent. In addition to the hydrocarbon wax, the wax may further comprise an ester wax as a plasticizer.

[0073] Examples of the aliphatic alcohol forming the ester wax include 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol, 1-nonanol, 1-decanol, undecanol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, 1-hexadecanol, stearyl alcohol, eicosanol, behenyl alcohol, lignocerol, and ethylene glycol.

[0074] Examples of the aliphatic carboxylic acid forming the ester wax include valeric acid, caproic acid, heptanoic acid, caprylic acid, nonanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid.

[0075] The content of the wax is preferably 0.5 to 30.0 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin or the polymerizable monomer.

[0076] For example, the content of the ester wax in the first toner and the second toner is preferably 5.0 to 25.0 parts by mass, and more preferably 10.0 to 20.0 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin or the polymerizable monomer.

[0077] Next, the colorant will be described.

[0078] The toner particles may further contain a colorant. In particular, by using a colorant in the powder binder, the powder binder can also be used as a general printing toner.

[0079] The colorant is not particularly limited, and for example, the following known colorants can be used.

[0080] Examples of yellow pigments include yellow iron oxide, Napels Yellow, Naphthol Yellow S, condensed azo compounds such as Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, benzidine Yellow G, benzidine Yellow GR, quinoline yellow lake, permanent yellow NCG and lemon yellow lake, as well as isoindolinone compounds, anthraquinone compounds, azo metal complexes, methine compounds and allylamide compounds.

[0081] Specific examples include the following.

[0082] CI Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 62, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 109, 110, 111, 128, 129, 147, 155, 168, 180.

[0083] Examples of the orange pigment include the following.

[0084] Permanent Orange GTR, Pyrazolone Orange, Balkan Orange, Benzidine Orange G, Indanthrene Brilliant Orange RK and Indanthrene Brilliant Orange GK.

[0085] Examples of red pigments include condensed azo compounds such as red iron oxide, Permanent Red 4R, Resole Red, Pyrazolone Red, Watching Red calcium salt, Lake Red C, Lake Red D, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Brilliant Carmine 3B, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, and Alizarin Red Lake, as well as diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds, anthraquinone compounds, quinacridone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, naphthol compounds, benzimidazolone compounds, thioindigo compounds, and perylene compounds. Specific examples include the following.

[0086] CI Pigment Red 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 23, 48:2, 48:3, 48:4, 57:1, 81:1, 122, 144, 146, 166, 169, 177, 184, 185, 202, 206, 220, 221, 254.

[0087] Examples of blue pigments include basic blue lakes, Victoria blue lakes, copper phthalocyanine compounds and their derivatives such as phthalocyanine blue, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue partial chloride, Fast Sky Blue and Indanthrene Blue BG, as well as anthraquinone compounds and basic dye lake compounds. Specific examples include the following.

[0088] CI Pigment Blue 1, 7, 15, 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:4, 60, 62, 66.

[0089] Examples of violet pigments include Fast Violet B and methyl violet lake.

[0090] Examples of green pigments include Pigment Green B, Malachite Green Lake, and Final Yellow Green G.

[0091] Examples of white pigments include zinc white, titanium dioxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

[0092] Examples of the black pigment include carbon black, aniline black, nonmagnetic ferrite, magnetite, and pigments toned to black using the above-mentioned yellow colorant, red colorant, and blue colorant.

[0093] These colorants may be used alone or as a mixture thereof, and may also be used in a state of a solid solution.

[0094] If necessary, the colorant may be surface-treated with a substance that does not inhibit polymerization.

[0095] The content of the colorant is preferably 1.0 to 15.0 parts by mass relative to 100.0 parts by mass of the binder resin or the polymerizable monomer. In a black toner containing carbon black, the content of the carbon black is preferably 1.0 to 15.0 parts by mass, more preferably 7.0 to 15.0 parts by mass relative to 100.0 parts by mass of the binder resin or the polymerizable monomer.

[0096] Next, the charge control agent will be described.

[0097] The toner particles may contain a charge control agent as required. Known agents can be used as the charge control agent, but a charge control agent having a high triboelectric charging rate and capable of stably maintaining a constant triboelectric charge amount is preferred here. In the case of producing the toner particles according to a polymerization method, a charge control agent having low polymerization inhibition and substantially not forming a soluble substance in an aqueous medium is preferred.

[0098] The charge control agent may be a charge control agent that controls the toner to express negative chargeability or to express positive chargeability.

[0099] Examples of the charge control agent that controls the toner to exhibit negative chargeability include the following.

[0100] Monoazo metal compounds; acetylacetone metal compounds; metal compounds of aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids; aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, aromatic monocarboxylic acids and aromatic polycarboxylic acids and their metal salts, anhydrides and esters; phenol derivatives, such as bisphenol; urea derivatives; metal-containing salicylic acid compounds; metal-containing naphthoic acid compounds; boron compounds; quaternary ammonium salts; calixarene and resin-based charge control agents, etc.

[0101] Examples of the charge control agent that controls the toner to express positive chargeability include the following.

[0102] Nigrosine and nigrosine modifications, such as fatty acid metal salts; guanidine compounds; imidazole compounds; onium salts, such as quaternary ammonium salts, for example, tributylbenzylammonium-1-hydroxy-4-naphthalenesulfonate and tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate, phosphonium salts as their analogs, and lake pigments thereof; triphenylmethane dyes and lake pigments thereof (examples of lake agents include phosphotungstic acid, phosphomolybdic acid, phosphotungstomolybdic acid, tannic acid, lauric acid, gallic acid, ferrocyanide and ferrocyanide, etc.); metal salts of higher fatty acids; and resin-based charge control agents (charge control resins).

[0103] The above-mentioned charge control agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof. Among these charge control agents, metal-containing salicylic acid compounds are preferred, particularly compounds in which the metal is aluminum or zirconium.

[0104] As the charge control resin, a polymer or copolymer having a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonic acid base group or a sulfonic acid ester group is preferably used.

[0105] The added amount of the charge control agent is preferably 0.1 to 20.0 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10.0 parts by mass, relative to 100.0 parts by mass of the binder resin.

[0106] Next, the external additive will be described.

[0107] The toner may further contain an external additive as required. For example, the toner has toner particles and an external additive. The external additive may control, for example, fluidity, charging properties, and cleaning properties.

[0108] Examples of the external additive used include inorganic oxide fine particles, such as silica fine particles, aluminum oxide fine particles, and titanium oxide fine particles; inorganic stearate compound fine particles, such as aluminum stearate fine particles and zinc stearate fine particles; and inorganic titanate compound fine particles, such as zinc titanate fine particles or strontium titanate fine particles. The external additive may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0109] The total addition amount of the external additives is preferably 0.05 to 10.00 parts by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 5.0 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the toner particles.

[0110] The external additive can be fixed to the surface of the toner particles using a known method. Examples include fixing using a Henschel mixer (dry production method) and fixing by dispersing the toner particles and the external additive in a solvent and then aggregating them (wet production method).

[0111] Next, a method for producing toner particles will be described.

[0112] The toner particles can be produced using known methods. Examples include dry production methods such as kneading and pulverization methods, and wet production methods such as suspension polymerization methods, dissolution suspension methods, emulsification aggregation methods, and emulsion polymerization aggregation methods. In particular, from the viewpoint of achieving a sharp particle size distribution of the toner particles, improving the average circularity of the toner particles, and forming a core-shell structure, it is preferred to use a wet production method.

[0113] In the case of producing toner particles, for example, by a kneading pulverization method as a dry production method, a binder resin is sufficiently mixed with wax, a colorant, a charge control agent and other additives as required in a Henschel mixer or a ball mill, etc. Then, the various materials are dispersed or dissolved by melt kneading using a heat kneading device such as a heating roll, a kneader or an extruder, and the resultant is then subjected to a cooling solidification process, a pulverization process, a classification process and a surface treatment process as required to obtain toner particles.

[0114] In the pulverizing process, known pulverizing equipment, such as mechanical impact or jet pulverizing equipment, can be used. In the order of the processes, one of the classification process and the surface treatment process can be performed before the other. From the viewpoint of production efficiency, a multi-stage classifier is preferably used in the classification process.

[0115] Next, a case where toner particles are produced by a suspension polymerization method as an example of a wet production method will be described. Next, an example of producing toner particles relying on the suspension polymerization method will be described in detail, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0116] In the suspension polymerization method, first, a polymerizable monomer for producing a binder resin and, as required, a wax, a colorant, a charge control agent, a cross-linking agent, a polymerization initiator and other additives are uniformly dissolved or dispersed using a dispersing device such as a ball mill or an ultrasonic disperser to obtain a polymerizable monomer composition (a step of preparing a polymerizable monomer composition).

[0117] Next, the polymerizable monomer composition is placed in a previously prepared aqueous medium, and droplets of the polymerizable monomer composition are formed into a desired toner particle size using a stirrer or a disperser having a high shear force (granulation step).

[0118] In order to control the particle size of the toner particles, make the particle size distribution sharper, and reduce the aggregation of the toner particles during the production process, the aqueous medium in the granulation step preferably contains a dispersion stabilizer. Generally, the dispersion stabilizer is roughly divided into a polymer that generates a repulsive force due to steric hindrance and an inorganic compound that is sparingly soluble in water and achieves dispersion stability by electrostatic repulsion. Fine particles of the inorganic compound that is sparingly soluble in water are dissolved by acid and alkali. Therefore, it is preferred to use such fine particles because the fine particles can be easily removed by dissolving them by washing with acid or alkali after polymerization.

[0119] Preferably, a dispersion stabilizer containing any one of magnesium, calcium, barium, zinc, aluminum and phosphorus can be used here as a dispersion stabilizer for the inorganic compound that is poorly soluble in water. More preferably, the dispersion stabilizer contains any one of magnesium, calcium, aluminum and phosphorus. Specific examples include the following.

[0120] Magnesium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, aluminum phosphate, zinc phosphate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, calcium metasilicate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate and hydroxyapatite.

[0121] When using an inorganic dispersant that is poorly soluble in water, the dispersant can be used directly, but in order to obtain finer particles, the inorganic dispersant particles can be generated in an aqueous medium for use. In the case of tricalcium phosphate, for example, water-insoluble tricalcium phosphate can be produced by mixing an aqueous solution of sodium phosphate and an aqueous solution of calcium chloride under high-speed stirring; this can achieve a more uniform fine dispersion.

[0122] Organic compounds such as polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, methyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose, and starch may be used in combination with the above-mentioned dispersion stabilizers.

[0123] The dispersion stabilizer is preferably used in an amount of 0.1 to 20.0 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer.

[0124] In order to further refine the dispersion stabilizer, 0.1 to 10.0 parts by mass of a surfactant may be used in combination with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer. Specifically, commercially available nonionic, anionic and cationic surfactants may be used. For example, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sodium pentadecyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, sodium oleate, sodium laurate, potassium stearate or calcium oleate is preferably used herein.

[0125] After or during the granulation step, the temperature is preferably set to a temperature of 50 to 90° C., and then the polymerizable monomer included in the polymerizable monomer composition is polymerized to obtain a toner particle dispersion liquid (polymerization step).

[0126] In the polymerization step, it is preferred to perform a stirring operation so that the temperature distribution in the container becomes uniform. In the case of adding a polymerization initiator, this can be performed at any time and at a desired time interval. In order to achieve the desired molecular weight distribution, the temperature can be increased in the second half of the polymerization reaction, and in order to remove unreacted polymerizable monomers and by-products from the system, a portion of the aqueous medium can be distilled off in a distillation operation in the second half of the reaction or once the reaction is completed. The distillation operation can be carried out at normal pressure or under reduced pressure.

[0127] Preferably, the polymerization initiator used in the suspension polymerization method has a half-life of 0.5 to 30 hours during the polymerization reaction. As a result of the polymerization reaction using 0.5 to 20.0 parts by mass of the polymerization initiator relative to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer, a polymer having a maximum weight average molecular weight between 5,000 and 50,000 can be obtained.

[0128] An oil-soluble initiator is generally used as the polymerization initiator. For example, examples include the following.

[0129] Azo compounds, such as 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2'-azobis-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile, 1,1'-azobis(cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile) and 2,2'-azobis-4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile, etc.; and peroxide-based initiators, such as acetylcyclohexylsulfonyl peroxide, diisopropyl peroxycarbonate, decanoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, stearoyl peroxide, propionyl peroxide, acetyl peroxide, tert-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate, benzoyl peroxide, tert-butyl perisobutyrate, cyclohexanone peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, tert-butyl peroxypivalate and cumene hydroperoxide.

[0130] The polymerization initiator may be used in combination with a water-soluble initiator as necessary, and examples of the water-soluble initiator include the following.

[0131] Ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, 2,2'-azobis(N,N'-dimethyleneisobutyramidine) hydrochloride, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride, azobis(isobutyramidine) hydrochloride, sodium 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile sulfonate, ferrous sulfate and hydrogen peroxide.

[0132] These polymerization initiators may be used alone or in combination of two or more; in addition, for the purpose of controlling the degree of polymerization of the polymerizable monomer, a chain transfer agent or a polymerization inhibitor or the like may be further added and used.

[0133] From the viewpoint of achieving high-definition and high-resolution images, the weight average particle size of the toner particles is preferably 3.0 to 10.0 μm. The weight average particle size of the toner particles and the toner can be measured according to the pore resistance method. For example, the weight average particle size can be measured using a "CoulterCounter Multisizer 3" (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.).

[0134] After the polymerization step, the toner particle dispersion is supplied to a filtration step for solid-liquid separation of the toner particles and the aqueous medium.

[0135] Solid-liquid separation for obtaining toner particles from the obtained toner particle dispersion can be performed according to a general filtering method; thereafter, in order to remove foreign matter that has not been removed from the surface of the toner particles, it is preferred that further washing is performed, for example, by washing with a reslurry or washing water. After sufficient washing, solid-liquid separation is performed again to obtain a toner cake. Thereafter, drying is performed by using a known drying device, and particles having a particle size other than a predetermined particle size are separated by classification as needed to obtain toner particles. In order to improve the final yield, the separated particles having a particle size other than the predetermined particle size can be reused.

[0136] Next, the developer will be described.

[0137] The toner can be used as a magnetic or non-magnetic one-component developer, and can also be used as a two-component developer by mixing with a carrier.

[0138] As the carrier, magnetic particles made of known materials such as metals such as iron, ferrite or magnetite, and alloys of these metals with metals such as aluminum or lead can be used. Among the above, ferrite particles are preferably used. For example, a coated carrier in which the surface of the magnetic particles is coated with a coating agent such as a resin, or a resin-dispersed carrier obtained by dispersing a fine magnetic powder in a binder resin can be used as a carrier.

[0139] The volume average particle diameter of the carrier is preferably 15 to 100 μm, more preferably 25 to 80 μm.

[0140] Next, the bonding method will be described.

[0141] For example, pattern formation can be accomplished by electrophotography using a toner as a powder binder. The toner is charged, a latent image drawn by the potential is developed using the toner, and the developed image is electrostatically transferred to a sheet as an adherend to form a toner image on the sheet. The sheets can then be bonded together by overlapping the toner images and heating them. Toner can also be used to print an image within a sheet.

[0142] The bonding method includes the following steps.

[0143] (1) A step of forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of a sheet using a first toner.

[0144] (2) A step of forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner.

[0145] (3) A step of forming an image pattern for bonding on a sheet by heating the surface of the second unfixed toner layer to fix the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet.

[0146] (4) A step of obtaining an adhered product by heating the adhesive image patterns formed on the same sheet or on different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets.

[0147] The bonding image pattern generated in the bonding process step has a fixed toner image derived from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface.

[0148] The present disclosure also relates to a toner set used in the above bonding method. The toner set separately comprises the above first toner and the second toner. The present disclosure can also provide a box set. The box set comprises a first processing box containing the first toner and a second processing box containing the second toner.

[0149] Next, the bonding apparatus will be described.

[0150] The bonding device for accommodating a sheet material such as paper as an adherend is provided with an image forming unit as an image forming component and may have a heating device as a bonding component. Bonding is performed by applying heat to a stack of sheets on which a powder adhesive pattern is formed. Since the bonding device is provided with the image forming unit and the heating device, it is also possible to print an image using a toner instead of the powder adhesive.

[0151] <Bonding method, bonding equipment and operation>

[0152] Will refer to Figure 1 The overall structure of the bonding equipment is described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of a bonding apparatus according to an embodiment described below.

[0153] like Figure 1 As shown, the bonding apparatus includes an image forming unit 1 and a post-processing unit 300. The image forming unit 1 includes a sheet cassette 8 as a sheet accommodating portion accommodating a sheet P as a recording material, an image forming portion 1e as an image forming member, a fixing device 6 as a fixing member, and a housing 19 accommodating the above. The bonding apparatus has a printing function, forms a toner image on a sheet P supplied from the sheet cassette 8 by the image forming portion 1e, and performs a fixing process by the fixing device 6 to produce a printed matter.

[0154] The size of the sheet can be appropriately adjusted according to the size of the bonding device used, and there is no particular restriction. In the following embodiment, the maximum size of the sheet P in the conveying direction in which an image can be formed is A4 size (297 mm long × 210 mm wide), and image formation is completed by conveying the A4 size sheet in the longitudinal direction. There is no particular restriction on the sheet conveying speed, and in the following embodiment, the sheet conveying speed is 300 mm / sec.

[0155] The sheet cassette 8 is inserted at the bottom of the bonding apparatus in a manner that it can be pulled out from the housing 19; here, the sheet cassette 8 contains a plurality of sheets P. The sheets P contained in the sheet cassette 8 are fed from the sheet cassette 8 by a feed roller 8a as a paper feed section, and are conveyed by a conveying roller pair 8b. The sheets placed in the multi-purpose tray 20 can also be fed one by one.

[0156] The image forming section 1e is a tandem type electrophotographic unit having four process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k, a scanning unit 2 and a transfer unit 3. Each process cartridge is a unit in which a plurality of components involved in image forming processing are integrated and can be integrally replaced by other units.

[0157] The process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k have substantially the same configuration except for the types of toners contained in the four toner containing portions Ky, Km, Kc, Kk, respectively. Specifically, the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k contain photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk as image bearing members, charging rollers Cy, Cm, Cc, Ck as charging devices, and toner containing portions Ky, Km, Kc, Kk for containing toners and supplying toners to the respective photosensitive drums, respectively.

[0158] The four toner containing portions Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk contain yellow (Ty), magenta (Tm), cyan (Tc), and black (Tk) toners, respectively, for forming a visible image on the sheet P. The toners for forming a visible image may also be used as a powder adhesive in the form of an adhesive toner for performing an adhesive process after printing.

[0159] The scanning unit 2 is provided below the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k and above the sheet cassette 8. The scanning unit 2 is an exposure device for irradiating the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk of the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k with laser beams Jy, Jm, Jc, Jk to write respective electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk.

[0160] The transfer unit 3 includes a transfer belt 3a as an intermediate transfer member (secondary image bearing member). The transfer belt 3a is a belt member wound around the secondary transfer inner roller 3b and the tension roller 3c, and the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt 3a is opposite to the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk of each processing box 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k. On the inner peripheral side of the transfer belt 3a, primary transfer rollers Fy, Fm, Fc, and Fk are arranged at positions corresponding to the respective photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk. The secondary transfer roller 5 as a transfer component is arranged at a position opposite to the secondary transfer inner roller 3b. The transfer roller gap 5n between the secondary transfer roller 5 and the transfer belt 3a is a transfer portion (secondary transfer portion) that transfers the colorant image from the transfer belt 3a to the sheet P. The fixing device 6 is arranged above the secondary transfer roller 5.

[0161] The fixing device 6 includes a cylindrical fixing film (endless belt) 6a as a rotating heating member and a pressure roller 6c as a pressure member. The fixing device 6 further has a heater 6b as a heating component in contact with the inner surface of the fixing film 6a, and a pressure roller 6c as a pressure rotating member that forms a fixing nip 6n with the heater 6b via the fixing film 6a.

[0162] Will refer to it again later Figure 1 The operation of the image forming unit 1 is described. When the image forming unit 1 receives input of image data such as an image pattern for bonding to be printed and a print execution instruction, a control unit (not shown) of the bonding apparatus starts conveying the sheet P and initiates a series of operations (image forming operation) to form an image on the sheet P. In the image forming operation, the sheets P are first supplied one by one from the sheet cassette 8 and conveyed toward the transfer nip 5n by the conveying roller 8b.

[0163] In parallel with the supply of the sheet material P, the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k are sequentially driven to rotationally drive the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk. The surfaces of the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk are uniformly charged by the charging rollers Cy, Cm, Cc, Ck. The scanning unit 2 irradiates the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk of the respective process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k with laser light modulated based on image data to form respective electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk. Next, the electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk are developed into respective toner images by the toner carried on the developing rollers Hy, Hm, Hc, Hk in the toner containing portions Ky, Km, Kc, Kk of the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k.

[0164] The transfer belt 3a rotates in the counterclockwise direction (arrow V) in the figure. Due to the electric field formed between the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk and the primary transfer rollers Fy, Fm, Fc, Fk, the toner images formed on the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k are primarily transferred from the photosensitive drums Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk to the transfer belt 3a.

[0165] The resulting toner image carried on the transfer belt 3 a and reaching the transfer nip 5 n is secondarily transferred onto the conveyed sheet P due to the electric field formed between the secondary transfer roller 5 and the secondary transfer inner roller 3 b .

[0166] In the case where the toner image formed on the sheet P after the secondary transfer includes toners of all four colors, the black toner Tk is disposed closest to the sheet P. The cyan toner Tc is disposed on the black toner Tk, the magenta toner Tm is disposed on the cyan toner Tc, and the yellow toner Ty is disposed farthest from the sheet P.

[0167] After that, the sheet P is conveyed to the fixing device 6 for performing a heating and fixing process. Specifically, when the sheet P passes through the fixing roller gap 6n, the toner image on the sheet P is heated and pressurized, so that the toners Ty, Tm, Tc, and Tk are melted and then solidified to form a toner layer, thereby obtaining an image such as an image pattern for bonding fixed to the sheet P.

[0168] In the present disclosure, a first unfixed toner layer is formed on a first surface of a sheet using a first toner, and a second unfixed toner layer is formed on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner, thereby forming an image pattern in a manner that the second unfixed toner layer becomes a pattern surface. Then, the formed image pattern is fixed to the first surface of the sheet to form an image pattern for bonding. It is also possible to form a first unfixed toner layer on a second surface of the sheet opposite to the first surface using a first toner, and to form a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner, so that the image pattern is formed on the second surface in a manner that the second unfixed toner layer becomes a pattern surface, and then undergo a fixing process to form an image pattern for bonding on the second surface of the sheet. That is, an image pattern for bonding can be formed on both sides of the sheet. If the first toner and the second toner satisfy equations (1) and (2), within the scope of not impairing the effects of the present disclosure, for example, another toner layer can be provided between the sheet and the first unfixed toner layer.

[0169] As long as the first toner and the second toner satisfy equations (1) and (2), the first toner may contain toners of multiple colors, and the second toner may contain toners of multiple colors. As long as the first toner and the second toner satisfy equations (1) and (2), the first toner and the second toner may be the same color.

[0170] The first toner is preferably a black toner Tk, and the second toner is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of a cyan toner Tc, a magenta toner Tm, and a yellow toner Ty. For example, the first toner may be a cyan toner Tc, and the second toner may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a magenta toner Tm and a yellow toner Ty. The first toner may be a magenta toner Tm, and the second toner may be a yellow toner Ty.

[0171] The switching guide 33 is a flapper-shaped guide member for switching the conveying direction when either a single-sided printing mode in which an image is formed on a single side of the sheet P or a double-sided printing mode in which images are formed on both sides of the sheet P is selected. In the single-sided printing mode, the switching guide 33 conveys the sheet P toward the paper discharge roller pair 34.

[0172] On the other hand, in the case of the double-sided printing mode, the switching guide 33 conveys the sheet P toward the steering roller pair 35, and the steering roller pair 35 reverses the rotation direction after discharging the sheet P to the rear end of the sheet P, thereby guiding the sheet P toward the double-sided conveying path 36 for double-sided printing. The sheet P conveyed on the double-sided conveying path 36 passes through the secondary transfer section and the fixing section again, and as a result, an image pattern for bonding is formed on the second surface (unprinted sheet surface) on the opposite side to the first surface. Then, the sheet P on which the image is formed is conveyed toward the paper discharge roller pair 34 by the switching guide 33, and the paper discharge roller 34 conveys the sheet P to the post-processing unit 300 via the intermediate conveying unit 200 having the conveying roller pairs 201 and 202.

[0173] The post-processing unit 300 has a floor-standing structure, that is, a sheet alignment member and a heat-compression bonding unit 51 as a booklet bonding device for heating and pressing the aligned sheet bundle for a predetermined time are installed at its lower part. In the embodiment described below, the sheet conveying speed of the intermediate conveying unit 200 and the post-processing unit 300 is 600 mm / sec.

[0174] In the present disclosure, a plurality of sheets on which adhesive image patterns are formed are overlapped with each other in such a manner that the second toner layers of the adhesive image patterns are in contact with each other to obtain a sheet bundle, and the adhesive image patterns in the sheet bundle are heated (preferably heated and pressurized) to thereby bond the sheets to each other to obtain a booklet. The sheets may be bonded together by a heat-compression bonding unit 51.

[0175] Each sheet P conveyed from the intermediate conveying unit 200 is transferred to the conveying roller pair 21 of the post-processing unit 300. The conveying roller 22 accelerates the sheet at a predetermined time based on the passing time of the rear end of the sheet P by the entrance sensor 27. In the case where the sheet is discharged onto the upper paper discharge tray 25 as the discharge destination in image formation in which the sheets are not adhered together, at the stage where the rear end of the sheet reaches between the conveying roller 22 and the reverse roller 24, the sheet is decelerated to a predetermined paper discharge speed and discharged onto the upper paper discharge tray 25.

[0176] In the case where a booklet is obtained by bonding sheets to each other, the bonded booklet is discharged from the lower paper discharge tray 37 via the heat-compression bonding unit 51. In this case, when the rear end of the sheet passes through the backflow prevention valve 23 urged in the clockwise direction in the figure by a spring not shown, the sheet conveyance is temporarily stopped, and then the sheet is turned and conveyed to the internal paper discharge roller 26.

[0177] The sheet P conveyed from the inner paper discharge roller 26 is supplied to the kick-out roller 29 via the intermediate conveying roller 28 and then conveyed to the intermediate stacking section 42. A longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 is provided at the most downstream portion of the intermediate stacking section 42, and the sheet bundle is aligned by bringing the sheet ends in the conveying direction into contact with the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39.

[0178] Next, refer to Figure 1 and Figures 2A to 2D The sheet alignment method is described. The longitudinal direction of the sheet P is defined as the Y direction, the transverse direction of the sheet P is defined as the X direction, and the height direction is defined as the Z direction. Figure 2A As shown, in the intermediate stacking portion 42, there is a rotatably supported semicircular roller 40 for pressing the sheet P passing through the kick-out roller 29 toward the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39. The semicircular roller 40 conveys the sheet toward the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 at a predetermined timing. Figure 2B As shown, the semicircular roller 40 is adjusted to convey the pressure in such a manner that the semicircular roller 40 slides on the sheet after the sheet abuts against the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 .

[0179] After reaching the longitudinal alignment reference plate, as Figure 2C As shown in FIG. 1 , the alignment operation is performed until the lateral alignment coder 41 a abuts against the lateral alignment reference plate 500 (dashed line), and as a result, the sheet bundle is aligned as shown in FIG. Figure 2D The intended location is shown. Figure 2C and 2D The operation shown is performed in conjunction with the stapling operation by the thermocompression bonding unit 51 as the sheet bonding means, and is performed together for every predetermined number of sheets.

[0180] The thermocompression bonding unit 51 produces a left-end-bound or right-end-bound booklet by thermocompression bonding a sheet bundle made of a plurality of sheets P. The thermocompression bonding unit 51 heats and presses the sheet bundle aligned in the longitudinal and transverse directions, resulting in the production of a booklet aligned with high accuracy.

[0181] In the present disclosure, the second colorant layers of the adhesive image pattern formed on the same sheet or different sheets overlap in a manner of contacting each other. The number of sheets may be one or more than two. Preferably, the fixing colorant images of the adhesive image pattern formed on different sheets overlap in a manner of contacting each other. By heating the adhesive image pattern on the sheet, the sheets can be bonded to each other to obtain a booklet. The sheets are stacked in a manner of contacting each other with the second colorant layers, so that the adhesive image pattern as a stack of the first colorant layer and the second colorant layer has at least two layers ( Figure 6 ).

[0182] For example, a sheet bundle can be obtained by laminating a plurality of sheets each having an adhesive image pattern formed on both the first surface and the second surface.

[0183] The sheet having the adhesive image pattern formed on the first surface and the other sheet having the adhesive image pattern formed on the first surface may be overlapped with each other in such a manner that the second toner layers are in contact with each other. Thus, a sheet bundle can be produced by the above-mentioned double-sided printing mode. For example, by using a sheet without the adhesive image pattern formed on the surface side of the sheet bundle, a plurality of sheets having the adhesive image pattern formed on both surfaces of the sheet can be stacked. The number of sheets can be arbitrarily set.

[0184] Preferably, the sheets are bonded to each other by heating the bonding image pattern in the sheet bundle to obtain a booklet as a deliverable item. Preferably, the heating is performed from the side where the bonding image pattern is not formed. For example, the heating may be performed from the second surface side of the back side of the first surface of the sheet. That is, preferably, the bonding image pattern is not formed on the surface (second surface) of the sheet forming the surface of the sheet bundle that can constitute the booklet cover.

[0185] The structure of the thermocompression bonding unit 51 will now be further described. Figure 3A 5 is a cross-sectional view of a thermocompression bonding unit 51, wherein a heating plate 502 made of aluminum is disposed on a ceramic heater 501, which in turn has a built-in heating element as a heat source for the thermocompression bonding unit 51. In the embodiment described below, the dimensions of the ceramic heater include a thickness of 1.0 mm, a width of 8.0 mm, and a length of 350 mm. The ceramic heater 501 can be controlled to an arbitrary set temperature by a temperature detection component and a power application component supported by a heater support body 503 not shown.

[0186] In the following embodiment, the set temperature is adjusted so that the surface temperature of the pressurizing portion A of the heating plate 502 is 200° C. Therefore, by providing the pressurizing portion A on the heating plate 502, the heat and pressure from the thermocompression bonding unit 51 are concentrated only on the portion where the image pattern for bonding exists as the binding position of the sheet bundle, so that heating and pressing can be performed efficiently. The ceramic heater is supported by a heater support body 503 made of resin.

[0187] The degree of heating and pressurization can be appropriately changed according to the melting characteristics of the toner. For example, the lowest temperature of the bonding image pattern can be preferably set in the range of 75 to 100° C., more preferably in the range of 78 to 90° C. The surface temperature of the pressurizing portion A can be set, for example, in the range of 180 to 240° C.

[0188] The pressure rod 504 receives power from a driving power source not shown, thereby pressing the hot-pressing bonding unit 51 downward in the -Z direction (downward), thereby applying pressure to the sheet bundle. The pressure of the pressure rod 504 is transmitted via a metal bracket 505 as a rigid body. In the following embodiment, the pressure rod 504 applies pressure to the sheet bundle P with a total pressure of 30 kgf. Reference numeral 506 is a pressure plate made of silicone rubber with a thickness of 2.0 mm, which is a component for stably receiving pressure. The total pressure on the sheet bundle P is preferably 25 to 50 kgf, more preferably 28 to 40 kgf, as long as the pressure during pressurization makes it possible to form a sheet bundle.

[0189] In the following embodiment, the heat-compression bonding unit 51 presses the sheet bundle for 2 seconds and then leaves the pressed sheet bundle. The bonding process can be performed in which up to five sheets with a basis weight of up to 90 g / m 2 The sheets P are bonded together. Figure 3B The cross-sectional shape of the heating plate 502 is shown; in the following embodiment, the pressurizing portion A has a flat portion of 1.0 mm and curved portions with a curvature R of 1.5 on both sides of the flat portion. The length of the heating plate 502 in the Y direction is 300 mm.

[0190] like Figure 3A As shown in FIG. 1 , once the bonding process by the heat-compression bonding unit 51 is completed (P1-1 to P1-5), the following Figure 3CAs shown, sheets P are sequentially stacked thereon (P2-1 to P2-4); therefore, P1-1 to P1-5 and P2-1 to P2-4 can be bonded together. Therefore, deliverable items including a large number of booklets can be produced. In the following embodiment, the following structure is adopted: by feeding 5 sheets P for the first time and then feeding a maximum of 4 sheets each time, a booklet of up to 50 sheets can be produced. During the continuous operation, the sheet P is fed to the heat-compression bonding unit 51; therefore, booklets can be efficiently produced by repeatedly performing a descending operation, a pressurizing operation (2 seconds), and an ascending operation by the heat-compression bonding unit 51.

[0191] When the bonding process of the thermocompression bonding unit 51 is completed, the bundle discharge guide (not shown) moves parallel to the sheet discharge port 45 from the standby position to push out the booklet. The bundle discharge roller 38 is provided at the sheet discharge port 45.

[0192] The bundle discharge guide stops at a position where the leading end of the booklet slightly exceeds the bundle discharge roller 38 , and returns to the standby position again. The bundle discharge roller 38 discharges the booklet received from the bundle discharge guide onto the lower paper discharge tray 37 .

[0193] Figure 4A Schematic diagram showing the printing area S of the adhesive image pattern using toners Ty, Tm, Tc, and Tk in the following embodiment. As shown in the oblique line area, the printing area S of the adhesive image pattern is formed at the end of the long side of the sheet P, so that a long-side bound booklet can be produced as a deliverable item when producing a booklet in a post-processing device. In the following embodiment, the width W of the printing area S of the adhesive image pattern is set to 4.0 mm.

[0194] The shape of the printing area S can be appropriately changed to obtain a desired booklet. Figure 4B As shown in FIG. 1 , by forming a printed area S of an adhesive image pattern on a portion of the long side end, a deliverable article in the form of a corner-bound booklet can be produced. In the following embodiment, the toner amount (load) per unit area of ​​each single-color toner used for the adhesive image pattern is set to 0.4 mg / cm 2 For example, for both the first toner and the second toner, the toner bearing amount on the sheet is preferably 0.3 to 1.5 mg / cm 2 , more preferably 0.4 to 1.0 mg / cm 2 .

[0195] Next, the measurement methods of various physical properties in the present disclosure will be described.

[0196] <Method for measuring calorific value H>

[0197] The calorific value H1 (J / g) of the first toner and the calorific value H2 (J / g) of the second toner were measured using a differential scanning calorimeter "Q1000" (manufactured by TA Instruments) in accordance with ASTM D3418-82. The temperature of the detection unit of the instrument was corrected based on the melting points of indium and zinc, and the heat was corrected based on the heat of fusion of indium.

[0198] Specifically, 3 mg of the toner as the measurement object is accurately weighed and placed on an aluminum pan. An empty aluminum pan is used as a reference. In the measurement, within the measurement temperature range of 20 to 180°C, the temperature is raised at a rate of 10°C / min, maintained at 180°C for 10 minutes, and then cooled from 180°C to 20°C at a cooling rate of 10°C / min. For the exothermic peak in the DSC curve in the temperature range of 30 to 180°C in the above cooling process (temperature reduction process), a baseline is drawn (a line connecting the 30°C curve and the 180°C curve of the obtained DSC curve); the peak area in the range of 35°C to 75°C is taken as the calorific value H. The peak area is the integral value of the area enclosed between the DSC curve and the baseline. Here, H1 represents the calorific value H in the measurement of the first toner, and H2 represents the calorific value H in the measurement of the second toner.

[0199] <Method for measuring the content W of hydrocarbon wax in toner>

[0200] The content W of the hydrocarbon wax per 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the toner is calculated according to the following procedure. First, the mass X1 of the tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble component, the mass X2 of the insoluble component, and the incineration residual ash X3 of the insoluble component of the toner are calculated. Next, the amount w of the hydrocarbon wax in the toner is determined. The amount R of the binder resin in the toner is determined similarly. Based on the above values ​​w and R, the content of the hydrocarbon wax per 100 parts by mass of the binder resin can be calculated.

[0201] Specifically, 1.5 g of the toner is accurately weighed, placed on a cylindrical filter paper (trade name: No.86R, size 28×100 mm, manufactured by Advantec Toyo Kaisha, Ltd.) that has been accurately weighed in advance, and the whole is placed in a Soxhlet extractor. 200 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) is used as a solvent for 20 hours of extraction; the extraction is performed here at a reflux rate of one solvent extraction cycle per 5 minutes. Once the extraction is completed, the cylindrical filter paper is taken out and air-dried, and then vacuum-dried at 40°C for 8 hours, and then the mass of the cylindrical filter paper containing the extraction residue is weighed, and the mass of the extraction residue calculated by subtracting the mass of the cylindrical filter paper is taken as the mass of the tetrahydrofuran (THF)-insoluble component X2 (g). The mass X1 (g) of the tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble component in the toner is given by the following formula (A).

[0202] X1=1.5-X2(A)

[0203] The content X3 (g) of components other than the resin component is determined according to the following process. Here, 1.5 g of toner is accurately weighed in a 30 mL magnetic crucible that has been weighed in advance. The magnetic crucible is placed in an electric furnace and heated at about 900° C. for about 3 hours. The crucible is cooled in the electric furnace and cooled in a dryer at room temperature for more than 1 hour. The mass of the crucible containing the incineration residual ash is weighed; by subtracting the mass of the crucible, the incineration residual ash X3 (g) is calculated.

[0204] The extract obtained by the above operation was filtered through a solvent-resistant membrane filter "MYSYORIDISC" (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation) having a pore size of 0.2 μm to obtain a sample solution. Using this sample solution, measurement was performed under the following conditions.

[0205] Apparatus: HLC8320 GPC (detector: RI) (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation)

[0206] Column: 2 columns Shodex LF-404, LF-404 (manufactured by Showa Denko KK)

[0207] Eluent: Tetrahydrofuran (THF)

[0208] Flow rate: 1.0ml / min

[0209] Oven temperature: 40.0℃

[0210] Sample injection volume: 0.10ml

[0211] The total area S of the molecular weight distribution of tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble components in the obtained toner and the peak area P1 derived from the hydrocarbon wax having a molecular weight corresponding to the wax identified according to the molecular structure identification method of the hydrocarbon wax contained in the toner described below are then measured.

[0212] The amount w of the hydrocarbon wax in the toner can be determined based on the following formula (B).

[0213] w=(X1×P1 / S)

[0214] ={(1.5-X2)×P1 / S}(B)

[0215] The total area S of the molecular weight distribution of the tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble component in the toner and the area P derived from all the waxes are obtained by the above GPC. W , then the amount R of the binder resin in the toner can be calculated based on the following formula (R).

[0216] R = {X1+(X2 - X3)} - (X1×P W / S)...(R)

[0217] Then, from the amount w of the hydrocarbon wax obtained and the amount R of the binder resin obtained, the content W of the hydrocarbon wax relative to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin can be calculated.

[0218] <Method for Identifying Molecular Structure of Hydrocarbon Wax in Toner>

[0219] First, the hydrocarbon wax is separated from the toner according to the following separation operation. The toner is dispersed in ethanol, which is a poor solvent for the toner, and the temperature is raised to a temperature higher than the melting point of the wax. The above operation can be completed under pressure as needed. By this operation, the wax above the melting point melts and is extracted into ethanol. When pressure is applied in addition to heating, the wax can be separated from the toner by solid-liquid separation while applying pressure.

[0220] Next, the extract is dried and solidified to obtain wax. Then, the hydrocarbon wax can be separated by classifying the obtained wax according to molecular weight.

[0221] Next, the molecular structure of the separated hydrocarbon wax is identified. Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (hereinafter referred to as pyrolysis GC / MS) and NMR are used to identify the molecular structure.

[0222] The following operations are specifically carried out.

[0223] (1) Weigh 50 mg of the toner precisely in an 8 mL glass sample bottle, add 1 mL of deuterated chloroform and cover the lid. Then, use an ultrasonic disperser to disperse and dissolve the resulting mixture for 1 hour. Filter the mixture using a membrane filter with a diameter of 0.4 μm, and collect the filtrate. At this time, the deuterated chloroform-insoluble components remain on the membrane filter.

[0224] (2) Then, perform 1 1H-NMR measurement on the filtrate, and attribute the resulting spectrum to the constituent monomers of the hydrocarbon wax and the ester wax to calculate the quantitative values.

[0225] (3) Then, perform analysis by pyrolysis GC / MS. Carry out derivatization treatment such as methylation as needed, and calculate the molecular weight of the hydrocarbon wax.

[0226] <NMR Measurement Conditions>

[0227] Apparatus: Bruker AVANCE 500 manufactured by Bruker Biospin Corporation

[0228] Nucleus measured: 1 1H

[0229] Measurement frequency: 500.1 MHz

[0230] Number of scans: 16 scans

[0231] Measured temperature: room temperature

[0232] <Measurement conditions of pyrolysis GC / MS>

[0233] Pyrolysis device: TPS-700 manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.

[0234] Pyrolysis temperature: appropriate value from 400 °C to 600 °C

[0235] GC / MS device: ISQ manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

[0236] Column: "HP5-MS" (Agilent / 19091S-433), length 30 m, inner diameter 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm

[0237] <GC / MS conditions>

[0238] Inlet conditions:

[0239] Inlet temperature: 250 °C

[0240] Split flow rate: 50 mL / min

[0241] GC heating conditions: 40 °C (5 min) → 10 °C / min (300 °C) → 300 °C (20 min)

[0242] [Examples]

[0243] The present disclosure will be described in more detail below by production examples and examples, but these examples are not intended to limit the present disclosure in any way. Unless otherwise specified, the symbols "parts" and "%" in the formulations of the examples and comparative examples are based on mass in all cases.

[0244] <Production of toner 1>

[0245] (Preparation of polymerizable monomer composition 1)

[0246] - Styrene 60.0 parts

[0247] - Carbon black 10.0 parts

[0248] The above materials were charged into a grinder (manufactured by Nippon Coke & Engineering Co., Ltd.), and dispersion was performed at 220 rpm for 5.0 hours using zirconium oxide particles having a diameter of 1.7 mm, after which the zirconium oxide particles were removed to obtain a colorant dispersion liquid in which a pigment was dispersed.

[0249] The following materials are added to the above colorant dispersion.

[0250] - 15.0 parts of styrene

[0251] - 20.0 parts of n-butyl acrylate

[0252] - Hexanediol diacrylate 0.5 parts

[0253] - 4.0 parts of polyester resin

[0254] (polycondensate of terephthalic acid and bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 molar addition product; weight average molecular weight Mw 10000; acid value 8.2 mgKOH / g)

[0255] - Hydrocarbon wax (melting point: 79°C) 5.0 parts

[0256] - 15.0 parts of ethylene glycol distearate

[0257] As a dissolving / dispersing step, the above materials were then kept at 65° C. and uniformly dissolved and dispersed using a TK homomixer at 500 rpm to prepare a polymerizable monomer composition.

[0258] (Preparation of aqueous medium 1)

[0259] Here, 11.2 parts of sodium phosphate (12 hydrate) are loaded into the reaction vessel containing 390.0 parts of ion exchange water, and the whole is kept at 65 ° C for 1.0 hour while purging with nitrogen. Use TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.) to stir with 12000rpm. While keeping stirring, 7.4 parts of calcium chloride (dihydrate) are dissolved in the aqueous solution of calcium chloride obtained by 10.0 parts of ion exchange water, and all are put into the reaction vessel at one time, to prepare the aqueous medium containing dispersion stabilizer. Then 1.0mol / L hydrochloric acid is added to the aqueous medium in the reaction vessel, so that pH is adjusted to 6.0, and thus prepare aqueous medium 1.

[0260] (Granulation step)

[0261] While the temperature of the aqueous medium 1 was maintained at 70°C and the rotation speed of the stirring device was maintained at 12500 rpm, the polymerizable monomer composition was put into the aqueous medium 1, and 8.0 parts of tert-butyl peroxypivalate as a polymerization initiator was added. Granulation was performed for 10 minutes while the stirring device was maintained at 12500 rpm.

[0262] (Polymerization Step)

[0263] The high-speed stirring device was converted to a stirrer equipped with a propeller stirring blade, and polymerization was performed for 5.0 hours by maintaining the temperature at 70° C. while stirring at 200 rpm. Further polymerization reaction was performed by further increasing the temperature to 85° C. and heating for 2.0 hours.

[0264] The residual monomers were removed by raising the temperature to 98° C. and heating for 3.0 hours. The temperature was then lowered to 55° C., and the temperature was maintained for 5.0 hours while stirring was maintained. The temperature was then lowered to 25° C. Ion exchange water was added to adjust the concentration of the toner particles in the dispersion to 30.0% by mass, and a toner particle dispersion 1 in which toner particles 1 were dispersed was obtained.

[0265] (Washing Steps)

[0266] The pH of Toner Particle Dispersion Liquid 1 was adjusted to 1.5 using 1 mol / L hydrochloric acid, stirred for 1.0 hour, and then filtered while washing with ion-exchanged water, and dried to obtain Toner Particles 1 .

[0267] Table 2 lists the physical properties of Toner Particles 1 obtained.

[0268] (External addition steps)

[0269] To 100 parts of the obtained toner particles 1, 1.0 part of silica fine particles (number average particle diameter of primary particles: 10 nm; BET specific surface area: 170 m2) which had been hydrophobized using dimethyl silicone oil (20% by mass) was added as an external additive. 2 / g), and mixed at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes using a Mitsui Henschel mixer (manufactured by Mitsui Miike Engineering Corporation), to obtain Toner 1. The jacket temperature of the Henschel mixer was set to 10° C., and the peripheral speed of the rotary blade was set to 38 m / sec.

[0270] <Production of Toners 2 to 27>

[0271] Toners 2 to 27 were obtained in the same manner as Toner 1 except that the kind of the colorant and the added parts of the hydrocarbon wax were changed as shown in Table 1. Table 2 lists the physical properties of the obtained toners.

[0272] [Table 1]

[0273] Colorants Amount of hydrocarbon wax (parts) Amount of hydrocarbon wax per 100 parts of binder resin (parts) Toner 1 Carbon Black 5.0 5.2 Toner 2 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 5.0 5.2 Toner 3 CI Pigment Red 122 5.0 5.2 Toner 4 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 8.5 8.9 Toner 5 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 7.0 7.3 Toner 6 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 3.2 3.4 Toner 7 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 3.8 4.0 Toner 8 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 4.0 4.2 Toner 9 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 10.0 10.5 Toner 10 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 10.2 10.7 Toner 11 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 4.8 5.0 Toner 12 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 10.5 11.0 Toner 13 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 3.6 3.8 Toner 14 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 10.4 10.9 Toner 15 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 12.5 13.1 Toner 16 CI Pigment Blue 15:3 5.5 5.8 Toner 17 CI Pigment Yellow 155 10.7 11.2 Toner 18 CI Pigment Yellow 155 7.3 7.6 Toner 19 CI Pigment Yellow 155 9.0 9.4 Toner 20 CI Pigment Yellow 155 12.5 13.1 Toner 21 CI Pigment Yellow 155 12.2 12.8 Toner 22 CI Pigment Yellow 155 5.8 6.1 Toner 23 CI Pigment Yellow 155 5.5 5.8 Toner 24 CI Pigment Yellow 155 10.9 11.4 Toner 25 CI Pigment Yellow 155 5.3 5.5 Toner 26 CI Pigment Yellow 155 13.0 13.6 Toner 27 CI Pigment Yellow 155 10.0 10.5

[0274] [Table 2]

[0275] H(J / g) Toner 1 5.0 Toner 2 5.0 Toner 3 5.0 Toner 4 14.0 Toner 5 10.0 Toner 6 0.5 Toner 7 2.0 Toner 8 2.5 Toner 9 17.5 Toner 10 18.0 Toner 11 4.0 Toner 12 18.7 Toner 13 1.5 Toner 14 18.5 Toner 15 24.0 Toner 16 6.0 Toner 17 19.5 Toner 18 10.5 Toner 19 15.0 Toner 20 24.0 Toner 21 23.5 Toner 22 6.5 Toner 23 6.0 Toner 24 20.0 Toner 25 5.5 Toner 26 24.5 Toner 27 18.0

[0276] In the table, H (J / g) represents the calorific value H.

[0277] use Figure 1 The above bonding device shown in the embodiment was evaluated. In Example 1, the process box 7k was filled with toner 1, and the process box 7y was filled with toner 18. Except for the process boxes of two colors of 7k and 7y, no toner was filled in the other process boxes. Examples 2 to 20 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10 involve filling the process box 7y, the process box 7m and the process box 7c with the combination of the respective toners given in Table 3. Similarly, in Examples 2 to 20 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10, no toner was filled except for the process boxes of two colors containing the first toner and the second toner.

[0278] In this embodiment, when the sheet bundle is subjected to the bonding process by the heat-compression bonding unit 51, the minimum toner temperature (temperature of the bonding image pattern) when a maximum of five sheets are bonded at a time is set to 80°C. More specifically, Figure 3A As shown, the surface temperature of the heating plate and the set temperature of the temperature detection member are set so that the toner temperature between P1-4 and P1-5 in the primary bonding process P1-1 to P1-5 is 80°C.

[0279] [Table 3]

[0280] First toner No. Second toner No. H1(J / g) H2(J / g) H2-H1 Example 1 Toner set 1 1 17 5.0 19.5 14.5 Example 2 Toner Set 2 2 17 5.0 19.5 14.5 Example 3 Toner Set 3 3 17 5.0 19.5 14.5 Example 4 Toner Set 4 4 17 14.0 19.5 5.5 Example 5 Toner Set 5 2 18 5.0 10.5 5.5 Example 6 Toner Set 6 5 19 10.0 15.0 5.0 Example 7 Toner Set 7 6 20 0.5 24.0 23.5 Example 8 Toner set 8 6 21 0.5 23.5 23.0 Example 9 Toner Set 9 7 20 2.0 24.0 22.0 Example 10 Toner set 10 8 21 2.5 23.5 21.0 Embodiment 11 Toner set 11 9 21 17.5 23.5 6.0 Example 12 Toner set 12 6 22 0.5 6.5 6.0 Example 13 Toner set 13 10 20 18.0 24.0 6.0 Embodiment 14 Toner set 14 6 23 0.5 6.0 5.5 Embodiment 15 Toner set 15 8 22 2.5 6.5 4.0 Example 16 Toner set 16 7 23 2.0 6.0 4.0 Embodiment 17 Toner set 17 9 24 17.5 20.0 2.5 Embodiment 18 Toner set 18 11 22 4.0 6.5 2.5 Embodiment 19 Toner set 19 10 17 18.0 19.5 1.5 Embodiment 20 Toner set 20 12 17 18.2 19.5 1.3 Comparative Example 1 Comparative Toner Set 1 6 25 0.5 5.5 5.0 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Toner Set 2 13 25 1.5 5.5 4.0 Comparative Example 3 Comparative Toner Set 3 2 25 5.0 5.5 0.5 Comparative Example 4 Comparative Toner Set 4 13 26 1.5 24.5 23.0 Comparative Example 5 Comparative Toner Set 5 14 26 18.5 24.5 6.0 Comparative Example 6 Comparative Toner Set 6 6 26 0.5 24.5 24.0 Comparative Example 7 Comparative Toner Set 7 10 27 18.0 18.0 0.0 Comparative Example 8 Comparative Toner Set 8 15 20 24.0 24.0 0.0 Comparative Example 9 Comparative Toner Set 9 16 23 6.0 6.0 0.0 Comparative Example 10 Comparative Toner Set 10 10 23 18.0 6.0 -12.0

[0281] <Evaluation Results of Adhesive Strength>

[0282] Table 4 lists the evaluation results of the adhesion strength of the toner sets of Examples 1 to 20 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10 in Table 3.

[0283] Will refer to Figure 5A and 5B The schematic diagram further illustrates the evaluation method of bonding strength. Figure 3A As shown, use Figure 1 The bonding device and the heat-compression bonding unit 51 shown produce five booklets. Figure 6The bonding image patterns on the sheets P1-1 to P1-5 will be described using P1-4 and P1-5 as representatives. Figure 6 In the process of bonding, the first toner and the second toner are stacked on the bonding image pattern on the surface of the sheet (P1-5 side), and similarly, the first toner and the second toner are stacked on the bonding image pattern on the back side of the sheet (P1-4 side). The stacking order during the bonding process is as follows: Figure 6 Similarly, bonding image patterns are formed between other sheets. A strength test booklet is produced in one heating and pressurizing process by a heat-pressing bonding unit.

[0284] Then, P1-1 to P1-3 are peeled off from the obtained booklet, thereby obtaining a booklet of two sheets SH with only P1-4 and P1-5 bonded together. Then, the two sheets booklet formed by P1-4 and P1-5 are as follows. Figure 5A The cut was made so that the width (H) was 20 mm and the length (L) was 50 mm, thereby producing a test piece E including a bonding portion S.

[0285] Next, if Figure 5B Shown, the P1-4 side of this test piece E is maintained by the upper holding member, and the P1-5 side is maintained by the lower holding member simultaneously.The upper holding member is connected with a digital dynamometer M (manufactured by Nidec-Shimpo Corporation, FGP-2).Afterwards, gradually pull the digital dynamometer upward, use the digital dynamometer to measure the peeling force when the bonding portion S is peeled off, and record the peak value of the peeling force.Carry out 5 times this measurement, and its mean value is taken as the bonding strength of the bonding portion S.According to the following standard, evaluate based on the bonding strength obtained.

[0286] (Evaluation Criteria)

[0287] A: Adhesion strength is 1.50N / cm or more

[0288] B: Adhesion strength is 1.25 N / cm or more and less than 1.50 N / cm

[0289] C: Adhesion strength is 1.00 N / cm or more and less than 1.25 N / cm

[0290] D: Adhesive strength less than 1.00N / cm

[0291] The reason for measuring the bonding strength between P1-4 and P1-5 is that the bonding portion between P1-4 and P1-5 is the farthest from the heating plate compared to other bonding portions, so heat is not easily supplied to P1-4 and P1-5, and therefore the bonding strength is more likely to become a problem.

[0292] The sheet P used in this measurement was LTR size "Vitality Multipurpose Printer Paper (manufactured by Xerox) (279 mm×216 mm), with a basis weight of 90 g / m 2 ”.

[0293] <Evaluation results of high temperature fouling resistance>

[0294] Table 4 lists the evaluation results of the high-temperature offset resistance of the toner sets of Examples 1 to 20 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10 in Table 3.

[0295] The method for evaluating high temperature fouling resistance involves the use of Figure 1 The bonding device shown above was used. The evaluation was performed at a processing speed of 320 mm / sec while changing the fixing temperature in a normal temperature and humidity environment (25°C / 50% RH). The load of the first toner and the load of the second toner were both set to 0.4 mg / cm 2 , using the toner set of Examples 1 to 20 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10 in Table 3, a solid image of the first toner and the second toner was formed so that the toner loading was 0.8 mg / cm 2 The fixing device 6 of the bonding device was used to perform a fixing process to obtain each fixed image. Plain paper (XEROX 4200 paper of LETTER size, manufactured by XEROX Corporation, 75 g / m 2 ) was used as a transfer material. High-temperature offset resistance was visually evaluated on the above fixed image. High-temperature offset resistance was evaluated based on the temperature at which high-temperature offset occurred according to the following criteria.

[0296] (Evaluation Criteria)

[0297] A: No fouling at 210℃

[0298] B: Staining occurs at a temperature above 200°C and below 210°C

[0299] C: fouling occurs at less than 200°C

[0300] [Table 4]

[0301]

[0302] <Evaluation results of high-temperature offset resistance of first toner alone>

[0303] Table 5 lists the evaluation results of the high-temperature offset resistance of the first toner alone.

[0304] By changing Figure 1 The processing speed of the above-mentioned bonding equipment was shown, and the high temperature defacement resistance was evaluated according to the following method.

[0305] Using process cartridges filled with toners 1, 2, 7, 10, and 13 for evaluating adhesion strength, solid images (toner load: 0.4 mg / cm 2 Plain paper (XEROX 4200 paper of LETTER size, manufactured by XEROX Corporation, 75 g / m 2 ) was used as the transfer material. High-temperature offset resistance was visually evaluated. High-temperature offset resistance was evaluated based on the temperature at which high-temperature offset occurred according to the following criteria.

[0306] (Evaluation Criteria)

[0307] A: No fouling at 210℃

[0308] B: Staining occurs at a temperature above 200°C and below 210°C

[0309] C: fouling occurs at less than 200°C

[0310] [Table 5]

[0311]

[0312] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A bonding method, comprising: forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of the sheet using a first toner; forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner; A step of forming an adhesive image pattern on the sheet by heating the surface of the second unfixed toner layer to fix the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet; and A step of obtaining an adhered product by heating the adhesive image pattern formed on the same sheet or on different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets, wherein The bonding image pattern has a fixed toner image originating from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface, and When H1 represents the calorific value of the first toner and H2 represents the calorific value of the second toner, H1 and H2 satisfy the following equations (1) and (2), and the units of H1 and H2 are J / g: 6.0≤H2≤24.0 (1) H1 <H2 (2) wherein each of said H1 and said H2 is a calorific value within a range of 35°C to 75°C of an exothermic peak in a DSC curve obtained in the following cooling step (ii) when the following steps are performed: (i) a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature from 20°C to 180°C at a rate of 10°C / min, and (ii) A cooling step of maintaining at 180°C for 10 minutes and then cooling from 180°C to 20°C at a rate of 10°C / min.

2. The bonding method according to claim 1, comprising: A step of bonding the sheets by heating the fixed toner images of the bonding image patterns formed on different sheets in a state of being stacked on each other to obtain the bonded product. 3 . The bonding method according to claim 1 , wherein a difference H2 − H1 between H2 and H1 is 1.5 J / g or more. The bonding method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the H1 is 2.0 to 18.0 J / g. 5 . The bonding method according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner and the second toner contain wax. 6 . The bonding method according to claim 1 , wherein the first toner is a black toner containing carbon black.

7. A toner set for use in a bonding method, The bonding method comprises: forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of the sheet using a first toner; forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner; A step of forming an adhesive image pattern on the sheet by heating the surface of the second unfixed toner layer to fix the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet; and a step of obtaining an adhered product by heating the adhesive image pattern formed on the same sheet or on different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets, The toner component separately comprises the first toner and the second toner, wherein The bonding image pattern has a fixed toner image originating from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface, and When H1 represents the calorific value of the first toner and H2 represents the calorific value of the second toner, H1 and H2 satisfy the following equations (1) and (2), and the units of H1 and H2 are J / g: 6.0≤H2≤24.0 (1) H1 <H2 (2) wherein each of said H1 and said H2 is a calorific value within a range of 35°C to 75°C of an exothermic peak in a DSC curve obtained in the following cooling step (ii) when the following steps are performed: (i) a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature from 20°C to 180°C at a rate of 10°C / min, and (ii) A cooling step of maintaining at 180°C for 10 minutes and then cooling from 180°C to 20°C at a rate of 10°C / min. 8 . The toner set according to claim 7 , wherein a difference H2 − H1 between the H2 and the H1 is 1.5 J / g or more. 9 . The toner set according to claim 7 , wherein the H1 is 2.0 to 18.0 J / g. 10 . The toner set according to claim 7 , wherein the first toner is a black toner containing carbon black.

11. A bonding device comprising: means for forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of a sheet using a first toner; means for forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner; A member for forming an image pattern for bonding on the sheet by heating the surface of the second unfixed toner layer to fix the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet; and A component of an adhered article obtained by heating the adhesive image pattern formed on the same sheet or different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets, wherein The bonding image pattern has a fixed toner image originating from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface, and When H1 represents the calorific value of the first toner and H2 represents the calorific value of the second toner, H1 and H2 satisfy the following equations (1) and (2), and the units of H1 and H2 are J / g: 6.0≤H2≤24.0 (1) H1 <H2 (2) wherein each of said H1 and said H2 is a calorific value within a range of 35°C to 75°C of an exothermic peak in a DSC curve obtained in the following cooling step (ii) when the following steps are performed: (i) a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature from 20°C to 180°C at a rate of 10°C / min, and (ii) A cooling step of maintaining at 180°C for 10 minutes and then cooling from 180°C to 20°C at a rate of 10°C / min.

12. A method for producing an adhesive, the method comprising: forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of the sheet using a first toner; forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner; A step of forming an adhesive image pattern on the sheet by heating the surface of the second unfixed toner layer to fix the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet; and A step of obtaining an adhered product by heating the adhesive image pattern formed on the same sheet or on different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets, wherein The bonding image pattern has a fixed toner image originating from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface, and When H1 represents the calorific value of the first toner and H2 represents the calorific value of the second toner, H1 and H2 satisfy the following equations (1) and (2), and the units of H1 and H2 are J / g: 6.0≤H2≤24.0 (1) H1 <H2 (2) wherein each of said H1 and said H2 is a calorific value within a range of 35°C to 75°C of an exothermic peak in a DSC curve obtained in the following cooling step (ii) when the following steps are performed: (i) a temperature increasing step of increasing the temperature from 20°C to 180°C at a rate of 10°C / min, and (ii) A cooling step of maintaining at 180°C for 10 minutes and then cooling from 180°C to 20°C at a rate of 10°C / min.

13. A bonding method, comprising: forming a first unfixed toner layer on a first surface of the sheet using a first toner; forming a second unfixed toner layer on the first unfixed toner layer using a second toner; A step of forming an adhesive image pattern on the sheet by heating the surface of the second unfixed toner layer to fix the first unfixed toner layer and the second unfixed toner layer to the sheet; and A step of obtaining an adhered product by heating the adhesive image pattern formed on the same sheet or on different sheets in a stacked state to adhere the sheets, wherein The bonding image pattern has a fixed toner image originating from the second unfixed toner layer on its surface, The first toner and the second toner contain hydrocarbon wax, and When W1 represents the content of the wax per 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the first toner and W2 represents the content of the wax per 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the second toner, W1 and W2 satisfy the following formulas (3) and (4), and the units of W1 and W2 are parts by mass: 5.8≤W2≤13.1 (3) W1 <W2 (4)。

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