Green toner for developing electrostatic images, electrostatic image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and image forming method

Abstract

To provide an electrostatic image development green toner capable of forming green images with high brightness and chroma.SOLUTION: An electrostatic image development green toner disclosed herein comprises green toner particles. The green toner particles contain a binder resin, an azomethine florescent pigment having an emission peak in a wavelength range of 500 nm to 550 nm, inclusive, of an emission spectrum, and a non-fluorescent pigment having a reflection peak in a wavelength range of 480 nm to 540 nm, inclusive, of a reflection spectrum. A ratio M2 / M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment content M1 and the non-fluorescent pigment content M2 is in a range of 0.05 to 1.5, inclusive, and total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the non-fluorescent pigment with respect to an entire green toner particle is in a range of 5 mass% to 15 mass%, inclusive.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a green toner for developing electrostatic images, an electrostatic image developer, a toner cartridge, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a green toner for developing electrostatic images, which contains CI Solvent Green 5 and a phthalocyanine colorant compound X, and in which the content of CI Solvent Green 5 in the total amount of colorants is 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a colorant composition containing a copper phthalocyanine pigment, a fluorescent dye, and a resin binder, wherein the hue angle of a coating of the composition on white paper is 236° or less, and the maximum reflectance of the visible reflection spectrum of a coating film made of a fluorescent dye and a resin binder that does not contain a copper phthalocyanine pigment is 90 to 130%.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a toner for developing electrostatic images, which contains a yellow non-fluorescent dye whose absorption spectrum has a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 400 to 480 nm and a fluorescent dye whose emission spectrum has a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 480 to 560 nm, wherein the content of the non-fluorescent dye is 2 to 8 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of binder resin, the content of the fluorescent dye is 0.05 to 0.2 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of binder resin, and the content ratio represented by the formula (non-fluorescent dye content / fluorescent dye content) is in the range of 15 to 150.

[0005] In Patent Document 4, the mass-based contents of the color pigment and the fluorescent dye are respectively W G , W F When W G ×0.5>W F >W G × 0.025, and the absorption peak wavelength of the color pigment is P G The emission peak wavelength of the fluorescent dye is P F When PG <P F A toner that satisfies the above is disclosed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-189989 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-017135 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-128414 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-003818 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The image display unit of an electronic device generally displays colors using a combination of three colors: red (R), green (G), and blue (B), in what is known as an RGB color mode. On the other hand, electrophotographic image formation generally uses a so-called CMYK color mode, which expresses colors using a combination of four colors: cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). When an image expressed in RGB color mode is reproduced on a recording medium in CMYK color mode, secondary colors such as green, pink, or orange tend to appear dull.

[0008] Green toners, pink toners, and orange toners have been developed to improve the color reproducibility of green, pink, and orange colors in electrophotographic image formation. Known green toners include toners containing a yellow fluorescent dye (e.g., CI Solvent Green 5) and a green or blue pigment. However, fluorescent dyes generally suffer from concentration quenching, in which the light emitted from the dye attenuates as the concentration increases. Therefore, it is difficult to reproduce colors with higher brightness and saturation using green toner containing a fluorescent dye and a pigment.

[0009] It is against this background that the present disclosure has been made. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when CI Solvent Green 5 is used as a yellow fluorescent colorant. This disclosure is based on CIE 1976L * a * b * Lightness L in the color system * is 70 or more, and saturation C * The object of the present invention is to provide a green toner capable of forming a green image having a hue angle of 128.5° or more and 144.5° or less. This disclosure is based on the CIE 1976L standard with the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650. * a * b * The present invention addresses the problem of providing a green toner capable of forming a green image having a color difference ΔE of 13.5 or less in a color system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The means for solving the above problems include the following aspects.

[0011] <1> A binder resin; an azomethine fluorescent pigment having an emission spectrum with an emission peak in the wavelength region of 500 nm or more and 550 nm or less; a non-fluorescent pigment having a reflection peak in a wavelength region of 480 nm or more and 540 nm or less in a reflection spectrum, the mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the content M2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 0.05 or more and 1.5 or less, the total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the non-fluorescent pigment relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less; green toner particles, 1. A green toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising: <2> the mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the content M2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 0.1 or more and 1.0 or less, a total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the non-fluorescent pigment relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is 10% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less; <1> 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1. <3> a wavelength difference between an emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the azomethine fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles and a reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the non-fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles is 40 nm or less; <1> or <2> 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1. <4> a wavelength difference between an emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the azomethine fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles and a reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the non-fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles is 20 nm or less; <1> or <2> 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1. <5> the azomethine fluorescent pigment is CI Pigment Yellow 101; <1> ~ <4> 10. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 9. <6> the non-fluorescent pigment is at least one selected from the group consisting of CI Pigment Green 7, CI Pigment Green 36, CI Pigment Green 58, CI Pigment Green 59, and CI Pigment Blue 76; <1> ~ <5> 10. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 9. <7> the ratio D1 / D2 of the volume average particle diameter D1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 1 or more and 3 or less; <1> ~ <6> 10. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 9. <8> The azomethine fluorescent pigment has a volume average particle size D1 of 50 nm or more and 800 nm or less. <1> ~ <7> 10. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 9. <9> The volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 50 nm or more and 300 nm or less. <1> ~ <8> 10. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 9. <10-0> When a solid image is formed on coated paper, the color is compared to the TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 color sample in CIE1976L. * a * b * The color difference ΔE in the color space is 13.5 or less. <1> ~ <9> 10. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 9.

[0012] <10> The toner comprises green toner particles including a binder resin, an azomethine fluorescent pigment having an emission peak in a wavelength region of 500 nm or more and 550 nm or less in an emission spectrum, and a non-fluorescent pigment having a reflection peak in a wavelength region of 480 nm or more and 540 nm or less in a reflection spectrum, When a solid image is formed on coated paper, the color is compared to the TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 color sample in CIE1976L. * a * b * The color difference ΔE in the color space is 13.5 or less. Green toner for developing electrostatic images. <11> the azomethine fluorescent pigment is CI Pigment Yellow 101; <10> 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1. <12> the non-fluorescent pigment is at least one selected from the group consisting of CI Pigment Green 7, CI Pigment Green 36, CI Pigment Green 58, CI Pigment Green 59, and CI Pigment Blue 76; <10> or <11> 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

[0013] <13> <1> ~ <12> and an electrostatic image developer comprising the green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of <10-0> and <10-1>. <14> <1> ~ <12> and <10-0>. A toner cartridge that contains the green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of <10-1> and <10-2>, and is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus. <15> <13> and a developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on the surface of an image carrier into a toner image by using the electrostatic image developer, A process cartridge is detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus. <16> an image carrier; a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier; an electrostatic image forming means for forming an electrostatic image on the charged surface of the image carrier; <13> a developing means for developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a toner image by using the electrostatic image developer; a transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium; a fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium; An image forming apparatus comprising: <17> a charging step of charging the surface of the image carrier; an electrostatic image forming step of forming an electrostatic image on the charged surface of the image carrier; <13> a developing step of developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image using the electrostatic image developer according to claim 1; a transfer step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium; a fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium; An image forming method comprising the steps of: <18> The image forming apparatus includes first to sixth electrophotographic image forming units that form images of the respective colors of pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green, an image forming unit for forming a green image; <13> The electrostatic image developer according to claim 1 is contained in the electrostatic image developer. Image forming device. <19> The image forming method includes first to sixth electrophotographic image forming steps for forming images of each color of pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green, the image forming step of forming a green image <13> The electrostatic image developer according to claim 1 is used. Image forming method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] <1> , <2> , <5> , <6> , <8> or <9> According to the invention, a green toner for developing electrostatic images is provided that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when CI Solvent Green 5 is used as a yellow fluorescent coloring material. <3> According to the present invention, there is provided a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the wavelength difference between the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment is more than 40 nm. <4> According to the present invention, there is provided a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the wavelength difference between the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment is more than 20 nm. <7> According to the present invention, there is provided a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the ratio D1 / D2 of the volume average particle diameter D1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is less than 1 or more than 3. <10> , <11> , <12> According to the invention related to <10-0>, there is provided a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the color difference ΔE from the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 is more than 13.5.

[0015] <13> According to the invention, an electrostatic image developer capable of forming a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent colorant is CI Solvent Green 5 is provided. <14> According to the invention, a toner cartridge capable of forming a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent colorant is CI Solvent Green 5 is provided. <15> According to the invention, a process cartridge capable of forming a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent coloring material is CI Solvent Green 5 is provided. <16> According to the invention, an image forming apparatus capable of forming a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent coloring material is CI Solvent Green 5 is provided. <17> According to the invention, an image forming method is provided that can form a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent colorant is CI Solvent Green 5. <18> According to the invention, an image forming apparatus capable of reproducing a wide color gamut is provided. <19> According to the invention, an image forming method that can reproduce a wide color gamut is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a process cartridge that is detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017]

[0023] The following describes embodiments of the present disclosure. These descriptions and examples are intended to illustrate the embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0018] In the present disclosure, a numerical range indicated using "to" indicates a range that includes the numerical values ​​before and after "to" as the minimum and maximum values, respectively. In the numerical ranges described in stages in this disclosure, the upper or lower limit value described in one numerical range may be replaced with the upper or lower limit value of another numerical range described in stages. Furthermore, in the numerical ranges described in this disclosure, the upper or lower limit value of that numerical range may be replaced with a value shown in the examples.

[0019] In the present disclosure, the term "step" includes not only an independent step but also a step that cannot be clearly distinguished from other steps as long as the purpose of the step is achieved.

[0020] When embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings, the configuration of the embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the sizes of the components in each drawing are conceptual, and the relative size relationships between the components are not limited to these.

[0021] In the present disclosure, each component may contain multiple corresponding substances. When referring to the amount of each component in a composition in the present disclosure, if multiple substances corresponding to each component are present in the composition, the total amount of the multiple substances present in the composition is meant unless otherwise specified. In the present disclosure, the composition may contain multiple types of particles corresponding to each component. When multiple types of particles corresponding to each component are present in the composition, the particle size of each component means the value for a mixture of the multiple types of particles present in the composition, unless otherwise specified.

[0022] In the present disclosure, "(meth)acrylic" is an expression that includes both acrylic and methacrylic, and "(meth)acrylate" is an expression that includes both acrylate and methacrylate.

[0023] In this disclosure, "toner for developing electrostatic images" is also referred to as "toner," "green toner for developing electrostatic images" is also referred to as "green toner," "electrostatic image developer" is also referred to as "developer," and "carrier for developing electrostatic images" is also referred to as "carrier."

[0024] <Green toner for developing electrostatic images> In this disclosure, green toner means a toner whose hue angle h of a solid image (image with 100% density) formed on coated paper is 128.5° or more and 144.5° or less. The hue angle h is measured according to CIE1976L * a * b * a in color space * value and b * The angle is calculated from the value using the following formula: Hue angle h=tan -1 (b * / a * ) In the present disclosure, the hue angle h of a solid image formed on coated paper with green toner is preferably 131° or more and 143° or less, and more preferably 135° or more and 140° or less.

[0025] In this disclosure, a solid image (image with 100% density) formed on coated paper with green toner conforms to CIE1976L * a * b * Lightness L in the color system * is 70 or more and saturation C * It is preferable that the saturation C is 85 or more. * is CIE1976L * a * b * a in color space * value and b * The value is calculated from the value using the following formula. Saturation C * ={(a * ) 2 +(b * ) 2} 0.5

[0026] In this disclosure, a fluorescent pigment refers to a pigment that emits light when exposed to external light energy, and a non-fluorescent pigment refers to a pigment that does not emit light when exposed to external light energy. Generally, fluorescent pigments change color through both reflected light and luminescence, while non-fluorescent pigments change color only through reflected light.

[0027] The green toner according to this embodiment includes green toner particles, which include a binder resin, an azomethine fluorescent pigment having an emission spectrum with a peak wavelength in the range of 500 nm to 550 nm, and a non-fluorescent pigment having a reflection spectrum with a peak wavelength in the range of 480 nm to 540 nm. That is, the green toner particles in this embodiment are toner particles containing a yellow fluorescent pigment and a green pigment or a blue pigment.

[0028] Hereinafter, "azomethine fluorescent pigments having an emission peak in the wavelength region of 500 nm or more and 550 nm or less in their emission spectrum" will be referred to as "azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y)," and "non-fluorescent pigments having a reflection peak in the wavelength region of 480 nm or more and 540 nm or less in their reflection spectrum" will be referred to as "pigment (G)."

[0029] In the green toner particles according to the first embodiment, the mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) to the content M2 of the pigment (G) is 0.05 or more and 1.5 or less. If the ratio M2 / M1 is less than 0.05, the color tone of the green image will shift to yellow. If the ratio M2 / M1 is more than 1.5, the color tone of the green image will shift to blue. From the viewpoint of matching the hue of the green image to the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650, the ratio M2 / M1 is 0.05 or more and 1.5 or less, preferably 0.1 or more and 1.0 or less, and more preferably 0.3 or more and 0.8 or less.

[0030] In the green toner particles according to the first embodiment, the total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) and the pigment (G) relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less. If the total content of both pigments is less than 5% by mass, the saturation of the green image will be poor. From the viewpoint of improving the saturation of the green image, the total content of both pigments is 5% by mass or more, preferably 8% by mass or more, and more preferably 10% by mass or more. If the total content of both pigments exceeds 15% by mass, the brightness of the green image will be poor. From the viewpoint of increasing the brightness of the green image, the total content of both pigments is 15% by mass or less, preferably 14% by mass or less, and more preferably 12% by mass or less.

[0031] In the first embodiment, the wavelength difference between the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) that is the largest among the azomethine fluorescent pigments (Y) contained in the green toner particles and the reflection peak of the pigment (G) that is the largest among the pigments (G) contained in the green toner particles is preferably 40 nm or less, from the viewpoint of enhancing the brightness and saturation of the green image. The smaller the wavelength difference between the emission peak and the reflection peak, the better, and is more preferably 30 nm or less, even more preferably 20 nm or less, even more preferably 10 nm or less, even more preferably 5 nm or less, and ideally 0 nm.

[0032] In all combinations of the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) and the reflection peak of the pigment (G) contained in the green toner particles in the first embodiment, the wavelength difference between the emission peak and the reflection peak is preferably 40 nm or less, from the viewpoint of increasing the brightness and saturation of the green image. The smaller the wavelength difference between the emission peak and the reflection peak, the better, and is more preferably 30 nm or less, still more preferably 20 nm or less, still more preferably 10 nm or less, still more preferably 5 nm or less, and ideally 0 nm.

[0033] The green toner according to the second embodiment has a CIE1976L color swatch of TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 (T&K TOKA Corporation) when forming a solid image (image with 100% density) on coated paper. * a * b *The color difference ΔE in the color system is 13.5 or less. The smaller the color difference ΔE, the better, with 10 or less being preferred, 6.5 or less being more preferred, 3 or less being even more preferred, 1 or less being even more preferred, and 0 being ideal.

[0034] In a second embodiment, the CIE1976L * a * b * The color difference ΔE from the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 (T&K TOKA Corporation) in the color system is defined by the following formula.

[0035]

number

[0036] In the above formula, L1, a1, b1 and L2, a2, b2 are CIE1976L * a * b * L in color space * value, a * value, b * L1, a1, and b1 are the L values ​​of the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650. * value, a * value, b * The values ​​are obtained by measuring the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 with a reflection spectrodensitometer. L2, a2, b2 are the L values ​​of the image formed with green toner. * value, a * value, b * The color difference ΔE is a value obtained by measuring the image with a reflection spectrodensitometer. The color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 (T&K TOKA Corporation) is a color sample in which an image is formed on coated paper, and an image formed with green toner is also formed on coated paper and the color difference ΔE is measured.

[0037] In the second embodiment, the green toner CIE1976L * a * b *The coordinate values ​​of the color system are measured by the following method. After mixing the green toner sample with the carrier, it was placed in the developing unit of the image forming device and printed on coated paper at a fixing temperature of 180°C with a toner loading of 4.0 g / m. 2 A solid image (100% density image) is formed. The solid image is * a * b * The coordinate values ​​of the color system are measured at 10 random locations using a reflection spectrodensitometer. * value, a * value and b * Calculate the average of the values.

[0038] In the green toner particles in the second embodiment, the mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) to the content M2 of the pigment (G) is preferably 0.05 or more and 1.5 or less, more preferably 0.1 or more and 1.0 or less, and even more preferably 0.3 or more and 0.8 or less. In the green toner particles in the second embodiment, the total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) and the pigment (G) relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is preferably 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less, more preferably 8% by mass or more and 14% by mass or less, and even more preferably 10% by mass or more and 12% by mass or less.

[0039] In the second embodiment, the wavelength difference between the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) that is contained in the green toner particles at the largest content and the reflection peak of the pigment (G) that is contained in the green toner particles at the largest content is preferably 40 nm or less, more preferably 30 nm or less, even more preferably 20 nm or less, still more preferably 10 nm or less, still more preferably 5 nm or less, and ideally 0 nm.

[0040] In all combinations of the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) and the reflection peak of the pigment (G) contained in the green toner particles in the second embodiment, the wavelength difference between the emission peak and the reflection peak is preferably 40 nm or less, more preferably 30 nm or less, even more preferably 20 nm or less, still more preferably 10 nm or less, still more preferably 5 nm or less, and ideally 0 nm.

[0041] In the second embodiment, the wavelength difference between the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) that is contained in the green toner particles at the largest content and the reflection peak of the pigment (G) that is contained in the green toner particles at the largest content is preferably 0 nm or more and 30 nm or less, and more preferably 5 nm or more and 20 nm or less, from the viewpoint of simultaneously increasing the brightness and saturation of the green image and reducing the color difference ΔE. In all combinations of the emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) and the reflection peak of the pigment (G) contained in the green toner particles in the second embodiment, the wavelength difference between the emission peak and the reflection peak is preferably 0 nm or more and 30 nm or less, and more preferably 5 nm or more and 20 nm or less.

[0042] The green toner according to the first and second embodiments preferably has a reflectance of 70% or more at the reflection peak in the spectral reflection spectrum for a solid image formed on coated paper.

[0043] The configuration of the green toner according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0044] [Green toner particles] The green toner particles contain a binder resin, an azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y), and a pigment (G), and may also contain a release agent and other additives as required.

[0045] -Azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y)- The azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) has an emission peak in the wavelength region of 500 nm or more and 550 nm or less in the emission spectrum, preferably in the wavelength region of 505 nm or more and 540 nm or less, more preferably in the wavelength region of 510 nm or more and 535 nm or less, and even more preferably in the wavelength region of 515 nm or more and 530 nm or less.

[0046] The azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) has an azomethine structure (i.e., -R 1 C=N-, R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent) in the molecule. The azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) is a bisazomethine, i.e., -R 1 C=NN=CR 2 -(R 1 and R 2 are preferably compounds having in the molecule a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent).

[0047] Examples of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) include the following azomethine compounds (1) to (3).

[0048] [ka]

[0049] The emission peak of the azomethine compound (1) is 520 nm. The emission peak of the azomethine compound (2) is 510 nm. The emission peak of the azomethine compound (3) is 520 nm.

[0050] The azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of azomethine compounds (1), azomethine compounds (2) and azomethine compounds (3).

[0051] The azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) is preferably CI Pigment Yellow 101. CI Pigment Yellow 101 is an azomethine compound (1).

[0052] The volume average particle size D1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) is preferably 50 nm or more and 800 nm or less, more preferably 150 nm or more and 600 nm or less, and even more preferably 250 nm or more and 400 nm or less, from the viewpoint of achieving a good balance between dispersibility in toner particles, color development on a recording medium, and fixability to a recording medium. The volume-average particle size of a pigment is measured by dispersing the pigment in an aqueous solution of a surfactant and using a laser diffraction particle size analyzer (for example, the LA-700 manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.) The volume-based particle size distribution is plotted from the smallest particle size side, and the particle size at which the cumulative 50% is reached is taken as the volume-average particle size.

[0053] -Pigment (G)- Pigment (G) has a reflection peak in the wavelength region of 480 nm or more and 540 nm or less in the reflection spectrum. The reflection peak of pigment (G) is preferably in the wavelength region of 485 nm or more and 535 nm or less, more preferably in the wavelength region of 490 nm or more and 530 nm or less, and even more preferably in the wavelength region of 495 nm or more and 525 nm or less.

[0054] Examples of the pigment (G) include a halogenated phthalocyanine compound and a lake pigment of a triphenylmethane dye, and the halogenated phthalocyanine compound is preferred as the pigment (G).

[0055] The pigment (G) is preferably a halogenated phthalocyanine compound, and is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of halogenated copper phthalocyanine and halogenated zinc phthalocyanine. Examples of halogenated copper phthalocyanines include CI Pigment Green 7 (reflection peak 500 nm), CI Pigment Green 36 (reflection peak 510 nm), and CI Pigment Blue 76 (reflection peak 490 nm). Examples of halogenated zinc phthalocyanine include CI Pigment Green 58 (reflection peak 515 nm) and CI Pigment Green 59 (reflection peak 520 nm).

[0056] The pigment (G) is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of CI Pigment Green 7, CI Pigment Green 36, CI Pigment Green 58, CI Pigment Green 59 and CI Pigment Blue 76.

[0057] The volume average particle diameter D2 of the pigment (G) is preferably 50 nm or more and 300 nm or less, more preferably 100 nm or more and 250 nm or less, and even more preferably 120 nm or more and 200 nm or less, from the viewpoint of achieving a good balance between dispersibility in toner particles, color development on a recording medium, fixation to a recording medium, and the like. The volume-average particle size of a pigment is measured by dispersing the pigment in an aqueous solution of a surfactant and using a laser diffraction particle size analyzer (for example, the LA-700 manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.) The volume-based particle size distribution is plotted from the smallest particle size side, and the particle size at which the cumulative 50% is reached is taken as the volume-average particle size.

[0058] The ratio D1 / D2 of the volume average particle diameter D1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) to the volume average particle diameter D2 of the pigment (G) is preferably 1 or more and 3 or less, more preferably 1.2 or more and 2.5 or less, and even more preferably 1.5 or more and 2 or less, from the viewpoint of enhancing the brightness and saturation of the green image.

[0059] The green toner particles may contain colorants other than the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) and the pigment (G). The total amount of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) and the pigment (G) relative to the total amount of the colorant contained in the green toner particles is preferably 90% by mass or more, more preferably 95% by mass or more, and even more preferably 100% by mass.

[0060] -Binder resin- Examples of binder resins include homopolymers of monomers such as styrenes (e.g., styrene, parachlorostyrene, α-methylstyrene, etc.), (meth)acrylic acid esters (e.g., methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, etc.), ethylenically unsaturated nitriles (e.g., acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, etc.), vinyl ethers (e.g., vinyl methyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether, etc.), vinyl ketones (e.g., vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone, vinyl isopropenyl ketone, etc.), and olefins (e.g., ethylene, propylene, butadiene, etc.), and vinyl resins made of copolymers of two or more of these monomers. Examples of the binder resin include non-vinyl resins such as epoxy resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, cellulose resins, polyether resins, and modified rosin, mixtures of these with the vinyl resins, and graft polymers obtained by polymerizing vinyl monomers in the presence of these. These binder resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0061] As the binder resin, a polyester resin is preferable. Examples of polyester resins include known polyester resins.

[0062] The polyester resin may be, for example, a condensation polymer of a polycarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. As the polyester resin, a commercially available product or a synthesized product may be used.

[0063] Examples of polycarboxylic acids include aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, glutaconic acid, succinic acid, alkenylsuccinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid), alicyclic dicarboxylic acids (such as cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid), aromatic dicarboxylic acids (such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, and naphthalenedicarboxylic acid), anhydrides thereof, and lower alkyl esters thereof (e.g., having 1 to 5 carbon atoms). Among these, aromatic dicarboxylic acids are preferred as polycarboxylic acids. As the polycarboxylic acid, a trivalent or higher carboxylic acid having a crosslinked or branched structure may be used in combination with a dicarboxylic acid. Examples of the trivalent or higher carboxylic acid include trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, anhydrides thereof, and lower alkyl esters thereof (e.g., having 1 to 5 carbon atoms). The polycarboxylic acids may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0064] Examples of polyhydric alcohols include aliphatic diols (e.g., ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butanediol, hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, etc.), alicyclic diols (e.g., cyclohexanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.), and aromatic diols (e.g., ethylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A, propylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A, etc.). Among these, preferred polyhydric alcohols are aromatic diols and alicyclic diols, and more preferred are aromatic diols. As the polyhydric alcohol, a trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol having a crosslinked or branched structure may be used in combination with the diol. Examples of trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohols include glycerin, trimethylolpropane, and pentaerythritol. The polyhydric alcohols may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0065] The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polyester resin is preferably 50°C or higher and 80°C or lower, and more preferably 50°C or higher and 65°C or lower. The glass transition temperature is determined from a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and more specifically, is determined from the "extrapolated glass transition onset temperature" described in the method for determining glass transition temperature in JIS K7121-1987 "Method for measuring transition temperature of plastics."

[0066] The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polyester resin is preferably 5,000 or more and 1,000,000 or less, and more preferably 7,000 or more and 500,000 or less. The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the polyester resin is preferably 2,000 or more and 100,000 or less. The molecular weight distribution Mw / Mn of the polyester resin is preferably 1.5 or more and 100 or less, and more preferably 2 or more and 60 or less. The weight average molecular weight and number average molecular weight are measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Molecular weight measurements by GPC are performed using a Tosoh GPC HLC-8120GPC measuring device, a Tosoh TSKgel SuperHM-M (15 cm) column, and THF solvent. The weight average molecular weight and number average molecular weight are calculated from the measurement results using a molecular weight calibration curve prepared with monodisperse polystyrene standard samples.

[0067] The polyester resin can be obtained by a known production method, for example, by carrying out the reaction at a polymerization temperature of 180°C or higher and 230°C or lower, reducing the pressure in the reaction system as necessary, and removing water and alcohol generated during the condensation. If the raw material monomer is not soluble or compatible at the reaction temperature, a high-boiling solvent may be added as a solubilizer to dissolve it. In this case, the polycondensation reaction is carried out while distilling off the solubilizer. If a monomer with poor compatibility is present, it is advisable to first condense the poorly compatible monomer with the acid or alcohol to be polycondensed, and then polycondense it with the main component.

[0068] The content of the binder resin is preferably 40% by mass to 95% by mass, more preferably 50% by mass to 90% by mass, and even more preferably 60% by mass to 85% by mass, based on the total mass of the toner particles.

[0069] -Mold release agent- Examples of release agents include hydrocarbon waxes, natural waxes such as carnauba wax, rice wax, and candelilla wax, synthetic or mineral / petroleum waxes such as montan wax, and ester waxes such as fatty acid esters and montanic acid esters, but are not limited thereto.

[0070] The melting temperature of the release agent is preferably 50°C or higher and 110°C or lower, and more preferably 60°C or higher and 100°C or lower. The melting temperature is determined from a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) by using the "melting peak temperature" described in the method for determining the melting temperature in JIS K7121-1987 "Method for measuring transition temperatures of plastics."

[0071] The content of the release agent is preferably from 1% by mass to 20% by mass, and more preferably from 5% by mass to 15% by mass, based on the total mass of the toner particles.

[0072] -Other additives- Examples of other additives include known additives such as magnetic materials, charge control agents, inorganic powders, etc. These additives are contained in the toner particles as internal additives.

[0073] -Characteristics of toner particles, etc.- The toner particles may be toner particles of a single layer structure, or may be toner particles of a so-called core-shell structure composed of a core part (core particle) and a coating layer (shell layer) that coats the core part. The toner particles having a core-shell structure may be composed of, for example, a core containing a binder resin and, if necessary, other additives such as a colorant and a release agent, and a coating layer containing the binder resin.

[0074] The volume average particle size (D50v) of the toner particles is preferably 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and more preferably 4 μm or more and 8 μm or less.

[0075] The various average particle sizes and particle size distribution indices of the toner particles are measured using a Coulter Multisizer II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter), and the electrolyte is measured using an ISOTON-II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter). For the measurement, 0.5 mg to 50 mg of the sample to be measured is added to 2 ml of a 5 mass % aqueous solution of a surfactant (preferably sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate) as a dispersant, and this is then added to 100 ml to 150 ml of the electrolyte. The electrolyte solution containing the suspended sample is dispersed in an ultrasonic disperser for 1 minute, and the particle size distribution of particles in the range of 2 μm to 60 μm is measured using a Coulter Multisizer II with an aperture diameter of 100 μm. The number of particles sampled is 50,000. Based on the particle size distribution measured, cumulative distributions of volume and number are drawn for each divided particle size range (channel) from the smallest diameter side, and the particle size at 16% of the cumulative total is defined as the volume particle size D16v, the number particle size D16p, the particle size at 50% of the cumulative total as the volume average particle size D50v, the cumulative number average particle size D50p, and the particle size at 84% of the cumulative total as the volume particle size D84v and the number particle size D84p. Using these, the volumetric particle size distribution index (GSDv) is (D84v / D16v) 1 / 2 , the number particle size distribution index (GSDp) is (D84p / D16p) 1 / 2 It is calculated as:

[0076] The average circularity of the toner particles is preferably 0.94 or more and 1.00 or less, and more preferably 0.95 or more and 0.98 or less.

[0077] The average circularity of toner particles is calculated by (circular equivalent perimeter) / (perimeter) [(perimeter of a circle having the same projected area as the particle image) / (perimeter of the particle projected image)]. Specifically, this value is measured by the following method. First, the toner particles to be measured are sucked and collected, forming a flat flow, and a still image of the particles is captured by instantaneously activating a strobe light, and the particle image is analyzed using a flow-type particle image analyzer (FPIA-3000 manufactured by Sysmex Corporation).The number of samples to be sampled when calculating the average circularity is 3,500. When the toner contains external additives, the toner (developer) to be measured is dispersed in water containing a surfactant, and then ultrasonic treatment is performed to obtain toner particles from which the external additives have been removed.

[0078] [External additives] Examples of external additives include inorganic particles, such as SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, CuO, ZnO, SnO2, CeO2, Fe2O3, MgO, BaO, CaO, K2O, Na2O, ZrO2, CaO·SiO2, and K2O·(TiO2). n , Al2O3·2SiO2, CaCO3, MgCO3, BaSO4, MgSO4, etc.

[0079] The surfaces of inorganic particles as external additives are preferably subjected to a hydrophobic treatment. The hydrophobic treatment is carried out, for example, by immersing the inorganic particles in a hydrophobic treatment agent. The hydrophobic treatment agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include silane coupling agents, silicone oils, titanate coupling agents, and aluminum coupling agents. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The amount of the hydrophobic treatment agent is usually, for example, 1 part by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the inorganic particles.

[0080] Examples of external additives include resin particles (resin particles such as polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, and melamine resin), cleaning agents (for example, metal salts of higher fatty acids such as zinc stearate, and particles of fluorine-based polymers).

[0081] The amount of the external additive added is preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less, based on the toner particles.

[0082] [Green Toner Manufacturing Method] The green toner according to this embodiment is obtained by producing green toner particles and then externally adding an external additive to the green toner particles.

[0083] The green toner particles may be produced by either a dry production method (for example, a kneading and pulverization method) or a wet production method (for example, an aggregation and coalescence method, a suspension polymerization method, a dissolution and suspension method, etc.). There are no particular limitations on these production methods, and any known production method may be used. Among these, it is preferable to obtain toner particles by the aggregation and coalescence method.

[0084] When green toner particles are produced by the aggregation and coalescence method, the following production method is preferred. a step of preparing a resin particle dispersion in which resin particles to be a binder resin are dispersed (a resin particle dispersion preparation step); a step of preparing a fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion in which an azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) is dispersed (fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion preparation step); a step of preparing a pigment (G) dispersion in which the pigment (G) is dispersed (pigment (G) dispersion preparation step); a step of aggregating the mixed particles in a mixed dispersion obtained by mixing a resin particle dispersion, a fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion, and a pigment (G) dispersion to form aggregated particles (aggregated particle forming step); a step of heating the aggregated particle dispersion in which the aggregated particles are dispersed to fuse and coalesce the aggregated particles to form green toner particles (fusion and coalescence step).

[0085] Each step will be described in detail below. In the following description, green toner particles will simply be referred to as toner particles. In the following description, a method for obtaining toner particles containing a release agent will be described, but the release agent is used as needed.

[0086] -Resin particle dispersion preparation process- The resin particle dispersion is prepared, for example, by dispersing resin particles in a dispersion medium using a surfactant.

[0087] Examples of the dispersion medium used in the resin particle dispersion include aqueous media. Examples of aqueous media include water such as distilled water and ion-exchanged water, alcohols, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0088] Examples of surfactants include anionic surfactants such as sulfate ester salts, sulfonate salts, phosphate esters, and soaps; cationic surfactants such as amine salts and quaternary ammonium salts; and nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycols, alkylphenol ethylene oxide adducts, and polyhydric alcohols. Among these, anionic surfactants and cationic surfactants are particularly preferred. Nonionic surfactants may be used in combination with anionic surfactants or cationic surfactants. The surfactants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0089] In a resin particle dispersion, resin particles can be dispersed in a dispersion medium by common dispersion methods such as a rotary shear homogenizer, a ball mill with media, a sand mill, or a Dynomill. Depending on the type of resin particles, the resin particles may be dispersed in a dispersion medium by a phase inversion emulsification method. The phase inversion emulsification method involves dissolving the resin to be dispersed in a hydrophobic organic solvent in which the resin is soluble, neutralizing the organic continuous phase (O phase) by adding a base, and then introducing an aqueous medium (W phase) to invert the phase from W / O to O / W, thereby dispersing the resin in particulate form in the aqueous medium.

[0090] The volume average particle size of the resin particles dispersed in the resin particle dispersion is, for example, preferably 0.01 μm to 1 μm, more preferably 0.08 μm to 0.8 μm, and even more preferably 0.1 μm to 0.6 μm. The volume average particle size of the resin particles is measured using a particle size distribution obtained by measurement with a laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer (e.g., HORIBA LA-700), and the cumulative distribution for the volume of the divided particle size range (channel) is calculated from the smallest particle size side, and the particle size at which the cumulative 50% of all particles is determined as the volume average particle size D50v. The volume average particle sizes of particles in other dispersions are also measured in the same way.

[0091] The content of resin particles contained in the resin particle dispersion is preferably 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less.

[0092] The method for preparing the release agent particle dispersion is the same as that for the resin particle dispersion. The content of the release agent particles in the release agent particle dispersion is preferably 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less.

[0093] -Fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion preparation process- The fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion is prepared, for example, by dispersing the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) in a dispersion medium with the aid of a surfactant.

[0094] Examples of the dispersion medium used in the fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion include aqueous media. Examples of aqueous media include water such as distilled water and ion-exchanged water, alcohols, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0095] Examples of surfactants include anionic surfactants such as sulfate ester salts, sulfonate salts, phosphate esters, and soaps; cationic surfactants such as amine salts and quaternary ammonium salts; and nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycols, alkylphenol ethylene oxide adducts, and polyhydric alcohols. Among these, anionic surfactants and cationic surfactants are particularly preferred. Nonionic surfactants may be used in combination with anionic surfactants or cationic surfactants. The surfactants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0096] Examples of a method for dispersing the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) in a dispersion medium include a dispersion method using a rotary shear homogenizer, a ball mill having media, a sand mill, a Dynomill, a Keymill, or the like.

[0097] The volume average particle size of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersed in the fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion is, for example, preferably from 50 to 800 nm, more preferably from 150 to 600 nm, and even more preferably from 250 to 400 nm. The particle size of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) can be adjusted, for example, by the method and time of the dispersion treatment.

[0098] The content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) in the fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion is preferably 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less.

[0099] - Pigment (G) dispersion preparation process - The pigment (G) dispersion is prepared, for example, by dispersing the pigment (G) in a dispersion medium using a surfactant.

[0100] Examples of the dispersion medium used in the pigment (G) dispersion include aqueous media. Examples of aqueous media include water such as distilled water and ion-exchanged water, alcohols, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0101] Examples of surfactants include anionic surfactants such as sulfate ester salts, sulfonate salts, phosphate esters, and soaps; cationic surfactants such as amine salts and quaternary ammonium salts; and nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycols, alkylphenol ethylene oxide adducts, and polyhydric alcohols. Among these, anionic surfactants and cationic surfactants are particularly preferred. Nonionic surfactants may be used in combination with anionic surfactants or cationic surfactants. The surfactants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0102] Examples of methods for dispersing the pigment (G) in a dispersion medium include dispersion methods using a rotary shear homogenizer, a ball mill having media, a sand mill, a Dynomill, a Keymill, and the like.

[0103] The volume average particle size of the pigment (G) dispersed in the pigment (G) dispersion is, for example, preferably from 50 nm to 300 nm, more preferably from 100 nm to 250 nm, and even more preferably from 120 nm to 200 nm. The particle size of the pigment (G) can be adjusted, for example, by the method and time of the dispersion treatment.

[0104] The content of the pigment (G) contained in the pigment (G) dispersion is preferably from 5% by mass to 50% by mass, and more preferably from 10% by mass to 40% by mass.

[0105] -Agglomerated particle formation process- A resin particle dispersion, a fluorescent pigment (Y) dispersion, a pigment (G) dispersion, and a release agent particle dispersion are mixed together, and in the mixed dispersion, the resin particles, the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y), the pigment (G), and the release agent particles are hetero-aggregated to form aggregated particles containing the resin particles, the azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y), the pigment (G), and the release agent particles, and having a diameter close to that of the target toner particles.

[0106] Specifically, for example, an aggregating agent is added to the mixed dispersion, and the pH of the mixed dispersion is adjusted to be acidic (for example, pH 2 or higher and 5 or lower), and a dispersion stabilizer is added as necessary.Then, the mixed dispersion is heated to a temperature close to the glass transition temperature of the resin particles (specifically, for example, the glass transition temperature of the resin particles minus 30°C or higher and the glass transition temperature minus 10°C or lower), causing the particles dispersed in the mixed dispersion to aggregate and form aggregated particles. In the aggregate particle formation step, for example, the mixed dispersion may be stirred with a rotary shear homogenizer, an aggregating agent may be added at room temperature (e.g., 25°C), the pH of the mixed dispersion may be adjusted to an acidic value (e.g., pH 2 or more and 5 or less), a dispersion stabilizer may be added as needed, and then the mixture may be heated.

[0107] Examples of the flocculant include a surfactant having a polarity opposite to that of the surfactant contained in the mixed dispersion, an inorganic metal salt, and a divalent or higher metal complex. When a metal complex is used as the flocculant, the amount of surfactant used can be reduced, and the charging characteristics can be improved. If necessary, an additive that forms a complex or a similar bond with the metal ions of the flocculant may be used together with the flocculant, and a chelating agent is preferably used as this additive.

[0108] Examples of inorganic metal salts include metal salts such as calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, barium chloride, magnesium chloride, zinc chloride, aluminum chloride, and aluminum sulfate; and inorganic metal salt polymers such as polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum hydroxide, and calcium polysulfide. The chelating agent may be a water-soluble chelating agent, such as hydroxycarboxylic acid (e.g., tartaric acid, citric acid, gluconic acid), or aminocarboxylic acid (e.g., iminodiacetic acid (IDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The amount of the chelating agent added is preferably 0.01 parts by mass or more and 5.0 parts by mass or less, and more preferably 0.1 parts by mass or more and less than 3.0 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the resin particles.

[0109] -Fusion / unification process- Next, the aggregated particle dispersion liquid in which the aggregated particles are dispersed is heated, for example, to a temperature equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the resin particles (for example, a temperature 10°C to 30°C higher than the glass transition temperature of the resin particles), to fuse and coalesce the aggregated particles and form toner particles.

[0110] Through the above steps, toner particles are obtained. After obtaining an aggregated particle dispersion in which aggregated particles are dispersed, the toner particles may be produced through the following steps: a step of further mixing the aggregated particle dispersion with a resin particle dispersion in which resin particles are dispersed, and agglomerating the aggregated particles so that further resin particles adhere to the surfaces of the aggregated particles to form second aggregated particles; and a step of heating the second aggregated particle dispersion in which the second aggregated particles are dispersed, and fusing and coalescing the second aggregated particles to form toner particles having a core-shell structure.

[0111] After the fusion and coalescence process is completed, the toner particles in the dispersion are subjected to a known washing process, solid-liquid separation process, and drying process to obtain dried toner particles. In the washing process, from the viewpoint of chargeability, it is preferable to perform sufficient substitution washing with ion-exchanged water. In the solid-liquid separation process, from the viewpoint of productivity, it is preferable to perform suction filtration, pressure filtration, etc. In the drying process, from the viewpoint of productivity, it is preferable to perform freeze drying, flash drying, fluidized drying, vibration-type fluidized drying, etc.

[0112] The toner according to this embodiment is produced by, for example, adding an external additive to the obtained dry toner particles and mixing them. The mixing can be carried out using, for example, a V blender, a Henschel mixer, a Loedige mixer, etc. Furthermore, if necessary, coarse particles may be removed from the toner using a vibrating sieve, an air sieve, etc.

[0113] <Electrostatic image developer> The electrostatic image developer according to this embodiment contains at least the green toner according to this embodiment. The electrostatic image developer according to this embodiment may be a one-component developer containing only the green toner according to this embodiment, or may be a two-component developer in which the green toner is mixed with a carrier.

[0114] The carrier is not particularly limited, and known carriers can be used, such as coated carriers in which the surface of a core material made of magnetic powder is coated with a resin, magnetic powder dispersion carriers in which magnetic powder is dispersed in a matrix resin, and resin-impregnated carriers in which porous magnetic powder is impregnated with a resin. The magnetic powder dispersion type carrier and the resin impregnated type carrier may be a carrier in which the constituent particles of the carrier are used as a core material and the surface of the core material is coated with a resin.

[0115] Examples of magnetic powder include magnetic metals such as iron, nickel, and cobalt; and magnetic oxides such as ferrite and magnetite.

[0116] Examples of coating resins and matrix resins include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl ketone, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, straight silicone resins containing organosiloxane bonds or modified products thereof, fluororesin, polyester, polycarbonate, phenolic resin, and epoxy resin. The coating resin and matrix resin may contain other additives such as conductive particles. Examples of conductive particles include particles of metals such as gold, silver, and copper, carbon black, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum borate, and potassium titanate.

[0117] To coat the surface of the core material with a resin, a method of coating with a coating layer-forming solution prepared by dissolving the coating resin and various additives (used as needed) in an appropriate solvent can be used. The solvent is not particularly limited and may be selected taking into consideration the type of resin used, its suitability for application, etc. Specific resin coating methods include an immersion method in which the core material is immersed in a solution for forming a coating layer; a spray method in which the solution for forming a coating layer is sprayed onto the surface of the core material; a fluidized bed method in which the solution for forming a coating layer is sprayed onto the core material while it is suspended in flowing air; and a kneader coater method in which the core material of the carrier and the solution for forming a coating layer are mixed in a kneader coater and then the solvent is removed.

[0118] The mixture ratio (mass ratio) of the green toner and the carrier in the two-component developer is preferably green toner:carrier=1:100 to 30:100, and more preferably 3:100 to 20:100.

[0119] <Image forming device, image forming method> An image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to this embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image carrier, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic image forming unit that forms an electrostatic image on the surface of the charged image carrier, a developing unit that contains an electrostatic image developer and develops the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image using the electrostatic image developer, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium. The electrostatic image developer according to the present embodiment is used as the electrostatic image developer.

[0120] The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment carries out an image forming method (the image forming method according to this embodiment) that includes a charging step of charging the surface of an image carrier, an electrostatic image forming step of forming an electrostatic image on the surface of the charged image carrier, a developing step of developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image using the electrostatic image developer according to this embodiment, a transfer step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium, and a fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium.

[0121] The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment may be any of known image forming apparatuses, such as a direct transfer type apparatus that directly transfers a toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier to a recording medium; an intermediate transfer type apparatus that primarily transfers a toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier to the surface of an intermediate transfer medium, and then secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer medium to the surface of a recording medium; an apparatus equipped with a cleaning means that cleans the surface of the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image but before charging; and an apparatus equipped with a discharging means that irradiates the surface of the image carrier with discharging light to discharge it after the transfer of the toner image but before charging. When the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus of the intermediate transfer type, the transfer means is configured to have, for example, an intermediate transfer body onto whose surface a toner image is transferred, a primary transfer means for primarily transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body, and a secondary transfer means for secondarily transferring the toner image transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body onto the surface of the recording medium.

[0122] In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, the portion including the developing means may have a cartridge structure (process cartridge) that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus. As the process cartridge, for example, a process cartridge that contains the electrostatic image developer according to the present embodiment and is equipped with the developing means is preferably used.

[0123] An example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the following description, the main parts shown in the drawings will be described, and the description of the rest will be omitted.

[0124] In the following description, a six-tandem image forming apparatus with six image forming units arranged will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. However, the tandem image forming apparatus is not limited to this, and may be a five-tandem image forming apparatus with five image forming units arranged, a four-tandem image forming apparatus with four image forming units arranged, or the like.

[0125] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, and is a diagram showing a six-tandem type and intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus shown in Figure 1 includes first through sixth image forming units 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10G, which are electrophotographic image forming means that output images in each of the colors pink (P), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and green (G) based on color-separated image data. These image forming units (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "units") 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10G are arranged side by side horizontally at predetermined distances from one another. These units 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10G may be process cartridges that are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus.

[0126] An intermediate transfer belt (an example of an intermediate transfer body) 20 extends below each of the units 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10G and passes through each unit. The intermediate transfer belt 20 is wound around a drive roll 22, a support roll 23, and an opposing roll 24, which are in contact with the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, and runs in a direction from the first unit 10P to the sixth unit 10G. An intermediate transfer body cleaning device 21 is provided on the image bearing surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 20, facing the drive roll 22.

[0127] The developing devices (examples of developing means) 4P, 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K, and 4G of each unit 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10G are supplied with pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green toner contained in toner cartridges 8P, 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K, and 8G, respectively.

[0128] The first to sixth units 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10G have the same configuration and operation, so the sixth unit 10G that forms a green image will be described here as a representative.

[0129] The sixth unit 10G has a photoconductor 1G that acts as an image carrier. Around the photoconductor 1G, there are arranged in this order: a charging roll (an example of a charging means) 2G that charges the surface of the photoconductor 1G to a predetermined potential; an exposure device (an example of an electrostatic image forming means) 3G that exposes the charged surface to a laser beam based on a color-separated image signal to form an electrostatic image; a developing device (an example of a developing means) 4G that supplies toner to the electrostatic image to develop it; a primary transfer roll (an example of a primary transfer means) 5G that transfers the developed toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 20; and a photoconductor cleaning device (an example of a cleaning means) 6G that removes toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 1G after the primary transfer.

[0130] The primary transfer roll 5G is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 20 and is provided at a position facing the photoreceptor 1G. A bias power supply (not shown) that applies a primary transfer bias is connected to the primary transfer rolls 5Y, 5P, 5M, 5C, 5G, and 5K of each unit. Each bias power supply changes the value of the transfer bias applied to each primary transfer roll under the control of a control unit (not shown).

[0131] The operation of forming a green image in the sixth unit 10G will be described below. First, prior to operation, the surface of the photosensitive member 1G is charged to a potential of -600V to -800V by the charging roll 2G. The photoconductor 1G is conductive (for example, the volume resistivity at 20°C is 1×10 -6 The photosensitive layer is formed by laminating a photosensitive layer on a substrate with a resistivity of Ωcm or less. This photosensitive layer is normally highly resistive (the resistance of ordinary resins), but when irradiated with a laser beam, the resistivity of the irradiated portion changes. Therefore, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1G is irradiated with a laser beam from the exposure device 3G in accordance with green image data sent from a control unit (not shown). This forms an electrostatic charge image of a green image pattern on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1G.

[0132] An electrostatic image is an image formed on the surface of the photosensitive element 1G by charging it; it is a so-called negative latent image formed when the resistivity of the irradiated portion of the photosensitive layer is reduced by the laser beam from the exposure device 3G, causing the charged charges on the surface of the photosensitive element 1G to flow, while the charges remain in the portions not irradiated by the laser beam. The electrostatic image formed on the photoreceptor 1G rotates to a predetermined development position as the photoreceptor 1G moves, where the electrostatic image on the photoreceptor 1G is developed into a toner image by the developing device 4G and made visible.

[0133] The developing device 4G contains an electrostatic image developer containing, for example, at least green toner and a carrier. The green toner is frictionally charged by being stirred inside the developing device 4G, and is held on a developer roll (an example of a developer holder) with a charge of the same polarity (negative polarity) as the charge on the photoreceptor 1G. As the surface of the photoreceptor 1G passes through the developing device 4G, the green toner electrostatically adheres to the discharged latent image portion on the surface of the photoreceptor 1G, and the latent image is developed with the green toner. The photoreceptor 1G with the green toner image formed thereon continues to travel at a predetermined speed, and the toner image developed on the photoreceptor 1G is transported to a predetermined primary transfer position.

[0134] When the green toner image on the photoreceptor 1G is transported to the primary transfer position, a primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roll 5G, and an electrostatic force from the photoreceptor 1G toward the primary transfer roll 5G acts on the toner image, causing the toner image on the photoreceptor 1G to be transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20. The transfer bias applied at this time has a (+) polarity opposite to the (-) polarity of the toner, and is controlled by a control unit (not shown) in the first unit 10G to, for example, +10 μA.

[0135] After the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 20, the photoreceptor 1G continues to rotate and comes into contact with a cleaning blade provided on the photoreceptor cleaning device 6G. The toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1G is removed and collected by the photoreceptor cleaning device 6G.

[0136] The intermediate transfer belt 20 is conveyed sequentially through the first to sixth image forming units 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, and 10G, and the toner images of each color are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 in a superimposed manner.

[0137] The intermediate transfer belt 20, onto which the six-color toner images have been multiplex-transferred through the first to sixth units, reaches a secondary transfer section composed of the intermediate transfer belt 20, an opposing roll 24 in contact with the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and a secondary transfer roll (an example of a secondary transfer means) 26 arranged on the image bearing surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 20. Meanwhile, recording paper (an example of a recording medium) P is fed via a supply mechanism into the gap between the secondary transfer roll 26 and the intermediate transfer belt 20 at a predetermined timing, and a secondary transfer bias is applied to the opposing roll 24. The transfer bias applied at this time has a negative polarity, the same as the negative polarity of the toner. Electrostatic force from the intermediate transfer belt 20 toward the recording paper P acts on the toner image, transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20 onto the recording paper P. The secondary transfer bias at this time is determined according to resistance detected by resistance detection means (not shown) that detects resistance in the secondary transfer section, and is voltage-controlled.

[0138] After transferring the toner image onto the recording paper P, the intermediate transfer belt 20 continues to run and comes into contact with a cleaning blade provided on the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 21. Toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is removed and collected by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 21.

[0139] The recording paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the pressure contact portion (nip portion) of a pair of fixing rolls in a fixing device (an example of a fixing means) 28, where the toner image is fixed onto the recording paper P, forming a fixed image.

[0140] Examples of the recording paper P onto which the toner image is transferred include plain paper used in electrophotographic copiers, printers, etc. In addition to the recording paper P, examples of the recording medium include overhead projector sheets and the like. To further improve the smoothness of the image surface after fixing, it is preferable that the surface of the recording paper P is also smooth. For example, coated paper in which the surface of plain paper is coated with resin or the like, or art paper for printing, etc., is preferably used.

[0141] The recording paper P on which the color image has been fixed is conveyed toward the discharge section, and the series of color image forming operations is completed.

[0142] <Process cartridges, toner cartridges> The process cartridge according to this embodiment will be described. The process cartridge according to this embodiment is a process cartridge that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus and that contains the electrostatic image developer according to this embodiment and is equipped with a developing means that develops an electrostatic image formed on the surface of an image carrier using the electrostatic image developer into a toner image.

[0143] The process cartridge according to this embodiment is not limited to the above configuration, and may also be configured to include a developing means and, if necessary, at least one other means selected from an image carrier, a charging means, an electrostatic image forming means, and a transfer means.

[0144] An example of a process cartridge according to the present embodiment will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the following description, the main parts shown in the drawings will be described, and the description of the rest will be omitted.

[0145] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the process cartridge according to the present embodiment. The process cartridge 200 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to integrally combine and hold a photosensitive member 107 (an example of an image carrier), a charging roll 108 (an example of a charging means) provided around the photosensitive member 107, a developing device 111 (an example of a developing means), and a photosensitive member cleaning device 113 (an example of a cleaning means), which are held by a housing 117 provided with, for example, mounting rails 116 and an opening 118 for exposure, and is made into a cartridge. In FIG. 2, 109 denotes an exposure device (an example of an electrostatic image forming means), 112 denotes a transfer device (an example of a transfer means), 115 denotes a fixing device (an example of a fixing means), and 300 denotes recording paper (an example of a recording medium).

[0146] Next, the toner cartridge according to this embodiment will be described. The toner cartridge according to the present embodiment is a toner cartridge that contains the green toner according to the present embodiment and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The toner cartridge contains replenishment toner to be supplied to a developing unit provided in the image forming apparatus.

[0147] The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which toner cartridges 8Y, 8P, 8M, 8C, 8G, and 8K are detachably mounted. The developing devices 4Y, 4P, 4M, 4C, 4G, and 4K are connected to toner cartridges corresponding to the respective colors via toner supply pipes (not shown). When the toner stored in a toner cartridge runs low, the toner cartridge is replaced. An example of a toner cartridge according to this embodiment is toner cartridge 8G, which contains the green toner according to this embodiment. Toner cartridges 8P, 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K contain pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner, respectively. [Example]

[0148] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these examples. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "parts" and "%" are by mass. All syntheses, processing, preparations, etc. were carried out at room temperature (25°C ± 3°C) unless otherwise noted.

[0149] <Career> Cyclohexyl methacrylate resin (weight average molecular weight 50,000): 54 parts Carbon black (Cabot VXC72): 6 parts Toluene: 250 parts Isopropyl alcohol: 50 parts The above materials and glass beads (1 mm diameter, same amount as toluene) were placed in a sand mill and stirred at a rotation speed of 190 rpm for 30 minutes to obtain a coating agent.

[0150] 1000 parts of ferrite particles (volume average particle size 35 μm) and 150 parts of a coating agent were placed in a kneader and mixed at room temperature (25°C) for 20 minutes. The mixture was then heated to 70°C and dried under reduced pressure. The dried product was cooled to room temperature (25°C), removed from the kneader, and sieved through a 75 μm mesh to remove coarse particles, yielding a carrier.

[0151] <Cyan toner and cyan developer> [Preparation of Resin Particle Dispersion (1)] Ethylene glycol: 37 parts Neopentyl glycol: 65 parts 1,9-nonanediol: 32 parts Terephthalic acid: 96 parts The above materials were placed in a flask and heated to 200°C over 1 hour. After confirming uniform stirring within the reaction system, 1.2 parts of dibutyltin oxide were added. The temperature was raised to 240°C over 6 hours while distilling off the resulting water. Stirring was continued at 240°C for 4 hours to obtain an amorphous polyester resin (weight average molecular weight 13,000, glass transition temperature 62°C). The amorphous polyester resin was transferred in its molten state to an emulsifier / disperser (Cavitron CD1010, Eurotech) at a rate of 100 g / min. Separately, a 0.37% concentration dilute ammonia water, prepared by diluting reagent ammonia water with ion-exchanged water, was placed in a tank and heated to 120°C in a heat exchanger. This was then transferred to the emulsifier / disperser at a rate of 0.1 L / min simultaneously with the polyester resin. The emulsifier / disperser was operated at a rotor speed of 60 Hz and a pressure of 5 kg / cm. 2 The operation was carried out under the conditions of (a) to (c) to obtain a resin particle dispersion (1) having a volume average particle size of 160 nm and a solid content of 20%.

[0152] [Preparation of release agent particle dispersion (W)] Paraffin wax (HNP-9, Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.): 50 parts Anionic surfactant (Neogen RK, Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.): 2 parts Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts The above materials were heated to 120°C and thoroughly dispersed using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50, IKA), and then dispersed using a pressure discharge homogenizer. When the volume average particle size reached 200 nm, the particles were collected to obtain a release agent particle dispersion (W) with a solid content of 20%.

[0153] [Preparation of Colorant Particle Dispersion (C)] Cyan pigment (CI Pigment Blue 15:3, Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.): 50 parts Anionic surfactant (Neogen RK, Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.): 2 parts Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts The above materials were mixed and dispersed for 1 hour using a high-pressure impact disperser (Ultimizer HJP30006, Sugino Machine Co., Ltd.) to obtain a colorant particle dispersion (C) with a volume average particle size of 180 nm and a solid content of 20%.

[0154] [Preparation of cyan toner particles] ·Resin particle dispersion (1): 200 parts Release agent particle dispersion (W): 35 parts Colorant particle dispersion (C): 25 parts Polyaluminum chloride: 0.4 parts Ion-exchanged water: 100 parts The above materials were placed in a round stainless steel flask and thoroughly mixed and dispersed using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50, IKA). The flask was then heated to 48°C in an oil bath while stirring. After maintaining the reaction system at 48°C for 60 minutes, 70 parts of resin particle dispersion (1) were slowly added. The pH was then adjusted to 8.0 using a 0.5 mol / L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The flask was sealed, the stirring shaft was magnetically sealed, and the mixture was heated to 90°C with continued stirring and maintained for 30 minutes. The mixture was then cooled at a rate of 5°C / min, solid-liquid separation was performed, and the mixture was thoroughly washed with ion-exchanged water. The solid-liquid separation was then performed, and the mixture was redispersed in ion-exchanged water at 30°C and washed with stirring at 300 rpm for 15 minutes. This washing procedure was repeated six more times, and solid-liquid separation was performed when the pH of the filtrate reached 7.54 and the electrical conductivity reached 6.5 μS / cm. The solid content was vacuum dried for 24 hours to obtain cyan toner particles, which had a volume average particle size of 5.7 μm.

[0155] [Preparation of cyan toner and cyan developer] 1.5 parts of hydrophobic silica particles (RY50 manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) were added to 100 parts of cyan toner particles and mixed at 13,000 rpm for 30 seconds using a sample mill, and then sieved using a vibrating sieve with 45 μm openings to obtain an externally added toner. 10 parts of the externally added toner and 100 parts of the carrier were placed in a V-blender and stirred for 20 minutes, after which the mixture was sieved through a sieve with 212 μm openings to obtain a cyan developer.

[0156] <Yellow Toner and Yellow Developer> A yellow toner and a yellow developer were produced by the same process as for the production of the cyan toner and the cyan developer, except that the cyan pigment (CI Pigment Blue 15:3, Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.) was changed to a yellow pigment (CI Pigment Yellow 74, Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.).

[0157] Example 1: Green Toner and Green Developer [Preparation of Resin Particle Dispersion (1)] Ethylene glycol: 37 parts Neopentyl glycol: 65 parts 1,9-nonanediol: 32 parts Terephthalic acid: 96 parts The above materials were placed in a flask and heated to 200°C over 1 hour. After confirming uniform stirring within the reaction system, 1.2 parts of dibutyltin oxide were added. The temperature was raised to 240°C over 6 hours while distilling off the resulting water. Stirring was continued at 240°C for 4 hours to obtain an amorphous polyester resin (weight average molecular weight 13,000, glass transition temperature 62°C). The amorphous polyester resin was transferred in its molten state to an emulsifier / disperser (Cavitron CD1010, Eurotech) at a rate of 100 g / min. Separately, a 0.37% concentration dilute ammonia water, prepared by diluting reagent ammonia water with ion-exchanged water, was placed in a tank and heated to 120°C in a heat exchanger. This was then transferred to the emulsifier / disperser at a rate of 0.1 L / min simultaneously with the polyester resin. The emulsifier / disperser was operated at a rotor speed of 60 Hz and a pressure of 5 kg / cm. 2 The operation was carried out under the conditions of (a) to (c) to obtain a resin particle dispersion (1) having a volume average particle size of 160 nm and a solid content of 20%.

[0158] [Preparation of release agent particle dispersion (W)] Paraffin wax (HNP-9, Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.): 50 parts Anionic surfactant (Neogen RK, Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.): 2 parts Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts The above materials were heated to 120°C and thoroughly dispersed using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50, IKA), and then dispersed using a pressure discharge homogenizer. When the volume average particle size reached 200 nm, the particles were collected to obtain a release agent particle dispersion (W) with a solid content of 20%.

[0159] [Preparation of pigment dispersion (Y101)] CI Pigment Yellow 101: 70 parts Anionic surfactant (Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd., Neogen RK): 30 parts (solid content 20%) Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts The above materials were mixed and pulverized to a volume average particle size of 300 nm using a continuous key mill (KMC-3, Inoue Seisakusho Co., Ltd.). The solid content was adjusted to 20%, yielding a pigment dispersion (Y101).

[0160] [Preparation of pigment dispersion (PG36)] CI Pigment Green 36: 70 parts Anionic surfactant (Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd., Neogen RK): 30 parts (solid content 20%) Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts The above materials were mixed and pulverized to a volume average particle size of 150 nm using a continuous key mill (KMC-3, Inoue Seisakusho Co., Ltd.). The solid content was adjusted to 20%, yielding a pigment dispersion (PG36).

[0161] [Production of green toner particles] ·Resin particle dispersion (1) (solid content 20%): 182.5 parts Release agent particle dispersion (W) (solid content 20%): 35 parts Pigment dispersion (Y101) (solid content 20%): 28.3 parts Pigment dispersion (PG36) (solid content 20%): 14.2 parts Polyaluminum chloride: 0.4 parts Ion-exchanged water: 100 parts The above materials were placed in a round stainless steel flask and thoroughly mixed and dispersed using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50, IKA). The flask was then heated to 48°C in an oil bath while stirring. After maintaining the reaction system at 48°C for 60 minutes, 70 parts of resin particle dispersion (1) (20% solids content) was slowly added. The pH was then adjusted to 8.0 using a 0.5 mol / L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The flask was sealed, the stirring shaft was magnetically sealed, and the mixture was heated to 90°C with continued stirring and maintained for 30 minutes. The mixture was then cooled at a rate of 5°C / min, solid-liquid separation was performed, and the mixture was thoroughly washed with ion-exchanged water. The solid-liquid separation was then performed, and the mixture was redispersed in ion-exchanged water at 30°C and washed with stirring at 300 rpm for 15 minutes. This washing procedure was repeated six more times, and solid-liquid separation was performed when the pH of the filtrate reached 7.54 and the electrical conductivity reached 6.5 μS / cm. The solid content was vacuum dried for 24 hours to obtain green toner particles, which had a volume average particle size of 5.6 μm.

[0162] [Preparation of Green Toner and Green Developer] 1.5 parts of hydrophobic silica particles (RY50 manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) were added to 100 parts of the green toner particles and mixed at 13,000 rpm for 30 seconds using a sample mill. After that, the mixture was sieved using a vibrating sieve with 45 μm openings to obtain an externally added toner. 10 parts of the externally added toner and 100 parts of the carrier were placed in a V-blender and stirred for 20 minutes, after which the mixture was sieved through a sieve with 212 μm openings to obtain a green developer.

[0163] <Examples 2 to 20 and Comparative Examples 6 to 10> Green toner particles, a green toner, and a green developer were produced using the same process as in Example 1, except that the type of non-fluorescent pigment, the pigment content, and the particle size were changed as shown in Tables 1 and 2. The particle size of the pigment was controlled by the processing time in the continuous key mill when preparing the pigment dispersion.

[0164] <Comparative Example 1> [Preparation of dye-containing resin particle dispersion] CI Solvent Green 5: 2 parts Amorphous polyester resin (weight average molecular weight 13,000, glass transition temperature 62°C) :100 copies The above materials were heated and mixed, and the dye was kneaded into the resin. The kneaded mixture was rolled and cooled to below 30°C. The resulting kneaded mixture was coarsely pulverized to 1 mm or less using a hammer mill and then finely pulverized using a jet mill (AFG, Hosokawa Micron Corporation). The finely pulverized particles were mixed with 30 parts (20% solids) of anionic surfactant (Neogen RK, Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) and 200 parts of ion-exchanged water, and pulverized to a volume average particle size of 200 nm using a continuous key mill (KMC-3, Inoue Seisaku Co., Ltd.). The solids content was adjusted to 20%, yielding a dye-containing resin particle dispersion (SG5).

[0165] [Production of green toner particles] Green toner particles were obtained by the same process as in Example 1, except that the pigment dispersion (Y101) was replaced with the dye-containing resin particle dispersion (SG5) and the amount of resin particle dispersion (1) was adjusted. The volume average particle size of the green toner particles was 5.6 μm.

[0166] [Preparation of Green Toner and Green Developer] 1.5 parts of hydrophobic silica particles (RY50 manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) were added to 100 parts of the green toner particles and mixed at 13,000 rpm for 30 seconds using a sample mill. After that, the mixture was sieved using a vibrating sieve with 45 μm openings to obtain an externally added toner. 10 parts of the externally added toner and 100 parts of the carrier were placed in a V-blender and stirred for 20 minutes, after which the mixture was sieved through a sieve with 212 μm openings to obtain a green developer.

[0167] <Comparative Examples 2 to 5> Green toner particles, a green toner, and a green developer were produced by the same process as in Comparative Example 1, except that the type of non-fluorescent pigment and the content of the pigment were changed to those shown in Table 1.

[0168] Example 21 Green toner particles, a green toner, and a green developer were produced by the same process as in Example 1, except that the 182.5 parts of resin particle dispersion liquid (1) initially used was changed to 91.3 parts of resin particle dispersion liquid (1) and 91.3 parts of resin particle dispersion liquid (2). The resin particle dispersion (2) is the following resin particle dispersion, which is a dispersion of an amorphous polyester resin.

[0169] [Resin particle dispersion (2)] Ethylene glycol: 41 parts 1,5-pentanediol: 48 parts Terephthalic acid: 70 parts Fumaric acid: 30 parts The above materials were placed in a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer, nitrogen inlet tube, temperature sensor, and distillation column. The temperature was raised to 220°C over 1 hour under a nitrogen gas flow, and 1 part of titanium tetraethoxide was added for every 100 parts of the above materials. The temperature was raised to 240°C over 0.5 hours while distilling off the resulting water, and the dehydration condensation reaction was continued at 240°C for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was then cooled to obtain an amorphous polyester resin (weight average molecular weight 96,000, glass transition temperature 61°C). A vessel equipped with a temperature control device and nitrogen substitution device was charged with 40 parts of ethyl acetate and 25 parts of 2-butanol to prepare a mixed solvent, and 100 parts of the amorphous polyester resin was gradually added and dissolved. A 10% aqueous ammonia solution (equivalent to 3 times the acid value of the resin in molar ratio) was then added and stirred for 30 minutes. Next, the atmosphere inside the reaction vessel was replaced with dry nitrogen, the temperature was maintained at 40°C, and 400 parts of ion-exchanged water was added dropwise at a rate of 2 parts / minute while stirring the mixture, thereby emulsifying it. After the addition was completed, the emulsion was returned to 25°C, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure to obtain a resin particle dispersion in which resin particles with a volume average particle size of 160 nm were dispersed. Ion-exchanged water was added to this resin particle dispersion to adjust the solid content to 20%, thereby obtaining resin particle dispersion (2).

[0170] <Example 22> Green toner particles, a green toner, and a green developer were produced by the same process as in Example 1, except that the 182.5 parts of resin particle dispersion liquid (1) initially used was changed to 152.5 parts of resin particle dispersion liquid (1) and 30 parts of resin particle dispersion liquid (3). The resin particle dispersion (3) is the following resin particle dispersion, which is a dispersion of a crystalline polyester resin.

[0171] [Preparation of Resin Particle Dispersion (3)] Decanedioic acid: 81 parts Hexanediol: 47 parts The above materials were charged into a flask, and the temperature was raised to 160°C over 1 hour. After confirming that the reaction system was uniformly stirred, 0.03 parts of dibutyltin oxide was added. The temperature was raised to 200°C over 6 hours while distilling off the produced water, and stirring was continued at 200°C for 4 hours. The reaction liquid was then cooled, solid-liquid separation was performed, and the solid was dried at 40°C under reduced pressure to obtain a crystalline polyester resin (weight average molecular weight 15,000, melting point 64°C).

[0172] Crystalline polyester resin: 50 parts Anionic surfactant (Neogen RK, Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.): 2 parts Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts The above materials were heated to 120°C and thoroughly dispersed using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50, IKA), and then dispersed using a pressure discharge homogenizer. When the volume average particle size reached 180 nm, the particles were collected to obtain a resin particle dispersion (3) with a solid content of 20%.

[0173] Example 23 [Production of green toner particles] Amorphous polyester resin (weight average molecular weight 13,000, glass transition temperature 62°C): 155.4 parts CI Pigment Yellow 101: 16 parts CI Pigment Green 36: 8 parts Paraffin wax (HNP-9, Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.): 20.6 parts The above materials were placed in a Henschel mixer (FM75L, Nippon Coke & Engineering Co., Ltd.) and mixed at 20 rpm for 15 minutes to obtain a toner composition. The mixture was then kneaded in a twin-screw extruder (TEM-48SS, Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.) set at 150°C, rolled, and cooled to below 30°C. The resulting mixture was coarsely pulverized to 1 mm or less using a hammer mill and then finely pulverized using a jet mill (AFG, Hosokawa Micron Corporation). Classification was performed using an elbow jet classifier (EJ-LABO, Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd.) to obtain green toner particles with a volume average particle size of 6.5 μm.

[0174] [Preparation of Green Toner and Green Developer] 1.5 parts of hydrophobic silica particles (RY50 manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) were added to 100 parts of the green toner particles and mixed at 13,000 rpm for 30 seconds using a sample mill. After that, the mixture was sieved using a vibrating sieve with 45 μm openings to obtain an externally added toner. 10 parts of the externally added toner and 100 parts of the carrier were placed in a V-blender and stirred for 20 minutes, after which the mixture was sieved through a sieve with 212 μm openings to obtain a green developer.

[0175] <Performance evaluation> [Image formation] A modified ColorPress 1000 (FUJIFILM Innovation Co., Ltd.) was prepared as an image forming apparatus for forming an image for evaluation, and the developer was placed in a developing device, and the toner was placed in a toner cartridge. A4 size coated paper (OS coated paper, 127 g / m 2 , Fujifilm Innovation Co., Ltd.) and a green solid image (density 100%, size 5cm x 5cm, toner amount 4.0g / m 2 The fixing temperature was 180°C. In Reference Example 1, which uses yellow toner and cyan toner to express green as a secondary color, the yellow toner loading amount is 4.0 g / m 2 And cyan toner loading amount 4.0g / m 2 The fixing temperature was 180°C.

[0176] [Brightness, saturation, hue angle] Using a reflectance spectrodensitometer X-Rite 939 (aperture diameter 4 mm, X-Rite Co., Ltd.), CIE1976L was measured at 10 points within the solid image. * a * b * L in color space * value, a * value and b * Measure the value and L * value, a * value and b * The average value of the values ​​was calculated. * The lightness L and hue angle h were calculated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2. * is desirable to be 70 or more, and saturation C * A score of 85 or higher is desirable. Saturation C * ={(a * ) 2 +(b * ) 2} 0.5 Hue angle h=tan -1 (b * / a * )

[0177] [Color difference from color sample] The color difference ΔE between the solid image and the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 (T&K TOKA Corporation) was calculated based on the following formula. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0178]

number

[0179] [Table 1]

[0180] [Table 2]

[0181] The symbols in Tables 1 and 2 represent the following pigments or dyes. SG5: CI Solvent Green 5 (BASF Oracet F Yellow 084, emission peak 520 nm), a type of yellow fluorescent dye PY101: CI Pigment Yellow 101 (Radglo VSF-0-01, manufactured by Radiant Color, emission peak 520 nm), a type of azomethine fluorescent pigment (Y) PG36: CI Pigment Green 36 (manufactured by Toyo Color Co., Ltd., LIONOL GREEN 8624, reflection peak 510 nm), one type of pigment (G) PG59: CI Pigment Green 59 (DIC, FASTOGEN GREEN C100, reflection peak 520 nm), one type of pigment (G) PG58: CI Pigment Green 58 (DIC, FASTOGEN GREEN A110, reflection peak 515 nm), one type of pigment (G) PG7 CI Pigment Green 7 (Toyo Color Co., Ltd., LIONOL GREEN 8390, reflection peak 500 nm), one type of pigment (G) PB76: CI Pigment Blue 76 (DIC, FASTOGEN BLUE 10GN, reflection peak 490 nm), one type of pigment (G) PB15:3: CI Pigment Blue 15:3 (Toyo Color Co., Ltd., LIONOL BLUE FG-7330, reflection peak 470 nm), a type of non-fluorescent pigment

[0182] <Image formation using actual equipment> An electrophotographic, intermediate transfer, six-tube tandem image forming apparatus was prepared. Six developing units were filled with pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green developers (developers of Example 1), respectively. An image was formed on A4-size coated paper based on image data obtained by color-separating RGB data into the six colors. An image with good color reproducibility close to the original RGB data was obtained.

[0183] (((1))) A binder resin; an azomethine fluorescent pigment having an emission spectrum with an emission peak in the wavelength region of 500 nm or more and 550 nm or less; a non-fluorescent pigment having a reflection peak in a wavelength region of 480 nm or more and 540 nm or less in a reflection spectrum, the mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the content M2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 0.05 or more and 1.5 or less, the total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the non-fluorescent pigment relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less; green toner particles, 1. A green toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising: (((2))) the mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the content M2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 0.1 or more and 1.0 or less, a total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the non-fluorescent pigment relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is 10% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to (((1))). (((3))) a wavelength difference between an emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the azomethine fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles and a reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the non-fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles is 40 nm or less; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to (((1))) or (((2))). (((4))) a wavelength difference between an emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the azomethine fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles and a reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the non-fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles is 20 nm or less; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to (((1))) or (((2))). (((5))) the azomethine fluorescent pigment is CI Pigment Yellow 101; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))). (((6))) the non-fluorescent pigment is at least one selected from the group consisting of CI Pigment Green 7, CI Pigment Green 36, CI Pigment Green 58, CI Pigment Green 59, and CI Pigment Blue 76; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))). (((7))) the ratio D1 / D2 of the volume average particle diameter D1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 1 or more and 3 or less; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of (((1))) to (((6))). (((8))) The azomethine fluorescent pigment has a volume average particle size D1 of 50 nm or more and 800 nm or less. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of (((1))) to (((7))). (((9))) The volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 50 nm or more and 300 nm or less. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))). (((10))) The toner comprises green toner particles including a binder resin, an azomethine fluorescent pigment having an emission peak in a wavelength region of 500 nm or more and 550 nm or less in an emission spectrum, and a non-fluorescent pigment having a reflection peak in a wavelength region of 480 nm or more and 540 nm or less in a reflection spectrum, When a solid image is formed on coated paper, the color is compared to the TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 color sample in CIE1976L. * a * b * The color difference ΔE in the color space is 13.5 or less. Green toner for developing electrostatic images. (((11))) the azomethine fluorescent pigment is CI Pigment Yellow 101; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to (((10))). (((12))) the non-fluorescent pigment is at least one selected from the group consisting of CI Pigment Green 7, CI Pigment Green 36, CI Pigment Green 58, CI Pigment Green 59, and CI Pigment Blue 76; The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to (((10))) or (((11))).

[0184] (((13))) An electrostatic image developer comprising the green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of (((1))) to (((12))). (((14))) A toner cartridge that contains the green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of (((1))) to (((12))) and is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus. (((15))) (((13))) and a developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on the surface of an image carrier into a toner image by using the electrostatic image developer, A process cartridge is detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus. (((16))) an image carrier; a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier; an electrostatic image forming means for forming an electrostatic image on the charged surface of the image carrier; a developing means containing the electrostatic image developer according to (((13))) and developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a toner image by the electrostatic image developer; a transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium; a fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium; An image forming apparatus comprising: (((17))) a charging step of charging the surface of the image carrier; an electrostatic image forming step of forming an electrostatic image on the charged surface of the image carrier; a developing step of developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image using the electrostatic image developer according to (((13))); a transfer step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium; a fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium; An image forming method comprising the steps of: (((18))) The image forming apparatus includes first to sixth electrophotographic image forming units that form images of the respective colors of pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green, the image forming unit for forming a green image contains the electrostatic image developer according to (((13))); Image forming device. (((19))) The image forming method includes first to sixth electrophotographic image forming steps for forming images of each color of pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green, the image forming step of forming a green image uses the electrostatic image developer described in (((13))); Image forming method.

[0185] According to the inventions (((1))), (((2))), (((5))), (((6))), (((8))) or (((9))), there is provided a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent colorant is CI Solvent Green 5. According to the invention (((3))), a green toner for developing electrostatic images is provided that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the wavelength difference between the emission peak and the reflection peak is more than 40 nm. According to the invention (((4))), a green toner for developing electrostatic images is provided that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the wavelength difference between the emission peak and the reflection peak is more than 20 nm. According to the invention related to (((7))), there is provided a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the ratio D1 / D2 of the volume average particle diameter D1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is less than 1 or more than 3. According to the inventions (((10))), (((11))) or (((12))), there is provided a green toner for developing electrostatic images that can form green images with higher brightness and saturation than when the color difference ΔE from the color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650 is more than 10.

[0186] According to the invention (((13))), an electrostatic image developer is provided that can form a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent colorant is CI Solvent Green 5. According to the invention (((14))), a toner cartridge capable of forming a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent colorant is CI Solvent Green 5 is provided. According to the invention (((15))), a process cartridge capable of forming a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when CI Solvent Green 5 is used as the yellow fluorescent coloring material is provided. According to the invention (((16))), an image forming apparatus capable of forming a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent coloring material is CI Solvent Green 5 is provided. According to the invention (((17))), an image forming method is provided that can form a green image with higher brightness and saturation than when the yellow fluorescent colorant is CI Solvent Green 5. According to the invention (((18))), an image forming apparatus that can reproduce a wide color gamut is provided. According to the invention (((19))), an image forming method that can reproduce a wide color gamut is provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0187] 1P, 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, 1G Photoconductor (an example of an image carrier) 2P, 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K, 2G Charging roll (an example of charging means) 3P, 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K, 3G exposure equipment (an example of electrostatic image forming means) 4P, 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K, 4G developing device (an example of developing means) 5P, 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, 5G Primary transfer roll (an example of a primary transfer means) 6P, 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, 6G Photoconductor cleaning device (an example of a cleaning means) 8P, 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K, 8G toner cartridges 10P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, 10G Image Formation Unit 20 Intermediate transfer belt (an example of an intermediate transfer body) 21 Intermediate transfer body cleaning device 22 Drive Roll 23 Support Roll 24 opposing roll 26 Secondary transfer roll (an example of a secondary transfer means) 28 Fixing device (an example of fixing means) P Recording paper (an example of a recording medium)

[0188] 107 Photosensitive body (an example of an image carrier) 108 Charging roll (an example of charging means) 109 Exposure device (an example of electrostatic image forming means) 111 Developing device (an example of developing means) 112 Transfer device (an example of transfer means) 113 Photosensitive drum cleaning device (an example of cleaning means) 115 Fixing device (an example of fixing means) 116 Mounting Rail 117 Cabinet 118 Exposure opening 200 Process Cartridge 300 Recording paper (an example of a recording medium)

Claims

1. A binder resin; an azomethine fluorescent pigment having an emission spectrum with an emission peak in the wavelength region of 500 nm or more and 550 nm or less; a non-fluorescent pigment having a reflection peak in a wavelength region of 480 nm or more and 540 nm or less in a reflection spectrum, a mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the content M2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 0.05 or more and 1.5 or less, a total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the non-fluorescent pigment relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less; green toner particles, 1. A green toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising:

2. a mass ratio M2 / M1 of the content M1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to the content M2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 0.1 or more and 1.0 or less; a total content of the azomethine fluorescent pigment and the non-fluorescent pigment relative to the total amount of the green toner particles is 10% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less; 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

3. a wavelength difference between an emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the azomethine fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles and a reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the non-fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles is 40 nm or less; 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

4. a wavelength difference between an emission peak of the azomethine fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the azomethine fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles and a reflection peak of the non-fluorescent pigment having the largest content among the non-fluorescent pigments contained in the green toner particles is 20 nm or less; 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

5. The azomethine fluorescent pigment is C.I. Pigment Yellow 101; 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

6. The non-fluorescent pigment is at least one selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Green 7, C.I. Pigment Green 36, C.I. Pigment Green 58, C.I. Pigment Green 59, and C.I. Pigment Blue 76; 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

7. a ratio D1 / D2 of a volume average particle diameter D1 of the azomethine fluorescent pigment to a volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 1 or more and 3 or less; 2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

8. The azomethine fluorescent pigment has a volume average particle size D1 of 50 nm or more and 800 nm or less.

2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

9. The volume average particle diameter D2 of the non-fluorescent pigment is 50 nm or more and 300 nm or less.

2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

10. When a solid image is formed on coated paper, the color is compared to the CIE 1976L color sample TOKA FLASH VIVA DX 650. ＊ a ＊ b ＊ The color difference ΔE in the color system is 13.5 or less.

2. The green toner for developing electrostatic images according to claim 1.

11. An electrostatic image developer comprising the green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A toner cartridge that contains the green toner for developing electrostatic images according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus.

13. a developing unit containing the electrostatic image developer according to claim 11 and developing an electrostatic image formed on a surface of an image carrier into a toner image by using the electrostatic image developer, A process cartridge is detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus.

14. an image carrier; a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier; an electrostatic image forming means for forming an electrostatic image on the charged surface of the image carrier; a developing unit containing the electrostatic image developer according to claim 11 and developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a toner image by using the electrostatic image developer; a transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium; a fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium; An image forming apparatus comprising:

15. a charging step of charging the surface of the image carrier; an electrostatic image forming step of forming an electrostatic image on the charged surface of the image carrier; a developing step of developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a toner image by using the electrostatic image developer according to claim 11; a transfer step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium; a fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium; An image forming method comprising the steps of:

16. The image forming apparatus includes first to sixth electrophotographic image forming units that form images of the respective colors of pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green, The image forming unit for forming the green image contains the electrostatic image developer according to claim 11. Image forming device.

17. The method includes first to sixth image forming steps of an electrophotographic method for forming images of each color of pink, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and green, The image forming process for forming a green image uses the electrostatic image developer according to claim 11. Image forming method.

Images