Antibacterial Toner Composition for Stable Chargeability and Image Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners with antibacterial or antiviral properties often face stability issues and poor chargeability, leading to inconsistent image formation and increased thickness in electrophotographic systems.
Innovation Solution
A toner formulation with specific particle size and composition ratios of inorganic antibacterial antiviral agents, binder resin, and release agent, ensuring 1.5 ≤ X ≤ 2.5 μm for the agent diameter, 3X ≤ Y ≤ 4X for the toner base particles, and 2.8% to 5.0% by mass of the agent content, stabilizing chargeability and image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a material having an antibacterial or antiviral effect is added to toner, then antibacterial or antiviral function is achieved, but stable production and excellent chargeability cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent as an intermediary substance that can be incorporated into the toner composition. This agent acts as a mediator between the toner base and the antibacterial antiviral function requirement, allowing the toner to gain protective properties while maintaining its electrostatic and developing characteristics through proper composition design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the particle size of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent (1.5-2.5 μm number average diameter) and its content in the toner (2.8-5.0% by mass). These parameter optimizations ensure that the antibacterial antiviral function is achieved while maintaining stable production and excellent chargeability of the toner
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional toner composition is used, then good chargeability is achieved, but image thickness becomes excessively large when antibacterial antiviral materials are added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the particle size parameter of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent to a number average diameter of 1.5-2.5 μm, which is carefully selected to balance antibacterial efficacy with minimal impact on image thickness. This parameter control prevents excessive layer buildup while ensuring sufficient antibacterial protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the antibacterial antiviral function in specifically sized inorganic particles distributed within the toner composition. This localized functional design ensures that the antibacterial effect is achieved without requiring a uniformly thick layer, thus controlling overall image thickness
3Object-affected harmful factors
If inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent particles are added to toner, then antibacterial or antiviral effect is achieved, but toner production stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent, including particle size (number average diameter 1.5-2.5 μm) and content (2.8-5.0% by mass). These controlled parameters ensure that the antibacterial antiviral particles can be consistently incorporated into the toner without causing production instability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inorganic antibacterial antiviral agents with specific local properties (particle size, shape, and composition) that are optimized for both functionality and manufacturability. This localized optimization of particle characteristics enables stable production while maintaining antibacterial antiviral efficacy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Stable and effective antibacterial or antiviral image formation with excellent chargeability, maintaining image thickness and preventing device damage, while ensuring sustained antibacterial or antiviral efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a latent image formed by electrostatic charge is formed on a photoconductor formed of a photoconductive material, a charged toner is deposited on the latent image
Implementation Method 2
a charged toner is deposited on the latent image to form a visible image
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method includes forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image bearer, developing the electrostatic image with a toner to form a visible image, transferring the visible image onto a recording medium, and fixing the transferred visible image on the recording medium. The toner includes toner base particles each including a binder resin, a release agent, and particles of an inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent, and satisfies conditions (1) to (3) below. The image forming method satisfies a relationship of 2.0X (micrometers)≤Z≤2.5X (micrometers). Conditions (1) the number average particle diameter X of the particles of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent is 1.5 (micrometers)≤X≤2.5 (micrometers), (2) 3X (micrometers)≤Y≤4X (micrometers), and (3) an amount of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent in the toner is 2.8% by mass or greater, but 5.0% by mass or less.