Electrostatic Developer Resin Coating for Transfer and Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrostatic latent image developers with silicone oil-treated inorganic particles face challenges in maintaining transferability to transfer members with concavities and convexities while ensuring cleaning properties and charge stability over time.

Innovation Solution

An electrostatic latent image developer comprising toner base particles and a carrier with silicone oil-treated silica and titanium oxide as external additives, where the titanium oxide is present in a trace amount and the carrier has a resin coating layer formed from an alicyclic (meth)acrylic acid ester, optimizing the distribution and adhesion of silica particles for improved transferability and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silicone oil-treated inorganic particles are used in toner, then cleaning property is improved, but transferability to transfer member having concavities and convexities is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning propertyVSAvoidtransferability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the resin coating layer by incorporating a specific alicyclic (meth)acrylic acid ester unit, which modifies the surface properties to balance cleaning effectiveness with transferability to complex surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure combining silicone oil-treated inorganic particles with a specially formulated resin coating layer containing alicyclic (meth)acrylic acid ester, creating a multi-component system that achieves both cleaning property and transferability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If silicone oil is contained in toner to improve transferability, then transferability is improved, but charge stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransferabilityVSAvoidcharge stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the concentration and type of silicone oil in combination with the alicyclic (meth)acrylic acid ester resin, optimizing the balance between transferability and charge stability by adjusting compositional parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The resin coating layer acts as an intermediary between the silicone oil-treated particles and the toner matrix, mediating the interaction to maintain charge stability while preserving transferability benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution enhances transferability to complex surfaces, maintains cleaning efficiency, and stabilizes charge, preventing silica aggregation and uneven distribution, thus reducing defects in image transfer and extending the lifespan of imaging components.

Implementation Method 1

a carrier, wherein the external additive contains silicone oil-treated silica and titanium oxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTriboelectric effect: Triboelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

silicone oil exhibits sufficient hydrophobicity and has low surface energy. Thus, when silicone oil is contained in a toner, excellent transferability can be imparted to the toner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

the resin coating layer has a constituent unit formed from an alicyclic (meth)acrylic acid ester

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10409189B2Electrostatic latent image developer and method for producing electrostatic latent image developer
Publication Date: 2019.09.10 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

The disclosure concerns an electrostatic latent image developer including: a toner having toner base particles and an external additive; and a carrier, wherein the external additive contains silicone oil-treated silica and titanium oxide, Net intensity of titanium (Ti) in the toner to be measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis is 0.5 to 5 kcps, the carrier has a resin coating layer coating core material particles, and the resin coating layer has a constituent unit formed from an alicyclic (meth)acrylic acid ester.