Heterogeneous Toner Particles for Fast Charging and Storage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrophotographic image forming technologies face challenges in achieving high-speed, high-quality image formation on various paper types without causing defects like wrinkles or blisters, and in maintaining toner stability during storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
The development of toner particles with a region A containing a colorant and a region B that allows easier electron passage, where region B is formed around region A to a depth of up to 1 μm, enhancing charging speed, charge retention, and preventing coagulation during storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional toner particles are used, then image formation can be achieved, but charging speed and charge retention are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The toner particle is designed with heterogeneous structure where region A (core) contains colorant and resin for charge retention, while region B (shell) contains electron-transmittable resin for fast charging. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of charging speed (region B) and charge retention (region A).
Solution Approach 2:
The toner particle comprises a composite structure of two different resin regions: region A with conventional resin and colorant, and region B with electron-transmittable resin. This composite structure combines the advantages of both materials to achieve fast charging and stable charge retention.
2Productivity
If developing rollers are downsized and rotated at high speed, then processing speed increases, but images are contaminated with scattered toner and rollers deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The toner particle surface (region B) is designed with electron-transmittable resin that facilitates rapid electron transfer, enabling fast charging even at high rotation speeds. This allows small developing rollers to operate at high speeds without toner scattering or roller deterioration.
3Reliability
If resin particles are used to modify toner surfaces, then colorant appearance is suppressed and image stability improves, but resin particles coagulate during storage and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The toner uses a composite structure where region B (electron-transmittable resin) is dispersed as a shell around region A (colorant-containing core). This composite structure prevents coagulation during storage while maintaining image stability, as the electron-transmittable resin layer creates physical separation between particles.
4Productivity
If conventional image forming technology is used, then processing speed is good, but image defects occur on coated glossy paper and thin paper
Solution Approach 1:
The toner particles are designed with specific structural parameters: region B thickness of 0.01-1 μm, and electron-transmittable resin with specific electron affinity. These parameter optimizations enable high-speed processing while preventing image defects on various paper types including coated glossy paper and thin paper.
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
This solution enables fast and stable image formation on diverse paper types, including coated glossy paper and cardboard, with improved fixing strength at low temperatures and reduced coagulation during storage, ensuring high-quality, uniform images.
Implementation Method 1
region B through which more electrons can pass than the region A
Data Source
AI summary
A toner including toner particles each containing a resin and a colorant, wherein the toner particle has:a region A which contains the colorant and a region B through which more electrons can pass than the region A; andthe region A is covered by the region B being within 1 μm deep from a circumference of the toner particle,when the toner particle is observed in a state of a microscopic segment having a thickness of 80 to 200 nm through a transmission electron microscope at an acceleration voltage of 80 kV.