Irregular Toner Particles Prevent Slipping at Cleaning Blade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning residual toner from image carriers in electrophotographic processes are inefficient, particularly with spherical toners, as they tend to slip through cleaning blades due to close-packed structures and strong adhesion, leading to image defects and reduced cleaning effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A toner composition comprising toner particles with specific circularity and size ranges, along with smaller, non-spherical particles that form a barrier at the cleaning blade nip portion, differing in surface energy to prevent slipping and enhance cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If spherical toner with small particle size is used, then image quality is improved, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates due to close-packed structure formation and strong adhesion to image carrier
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the particle shape parameter from spherical to irregular shape, which fundamentally alters the toner's packing behavior and adhesion characteristics, preventing close-packed structure formation while maintaining small particle size for high image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite toner composition containing irregular-shaped toner particles with specific surface properties that combine appropriate adhesion to the image carrier with reduced lateral cohesion, achieving both high image quality and effective cleaning
2Reliability
If cleaning blade contact pressure is increased, then toner cleaning effectiveness is improved, but image carrier lifetime deteriorates due to excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful close-packed structure formation into a beneficial barrier effect where irregular-shaped particles form a loose, porous layer that facilitates cleaning without requiring increased contact pressure, thus protecting the image carrier from wear
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the toner particle shape parameter to irregular, which reduces the lateral cohesion and adhesion strength, allowing effective cleaning at lower contact pressures that preserve image carrier lifetime
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 toner composition effectively prevents toner slipping, ensuring thorough cleaning and maintaining high-quality image density without fog, even after extensive printing cycles.
Implementation Method 1
smaller, non-spherical particles that form a barrier at the cleaning blade nip portion
Implementation Method 2
spherical toners further have a large area contacting the surface of an image carrier and strong adhesion
Implementation Method 3
one end of the cleaning blade is generally arranged to press against the image carrier in a direction counter to the direction of movement of the image carrier
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is toner in which is used in an image formation process comprising the steps of transferring an image of toner formed on a photoreceptor onto a recording sheet, and removing any residual toner remaining on any of the photoreceptor, an intermediate transfer member and a secondary transfer member with a cleaning blade, the toner containing at least toner particles (A) and small particles (B), wherein the toner particles (A) have an average circularity of from 0.93 to 0.99 and a number-based median diameter (D50) of from 3.0 to 8.0 μm, the small particles (B) have an average circularity of from 0.70 to 0.92 and a number-based median diameter (D50) of from 0.15 to 0.60 times that of the toner particles (A), and the surface energy of the toner particles (A) is different from that of the small particles (B).