Monoester Toner Release Agent for Low-Temperature Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed image forming apparatuses with contact-heating fixing devices experience belt-shaped or stripe-shaped image defects and reduced fixing strength when using low-melting point toners at lower temperatures, leading to document offset issues.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method utilizing a toner with a monoester compound and a hydrocarbon having a branched chain structure as release agents, with a specific mass ratio, and a contact-heating fixing device with a paired-belt configuration to achieve sufficient fixing strength and prevent image defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If low-melting point release agent is used to enable low-temperature fixing, then fixing temperature is reduced, but belt-shaped or stripe-shaped image defects occur and fixing strength is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite release agent system combining two distinct components: a low-melting-point release agent (melting point 40-80°C) and a high-melting-point release agent (melting point 80-120°C). This composite approach allows the low-melting-point component to enable low-temperature fixing while the high-melting-point component maintains fixing strength and prevents image defects, resolving the contradiction between lowering fixing temperature and maintaining reliability.
2Temperature
If low-melting point release agent is used to enable low-temperature fixing, then fixing temperature is reduced, but belt-shaped or stripe-shaped image defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The composite release agent system combines a low-melting-point component (enabling low-temperature fixing) with a high-melting-point component (preventing belt-shaped and stripe-shaped image defects). The high-melting-point component acts as a stabilizer that prevents the formation of image defects while allowing the low-melting-point component to achieve low-temperature fixing, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature reduction and image quality maintenance.
3Productivity
If conventional release agents are used in high-speed image forming apparatus, then productivity is maintained, but document offset occurs when prints are piled up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite release agent system where the high-melting-point component (80-120°C) provides superior document offset resistance when prints are piled up, while the low-melting-point component maintains productivity by enabling efficient low-temperature fixing in high-speed apparatus. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between maintaining high printing speed and preventing document offset.
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 method ensures high-speed image forming at low temperatures with sufficient fixing strength, minimal image defects, and limited document offset, enhancing the overall efficiency and quality of printed images.
Implementation Method 1
charging a surface of a photoreceptor
Implementation Method 2
exposing the charged photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image
Implementation Method 3
fixing the toner image transferred on the transfer material employing a contact-heating fixing devise
Implementation Method 4
it is necessary to use a release agent having a lower melting point
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method comprising the steps of: (i) charging a surface of a photoreceptor; (ii) exposing the charged photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image; (iii) developing the electrostatic latent image using a toner comprising at least a release agent to form a toner image; (iv) transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor to a transfer material; and (v) fixing the toner image transferred on the transfer material employing a contact-heating fixing devise comprising a pair of belts, wherein the releasing agent comprises a first release agent component containing a monoester compound represented by Formula (1) and a second release agent component containing a hydrocarbon having a branched chain structure, wherein a content of the first release agent is 40 to 98% by mass, based on a total mass of the first release agent component and the second release agent component:R1—COO—R2. Formula (1)