Toner Composition for Filter-Free Electrophotography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers and copiers without filters face challenges in miniaturization and maintenance due to toner soiling, requiring a solution that balances low-temperature fixing ability and high-temperature offset resistance while minimizing soiling inside the machine and environment.
Innovation Solution
A toner composition comprising a resin binder, a colorant, and a hydrocarbon wax with specific melting point and heat absorption properties, combined with a crystalline polyester resin, is applied to achieve excellent soiling resistance, low-temperature fixing, and high-temperature offset resistance without a filter in the gas exhaust part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is installed in the gas exhaust part to capture organic substances from toner, then soiling inside the apparatus and environment is reduced, but the apparatus size increases and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the filter component from the gas exhaust part of the apparatus. Instead of capturing organic substances with a filter, the invention modifies the toner composition itself to reduce organic substance generation, thereby eliminating the need for a filter and simplifying the apparatus structure while still reducing soiling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the toner by specifying a resin binder with Tg of 80°C or lower and limiting the content of organic substances generating components. This parameter change in toner formulation reduces the generation of organic substances during fusing, thereby reducing soiling without requiring additional filtration equipment
2Productivity
If the apparatus is miniaturized to reduce size and cost, then productivity and efficiency improve, but toner scattering causes increased soiling and requires filters that counteract miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the toner composition, specifically using a resin binder with Tg of 80°C or lower and controlling the content of organic substance-generating components. This enables low-temperature fixing that reduces toner scattering and soiling, allowing miniaturized apparatuses to operate efficiently without filters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite toner material system comprising a resin binder, colorant, and inorganic substance, where the resin binder is specifically selected to have Tg of 80°C or lower. This composite material formulation achieves both low-temperature fixing capability and reduced organic substance generation, resolving the conflict between miniaturization and soiling control
3Temperature
If low-temperature fixing is implemented to meet miniaturization requirements, then fixing ability improves, but offset resistance and image quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the toner by specifying a resin binder with Tg of 80°C or lower, which enables low-temperature fixing. Simultaneously, the patent controls the molecular weight and composition of the resin binder to maintain adequate offset resistance, achieving a balance between fixing temperature and image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite toner formulation combining a resin binder with Tg of 80°C or lower, colorant, and inorganic substances. This composite material system achieves low-temperature fixing while maintaining offset resistance through the synergistic effects of the different components, preventing image deterioration despite reduced fixing temperature
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 effectively suppresses soiling within the machine, maintains low-temperature fixing ability, and enhances high-temperature offset resistance, ensuring efficient image formation and reduced maintenance in miniaturized printing devices.
Implementation Method 1
contains components melting at a temperature equal to or lower than 65°C having an amount of heat absorption as determined by a differential scanning calorimeter of less than 7.5 J/g
Implementation Method 2
an amount of heat absorption as determined by a differential scanning calorimeter
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method for forming fixed images including the step of applying a toner for electrostatic image development containing at least a resin binder, a colorant, and a releasing agent to an apparatus for forming fixed images without a filter in a gas discharge part, wherein the resin binder contains a polyester, and wherein the releasing agent is a hydrocarbon-based wax, wherein the hydrocarbon-based wax has a melting point as determined by a differential scanning calorimeter of from 70° to 85 °C, and contains components melting at a temperature equal to or lower than 65°C having an amount of heat absorption as determined by a differential scanning calorimeter of less than 7.5 J/g, and a toner for electrostatic image development used in a method for forming fixed images. The method for forming fixed images of the present invention is suitably used in the development of a latent image formed in, for example, electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method or the like.