Toner Surface Filler Layer for Image Quality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current toner technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality image formation with small particle sizes and spherical shapes, as they compromise on transferring properties and cleanability due to increased non-electrostatic adherence and burst phenomena, and existing solutions either degrade transferring properties or fail to maintain image quality over multiple prints.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a binder resin, inorganic fine particles, and a filler layer on its surface, where the filler is contained in a filler-layer in the vicinity of the toner-base particle, providing appropriate adherence and cleanability while maintaining high transferring properties and fixability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If toner particle diameter is reduced to a few micrometers or less, then dot-reproductivity is improved, but non-electrostatic adherence increases and releasing properties degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface layer on the toner particle with different properties from the core. The surface layer has a specific glass transition temperature range (0°C to 100°C) and contains specific components (binder resin, charging agent, and optionally wax) that differ from the particle core, providing localized adherence control at the particle surface while maintaining small overall particle size for good dot-reproductivity
2Reliability
If toner is formed in a spherical shape, then transferring properties are improved, but cleanability degrades due to rolling behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface layer on the toner particle with different properties from the core. The surface layer has a specific glass transition temperature range (0°C to 100°C) and contains specific components (binder resin, charging agent, and optionally wax) that differ from the particle core, providing localized adherence control at the particle surface while maintaining small overall particle size for good dot-reproductivity
3Productivity
If high-electric field is induced for recording medium release, then transferring rate is improved, but burst phenomenon occurs causing toner scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the glass transition temperature of the surface layer within a specific range (0°C to 100°C). This temperature parameter control modifies the surface properties to achieve optimal adherence balance, allowing high transferring rates while preventing burst phenomenon and toner scattering during recording medium release
4Device complexity
If conventional blade cleaning is used, then cleanability is simplified, but spherically formed toner cannot be cleaned effectively due to rolling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the glass transition temperature of the surface layer within a specific range (0°C to 100°C). This temperature parameter control modifies the surface properties to achieve optimal adherence balance, allowing high transferring rates while preventing burst phenomenon and toner scattering during recording medium release
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 achieves excellent transferring properties, cleanability, and fixability, ensuring high-quality image formation even after printing multiple sheets without degrading image quality, by controlling adherence and charge stability through its surface structure.
Implementation Method 1
control surface conditions of a toner so as to properly give adherence between a toner and a photoconductor or adherence among toner particles
Implementation Method 2
a spherically formed toner makes an image transfer true to a latent image along the line of electric force
Implementation Method 3
non-electrostatic adherence such as van der Waals force or the like which works on between a toner and a photoconductor increases in proportion to its empty weight
Data Source
AI summary
The object of the invention is to provide a toner enabling excellent transferring properties, cleanability, and fixability and forming a high-precision image without substantially degraded image quality even after printed on a number of sheets of paper. The invention also provides the toner-production method, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a process cartridge. To this end, the present invention provides a toner which comprises toner-base particles containing a binder resin and a filler, and inorganic fine particles, in which the filler is included in a filler-layer in the vicinity of surfaces of the toner-base particles, the number average particle diameter of the primary particles of the inorganic fine particles is 90 nm to 300 nm, and the average circularity of the toner is 0.95.