Toner Fixing with Ester Softening Agent for Odor and Transfer Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming methods using organic solvents face issues with strong odor generation and toner transfer when another print medium is overlaid on a printed medium with a fixing solution applied, due to volatility and incomplete curing of toner images.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method and apparatus using toner particles with a binder resin containing a condensate of straight-chain diol and alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A, combined with an ester-based softening agent having a boiling point of at least 180°C, to soften and cure the binder resin effectively, preventing solvent volatilization and toner transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an organic solvent with high volatility is used as the fixing solution, then the toner image can be formed, but a strong odor is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of the fixing solution from high volatility to low volatility organic solvents. This parameter change eliminates the strong odor problem while maintaining the toner image formation capability, as the low volatility prevents excessive evaporation and odor generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of low volatility organic solvents that remain in liquid state longer, allowing sufficient time for toner image formation without rapid evaporation. This controlled phase behavior prevents the strong odor associated with rapid vaporization of high volatility solvents.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If an organic solvent with low volatility is used as the fixing solution, then the strong odor is suppressed, but the toner is hard to cure after being softened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite toner structure containing both a binder resin and a curable component. The binder resin is softened by the low volatility organic solvent, while the curable component reacts to form a crosslinked structure, ensuring complete curing even with slower solvent evaporation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a curable component in the toner that undergoes curing reaction after solvent application. This preliminary preparation of curable materials ensures that the toner will cure properly even when using low volatility solvents that take longer to evaporate, resolving the curing reliability issue.
3Productivity
If another print medium is overlaid on a print medium with applied fixing solution, then the printing process continues, but the softened toner transfers to the another print medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the toner with curable components before the fixing solution is applied. After the low volatility solvent softens the binder resin, the curable component undergoes a curing reaction that locks the toner image in place, preventing transfer to subsequent print media even during continuous printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state of the toner from soft and transferable to cured and stable through a chemical reaction. This parameter change in the toner's molecular structure ensures image stability and prevents unwanted transfer when print media are overlaid during continuous printing.
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 suppresses strong odor generation and prevents toner transfer to another print medium, ensuring stable image formation and adhesion without thermal pressurization.
Implementation Method 1
applying, to the toner image, a fixing solution containing an ester-based softening agent having a boiling point of not less than 180° C. so as to fix the toner image to the print medium
Implementation Method 2
toner particles having a binder resin which contains a condensate of straight-chain diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A and polyvalent carboxylic acid
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method includes: forming a toner image on a print medium by using a toner including toner particles having a binder resin which contains a condensate of straight-chain diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A and polyvalent carboxylic acid; and applying, to the toner image, a fixing solution containing an ester-based softening agent having a boiling point of not less than 180° C. so as to fix the toner image to the print medium.