Toner with Controlled Square Radius of Inertia for Low-Temperature Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality images with consistent gloss across a wide temperature range, especially in high-speed developing systems, and struggle with low-temperature fixability, offset resistance, and storage stability.
Innovation Solution
A toner composition featuring a binder resin with a branched low-molecular weight component, characterized by specific square radii of inertia and molecular weight distribution, which enhances low-temperature fixability, gloss, and offset resistance, while maintaining high developability and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the molecular weight of the binder resin is reduced to improve low-temperature fixability, then fixation temperature is reduced, but storage stability and offset resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the molecular weight (5,000-20,000) and square radius of inertia (1.0-3.8 nm) of the binder resin. This optimization allows the toner to achieve low-temperature fixability while maintaining adequate storage stability and offset resistance through the specific molecular characteristics of the binder resin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by formulating a binder resin that combines polyester units with specific molecular weight and branching characteristics. The composite structure of the binder resin, with controlled square radius of inertia and molecular weight distribution, enables simultaneous achievement of low-temperature fixability, storage stability, and offset resistance.
2Productivity
If the fixation speed is increased to improve productivity, then output speed is improved, but gloss uniformity deteriorates due to temperature variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the binder resin's square radius of inertia (1.0-3.8 nm) and molecular weight (5,000-20,000), which enables the toner to maintain consistent gloss across a wide temperature range. This allows high-speed fixation while preserving gloss uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring the binder resin has specific local molecular characteristics (controlled square radius of inertia and molecular weight distribution) that enable uniform melting and gloss formation across the entire toner image, even under high-speed fixation conditions with temperature variations.
3Device complexity
If the pressure is reduced in the fixing system to simplify the device, then device complexity is reduced, but gloss and fixation quality worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the binder resin's molecular weight (5,000-20,000) and square radius of inertia (1.0-3.8 nm), which enables the toner to achieve excellent gloss and fixation quality even under low-pressure fixing conditions. This eliminates the need for high-pressure fixing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the reliance on mechanical pressure for achieving good fixation quality with chemical and physical properties of the optimized binder resin. The specific molecular characteristics of the binder resin enable effective fixation and gloss formation without requiring high mechanical pressure.
4Reliability
If the molecular weight of the binder resin is increased to improve storage stability, then storage stability is improved, but low-temperature fixability and gloss deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the molecular weight (5,000-20,000) and square radius of inertia (1.0-3.8 nm) of the binder resin. This optimization achieves a balance where storage stability is maintained while low-temperature fixability and gloss quality are improved.
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 low-temperature fixability, high gloss, and improved offset resistance, ensuring high-quality images even in high-speed developing systems and low-pressure fixing environments, with enhanced storage stability and consistent gloss across a wide temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
the surface of the heat roller and the toner image in a molten state are brought into contact with each other under pressure
Implementation Method 2
the temperature of the surface of the heat roller is set to be low when a fixation speed is low, while the temperature of the surface of the heat roller is set to be high when the fixation speed is high
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a toner which is excellent in low-temperature fixability and transparency and has high gloss, and which is excellent in offset resistance, storage stability, and development stability. The toner is characterized in that: a square radius of inertia Rt at a peak top of a main peak in GPC-RALLS-viscometer analysis of tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble matter when the toner is dissolved in a THF solvent at 25° C. for 24 hours is 1.0 nm to 3.8 nm; and the square radius of inertia Rt and a square radius of inertia Rp at a peak top of a main peak in GPC-RALLS-viscometer analysis of THF soluble matter when linear polystyrene, having an absolute peak molecular weight value at the same value as a main peak value of the toner, is dissolved in a THF solvent at 25° C. for 24 hours satisfy the relationship of Rt/Rp<0.85.