Toner with Alkyl-Bonded Polyester Resin for Fixing Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toners experience contamination of the fixing unit in electrophotographic devices due to the volatilization of low-melting waxes during high-speed printing, leading to reduced low-temperature fixability and increased contamination at higher print speeds.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a polyester resin composition containing long-chain alkyl components bonded to the main binder, optimizing the carbon number distribution and content to suppress volatilization and enhance low-temperature fixability, characterized by a specific endothermic peak temperature and quantity measured by DSC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If low-melting waxes are used to improve low-temperature fixability, then the toner can be fixed at lower temperatures, but the waxes volatilize under heat and cause contamination of the fixing unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular weight parameters of the wax components, specifically using high molecular weight paraffin wax (average molecular weight 3000-10000) and high molecular weight ester wax (average molecular weight 500-2000), to change the volatilization characteristics while maintaining the low-temperature fixing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite wax system combining multiple types of waxes (paraffin wax, ester wax, and microcrystalline wax) with specific molecular weight ranges, where each component contributes different properties to achieve both low-temperature fixability and reduced volatilization
2Productivity
If print speed is increased to improve productivity, then more documents can be printed per unit time, but the fixing unit contamination occurs more easily due to excess heat application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the melting point parameters of the wax components to a specific range (60.0°C to 90.0°C) and controls the endothermic quantity (0.10 J/g to 1.90 J/g) to optimize the heat absorption characteristics during fixing, enabling rapid melting at high print speeds while suppressing excessive volatilization
3Speed
If high fixation temperature is set for high print speed, then instantaneous melting of toner is achieved, but excess heat causes increased volatilization of wax components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of the wax components by selecting materials with specific melting points (60.0°C to 90.0°C) and controlling the endothermic quantity, enabling the wax to undergo rapid solid-to-liquid transition during fixing while minimizing the temperature range where volatilization occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameters of the wax components to high molecular weight ranges, which increases the thermal stability and raises the volatilization temperature while maintaining the desired melting characteristics for rapid fixing
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 reduces contamination of the fixing unit and maintains excellent low-temperature fixability even at high print speeds, ensuring efficient and stable operation of electrophotographic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a peak top temperature of an endothermic peak in the polyester resin composition is from 60.0° C. to 90.0° C.
Implementation Method 2
an endothermic quantity of the endothermic peak is from 0.10 J/g to 1.90 J/g
Implementation Method 3
The generation of a volatile component during fixing can be suppressed by this bonding of a low-melting component to the main binder because the apparent molecular weight is increased
Data Source
AI summary
A toner including a toner particle containing a polyester resin composition, wherein i) the polyester resin composition contains a specific aliphatic hydrocarbon and a polyester resin having at a terminal a structure derived from at least one of a specific alkyl monoalcohol and a specific alkyl monocarboxylic acid, and ii) the total content of the aliphatic hydrocarbon, the structure derived from the alkyl monoalcohol, and the structure derived from the alkyl monocarboxylic acid is 2.5 to 10.0% by mass, wherein, in the temperature-endothermic quantity curve of the polyester resin composition obtained by DSC, an endothermic peak is present in a specific temperature range and an endothermic quantity for this endothermic peak is 0.10 to 1.90 J/g.