Toner Release Agent Melting Point for Ultrasonic Transfer Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming using oilless toner, the transfer of toner images onto a transfer material is hindered by the removal of release agents due to supersonic vibrations, leading to issues like the transfer material winding around the fixing roller and poor color balance and density in full-color images.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method employing toner with a volume-basis median diameter of 3.0 to 5.0 μm and containing a release agent with a melting point between 40° C. and 75° C., along with a lubricant, to stabilize the toner images during ultrasonic vibration, preventing the removal of the release agent and ensuring stable transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If supersonic waves are applied to transfer toner images, then transfer efficiency is improved, but release agents are removed from toner particles causing transfer material to wind around fixing roller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the release agent by specifying a melting point range of 40°C to 75°C and using specific chemical structures (fatty acid esters, fatty acid amides, etc.). This parameter optimization allows the release agent to remain stable during ultrasonic vibration while still providing adequate release function, preventing the transfer material from winding around the fixing roller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite toner structure where the release agent is integrated within the toner particle matrix along with resin and colorant. This composite structure protects the release agent from being completely removed by ultrasonic vibration, while still allowing it to function during the transfer and fixing processes.
2Productivity
If supersonic waves are applied to transfer toner images, then transfer efficiency is improved, but color balance and density deteriorate due to release agent removal
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the release agent's melting point (40°C to 75°C) and chemical structure, the patent ensures that the release agent remains sufficiently bound to toner particles during ultrasonic transfer, preventing excessive removal that would cause color imbalance and density loss in the transferred image.
3Strength
If externally added agents are removed together with release agents, then toner image adhesion to photoconductor increases, but transfer rate decreases making full-color image superposition difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the adhesion characteristics by selecting release agents with specific melting points and chemical structures that provide balanced adhesion to the photoconductor while maintaining sufficient transferability. The melting point range of 40°C to 75°C ensures that the release agent provides adequate adhesion during image formation but allows efficient transfer during the transfer process.
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
This method prevents the removal of release agents from toner particles during ultrasonic vibration, thereby stabilizing the image transfer process, ensuring correct superposition of color toner images and achieving high-quality full-color images without offsetting or winding issues.
Implementation Method 1
a step of transferring the toner image from the image carrying member to a transfer member applying ultrasonic vibration
Implementation Method 2
contains a releasing agent with a melting point in the range of from 40° C. to 75° C.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method, comprising: a step of forming a toner image on a image carrying member; and a step of transferring the toner image from the image carrying member to a transfer member, wherein toner forming the toner image has a volume-basis median diameter of 3.0 to 5.0 μm, contains a releasing agent with a melting point in the range of from 40° C. to 75° C., and is added with a lubricant.