Toner External Additive Silica Compression Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrostatic charge image developing toners face issues with fluidity and aggregation properties, leading to image defects such as color streaks due to the excessive passing of resin particles and silica particles, which affect the cleaning properties and charging performance.

Innovation Solution

The use of silica particles with a compression aggregation degree of 60% to 95% and a particle compression ratio of 0.20 to 0.40, combined with resin particles containing polymerized (meth)acrylic acid ester, as external additives to the toner particles, enhances fluidity and aggregation properties, preventing excessive passing and maintaining high fluidity and charging performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If silica particles and resin particles are used as external additives to improve fluidity, then fluidity is improved, but excessive passing occurs leading to image defects such as color streaks

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefluidityVSAvoidimage defects

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the compression aggregation degree (60-95%) and particle compression ratio (0.20-0.40) of silica particles, along with their surface potential (-10 to -30 mV), to optimize the balance between fluidity and preventing excessive passing that causes image defects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite external additive system combining specifically treated silica particles with resin particles containing polymerized (meth)acrylic acid ester, where each component has complementary properties that together prevent excessive passing while maintaining fluidity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If silica particles are used as external additives to improve cleaning properties, then cleaning properties are improved, but aggregation properties deteriorate leading to excessive passing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning propertiesVSAvoidaggregation properties

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the aggregation state parameter of silica particles by controlling compression aggregation degree (60-95%) and particle compression ratio (0.20-0.40), which enhances both cleaning properties and aggregation stability simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces resin particles containing polymerized (meth)acrylic acid ester as an intermediary that bridges silica particles and toner particles, improving both cleaning properties and aggregation stability through coordinated interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If resin particles are used as external additives to prevent excessive passing, then charging performance is maintained, but fluidity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging performanceVSAvoidfluidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite external additive system where resin particles containing polymerized (meth)acrylic acid ester work synergistically with specifically treated silica particles, combining the charging performance benefits of resin with the fluidity benefits of silica

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS9904197B2Electrostatic charge image developing toner, electrostatic charge image developer, and toner cartridge

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin, and an external additive including silica particles having a compression aggregation degree is from 60% to 95% and a particle compression ratio is from 0.20 to 0.40, and resin particles containing a polymer obtained by polymerizing a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer.