Two Component Developer Silicon Surface Additives
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the trickle developing system for electrophotographic image formation, the degradation and deterioration of image quality over extended periods result in issues like increased background density and toner scattering due to differences in charging characteristics between replenished and residual carriers, leading to premature developer deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A two-component developer is employed, comprising a toner with colored particles and minute external additive particles made of complex oxides containing silicon, titanium, and aluminum, where the surface ratio of silicon atoms is higher than the average ratio, which helps in controlling excessive charging and migration of particles, thereby stabilizing the charge distribution and reducing image defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the trickle developing system is used to gradually replace carrier, then the developer replacement cycle is extended, but image quality degrades over time due to charging characteristic differences between replenished and residual carrier
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the minute external additive particles by controlling the surface ratio of silicon atoms to be higher than the bulk ratio. This parameter change modifies the charging characteristics of the toner, enabling it to compensate for the charging difference between replenished and residual carrier, thereby maintaining image quality throughout the extended developer replacement cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite minute external additive particles containing multiple elements (silicon, titanium, aluminum) with specific compositional ratios. These composite particles provide both the necessary charge providing capability and the ability to control excessive charging, resolving the contradiction between extended replacement cycle and maintained image quality
2Reliability
If minute external additive particles made of insulating materials like silica are used in toner, then charge providing capability is enhanced, but excessive charging occurs causing particles to migrate to carrier and broaden charge amount distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the compositional parameters of the minute external additive particles by incorporating titanium and aluminum elements alongside silicon, with controlled atomic ratios. This parameter change modifies the electrical properties of the particles, enabling them to provide charge effectively while preventing excessive charging and particle migration to the carrier
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite minute external additive particles containing silicon, titanium, and aluminum in specific ratios. This composite structure provides both high charge providing capability (from silicon) and controlled charge release (from titanium and aluminum), maintaining stable charge amount distribution throughout the developing 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
The use of specific minute external additive particles in the toner retards excessive charging and migration, leading to improved image quality and extended developer replacement cycles by maintaining stable charge distribution and preventing toner scattering and background density increases, allowing for high-quality image formation over a longer period.
Implementation Method 1
since the carrier exhibits charge providing capability, it is capable of assuredly providing charge to the toner, and further, since many triboelectric charge providing sites exist, it is possible to realize a rapid charge rise
Implementation Method 2
When excessively charged, the resulting particles migrate to the carrier to lower its charging property. When fresh new carrier is replenished in such a state, the difference in charge providing capability of both is increased
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for forming an image containing the steps of: (a) forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier; and (b) developing the electrostatic latent image by a two component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, wherein the two component developer is continually replenished in the developing step (b); and the toner includes: colored particles; and external additive particles comprising a complex oxide incorporating silicon atoms and at least one of titanium atoms and aluminum atoms, and a surface existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R2) in a surface of the external additive particles being larger than an average existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R1) in an entirety of the external additive particles.