JP2007033773A - Toner for image formation and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner free of trouble in storage of a fixed image, particularly a toner free of trouble in image storage immediately after double-sided printing, and an image forming apparatus, as well as to provide a toner which fixes at low temperature, can ensure hot offset resistance and blocking resistance, and does not cause deterioration of developability and transferability due to faulty dispersion of constituents of the toner. <P>SOLUTION: The toner contains at least a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polyester as a binder resin and further contains an inorganic nucleation agent. The toner has a peak with an amount of absorbed heat of ≥1.0 J/g originating in the crystalline polyester on an endothermic curve in first temperature up measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, and the endothermic peak has an amount of absorbed heat corresponding to 40 to <100% of the first amount in second temperature up. The toner is used in the image forming apparatus of an inner paper ejection section structure with a space as an inner paper ejection section prepared between an image read section for reading an original image and an imaging section for forming a recorded image on a recording sheet in a main unit case of the apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming toner and an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, a paper discharge tray for discharging a recording medium on which an image has been formed is not projected from the side surface of the apparatus body, and the recording medium is discharged below the document reading unit and above the image forming unit. An in-body paper discharge type image forming apparatus provided with a paper storage unit for storing paper has been put into practical use.

In the conventional apparatus, an installation place that takes into account the paper discharge tray protruding from the side surface of the machine frame is necessary, and there is a problem that the paper hits the paper discharge tray and is easily broken. However, the in-body discharge type apparatus has an advantage that it can be easily installed even in a small place because the area occupied by the machine is small.
In an in-cylinder sheet discharge type apparatus that discharges an image-formed sheet to a cylinder-shaped space provided in the apparatus housing, the sheet discharge storage unit forms a discharge drum part (space part) in the machine frame. Out of a total of six face walls consisting of two upper and lower faces and four side faces (four sides on the front, back, left, and right), three sides (left and right sides) of the four side walls (other than the top and bottom faces), excluding the front of the device main body (the side for taking out the sheet and operating) In addition to the front side of the apparatus main body and the front side in the paper discharge direction being opened in addition to the front side of the apparatus main body (in addition to the part of the upper surface member being removed, In addition, it is possible to consider other parts except the lower surface), but there are few open portions around the paper discharge storage unit.
In addition to the case where the side surface of the apparatus main body is surrounded by a wall member, there is an in-body discharge type apparatus in which the document reading unit is supported by a support on the image forming unit. Even in such a case, when the device is pushed into a small space such as a corner space of a room or between other installations, the back and sides of the device will be blocked as a result. In many cases, the open part around the storage part is reduced.
When a large number of sheets are output with such an image forming apparatus, the discharge storage unit tends to be higher than room temperature due to the heat of the heat-fixed recording medium, but it is difficult to dissipate heat because there are few open parts, and it is higher than room temperature. Easy to hold.

  On the other hand, energy saving of image forming apparatuses has been promoted, and in the heat and pressure fixing of a toner image formed with an image, low temperature fixing (or high speed fixing) of the toner is required. In recent years, it has also been important to save energy in the fixing device, and a method for improving the temperature responsiveness of the toner by reducing the heat capacity of the fixing member has been adopted. In order to achieve low-temperature fixing with such a fixing device, the toner needs to be fixed at a temperature lower than that of conventional toners. On the other hand, not only an amorphous resin but also a crystalline polyester is used as a binder resin. Many reports have been made. Crystalline polyester melts rapidly near its glass transition temperature, so anchoring effect (for example, the paper surface of the sheet and entanglement with the fibers) fixes the binder resin at a lower temperature than toner containing only amorphous resin. It becomes easy to do.

  However, using only crystalline polyester may be insufficient to achieve low-temperature fixability (or high-speed fix) higher than conventional, and even if low-temperature fixability can be achieved, The blocking resistance may not be satisfied. In order to achieve low-temperature fixability higher than before, it is necessary that the crystalline polyester is compatible with the amorphous resin to lower the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the toner and lower the melting viscosity lowering start temperature. . However, in order to ensure hot offset resistance and blocking resistance, it is necessary that the crystalline polyester and the amorphous resin are incompatible and dispersed. In order to satisfy the compatibility / non-compatibility state of the non-crystalline polyester-crystalline polyester in such a trade-off relationship, the low-temperature fixability, the hot offset resistance and the blocking resistance are For compatibility, various methods have been reported for the combination of crystalline polyester and amorphous polyester.

A method in which raw material monomers having a similar structure are contained in the respective raw material monomers of the crystalline polyester and the amorphous resin so that they are easily compatible with each other (Patent Document 1). While the crystalline polyester and the amorphous resin are incompatible with each other, a method for obtaining sufficient low-temperature fixability (Patent Document 2), while the crystalline polyester and the amorphous resin are easily compatible with each other, A method in which both have a phase separation structure (Patent Document 3).
Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-262978) describes a resin A having a softening point of 120 to 170 ° C. and a glass transition point of 55 to 75 ° C. in order to achieve both low-temperature fixability and offset resistance. A resin B having a point of 120 to 170 ° C., a glass transition point of 58 to 75 ° C., a chloroform insoluble fraction of less than 5% by weight, and a crystalline resin C having a melting point of 80 to 140 ° C. is used. It contains inorganic solid particles of 0 to 2.0 μm, and tan δ (ratio of loss elastic modulus G ”to storage elastic modulus G ′ (G“ / G ′)) in the viscoelasticity measurement is 0.05 to 0.05 at 150 ° C. 1.5, and a loss elastic modulus G "having a value of 5.0 × 10 ² Pa or less is described. Patent Document 5 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-309517) describes crystallinity excellent in low-temperature fixability. In order to efficiently produce resin-containing toner, the softening point and heat of fusion Melting 100 parts by weight of polyester crystalline resin having a large peak temperature ratio (softening point / peak temperature) of 0.6 to 1.3 and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of inorganic solid particles having a particle size of 20 nm to 3 μm Kneading is described.

  However, no consideration has been given to the blocking resistance of the toner after fixing, even if the toner has such a low-temperature fixability and can secure hot offset resistance and blocking resistance.

  In recent years, there are many opportunities for duplex printing to save paper resources. When the toner has insufficient blocking resistance after fixing, when a large number of sheets are output by double-sided printing, the contacted images are likely to stick to each other due to blocking. If the blocking state is severe, an image defect may occur when peeling off.

  In an in-cylinder paper discharge type image forming apparatus that is difficult to dissipate heat, sheets that have undergone a fixing process are stacked one after another in a paper discharge storage part that is difficult to dissipate heat, so that images after fixing are more easily blocked than conventional image forming apparatuses. Is in a state. Nevertheless, conventional low-temperature fixing toners rarely cause problems with image blocking resistance.

However, since crystalline polyester is accompanied by the release of internal latent heat for transitioning from the amorphous state to the crystalline state when cooled, compared with the amorphous resin, the calorific value is large, and the toner containing this Becomes difficult to cool after being melted. This can also be said for an image after fixing, and an image formed with a toner containing crystalline polyester is harder to cool than before after fixing.
For this reason, the discharge storage portion of the in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus using such toner tends to maintain a higher temperature than when conventional low-temperature fixing toner is used, and the image is likely to be blocked. is there.
Furthermore, when the crystalline polyester is recrystallized, the toner that secures blocking resistance is in a state where the image is likely to be blocked if the toner is cooled and recrystallization does not proceed. When blocking occurs, the image surface may become rough when images are peeled off. Further, when the blocking is severe, when the images are peeled off, the toner on one image may be peeled off from the recording medium, resulting in an image defect.
Therefore, when the crystalline polyester-containing toner is used for an in-cylinder paper discharge type image forming apparatus, a toner having particularly excellent image blocking resistance is required.

  Further, in the crystalline polyester-containing toner, securing the blocking resistance of a fixed image is important as a toner used in an image forming apparatus that meets the demands for energy saving and space saving.

Japanese Patent No. 3449995 JP 2003-167384 A JP 2004-151535 A JP 2003-262978 A JP 2004-309517 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner that can be fixed at a low temperature, can secure hot offset resistance and blocking resistance, and does not deteriorate in developability or transferability due to poor dispersion of the toner components. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner that does not have a problem in storing a fixed image, and particularly to provide a toner and an image forming apparatus that have no problem in storing an image immediately after double-sided printing.

  The present inventors have found that an image forming apparatus having an in-cylinder discharge unit structure in which a space serving as an in-cylinder discharge unit is provided between the image reading unit and the image forming unit of the apparatus main body casing is extremely excellent. However, based on the recognition that the toner used in the image forming apparatus of this structure has the above-mentioned problems, as a result of intensive investigation on the toner suitable for the in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus, As for the toner containing crystalline polyester, the relationship with the toner having no problem in image storability was found from the comparison of the toner characteristics after giving the thermal history, and the present invention was achieved. Here, the image forming apparatus having the in-body sheet discharge unit structure includes an image reading unit that reads an original image and an image reading unit that forms an image on a recording sheet. A type of image forming apparatus in which a space serving as an in-body sheet discharge unit is provided between the image unit and the image forming apparatus described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3607807 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-25211.

That is, the above-mentioned problem is (1) “a toner containing at least a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polyester as a binder resin and further containing an inorganic nucleating agent, and measured by a differential scanning calorimeter of the toner. There is a peak derived from crystalline polyester with an endotherm of 1.0 J / g or more in the endothermic curve at the first temperature rise, and the endothermic peak is 40% of the first endotherm at the second temperature rise. The toner is less than 100% and includes an image reading unit that reads an original image and an image forming unit that forms a recorded image on a recording sheet. Toner characterized by being used in an image forming apparatus having an in-cylinder discharge unit structure provided with a space serving as an in-cylinder discharge unit ”,
(2) “The toner according to item (1), wherein the content of the crystalline polyester in the binder resin is 5 to 40% by mass”;
(3) “The toner according to item (1) or (2), wherein the amorphous polyester is mainly composed of an aromatic diol and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid”,
(4) “The toner according to item (3) above, wherein the flow tester 1/2 outflow temperature (T _1/2 ) of the amorphous resin is 125 to 145 ° C.”,
(5) “The toner according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the crystalline polyester has a melting point of 100 to 130 ° C.”,
(6) In the "weight average particle size of 3～6.5Myuemu, the ratio of the weight average particle diameter and _{(D 4)} to a number average particle diameter _{(D 1) (D 4 /} D 1) is 1.00 to 1. It is achieved by the toner according to any one of Items (1) to (5), which is in the range of 40.
The above-described problem is solved by (7) “electrostatic latent image carrier, electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and electrostatic latent image of the present invention. Developing means for developing a visible image by using the toner according to any one of (1) to (6), and a transfer means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium; An image forming apparatus having fixing means for fixing a transfer image transferred to a recording medium ”,
(8) An in-body discharge unit is provided between the image reading unit and the image forming unit of the apparatus main body housing having an image reading unit for reading a document image and an image forming unit for forming a recorded image on a recording sheet. An image forming apparatus having an in-body paper discharge unit structure provided with a space, wherein the image forming unit includes the electrostatic latent image carrier, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit. This is achieved by an “image forming apparatus having an in-body sheet discharge section structure”, which forms a visible image using the toner according to any one of (1) to (6).
Furthermore, the above-described problem is solved by (9) “electrostatic latent image carrier of the present invention and the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier of the above items (1) to (6). It is achieved by a “process cartridge” characterized in that it has at least a developing unit that develops a visible image by developing using any of the toners described above and can be mounted in an image forming apparatus.

  As will be apparent from the following detailed and specific description, the present invention enables fixing at low temperatures, ensuring hot offset resistance and blocking resistance, and deteriorates developability and transferability due to poor dispersion of toner components. Can provide a toner having no problem in storing a fixed image, and can provide a toner having no problem in storing an image immediately after double-sided printing. There is an effect.

The present invention is described in detail below.
The toner of the present invention contains, as a binder resin, a crystalline polyester (hereinafter also referred to as “crystalline polyester (A)”) and an amorphous polyester, and an endothermic curve at the first temperature increase in DSC measurement of the toner. There is a peak with an endotherm of 1.0 J / g or more derived from the crystalline polyester, and in the second endothermic curve, the endothermic amount of the peak derived from the crystalline polyester is 40% to 100% of the first endotherm. Less than.

The crystalline polyester (A) has a property that the melt viscosity is suddenly lowered near the melting point, but the melting point is high and it is a hard resin until it melts.
The toner of the present invention not only achieves both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance by functional separation of the sharp melt property of the crystalline polyester (A) and the elasticity of the amorphous polyester, but also the crystalline polyester (A). It exhibits sufficient low-temperature fixability due to partial miscibility of amorphous polyester and amorphous polyester. Moreover, blocking resistance is also ensured by presence of crystalline polyester (A) which maintained crystallinity.
In order for the crystalline polyester (A) and the amorphous polyester to exhibit their respective functions, it is necessary that both have a phase-separated structure and the crystalline polyester is maintained with crystallinity. This can be confirmed by the presence of an endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester (A) in the endothermic curve at the first temperature increase in the DSC measurement of the toner. If this endothermic amount is 1.0 J / g, there is a crystalline polyester (A) that maintains crystallinity to the extent that there is no problem with hot offset resistance and blocking resistance, and 2.0 J / g. If it is g or more, a toner having particularly good blocking resistance can be obtained. However, if this endothermic amount is too large, there will be too many crystalline holding portions with a high melting point, which may impair the low-temperature fixability, so it is preferably less than 15 J / g. The large endothermic amount also indicates that the content of crystalline polyester in the toner is large, and various problems due to the large content are likely to occur.
Furthermore, in order to prevent image defects due to fusing immediately after discharging the fixed image, the fixed image immediately after discharging requires the presence of crystalline polyester (A) that retains crystallinity. It can be confirmed by the presence of an endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester (A) in the endothermic curve at the second temperature increase. If this endothermic amount is 40% or more and less than 100% of the first endothermic endothermic temperature, a toner in which the fixed image immediately after paper discharge is difficult to fuse can be obtained.

In the toner melted at the time of fixing, the crystalline polyester (A) also melts and loses crystallinity. Immediately after fixing, the toner forming the image starts to solidify, but the recrystallization of the crystalline polyester is delayed. The earlier this recrystallization is, the easier it is for the crystalline polyester (A) that retains the crystallinity to be present in the fixed image after paper discharge, thereby preventing the fusion of the images.
If the endothermic amount is less than 40%, recrystallization of the crystalline polyester is slow, and there is a case where the image immediately after paper discharge has no sufficient crystalline portion and the image is fused. Further, at 100%, partial compatibility between the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester hardly occurs, and the low-temperature fixing effect due to the inclusion of the crystalline polyester (A) may not be sufficiently exhibited.

  The fusion of the fixed image immediately after paper discharge is likely to occur when printing a large number of sheets where the temperature of the fixed image is difficult to decrease. Further, the image forming apparatus for in-cylinder sheet discharge, which has a structure that does not easily dissipate heat at the sheet discharge place, is difficult to lower the temperature of the fixed image, and the toner of the present invention is effective as a toner used in such an apparatus. .

In order to obtain the toner of the present invention, it is effective to add a material that promotes recrystallization of the crystalline polyester (A) into the toner. Such a material is a seed for recrystallization of the crystalline polyester, and includes a highly crystalline material that starts solidifying at a higher temperature than the crystalline polyester (A) and inorganic fine particles.
Among these materials, the effect of promoting the recrystallization of the crystalline polyester (A) is great by adding a small amount of inorganic fine particles without impairing the toner quality. As the inorganic fine particles, known materials can be used, but colorless or white ones are preferable because they can be used for full-color toners. For example, silica, alumina, talc, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, chromium oxide, Examples include cerium oxide, pengala, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. In particular, silica, alumina, and talc are preferable because they have a large effect of promoting recrystallization. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 nm to 2 μm, and more preferably 5 nm to 500 nm.
The content of the inorganic fine particles in the toner is preferably 0.1 to 5.0% by mass, and more preferably 0.2 to 3.0% by mass.

In order to obtain the toner of the present invention, a combination of a crystalline polyester and an amorphous resin in which the crystalline polyester (A) and the amorphous resin are partially compatible and recrystallization is accelerated. is required.
In the present invention, since the amorphous resin is polyester, it is partially compatible with the crystalline polyester (A). Moreover, since the crystalline polyester (A) of the present invention is preferably composed mainly of an aliphatic diol and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, either the acid component or the alcohol component of the amorphous polyester is an aliphatic compound. By this, it becomes easier to be compatible. However, recombination tends to be slow in a combination in which the compatible portion tends to increase. Therefore, in the present invention, the composition of the amorphous polyester is preferably composed mainly of an aromatic diol (and a derivative thereof) and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid (and a derivative thereof).

The compatibility between the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester differs depending on the characteristics.
The higher the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester, the worse the compatibility becomes, but conversely, it is easy to maintain the crystallinity in the toner.
When combined with such a crystalline polyester, those having close melt viscosities are more compatible with each other, and are less compatible with resins having a higher gel content and higher molecular weight components and higher melt viscosities. Therefore, in this invention, it is preferable that the flow tester 1/2 outflow temperature (T1 _{/ 2} ) of amorphous polyester is 120-160 degreeC, and it has especially aromatic diol and aromatic dicarboxylic acid as a main component. In the case of amorphous polyester, it is preferable that it is 125-145 degreeC. If the temperature is lower than 120 ° C, the compatibility may be too high, and not only the fixed image but also the toner before fixing may not be able to secure the blocking resistance. If the temperature is higher than 160 ° C, the resins are not sufficiently kneaded. In some cases, the dispersibility of the toner constituent material is deteriorated or the toner does not become a low-temperature fixing toner.

  In the present invention, the melting point of the crystalline polyester (A) is preferably low from the viewpoint of low-temperature fixability, but if it is too low, it is difficult to ensure blocking resistance, so 80 to 130 ° C. is preferable. In particular, 100 ° C. or higher is preferable in order to easily secure the blocking resistance of the fixed image. If the temperature is 100 ° C. or higher, it is easy to obtain a highly crystalline product, and the toner containing such a crystalline polyester (A) tends to have many crystalline portions in a fixed image. When the temperature exceeds 130 ° C., the contribution of the toner to low-temperature fixing becomes small. The crystallinity of the crystalline polyester can be determined from the endothermic amount in DSC measurement, and the higher the endothermic amount, the higher the crystallinity. In the present invention, when the endothermic amount is 45 J / g or more, the crystallinity is high.

  By increasing the content of the crystalline polyester (A), a large amount of crystalline portions are likely to be present in the fixed image. However, if the content ratio is too high, the dispersion state of the toner constituting material tends to be deteriorated. Therefore, the content of the crystalline polyester (A) is preferably 5 to 40% by mass with respect to the binder resin. More preferably, it is 5-30 mass%. When the amount is less than this range, not only the toner does not easily have a crystalline portion, but also low temperature fixability may not be obtained. On the other hand, if it is larger than this range, blocking resistance and hot offset resistance may not be ensured.

In the toner of the present invention, it can be confirmed as follows that the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester are partially compatible with each other and the recrystallization is accelerated.
That is, a mixed product (mass ratio 1: 1) of the crystalline polyester (A) and the amorphous resin is 10 ° C. using, for example, a differential scanning calorimeter (“DSC-60” manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). After raising the temperature to 20-150 ° C./min, after cooling to 0 ° C. at a temperature lowering rate of 10 ° C./min without a holding time, the second temperature increase when measured at a temperature raising rate of 10 ° C./min Sometimes the glass transition temperature determined by the tangential method is 2 ° C. to 12 ° C. lower (more preferably 3 ° C. to 8 ° C. lower) than the glass transition temperature of the amorphous resin, and is derived from the crystalline resin. When there is an endotherm, it can be determined that the crystalline polyester and the amorphous resin are a combination that is partially compatible with each other and accelerates recrystallization. In the case where the endotherm derived from the crystalline polyester overlaps with the endotherm of the amorphous resin, the endothermic amount of the peak is larger than the endothermic amount of the amorphous resin estimated from the mixing ratio. It can be determined that there is an endotherm derived from the crystalline polyester.
In the present invention, it is most preferable that all of the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester contained in the toner have the above combination. However, the crystalline polyester or the amorphous polyester not having the above combination is 25% by mass. Less than may be included.
In the present invention, the toner of the present invention can be easily obtained by containing the combination of crystalline polyester and amorphous polyester in the toner as a binder resin.

  The DSC measurement of the toner in the present invention is carried out by using a differential scanning calorimeter (“DSC-60”; manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), raising the temperature to 20 to 150 ° C. at 10 ° C./min, and then decreasing the temperature without holding time. The temperature is cooled to 0 ° C. at 10 ° C./min, and again raised to 150 ° C. at a temperature rising rate of 10 ° C./min without holding time. In the present invention, the endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester is present in the vicinity of 80 to 130 ° C., which is the melting point of the crystalline polyester, and the endothermic amount is determined from the area surrounded by the baseline and the endothermic curve. When the endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester (A) overlaps with the endothermic peak of the wax, the endothermic amount of the wax is subtracted from the endothermic amount of the overlapped peak. The endothermic amount of the wax is calculated from the endothermic amount of the wax alone and the wax content in the toner.

  The melting point of the crystalline polyester (A) of the present invention is a value obtained from DSC measurement, and is the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak at the second temperature increase. Further, the endothermic amount of the crystalline polyester (A) is obtained from the area of the range surrounded by the endothermic curve and the base line using the same endothermic curve as that for obtaining the melting point. The DSC measurement conditions are the same as the toner DSC measurement conditions.

The toner flow tester 1/2 outflow temperature (T _1/2 ) in the present invention can be determined from a flow curve measured using an elevated flow tester CFT500 type (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). T _1/2 is a stroke when a sample of 1 cm ³ is melted and discharged under the conditions of a die hole diameter of 1 mm, a die hole length of 1 mm, a pressure of 10 kgf / cm ² , and a temperature rising rate of 3 ° C./min. This is the temperature at which the stroke change amount from the start point to the outflow end point is ½.

The crystalline resin (A) can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and includes an alcohol component containing a diol compound having 2 to 20 carbon atoms and derivatives thereof, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid. Polyester resins synthesized using polyvalent carboxylic acid compounds such as alicyclic dicarboxylic acids and acid components containing these derivatives are preferred.
The aliphatic polyester resin (A) can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but is configured by the following general formula (1) in that a toner having high sharp melt property can be formed. Polyester resins containing units are preferred.

前記式中、Ｒは炭素数２〜２０の２価炭化水素基を示す。好ましくは炭素数２〜２０、より好ましくは２〜４の肪族基２価炭化水素基である。ｎは２〜２０、好ましくは２〜６の整数である。前記２価化炭化水素基としては、結晶性を損なわないものであればどのようなものでもよく、特に制約されない。この２価炭化水素基には、脂肪族２価炭化水素基及び芳香族２価炭化水素基が包含されるが、好ましい２価炭化水素基は、脂肪族２価炭化水素基である。脂肪族２価炭化水素基には、直鎖状のもの及び分岐鎖状のものが包含されるが、好ましくは直鎖状脂肪族２価炭化水素基である。本発明の場合、Ｒは、特に、直鎖状不飽和脂肪族２価炭化水素基であるのが好ましい。前記２価炭化水素基の具体例を示すと、エチレン基、ｎ−プロピレン基、ビニレン基、プロペニレン基、イソプロペニレン基、ｎ−ブチレン基、フェニレン基、シクロヘキシレン基等が挙げられる。

In said formula, R shows a C2-C20 bivalent hydrocarbon group. Preferably it is a C2-C20, More preferably, it is a C2-C4 aliphatic group bivalent hydrocarbon group. n is an integer of 2 to 20, preferably 2 to 6. The divalent hydrocarbon group is not particularly limited as long as it does not impair the crystallinity. The divalent hydrocarbon group includes an aliphatic divalent hydrocarbon group and an aromatic divalent hydrocarbon group, and a preferred divalent hydrocarbon group is an aliphatic divalent hydrocarbon group. The aliphatic divalent hydrocarbon group includes straight-chain and branched-chain groups, and is preferably a straight-chain aliphatic divalent hydrocarbon group. In the present invention, R is particularly preferably a linear unsaturated aliphatic divalent hydrocarbon group. Specific examples of the divalent hydrocarbon group include an ethylene group, an n-propylene group, a vinylene group, a propenylene group, an isopropenylene group, an n-butylene group, a phenylene group, and a cyclohexylene group.

  The polyester resin (A) comprises (i) a polyvalent carboxylic acid component comprising a divalent carboxylic acid or a reactive derivative thereof (an acid anhydride, a lower alkyl ester having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an acid halide, etc.), and (ii) It can be produced by subjecting a polyhydric alcohol component comprising a diol to a polycondensation reaction by a conventional method. In this case, a tri- or tetravalent carboxylic acid can be added to the polyvalent carboxylic acid component. In addition, a trivalent or tetravalent alcohol can be added to the polyvalent diol component.

  Specific examples of the divalent carboxylic acid include maleic acid, fumaric acid, 1,3-n-propene dicarboxylic acid, 1,4-n-butenedicarboxylic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, and sebacin. Examples include acids, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid and the like. Specific examples of the diol include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and the like. The addition amount of the trivalent to tetravalent carboxylic acid used as necessary is usually 40 mol% or less, preferably 20 mol% or less, more preferably 10 mol% or less, based on the total carboxylic acid. The polyester to be added is appropriately added within the range having crystallinity.

  Specific examples of the trivalent to tetravalent carboxylic acid that can be added as needed include trimellitic anhydride, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1, 2,4-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-hexanetricarboxylic acid, 1,3-dicarboxyl-2-methylenecarboxypropane, 1,2,7,8-octane Examples thereof include polyvalent carboxylic acids such as tetracarboxylic acid.

  A trivalent or higher polyhydric alcohol can be added to the polyhydric alcohol component, if necessary, in addition to a small amount of an aliphatic branched dihydric alcohol or cyclic dihydric alcohol. The amount of addition is 40 mol% or less, preferably 20 mol% or less, more preferably 10 mol% or less, based on the total alcohol, and is suitably added within the range in which the resulting polyester has crystallinity. Examples of polyhydric alcohol added as needed include 1,4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane, polyethylene glycol, bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct, bisphenol A propylene oxide adduct, glycerin and the like.

  The crystallinity of the crystalline polyester (A) can be confirmed by the presence of three or more diffraction peaks at a position of 2θ = 19 to 25 ° in a diffraction pattern by a powder X-ray diffractometer. The diffraction pattern can be confirmed by measuring powder using an XRD standard sample holder under the following conditions using an X-ray diffractometer (“RINT-1100”; manufactured by Rigaku Electric Co., Ltd.). That is, tube: Cu, tube voltage / current: 50 KV-30 mA, goniometer: wide angle goniometer, sampling width: 0.020 °, scanning speed: 2.0 ° / min, scanning range: 5-50 °. Presence of a diffraction peak can be determined by performing a peak search on a smoothed point of 11 and determining the presence or absence from the detected peak.

  The amorphous resin is preferably based on polyester. This polyester is synthesized from a polyhydric alcohol and a polycarboxylic acid. The polyhydric alcohol and the polyhydric carboxylic acid are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, components used for the crystalline polyester resin can be suitably used. In addition, an alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, and derivatives thereof can be used. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In the present invention, as described above, aromatic diols and aromatic dicarboxylic acids are preferred, and in particular, polyesters composed of bisphenol A alkylene oxide adducts and derivatives thereof and isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid and derivatives thereof are preferred.

  You may contain resin other than polyester. For example, styrene, α-methylstyrene, chlorostyrene, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-vinyl chloride copolymer, styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, Styrene resins such as styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid ester copolymer, polyester resin, vinyl chloride resin, rosin modified maleic acid resin, phenol resin, Examples thereof include an epoxy resin, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, an ionomer resin, a polyurethane resin, a silicone resin, a ketone resin, a xylene resin, a petroleum resin, and a petroleum resin to which hydrogen is added.

  The glass transition temperature of the amorphous resin is preferably 40 to 70 ° C. When the glass transition temperature is less than 40 ° C., the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner is remarkably deteriorated and blocking may occur, and when it exceeds 70 ° C., the low-temperature fixability of the toner may be deteriorated. The glass transition temperature of the amorphous resin was raised to 20 to 150 ° C. at 10 ° C./min using a differential scanning calorimeter (“DSC-60”; manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), and then the temperature was lowered without holding time. When measuring to cool to the measurement start temperature at a rate of 10 ° C / min and then increasing again to 150 ° C at a rate of temperature increase of 10 ° C / min, the endothermic curve at the second temperature rise is on the lowest temperature side The peak to be obtained can be obtained by the tangent method.

  In addition to the binder resin, the components constituting the toner include colorants, release agents, inorganic fine particles, resin fine particles, charge control agents, fluidity improvers, cleaning improvers, magnetic materials, etc. can do. There is no restriction | limiting in particular in these, According to the objective, it can select suitably.

The colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known dyes and pigments according to the purpose. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, ocher, yellow lead, titanium yellow, polyazo yellow, oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), pigment yellow L, benzidine yellow (G, GR), Permanent Yellow (NCG), Vulcan Fast Yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, Isoindolinone Yellow, Bengala, Lead Red, Lead Red, Cadmium Red, Cad Muum Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, PA Red, Faise Red, Parachlor Ortho Nitroaniline Red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carmine BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Risor Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake, Thioindigo Red B, Thioindigo Maroon, Oh Lured, Quinacridone Red, Pyrazolone Red, Polyazo Red, Chrome Vermilion, Benzidine Orange, Perinone Orange, Oil Orange, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Peacock Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Metal Free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue (RS, BC), Indigo, Ultramarine Blue, Bitumen, Anthraquinone Blue, Fast Violet B, Methyl Violet Lake, Cobalt Purple, Manganese Purple, Dioxane Violet, Anthraquinone Violet, Chrome Green, Zinc Green, Oxidation Chrome, Pyridian, Emerald Green, Pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Ash Examples include degreen lake, malachite green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, and lithobon.
These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

The content of the colorant in the toner is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 1 to 15% by mass, and more preferably 3 to 10% by mass.
When the content is less than 1% by mass, a reduction in the coloring power of the toner is observed. When the content exceeds 15% by mass, poor pigment dispersion in the toner occurs, the coloring power decreases, The characteristics may be degraded.

  The colorant may be used as a master batch combined with a resin. The resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, styrene or a substituted polymer thereof, a styrene copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate , Polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic hydrocarbon resin, alicyclic ring Aromatic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, paraffin wax, and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  Examples of the polymer of styrene or a substituted product thereof include polyester resin, polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyl toluene, and the like. Examples of the styrene copolymer include a styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, a styrene-propylene copolymer, a styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, a styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, and a styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer. Polymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene- Butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene An acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, Styrene - maleic acid copolymer, styrene - maleic acid ester copolymer, and the like.

  The masterbatch can be produced by mixing or kneading the masterbatch resin and the colorant under high shear. At this time, it is preferable to add an organic solvent in order to enhance the interaction between the colorant and the resin. Also, the so-called flushing method is preferable in that the wet cake of the colorant can be used as it is, and there is no need to dry it. This flushing method is a method of mixing or kneading an aqueous paste containing water of a colorant together with a resin and an organic solvent, and transferring the colorant to the resin side to remove moisture and organic solvent components. For the mixing or kneading, for example, a high shear dispersion device such as a three-roll mill is preferably used.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said mold release agent, According to the objective, it can select suitably from well-known things, For example, waxes etc. are mentioned suitably.
Examples of the waxes include low molecular weight polyolefin waxes, synthetic hydrocarbon waxes, natural waxes, petroleum waxes, higher fatty acids and metal salts thereof, higher fatty acid amides, and various modified waxes thereof. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
Examples of the low molecular weight polyolefin wax include low molecular weight polyethylene wax and low molecular weight polypropylene wax.
Examples of the synthetic hydrocarbon wax include Fischer-Tropsch wax.
Examples of the natural waxes include beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, rice wax, and montan wax.
Examples of the petroleum waxes include paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax.
Examples of the higher fatty acid include stearic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, and the like.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as melting | fusing point of the said mold release agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 65-110 degreeC is preferable and 70-90 degreeC is especially preferable.
When the melting point is less than 65 ° C., the release agent may adversely affect blocking resistance. When the melting point exceeds 110 ° C., a cold offset may easily occur during fixing at a low temperature. Paper wrapping around the printer may occur.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content in the said toner of the said mold release agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 1-20 mass parts is preferable, and 3-10 mass parts is more preferable. When the content exceeds 20 parts by mass, the fluidity of the toner is deteriorated, and problems such as contamination of other members may be observed.

The inorganic fine particles are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, titanate Strontium, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, pengala, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, carbonized Examples thereof include silicon and silicon nitride. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 nm to 2 μm, and more preferably 5 nm to 500 nm. The specific surface area of the inorganic fine particles by BET method is preferably 20 to 500 m ² / g.
The content of the inorganic fine particles in the toner is preferably 0.01 to 5.0% by mass, and more preferably 0.01 to 2.0% by mass.
The inorganic fine particles can be suitably used as an external additive for the toner.

The resin fine particles are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known resins according to the purpose, and may be a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin, such as a vinyl resin, Examples thereof include polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, polyimide resin, silicon resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, urea resin, aniline resin, ionomer resin, and polycarbonate resin.
These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. Among these, at least one selected from vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, and polyester resins is preferable because an aqueous dispersion of fine spherical resin particles can be easily obtained.

The vinyl resin is a polymer obtained by homopolymerizing or copolymerizing a vinyl monomer. For example, a styrene- (meth) acrylic acid ester resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a (meth) acrylic acid-acrylic acid ester polymer. Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, and the like.
Moreover, as the resin fine particles, a copolymer comprising a monomer having at least two unsaturated groups can be used.
The monomer having at least two unsaturated groups is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a sodium salt of ethylene oxide methacrylate adduct sulfate (“Eleminol RS-30”). "; Manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries Ltd.), divinylbenzene, 1,6-hexanediol acrylate and the like.

  The volume average particle diameter of the resin fine particles is preferably 20 to 400 nm, and more preferably 30 to 350 nm. When the volume average particle size is less than 20 nm, the resin fine particles remaining on the surface of the toner may be formed into a film, or the entire surface of the toner may be covered densely. Adhesiveness with fixing paper as a transfer material may be hindered, and the minimum fixing temperature may be increased. If it exceeds 400 nm, the resin fine particles inhibit the exudation of the wax component, and sufficient releasability is obtained. It may not be obtained and an offset may occur.

The resin coverage of the resin fine particles is preferably 75 to 100%, more preferably 80 to 100%. When the toner coverage is less than 75%, the storage stability of the toner is deteriorated, and blocking may occur during storage or use.
The content of the resin fine particles in the toner is preferably 0.5 to 8.0% by mass, and more preferably 0.6 to 7.0% by mass. When the content is less than 0.5% by mass, the storability of the toner deteriorates, and blocking may be observed during storage or use. When the content exceeds 8.0% by mass, The resin fine particles hinder the seepage of the wax, so that sufficient releasability cannot be obtained and offset may occur.

  The charge control agent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. However, since a color tone may change when a colored material is used, a colorless or nearly white material may be used. Preferably, for example, nigrosine dye, triphenylmethane dye, chromium-containing metal complex dye, molybdate chelate pigment, rhodamine dye, alkoxy amine, quaternary ammonium salt (including fluorine-modified quaternary ammonium salt), alkylamide And a simple substance of phosphorus or a compound thereof, a simple substance of tungsten or a compound thereof, a fluorine-based activator, a metal salt of salicylic acid, a metal salt of a salicylic acid derivative, and the like. Among these, salicylic acid metal salts and metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives are preferred. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said metal, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, aluminum, zinc, titanium, strontium, boron, silicon, nickel, iron, chromium, zirconium etc. are mentioned.

Commercially available products may be used as the charge control agent. Examples of the commercially available products include quaternary ammonium salt Bontron P-51, oxynaphthoic acid metal complex E-82, and salicylic acid metal complex. E-84, E-89 of a phenol-based condensate (above, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries), TP-302, TP-415 of a quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex (above, manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), Fourth Copy charge PSY VP2038 of quaternary ammonium salt, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge of quaternary ammonium salt NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR which is a boron complex -147 (manufactured by Nippon Carlit), quinacridone, azo pigment, other sulfonic acid groups, carbo Sill group, polymer compounds having a functional group such as quaternary ammonium salts, and the like.
The charge control agent may be melted and kneaded with the master batch and then dissolved or dispersed, or may be added together with each component of the toner when directly dissolving or dispersing in the organic solvent, or The toner particles may be fixed on the toner surface after production.

  The content of the charge control agent in the toner varies depending on the type of the binder resin, the presence / absence of an additive, a dispersion method, and the like, and cannot be generally specified. On the other hand, 0.1-10 mass parts is preferable, and 1-5 mass parts is more preferable. When the content is less than 0.1 parts by mass, the charging characteristics of the toner may be deteriorated. When the content exceeds 10 parts by mass, the chargeability of the toner becomes too large, and the effect of the main charge control agent is increased. , And the electrostatic attraction force with the developing roller increases, which may lead to a decrease in developer fluidity and a decrease in image density.

  The fluidity improver means a material that can be surface treated to increase hydrophobicity and prevent deterioration of flow characteristics and charging characteristics even under high humidity. For example, a silane coupling agent, a silylating agent, Examples thereof include a silane coupling agent having a fluoroalkyl group, an organic titanate coupling agent, an aluminum coupling agent, silicone oil, and modified silicone oil.

  The cleaning improver is added to the toner in order to remove the developer after transfer remaining on the photoreceptor or the primary transfer medium, and includes, for example, fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, stearic acid, and the like. Examples thereof include polymer fine particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization such as methyl methacrylate fine particles and polystyrene fine particles. The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution, and those having a volume average particle size of 0.01 to 1 μm are suitable.

  The method for producing the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known methods according to the purpose. For example, a pulverization method in which the material forming the toner is melt-kneaded and then pulverized and classified. And polymerization methods.

  The toner of the present invention is not particularly limited with respect to various physical properties such as shape and size, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. However, the following glass transition temperature, volume average particle diameter, etc. It is preferable to have.

  The glass transition temperature of the toner is preferably 35 to 70 ° C, and more preferably 45 to 60 ° C. In particular, the glass transition temperature of the toner is preferably lower than the glass transition temperature of the amorphous polyester in order to develop low-temperature fixing due to partial compatibility between the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester. When the glass transition temperature of the toner is lower than this range, the blocking resistance tends to be insufficient, and when it is high, it is difficult to obtain low-temperature fixability.

The volume average particle diameter of the toner is preferably 2.5 to 10 μm, and more preferably 2.5 to 7 μm, for example.
When the volume average particle size is less than 2.5 μm, in the two-component developer, the toner may be fused to the surface of the carrier during a long period of stirring in the developing device, and the charging ability of the carrier may be reduced. In a one-component developer, toner filming to the developing roller and toner fusion to a member such as a blade are likely to occur because the toner layer is thinned. Therefore, it becomes difficult to obtain a high-quality image, and when the balance of the toner in the developer is performed, the variation in the particle diameter of the toner may increase.
The volume average particle size can be measured using, for example, a particle size measuring device “Multisizer II” manufactured by Beckman Coulter.

  The coloration of the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and can be at least one selected from black toner, cyan toner, magenta toner and yellow toner. This toner can be obtained by appropriately selecting the type of the colorant.

The toner of the present invention is used as a developer for the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The developer contains at least the toner of the present invention, and other components appropriately selected such as a carrier. The developer may be a one-component developer or a two-component developer. However, when it is used for a high-speed printer or the like corresponding to the recent improvement in information processing speed, the life is improved. In view of the above, the two-component developer is preferable.
In the case of the one-component developer using the toner of the present invention, even if the balance of the toner is performed, there is little fluctuation in the particle diameter of the toner, and the filming of the toner on the developing roller or the toner is made thin. Therefore, the toner is not fused to a member such as a blade, and good and stable developability and image can be obtained even when the developing device is used (stirred) for a long time. Further, in the case of the two-component developer using the toner of the present invention, even if the balance of the toner over a long period of time is performed, the fluctuation of the toner particle diameter in the developer is small, and even in the long-term stirring in the developing device, Good and stable developability can be obtained.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said carrier, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, What has a core material and the resin layer which coat | covers this core material is preferable.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a material of the said core material, It can select suitably from well-known things, For example, 50-90 emu / g manganese-strontium (Mn-Sr) type material, manganese-magnesium (Mn-) Mg) -based materials and the like are preferable, and highly magnetized materials such as iron powder (100 emu / g or more) and magnetite (75 to 120 emu / g) are preferable in terms of securing image density. In addition, a weakly magnetized material such as a copper-zinc (Cu—Zn) -based (30 to 80 emu / g) is advantageous in that it can weaken the contact with the photoconductor in which the toner is in a spiked state and is advantageous in improving the image quality. Is preferred. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The core material has a volume average particle diameter of preferably 10 to 150 μm, more preferably 40 to 100 μm.
When the average particle diameter (volume average particle diameter (D50)) is less than 10 μm, in the distribution of carrier particles, the fine powder system increases, the magnetization per particle is lowered, and carrier scattering may occur. If the thickness exceeds 150 μm, the specific surface area may be reduced and toner scattering may occur. In the case of a full color with many solid portions, the reproduction of the solid portions may be particularly poor.

  The material of the resin layer is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from known resins according to the purpose. For example, amino resins, polyvinyl resins, polystyrene resins, halogenated olefin resins, Polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyethylene resin, polyvinyl fluoride resin, polyvinylidene fluoride resin, polytrifluoroethylene resin, polyhexafluoropropylene resin, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic monomer, vinylidene fluoride And a copolymer of vinyl fluoride, a fluoroterpolymer such as a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, and a non-fluorinated monomer, and a silicone resin. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  Examples of the amino resin include urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, urea resin, polyamide resin, and epoxy resin. Examples of the polyvinyl resin include acrylic resin, polymethyl methacrylate resin, poly Examples include acrylonitrile resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, and polyvinyl butyral resin. Examples of the polystyrene resin include polystyrene resin and styrene acrylic copolymer resin. Examples of the halogenated olefin resin include polyvinyl chloride. Examples of the polyester resin include polyethylene terephthalate resin and polybutylene terephthalate resin.

  The resin layer may contain conductive powder or the like as necessary. Examples of the conductive powder include metal powder, carbon black, titanium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide. The average particle diameter of these conductive powders is preferably 1 μm or less. When the average particle diameter exceeds 1 μm, it may be difficult to control electric resistance.

For example, the resin layer is prepared by dissolving the silicone resin or the like in a solvent to prepare a coating solution, and then uniformly coating the coating solution on the surface of the core material by a known coating method, drying, and baking. It can be formed by doing. Examples of the application method include an immersion method, a spray method, and a brush coating method.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said solvent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, For example, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cersol butyl acetate, etc. are mentioned.
The baking is not particularly limited, and may be an external heating method or an internal heating method. For example, a stationary electric furnace, a fluid electric furnace, a rotary electric furnace, a burner furnace, etc. The method of using, the method of using a microwave, etc. are mentioned.

The amount of the resin layer in the carrier is preferably 0.01 to 5.0% by mass.
When the amount is less than 0.01% by mass, the uniform resin layer may not be formed on the surface of the core material. When the amount exceeds 5.0% by mass, the resin layer becomes thick. In some cases, granulation of carriers occurs, and uniform carrier particles may not be obtained.

  When the developer is the two-component developer, the content of the carrier in the two-component developer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, 90 to 98% by mass Is preferable, and 93-97 mass% is more preferable.

Since the developer of the present invention contains the toner of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a balance between chargeability and fixability during image formation, and stably form high-quality images. .
The developer of the present invention can be suitably used for image formation by various known electrophotographic methods such as a magnetic one-component development method, a non-magnetic one-component development method, and a two-component development method. The image forming apparatus can be particularly suitably used.

(Image forming device)
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an electrostatic latent image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image as an electrophotographic developer. And developing means for forming a visible image by developing the image, transfer means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, and fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium. The toner of the present invention is used as a photographic developer. The electrostatic latent image forming unit may include an exposure unit that performs imagewise exposure on the electrostatic latent image carrier based on read image information from an image reading unit that reads an original image. In order to prepare for the next image forming cycle after the completion of one image forming cycle, a cleaning means for removing the remaining developer remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier may be provided.

  Preferably, the in-body discharge unit is provided between the image reading unit and the image forming unit of the apparatus main body housing, which includes an image reading unit that reads an original image and an image forming unit that forms a recorded image on a recording sheet. An image forming apparatus having an in-cylinder paper discharge unit structure provided with a space to be provided, wherein the image forming unit includes the electrostatic latent image carrier, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit. A visible image is formed using the toner of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus having the in-body sheet discharge portion structure according to the present invention.
An image forming apparatus (1) shown in this figure includes a main body casing (7) of the apparatus, a paper feeding section (8) that is optionally attached to a lower portion of the main body casing (7), and an upper surface of the main body casing (7). And an automatic document feeder (generally referred to as “ADF”) (3) as an example of the image reading unit mounted on the printer. This image forming apparatus (1) has the functions of a copying machine and a printer, and a facsimile function, and also converts the image information (optical signal) of the read document into an electrical signal to form an image, so-called digital composite. Machine.
The main body housing (7) has an image forming section (5) disposed substantially at the center thereof, and a paper feeding section (8) positioned below the image forming section (5).

  A scanner unit (4) as a document reading unit is disposed at the top of the main body. A space is provided between the scanner unit (4) and the image forming unit (5), and this space is configured as an in-body discharge unit (6). Many conventional image forming apparatuses are configured as a wing type in which a paper discharge tray extends to the side of the apparatus. However, the housing body (7) in the present embodiment makes use of the characteristics of a digital machine to create an image. The part (5) and the scanner part (4) are separated, and a paper discharge space is provided between them to achieve winglessness, thereby realizing a space-saving image forming apparatus with no protrusion on the side of the apparatus. is there.

  In the main body housing (7), the image forming section (5) is configured as a conventionally known electrophotographic print engine, and incorporates a laser writing device, an electrophotographic process means, a fixing device, etc. (not shown). The paper feed section (8) has a two-stage paper feed cassette (81) and supplies recording paper to the image forming section (5). Each cassette (81) is a front loading type in which paper is replenished by being pulled out toward the front side of the apparatus, and a drawer handle is provided in the center of the front surface of the cassette.

  The in-body discharge unit (6) has three side surfaces except the front, that is, the left and right sides in FIG. 3 and the back side of the apparatus are surrounded by wall surfaces, and is further surrounded by the scanner unit (4) and the image forming unit (5). It is. The in-body paper discharge section (6) is provided with a paper discharge tray (61) at the bottom, and the paper discharge tray (61) is formed or installed on the upper surface of the image forming section (5). . In FIG. 3, a paper transport path (not shown) is provided in the left paper discharge unit side wall (65), and the paper on which recording has been performed by the image forming unit (5) is the height of the side wall (65). The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray (61) from a position slightly below the center in the vertical direction. If a paper discharge switching mechanism is provided at an appropriate position on the paper transport path in the side wall (65), a plurality of auxiliary trays can be attached to the upper part of the paper discharge tray (61) to discharge the paper. It becomes.

  The ADF (3) is mounted on the upper part of the main body (1) by a hinge (not shown) provided on the back side of the apparatus, and is installed so as to cover the contact glass on the upper surface of the scanner part (4) so that it can be opened and closed. Has been. Since the configuration and operation of the ADF (3) are the same as those conventionally known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, a document bundle (not shown) set on the document table (17) is one sheet from the lower side. The originals that have been conveyed onto the contact glass one by one and have been read and scanned by the scanner unit (4) are discharged onto the original paper discharge unit (18). ADF (3) can be used as a pressure plate when copying without automatic paper feeding or when copying books or notebooks. When the optional ADF (3) is not mounted, a pressure plate for pressing the document on the contact glass is mounted on the upper surface of the scanner unit (4).

  The paper feed unit (8a) has a two-stage paper feed cassette, like the paper feed unit (8) of the main body (1). Therefore, in the image forming apparatus (1) of the present embodiment, the paper feed unit is configured by a total of four stages of paper feed cassettes. The upper cassette of the main body feeding unit (8) can be changed to an automatic duplex unit (duplex tray) to enable duplex copying.

Here, the copying operation in the image forming apparatus (1) of the present embodiment will be briefly described by taking the case of using the ADF (3) as a pressure plate as an example.
The ADF (3) is opened, and the document is placed on the contact glass on the upper surface of the scanner unit (4). After the ADF (3) is closed, the number of copies and the like are designated by an operation unit provided in front of the apparatus (a half-moon shaped part in front of the document discharge unit (18) in FIG. 2) and the start button is pressed. Then, reading of the original by the scanner unit is started, and image information of the read original is digitized by photoelectric conversion and image processing is performed. Based on the processed signal, the image forming unit (5) forms an image, which appears on the paper fed from the paper feed cassette (81) of the main body paper feed unit (8) or the paper feed unit (8a). An image (toner image with the toner of the present invention) is transferred. The toner image transferred onto the paper is fixed by the fixing device and discharged onto the paper discharge tray (61) of the paper discharge section (6). Note that an example of image formation by the electrophotographic method in the image forming unit (5) will be described in detail in another example later.

When the image forming apparatus (1) is used as a facsimile, the original set on the ADF (3) is read by the scanner unit (4) and transmitted. When the received image information is recorded, it is recorded on the paper fed from the paper feeding unit (8) by the image forming unit (5) and discharged onto the paper discharge tray (61).
As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the discharged paper on the paper discharge tray (61) is an in-cylinder paper discharge type image forming apparatus, so that only the front side is opened.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention as seen obliquely from the front. The image forming apparatus shown here is connected to the image forming apparatus main body (1) adjacent to the side thereof. And the automatic document feeder (3) (ADF; automatic document feeder) mounted on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body (1). FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus main body (1). The finisher (2) and the automatic document feeder (3) are devices that are mounted as options according to the user's request.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram when the image forming apparatus main body (1) is viewed from the left side of FIG. 5 with the automatic document feeder (3) and the finisher (2) removed. As shown in FIG. 6, when the operator (OP) operating the image forming apparatus faces the image forming apparatus main body (1) in a normal posture, the side facing the operator (OP) is the image forming apparatus main body (1). ) Or the front part (F) of the main body casing (7), and the back side opposite to this is the image forming apparatus main body (1) or the rear part (R) of the main body casing (7). The direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, that is, the left-right direction of the operator facing the image forming apparatus main body (1) is the width direction (W) of the image forming apparatus main body (1) or the main body casing (7) (FIG. 4). And FIG. 5).

  The image forming apparatus of this example is configured as a multifunction machine having functions of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile. The image forming apparatus main body (1) reads an original image as will be described later and an operation unit (16). An image reading unit (4) and an image forming unit (5) for forming a recorded image on a recording sheet are provided. The operation unit (16) is located on the front side, that is, the front side of the image reading unit (4), and the operation unit (16) and the main body housing portion of the image reading unit (4) are integrally connected. The image forming unit (5) is located below the image reading unit (4) and the operation unit (16). As is known per se, the operation unit (16) is provided with various keys such as a print start key, a mode switching key, a numeric keypad, and the operator can operate the image forming apparatus by pressing a predetermined key. . In addition, a recording sheet on which a recording image is formed in the imaging unit (5) is discharged between the operation unit (16) and the image reading unit (4) and the imaging unit (5). A paper discharge space (6) is defined. A paper feeding section (8) for feeding the recording sheet (P) (FIG. 5) to the image forming section (5) is disposed at the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body (1).

  The finisher (2) and the automatic document feeder (3) are mounted according to the user's request. Therefore, the image forming apparatus may be configured only by the image forming apparatus main body (1). Further, at least a part of the paper feed unit (8) can be configured as a paper feed unit separate from the image forming apparatus main body.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 6, the paper discharge space (6) is opened in a state where the front portion and the left side portion thereof communicate with each other, and an operator can enter the paper discharge space (6) from the opening. You can insert your hand. The “communication state” means an open part of the paper discharge space (6). In the example of FIG. 4, there is no column or the like at the boundary between the front part and the left part, and the open part is It means that it is a continuous open part. Further, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the right portion of the paper discharge space (6) can be opened. As described above, the paper discharge space is opened in a state where at least one of the one end side and the other end side in the main body casing width direction and the front portion of the paper discharge space communicate with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the image reading unit (4) of this example includes a light source (9), first to third mirrors (10), (11), (12), and an imaging lens (13). And a CCD (14) which is an example of a photoelectric conversion element, and these elements are arranged inside the main body housing portion of the image reading unit (4), and a contact glass (15) is fixed to the upper part thereof. ing. When the print start key of the operation unit (16) is pressed, the document set on the document table (17) of the automatic document feeder (3) is automatically fed onto the contact glass (15) and on it. Placed. A document placed on the contact glass (15) is indicated by a symbol (D) in FIG.

  On the other hand, the light source (9) and the first mirror (10), and the second and third mirrors (11) and (12) move to the right in FIG. 5, and the original (D) by the light from the light source (9). Is reflected, and the reflected light is reflected by the first to third mirrors (10), (11), (12), passes through the imaging lens (13), and reaches the CCD (14). In this way, the original image is formed on the CCD (14), and this is photoelectrically converted. As described above, the image reading unit (4) of the image forming apparatus of this example includes an optical system that forms an image of a document and a photoelectric conversion element that forms an image of the document image. The original image is read by 4). The document (D) whose image has been read is automatically conveyed to the paper discharge unit (18) of the automatic document feeder (3). When the automatic document feeder (3) is not provided, a pressure plate for pressing the document placed on the contact glass (15) is provided.

  On the other hand, the image forming unit (5) includes a belt-shaped photoconductor (19) which is an example of an image carrier and various elements described below, and these elements are included in the image forming unit (5). It is arranged inside the main body casing. The schematic configuration of the image forming unit (5) is as follows.

  The photoreceptor (19) is wound around a plurality of rollers and driven to rotate in the direction of arrow (A), and the endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer body (20) wound around the plurality of rollers is also a photoreceptor (19). Is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow (B) while in contact with. When the photoconductor (19) rotates, the surface of the photoconductor is charged to a predetermined polarity by a charger (21) disposed opposite thereto. On the other hand, laser light (L) light-modulated in accordance with the image information read by the image reading unit (4) as described above is emitted from the laser writing unit (22), and the laser light (L) is charged. The surface of the photoreceptor thus exposed is exposed, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor.

  Further, a yellow developing unit (23Y), a magenta developing unit (23M), a cyan developing unit (23C), and a black developing unit (23BK) are provided facing the photoconductor (19). Toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner are respectively accommodated. Each of the developing units (23Y) to (23BK) is supported by a driving device (not shown) so as to occupy a developing position close to the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor (19) and a retracted position separated from the outer peripheral surface. Has been. The aforementioned electrostatic latent image is visualized as a yellow toner image using the toner of the present invention by the first developing unit that occupies the developing position, in this example, the yellow developing unit (23Y). At this time, the other developing devices (23M) to (23BK) occupy the retracted position. The yellow toner image formed on the photoreceptor (19) is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer member (20) by the action of the primary transfer roller (23) disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer member (20). The transfer residual toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor (19) after the toner image transfer is removed by the cleaning device (24).

  Next, in the same manner as described above, a second electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor (19), and this is visible as a magenta toner image by the magenta developing device (23M) that has occupied the development position. Then, the toner image is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body (20) from above the yellow toner image. The surface of the photoreceptor after the toner image transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device (24). In exactly the same manner, a cyan toner image and a black toner image are sequentially formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor (19) by the cyan developing device (23C) and the black developing device (23BK), and these toner images are transferred to the intermediate transfer member. On the surface of (20), the toner image previously transferred is superimposed and transferred.

  On the other hand, in the paper feed cassettes (124), (124A), (124B), (124C) of the paper feed unit (8), recording sheets P made of, for example, transfer paper or resin sheets are accommodated respectively. When the uppermost recording sheet in the sheet feeding cassette is fed in the direction of the arrow (C) and this recording sheet passes between the intermediate transfer body (20) and the secondary transfer roller (25), the intermediate transfer body ( 20) The superimposed toner image on the upper surface is transferred to the recording sheet (P) at a time. Transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer member after the toner image is transferred is removed by a cleaning device (26).

  As described above, the image forming section (5) serves to form a recording image consisting of a toner image on the recording sheet (P), and includes at least an image carrier on which the toner image is formed. The recording sheet (P) on which the recording image is formed is further conveyed upward and passes through the fixing device (27). At this time, the toner image on the recording sheet is fixed to the recording sheet by the action of heat and pressure. The recording sheet (P) on which the recording image is formed in this manner is discharged into the paper discharge space (6).

  Although the outline of the configuration of the image forming apparatus has been described together with the operation when the image forming apparatus functions as a copying machine, the image forming apparatus can be used as a facsimile or a printer. Since it is clear from a technique known per se, the description thereof is omitted.

  Here, the configuration for processing the recording sheet (P) discharged into the discharge space (6) can be selected as appropriate, but the image forming apparatus of this example is configured as follows.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the relay unit (28) is detachably attached to the bottom of the paper discharge space (6), and the paper discharge tray (29) is fixed to the paper discharge space portion above it. Has been placed. Further, a main body housing portion (7A) is located on the side of the paper discharge space (6), and the inside of the main body housing portion (7A) switches the path of the recording sheet (P) that has exited the fixing device (27). 1 switching claw (30) is supported so that rocking is possible. When the first switching claw (30) occupies the position shown in FIG. 5, the recording sheet is guided by the first switching claw (30) and conveyed upward as indicated by an arrow (G). The sheet is discharged onto the paper discharge tray (29) as shown by an arrow (G1) by the first paper discharge roller pair (31) disposed in the main body casing portion (7A) and stacked there.

  When the first switching claw (30) is switched, the recording sheet (P) exiting the fixing device (27) is guided by the first switching claw (30) and being conveyed by the conveying roller pair (37). As shown by the arrow (H) in FIG. 5, the sheet is conveyed leftward and fed into the cover (32) of the relay unit (28). A second switching claw (33) is swingably supported in the cover (32), and when the second switching claw (33) occupies the position shown in FIG. As shown by the arrow (H2), the second paper discharge roller pair (34) arranged in the cover (32) is guided by the second switching claw (33) and conveyed in the direction of the arrow (H1). (32) It is discharged onto the upper wall surface (35) and placed here. The upper wall surface (35) constitutes the placement surface of the recording sheet discharged into the paper discharge space above it.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the recording sheet (P) can be selectively discharged to one of the two paper discharge units in the paper discharge space (6). For example, when the image forming apparatus functions as a facsimile, the recording sheet (P) is discharged onto the discharge tray (29), and when the image forming apparatus functions as a copying machine, the recording sheet is relayed. The unit (28) can be discharged onto the upper wall surface (35) to improve the operability of the image forming apparatus. The recording sheet (P) discharged into the paper discharge space (6) in this way can be taken out from the front opening or the side opening.

  On the other hand, when the second switching claw (33) is switched and the recording sheet is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow (H3), the recording sheet is disposed in the space below the upper wall of the relay unit (28), In addition, the paper is transported by a plurality of transport roller pairs (36) supported by the cover (32), is discharged from the paper discharge space (6) through the opening on the side of the paper discharge space (6), and the finisher (2 ). The finisher (2) is configured, for example, as a stapler that binds a bundle of recording sheets, a punching machine that punches holes in the recording sheet, or a collating machine that collates the recording sheets, and the recording sent to the finisher (2). The sheet is subjected to predetermined post-processing.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the recording sheet is discharged from the main body casing portion (7A) on one end side in the width direction of the main body casing (7) (right end side in the example of FIG. 5). Further, the paper discharge space (6) is also opened at the other end in the width direction of the main body housing (7) (the left end in the example of FIG. 5). At the bottom of the space (6), the relay unit that transports the recording sheet (P) discharged into the paper discharge space (6) to the finisher (2) disposed adjacent to the image forming apparatus main body (1). (28) is detachably attached. The upper wall surface (35) of the relay unit (28) constitutes a placement surface for the recording sheet (P) discharged into the paper discharge space (6) above the upper wall surface (35).

  As described above, when the relay unit (28) is provided at the bottom of the paper discharge space (6), the recording sheet (P) exiting the fixing device (27) can be conveyed to the finisher (2) at the shortest distance. The time until the recording sheet is conveyed to the finisher (2) can be shortened. As shown by a chain line arrow (I) in FIG. 5, the recording sheet exiting the fixing device is conveyed through the upper part of the image reading unit and sent to the finisher, or in FIG. 5, the chain line arrow (J). As shown in FIG. 2, after the recording sheet exiting the fixing device is discharged out of the image forming apparatus main body, the recording sheet is reversed by a reversing device (not shown), and then the recording sheet is not shown. The disadvantage that the transport path from the fixing device to the finisher of the known apparatus transported to the finisher becomes longer and the transport time becomes longer can be avoided by using the illustrated relay unit (28).

  The relay unit (28) including the conveyance roller pair (36), the second switching claw (33), the cover (32) for supporting these, and the like is used only for the image forming apparatus to which the finisher (2) is connected. In the image forming apparatus without the finisher (2), the relay unit (28) is not mounted. In this case, the recording sheet conveyed in the direction of the arrow (H) is the discharge roller pair (37). ) Is discharged onto the bottom surface (38) of the paper discharge space (6).

  As described above, since the relay unit (28) is attached only when the finisher (2) is connected, the relay unit (28) is configured to be detachably attached to the bottom of the paper discharge space (6).

  At this time, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the image reading unit (4) and the operation unit (16) are arranged such that the main body housing portion (7A) on one end side in the width direction of the main body housing (7) and the rear side. Only the main body casing portion (7B) is supported with respect to the image forming section (5), and the paper discharge space (6) has a front portion and the other end side in the main body casing width direction (the left end side in the example of FIG. 5). ) Are opened in a connected state, and therefore, when the relay unit (28) is attached to the bottom of the paper discharge space (6), the attaching operation can be performed very easily and can be easily removed. .

As shown in FIG. 7, the relay unit (28) can be integrated with the main body casing (7) so that the unit (28) cannot be attached or detached.
In each of the image forming apparatuses described above, the recording sheet is discharged into the paper discharge space (6) between the image reading unit (4) and the image forming unit (5), and the opening of the paper discharge space (6) is discharged. Since the recording sheet can be taken out, the installation space of the image forming apparatus main body can be reduced.

  In the image forming apparatus of this example, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the front end portion (7E) of the main body housing portion (7D) located above the paper discharge space (6) is provided. The position is shifted by (δ) on the rear side of the main body casing with respect to the front outer surface (7F) of the main body casing portion located below the paper discharge space (6). In the illustrated example, the front end portion (7E) of the main body casing portion of the operation section (16) is shifted rearward from the front outer surface (7F) of the front door (40) constituting the main body casing portion. Has been placed.

  According to the above configuration, since the distance that the operation unit (16) and the image reading unit (4) protrude forward from the main body housing part (7B) on the rear side becomes small, the operation unit (16) and the image reading unit The bending moment acting on the main body casing part of (4) can be reduced, and the operation part (16) and the image reading part (4) can be moved downward without particularly strongly supporting the operation part and the image reading part. Can be prevented, thereby preventing the image on the recording sheet formed by the image forming section (5) from being distorted and improving the image quality.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the front end portion (7E) of the main body housing portion (7D) located above the paper discharge space (6) is more than the paper discharge space (6). Also, since the position is shifted by (δ) on the rear side of the main body housing from the front outer surface (7F) of the main body housing portion located below, as can be seen from FIG. When facing the image forming apparatus main body (1), the recording sheet (P) discharged into the paper discharge space (6) can be visually confirmed even when the operator (OP) is standing, and this can be easily taken out. Can do. In order to further enhance the visibility of the recording sheet (P) placed on the upper wall surface (35) of the relay unit (28) or the bottom surface (38) when the unit (28) is not provided, It is also advantageous to form a notch (41) (FIG. 4) on the front side of 29).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the front end so that the vertical line (V) passing through the front end (7E) can intersect the maximum size recording sheet (P) discharged into the discharge space (6). When the portion (7E) is arranged at a position shifted from the outer surface (7F) on the rear side of the main body housing, the maximum size recording sheet (P) that can be used in the image forming apparatus can be obtained from directly above. Visible, and the visibility can be further enhanced. Even when a recording sheet of the minimum size that can be used in the image forming apparatus is discharged to the discharge space (6), the deviation amount (δ) is set so that the vertical line (V) intersects the recording sheet of the minimum size. ), Or preferably, the amount of deviation (δ) is such that the vertical line (V) intersects the maximum size recording sheet discharged into the discharge space (6), for example, an A3 size recording sheet. ) Can be set.

  In the image forming apparatus of still another example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the image reading unit (4) and the operation unit (16) include only the rear main body housing portion (7B) and the image forming unit. In the example of FIG. 8, the recording sheet is discharged from the main body housing portion (7B) on the rear side to the discharge space (6) as shown by the arrow (K) in FIG. In this example, the recording sheet is discharged from the main body housing portion on the front side of the discharge space (6) to the discharge space (6) as indicated by an arrow (K1). Such an image forming apparatus can also employ the above-described configurations.

  The image forming apparatus of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can check the recording sheet discharged into the discharge space (6) from three sides and take it out, but supports the image reading unit (4). The number of the main body housing parts is smaller than that of the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the image reading section (4) is easily bent downward. For this reason, the structure which shifts a front-end part (7E) to the back side rather than a front part outer surface (7F) can be employ | adopted advantageously.

(Process cartridge)
The process cartridge of the present invention develops an electrostatic latent image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image and the electrostatic latent image carried on the electrostatic latent image carrier using a developer to form a visible image. And at least developing means for forming the film, and other means appropriately selected as necessary.
FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of the process cartridge of the present invention. This process cartridge is formed by integrally combining a plurality of components such as the above-described latent image carrying photosensitive member, charging unit, developing unit, and cleaning unit as a process cartridge. It is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body of the present invention such as a printer.
The developing means includes a developer container that contains the toner or developer of the present invention, and a developer carrier that carries and transports the toner or developer contained in the developer container. And a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the thickness of the toner layer to be carried.
The process cartridge of the present invention can be detachably provided in various electrophotographic apparatuses, and is preferably provided detachably in the image forming apparatus of the present invention as described above.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Resins 1 to 10 were prepared as materials for forming the toner of the present invention. The compositions and physical properties of the resins 1 to 10 are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
In Tables 1 and 2, the presence of the powder X-ray diffraction peak was measured by an X-ray diffraction apparatus (“PINT-1100”; manufactured by Rigaku Electric Co., Ltd.), and the presence or absence of the peak was evaluated based on the following criteria.

〔Evaluation criteria〕
Existence: There is a peak at least at 2θ = 19-25 ° None: No peak at 2θ = 19-25 °

なお、表１中、樹脂１〜４は、上記一般式（１）で表される脂肪族系ポリエステル樹脂である。また、組成の各成分名横の（ ）内の数値はモル％を示す。

In Table 1, resins 1 to 4 are aliphatic polyester resins represented by the general formula (1). Moreover, the numerical value in () next to each component name of a composition shows mol%.

なお、表２中、ＢＰＡ−ＥＯはビスフェノールＡのエチレンオキサイド付加物であり、ＢＰＡ−ＰＯはビスフェノールＡのプロピレンオキサイド付加物である。また、組成の各成分名横の（ ）内の数値はモル％を示す。

In Table 2, BPA-EO is an ethylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A, and BPA-PO is a propylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A. Moreover, the numerical value in () next to each component name of a composition shows mol%.

(Example 1)
Toner base constituent material Resin 1 5 parts Resin 5 95 parts Alumina (average primary particle size 13 nm) 0.5 part Carnauba wax (melting point 83 ° C.) 5 parts Zirconium salicylate 0.3 part Carbon black 10 parts The above toner base constituent material Among them, the resin 1 and the resin 5 are partially compatible with each other and are a combination of quick recrystallization (resin 1 / resin 5 = 1/1 (mass ratio) mixed product has a Tg of the second temperature increase. Is 6.6 ° C. lower than the Tg of the second temperature rise of the resin 5, and there is an endothermic peak derived from the resin 1).
The toner base material is charged into a Henschel mixer uniform particle size (D4) of 8.0- “MF20C / I type” (manufactured by Mitsui Miike Koki Co., Ltd.), mixed thoroughly, and then twin-screw extruded by Toshiba Machine Co. The mixture was kneaded and cooled. Next, pulverization and classification are performed so that the weight average ± 0.5 μm and the ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (D1) is 1.2 to 1.3. Was made. Here, the kneading was performed such that the temperature of the kneaded product at the exit of the twin-screw extruder was about 125 ° C.
A yellow toner base was produced in the same manner and in the same manner as the black toner except that carbon black in the toner constituent material was changed to 7 parts of disazo yellow pigment.
A cyan toner base was produced in the same manner and in the same manner as the black toner except that carbon black in the toner constituent material was changed to 4 parts of copper phthalocyanine pigment.
A magenta toner base was prepared in the same manner and in the same manner as the black toner except that carbon black in the toner constituent material was changed to 5 parts of naphthol-based magenta pigment.
To each of the color matrixes, 0.8% by mass of hydrophobic silica and 0.5% by mass of acid value titanium were added and mixed to prepare toners of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta in Example 1.
Next, 7 parts by mass of each color toner and 93 parts by mass of a silicone-coated ferrite carrier having an average particle diameter of 45 μm coated with a silicone resin were stirred with a tumbler mixer to prepare each color developer having an appropriate charge amount.
Table 3 shows the evaluation results of the toner and developer of Example 1. The resulting toner has low-temperature fixing higher than before and has no problem in hot offset resistance and blocking resistance. In addition, a clear full color image was obtained, and the image storage stability was satisfactory.
The toner and developer were evaluated as follows.
The toner glass transition temperature (Tg) and the endothermic cyan toner derived from crystalline polyester were measured.

Blocking resistance Approximately 20 g of cyan toner was placed in a 20 ml glass bottle and tapped 50 times to harden the toner tightly. Subsequently, after putting it in a 50 degreeC thermostat and leaving it to stand for 24 hours, the penetration (%) was measured by the penetration test (JIS K2235-1991). The blocking resistance was evaluated based on the following criteria from the penetration (%) with respect to the toner after being solidified.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
5: 90-100%
4: 75-90%
3: 60-75%
2: 30-60%
1: 30% or less Here, if the evaluation criteria is 3 to 5, it is recognized that there is no problem in blocking resistance.

Fixing characteristics The Ricoh printer Imagio Neo C385 was modified so that the set temperature and linear velocity of the fixing device could be changed. The toner, developer, and Ricoh type 6200 paper shown in the Examples were set on this, and a solid image of 1 inch square was printed by adjusting so that the adhesion amount of the solid part was 0.85 mg / cm ² .
The linear velocity of paper feed is set to 200 mm / sec, the fixing temperature is changed, and the cold offset generation temperature and hot offset generation temperature are measured. Based on the following criteria, the low temperature fixing property (cold offset generation temperature) and the hot offset resistance are measured. The property (hot offset generation temperature) was evaluated.
Cold offset generation temperature (Rank 2 is the level of conventional low-temperature fixing toner)
5: Less than 120 ° C 4: 120-130 ° C
3: 130-140 degreeC
2: 140-150 degreeC
1: 150 ° C or higher

Hot offset generation temperature (if it is other than rank 1 or 2, there is offset resistance)
5: 210 degreeC or more 4: 200-210 degreeC
3: 190-200 ° C
2: 180-190 degreeC
1: Less than 180 ° C

Image quality, fixed image storability Set the toner, developer, and Ricoh type 6200 paper shown in the examples to the Ricoh printer Imagio Neo C385, and use 1 inch squares and characters for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Thus, continuous printing of 10,000 sheets of an image with an image area of 20% was performed. Double-sided printing was performed up to the 100th sheet, and then single-sided printing was performed.

Fixed image storability After printing 100 sheets, 20 images from the 81st sheet to the 100th sheet were taken out and stored in a high-temperature bath at 50 ° C. for 24 hours while applying a load of 10 g / cm ² . After the storage, the fused state of the image was evaluated.
3: There is no fusion of images and good image quality is maintained.
2: Although there is fusion of images, it is easily separated and maintains good image quality.
1: There is image fusion, and there is an image defect after separation.

Transferability It was evaluated whether there was density unevenness due to transfer failure in the solid portion of the image after printing 10,000 sheets.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
5: Very good 4: Good 3: Normal 2: Bad 1: Very bad Here, if the evaluation criteria are 3 to 5, it is required that the transferability is not a problem.

Developability Arbitrary six positions of the background portion of the image after printing 10,000 sheets are selected, and the image density at the position is measured with a spectrometer (938 Spectrodensitometer, manufactured by X-Light Co., Ltd.). Based on the values, the background dirt was evaluated based on the following criteria.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
5: Same as paper reflection density 4: Paper reflection density + less than 0.02 3: Paper reflection density + 0.02 to 0.04
2: Reflection density of paper +0.04 to 0.06
1: Reflection density of paper +0.06 or more Here, in a state where there is no background stain, the reflection density of the image shows a value equivalent to the reflection density of paper, and the higher the reflection density, the worse the background stain. It is recognized that

Fine line reproducibility The toner, developer, and Ricoh type 6200 paper shown in the examples are set in the Ricoh printer Imagio Neo C385, and a one-dot grid line image of 600 dots / inch and 150 lines / inch in both the main scanning and sub-scanning directions. , And the line image was cut and blurred visually evaluated in 5 stages. 5: Very good 4: Good 3: Normal 2: Bad 1: Very bad

(Example 2)
Resin 1 of Example 1 was changed to Resin 2. In addition, the resin 2 and the resin 5 are partially compatible with each other and are a combination of quick recrystallization (the resin 2 / resin 5 = 1/1 (mass ratio) mixed product has a Tg of the second temperature increase. The temperature is lower by 5.1 ° C. than the Tg of the second temperature increase of the resin 5, and there is an endothermic peak derived from the resin 2. Except for the resin, the same toner base material as in Example 1 was used, and a toner and a developer were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. The toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. By changing the melting point of the crystalline polyester to a higher one, the storability of the fixed image was improved.

Example 3
Resin 3 20 parts Resin 6 70 parts Resin 7 10 parts Resin 3 and Resin 6, and Resin 3 and Resin 7 are partially compatible and have a combination of rapid recrystallization (resin 3 / resin 6 = In the 1/1 (mass ratio) mixed product, the Tg at the second temperature increase is 4.1 ° C. lower than the Tg at the second temperature increase of the resin 6, and there is an endothermic peak derived from the resin 3. Resin 3 / Resin 7 = In the 1/1 (mass ratio) mixed product, the Tg at the second temperature increase is 7.5 ° C. lower than the Tg at the second temperature increase of the resin 7, and an endothermic peak derived from the resin 3 exists.
A toner and a developer were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 for the toner base material in which the resin of Example 1 was changed to the above. The toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Although it has the same component as the crystalline polyester and is a non-crystalline polyester that is more compatible with the crystalline polyester than in the case of Example 1 due to the resin T7 having a low T1 / 2, the content of the crystalline polyester Therefore, the toner and the fixed image have good storage stability without being excessively compatible.

Example 4
Of the toner base material of Example 3, 0.5 part of alumina was changed to 0.5 part of titania (average primary particle diameter: 21 nm), and toner and developer were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. This toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Although the inorganic nucleating agent was changed, a toner of the same quality as before the change was obtained.

(Example 5)
Of the toner base material of Example 3, 0.5 part of alumina was changed to 2 parts of talc (average primary particle size 1000 nm), and toner and developer were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. This toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Although the inorganic nucleating agent was changed, a toner of the same quality as before the change was obtained.

(Example 6)
Of the toner base material of Example 3, 0.5 part of alumina was changed to 0.5 part of silica (average primary particle size: 7 nm), and a toner and a developer were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. This toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Although the inorganic nucleating agent was changed, a toner of the same quality as before the change was obtained.

(Example 7)
The toner constituent material of Example 6, the weight average particle diameter _{(D 4)} is 5.5 ± 0.5 [mu] m, the ratio of the weight average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter _{(D 1) (D 4 /} D 1) is 1 Each color matrix was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that pulverization and classification were performed so that the ratio was 2 to 1.3.
To each color matrix, 1.2% by mass of hydrophobic silica and 0.8% by mass of acid value titanium were added and mixed to prepare toners of each color of black, yellow, cyan and magenta of Example 4. Using this toner, a developer was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. The toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. The fine line reproducibility was improved without causing problems in developability by reducing the particle size.

(Example 8)
Resin 3 25 parts Resin 8 75 parts Resin 3 and Resin 8 are partially compatible and have a fast recrystallization (resin 3 / resin 8 = 1/1 (mass ratio) mixed product The Tg at the second temperature is 5.7 ° C. lower than the Tg at the second temperature increase of the resin 8, and an endothermic peak derived from the resin 3 exists).
For the toner base material in which the resin of Example 7 is changed to the above, the same method as in Example 7 except that the temperature of the kneaded product at the exit of the twin-screw extruder is set to around 120 ° C. Toner and developer were obtained. The toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. The resin 8 has a T1 / 2 lower than that of the resin 6 of Example 7, and the kneading temperature is set in a direction in which the elastic force is easily applied. Therefore, the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester are more compatible than in the case of Example 7. Although it is easy to dissolve, the storage stability of the toner and the fixed image is inferior to that in Example 4, but it is not so problematic.

Example 9
Resin 4 15 parts Resin 9 85 parts Resin 4 and Resin 9 are partially compatible and have a fast recrystallization (resin 4 / resin 9 = 1/1 (mass ratio) mixture The Tg at the second temperature is 6.4 ° C. lower than the Tg at the second temperature increase of the resin 9, and there is an endothermic peak derived from the resin 4.
The toner base material in which the resin of Example 7 was changed to the above was processed in the same manner as in Example 8 to obtain the toner and developer of Example 9. FIG. 1 shows an endothermic curve of the toner in DSC measurement. The toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Since the thermal characteristics, compositions and content ratios of Resin 4 and Resin 9 were likely to be moderately compatible with each other, a toner having good fixing characteristics, storage stability and image quality was obtained.

(Example 10)
Resin 4 35 parts Resin 9 55 parts Resin 7 10 parts Resin 4 and Resin 9 and Resin 4 and Resin 7 are partially compatible and have a combination of rapid recrystallization (resin 4 / resin 9 = In the 1/1 (mass ratio) mixed product, the Tg at the second temperature increase is 6.4 ° C. lower than the Tg at the second temperature increase of the resin 9, and there is an endothermic peak derived from the resin 4. Resin 4 / resin 7 = In the 1/1 (mass ratio) mixed product, the Tg at the second temperature increase is 7.5 ° C. lower than the Tg at the second temperature increase of the resin 7, and an endothermic peak derived from the resin 4 exists.
The toner base material in which the resin of Example 7 was changed to the above was processed in the same manner as in Example 8 to obtain the toner and developer of Example 10. The toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Although the amount of the crystalline polyester was increased, the hot offset resistance and the storage stability were deteriorated although not at a problematic level. The image quality also deteriorated. It is confirmed that the crystalline polyester content is preferably not too much.

(Comparative Example 1)
The resin 6 of Example 3 was changed to the resin 10. The resin 3 and the resin 10 are partially compatible with each other, but are easily compatible and recrystallization is not so fast (the resin 3 / resin 10 = 1/1 (mass ratio) mixture is The Tg of the second time is 12.2 ° C. lower than the Tg of the second temperature increase of the resin 10, and an endothermic peak derived from the resin 3 exists). Except for the resin, the same toner base material as in Example 1 was used, and a toner and a developer were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.
The toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Since the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester are easily compatible with each other, even if the toner retains the crystalline portion, the image immediately after fixing is difficult to retain the crystalline portion. Therefore, the image after storage was fused, and after separation, there was a part where the image was peeled off.

(Comparative Example 2)
A toner and a developer were obtained in the same manner as in Example 8, except that 0.5 part of silica was removed from the toner base material of Example 8, using the same material as in Example 8.
FIG. 2 shows an endothermic curve of the toner in DSC measurement.
This toner and developer were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Since the inorganic nucleating agent was not contained, recrystallization was less likely than in the toner of Example 8, and there was a problem in the storage stability of the fixed image.

It is the figure which showed the endothermic curve in the DSC measurement of Example 9. It is the figure which showed the endothermic curve in the DSC measurement of the comparative example 2. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the example of an image forming apparatus of this invention, and an operator. It is a figure which shows another example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows one example of the process cartridge of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Finisher 3 Image reading part (ADF, automatic document feeder)
4 Document reading section (scanner section)
5 Image forming section 6 In-body discharge section (discharge space)
61 Paper discharge tray 65 Paper discharge side wall 7 Main body housing 7A Main body housing portion 7B Main body housing rear side portion 7D Main body housing portion 7E Main body housing front end 7F Housing front portion 7R Housing rear portion 8 Paper feeding portion 8a Paper section 81 Paper feed cassette (discharge tray)
9 Light source 10 First mirror 11 Second mirror 12 Third mirror 13 Imaging lens 14 CCD
15 Contact glass 16 Operation section 17 Document table 18 Document discharge section (ADF discharge section)
19 Image carrier (photoreceptor)
20 Endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 21 Charger 22 Laser writing unit 23 Primary transfer roller 23Y Yellow developer 23C Cyan developer 23M Magenta developer 23BK Black developer 24 Cleaning device 25 Secondary transfer roller 26 Cleaning device 27 Fixing device 28 Relay unit 29 Paper discharge tray 30 First switching claw 31 First paper discharge roller pair 32 Relay unit cover 33 Second switching claw 34 Second paper discharge roller pair 35 Cover upper wall surface 36 Transport roller pair 37 Paper discharge roller pair 38 Paper discharge Space bottom surface 40 Front door 41 of the main body Discharge tray cutout 124 Paper feed cassette 124A Paper feed cassette 124B Paper feed cassette 124C Paper feed cassette A Photoconductor rotation direction B Intermediate transfer member drive direction C Recording sheet delivery direction D Document G Recording sheet conveyance direction G1 Recording sheet conveyance direction H Recording sheet Conveying direction H1 Recording sheet conveying direction H2 Recording sheet discharging direction H3 Recording sheet conveying direction I Recording sheet discharging direction J Recording sheet discharging direction K Recording sheet discharging direction K1 Recording sheet discharging direction L Laser light OP Operator P Recording sheet V Front end (7E ) Vertical line W passing through) Housing width direction δ Position shift amount of front end of main body housing

Claims (9)

  The toner contains at least a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polyester as a binder resin, and further contains an inorganic nucleating agent. The toner absorbs the endothermic curve at the first temperature rise measured by the differential scanning calorimeter of the toner. There is a peak derived from crystalline polyester having a calorific value of 1.0 J / g or more, and the endothermic peak is a toner that becomes 40% or more and less than 100% of the first endothermic amount when the temperature is raised for the second time, and reads an original image An in-cylinder discharge provided with a space serving as an in-cylinder discharge unit between the image reading unit and the image forming unit of the apparatus main body housing having an image reading unit and an image forming unit that forms a recording image on a recording sheet. A toner characterized by being used in an image forming apparatus having a paper structure.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the content of the crystalline polyester in the binder resin is 5 to 40% by mass.   The toner according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous polyester is composed mainly of an aromatic diol and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid. The toner according to claim 3, wherein an amorphous resin has a flow tester 1/2 outflow temperature (T _1/2 ) of 125 to 145 ° C. 5.   The toner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the melting point of the crystalline polyester is 100 to 130 ° C. The weight average particle diameter is 3 to 6.5 μm, and the ratio (D ₄ / D ₁ ) of the weight average particle diameter (D ₄ ) to the number average particle diameter (D ₁ ) is in the range of 1.00 to 1.40. The toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner is present.   An electrostatic latent image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the toner according to any one of claims 1 to 6. And developing means for forming a visible image by developing the image, transfer means for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, and fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the recording medium. Image forming apparatus.   A space serving as an in-body discharge unit is provided between the image reading unit and the image forming unit of the apparatus main body housing having an image reading unit for reading a document image and an image forming unit for forming a recorded image on a recording sheet. 7. An image forming apparatus having a built-in in-body sheet discharge section structure, wherein the image forming section includes the electrostatic latent image carrier, a developing means, a transferring means, and a fixing means, and the developing means. An image forming apparatus having an in-body sheet discharge unit structure that forms a visible image using the toner according to any one of the above. An electrostatic latent image carrier, and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier using the toner according to claim 1 to form a visible image. And a process cartridge that can be mounted on an image forming apparatus.

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