JP5874952B2 - Vibrating sieve device and method for producing resin-containing substance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a vibration sieve device toner and powder of the raw materials used in the image forming apparatus sieved, and relates a vibrating screen device this in production how low melting point resin-containing substance used for the sieving step Is.

A method of visualizing image information through an electrostatic charge image such as electrophotography is currently used in various fields.
In electrophotography, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoreceptor through a charging and exposure process, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image with a developer containing toner, and a toner image is transferred and fixed. Visualized.
As the developer used here, a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier and a one-component developer using a magnetic toner or a non-magnetic toner alone are known. It is an ingredient.
In recent years, toner for electrophotography having a small particle diameter is becoming mainstream for the purpose of improving the image quality of images obtained by electrophotography. As a method for producing the toner, there are a wet production method such as a dry pulverization method, an emulsion polymerization aggregation method, a suspension polymerization method, a submerged drying method and a phase inversion emulsification method.
In the pulverization method, materials such as a binder resin, a release agent, a colorant, and a charge control agent to be added as necessary are uniformly mixed and dispersed using a pressure kneader, an extruder, or a media dispersing machine. After that, it is made to collide with a target under a mechanical or jet stream and finely pulverized to a desired toner particle size, and then further classified to sharpen the particle size distribution to obtain toner particles having a desired particle size.

  As described above, the toner used in the electrophotographic method is composed of a binder resin, a colorant, and the like. In order to improve the fluidity of the toner, inorganic fine particles are further mixed with the toner particles as an external additive. There are many things. By external addition of the inorganic fine particles, sufficient toner fluidity can be obtained, white spots and the like can be suppressed, and high-quality images can be obtained.

However, in the external addition mixing process in which the toner particles and the external additive are agitated and mixed, the toner particles are agglomerated, the toner and the external additive are agglomerated due to heat generation at high speed agitation, particle collision, etc. Aggregation of the agents may occur, and toner aggregates may be generated.
In addition, as a problem that does not exist in the pulverization method in the wet manufacturing method, there are aggregates of particles generated in the steps of emulsification, suspension and drying, etc. The generation of plate-like coarse particles due to the above can be mentioned.

These coarse particles cause the gap between the photosensitive member and the transfer member in the transfer process of the image forming apparatus, that is, the gap to be non-uniform. In addition, scattering to non-image portions is likely to occur, and image irregularities are likely to occur due to the occurrence of charging differences due to particle size differences.
Furthermore, it may cause toner scattering during the development of the image forming apparatus, which may cause a decrease in reliability of the image forming apparatus due to contamination in the image forming apparatus.

  In common with the dry process and the wet process, the presence of aggregates and coarse particles produced in the toner manufacturing process causes abnormal images. In order to remove such aggregates and coarse particles from the toner as a product, a sieving step of sieving the toner with a sieving device is performed in the conventional toner manufacturing process.

In the sieving device, toner mixed with aggregates and coarse particles is supplied to the upper surface of the sieving member having a predetermined opening diameter, and mechanical motion for performing sieving such as three-dimensional motion is applied to the sieving member. . Thereby, the toner as the product that has passed through the sieve member and the aggregates and coarse particles that have not passed through the sieve member can be sieved.
However, if sieving is performed only with a large operation such as three-dimensional motion using a sieving member having a small opening diameter corresponding to the recent reduction in toner diameter, the sieving member is clogged in a short time, and sieving There was a problem that the efficiency of the system decreased.

  As a configuration capable of solving such a problem, there are sieve devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 4. These sieving devices are vibration sieving devices that can prevent clogging of the sieving member that has been generated only by applying mechanical motion by applying ultrasonic vibration to the sieving member.

  However, when a low-melting toner that can cope with low-temperature fixing in recent years is screened by a conventional vibration sieving apparatus, new aggregates may be generated in the sieving member. This occurs because the temperature of the sieve member to which the ultrasonic vibration is applied rises with time, and the toner melts or softens, thereby aggregating with other toner particles or external additives. When a new aggregate is generated on the upper surface of the sieving member, it is removed from the toner as a product together with the aggregate and coarse particles contained in the toner before sieving, but this leads to a decrease in yield. Further, when new aggregates are generated on the lower surface of the sieve member, aggregates having a particle diameter larger than a predetermined particle diameter are mixed in the toner as a product. When toner containing such agglomerates is used in an image forming apparatus, it causes deterioration of image quality and contamination in the image forming apparatus as described above.

  The problems of a decrease in yield due to the temperature of the sieving member rising and generation of new agglomerates and the presence of agglomerates in the product are not limited to the case where the powder to be sieved is toner, but to some extent If it is a powder of a resin-containing material that melts or softens at a certain temperature, it may be a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to suppress the generation of new aggregates in the powder to be sieved by a sieve member to which ultrasonic vibration is applied. it vibrating screen apparatus, and to provide a manufacturing how the resin-containing substances using the vibrating screen apparatus sieving step.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 includes a sieving member, a sieving motion imparting means for imparting a motion for sieving powder to the sieving member, and a received ultrasonic signal. In a vibration sieve device comprising: an ultrasonic vibration converter that converts ultrasonic waves into ultrasonic vibration and applies the ultrasonic vibration to the sieve member; and an ultrasonic transmission device that transmits an ultrasonic signal to the ultrasonic vibration converter. A transmission device cooling means for cooling the transmission device is provided.

  As a configuration for applying ultrasonic vibration to the sieve member, the present inventors have confirmed the phenomenon in which the temperature of the sieve member increases with time in a vibration sieve device having an ultrasonic vibration converter and an ultrasonic transmission device. As a result, the following became clear. That is, in this vibration sieving device, the ultrasonic vibration output of the ultrasonic vibration converter increases over time, and the temperature of the sieving member may increase by applying ultrasonic vibration with an output greater than necessary to the sieving member. I understood. Furthermore, regarding the phenomenon in which the output of the ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibration transducer rises over time, the causal relationship is unknown, but the higher the temperature in the ultrasonic transmission device, the more the ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibration transducer It was found that the output was related to increase. In such a vibration sieve device, the temperature of the ultrasonic transmission device rises over time by continuing to energize the internal base made of electronic components for transmitting ultrasonic signals. Accordingly, the output of the ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic vibration converter increases, and the temperature of the sieve member increases with time.

In the present invention, since the temperature rise of the ultrasonic transmission device is suppressed by the transmission device cooling means, the temperature increase of the sieve member over time due to the temperature increase of the ultrasonic transmission device can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, the temperature rise of the sieving member over time can be suppressed, and the sieving target powder can be prevented from melting or softening due to the temperature rise of the sieving member. There is an excellent effect that it is possible to suppress generation of new aggregates in the powder to be sieved.

The schematic block diagram of the vibration sieve apparatus concerning this embodiment. Schematic of the structure which provides ultrasonic vibration to a sieve member. Explanatory drawing of the structure which attaches the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 to the upper surface side of a sieve member, (a) is the schematic of the whole mechanism which attaches an ultrasonic vibration converter, (b) is the area | region (alpha) in (a). FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an ultrasonic transmission device having a configuration different from that shown in FIG. 1 as a transmission device cooling means, (a) is an explanatory diagram of a configuration including a ventilation fan, and (b) is a configuration in which a cooling air supply pipe is arranged. FIG. The graph which shows the relationship between the mesh opening and processing capacity. The graph which shows the relationship between an ultrasonic output and processing capacity. The graph which shows the relationship between an ultrasonic output and the amount of loose aggregates. The graph which shows the relationship between the temperature rise inside an ultrasonic transmission apparatus, and an ultrasonic output fluctuation | variation.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic toner manufacturing method (hereinafter, the electrophotographic toner may be simply referred to as toner) will be described.
As the entire process of the toner production method of the present embodiment, an organic solvent composition containing a binder resin and a colorant in an organic solvent, or a polymerizability containing at least a polymerizable monomer and a colorant. The monomer composition is mixed in an aqueous medium. A shearing force is applied to the obtained mixed liquid to obtain an emulsion or suspension, and then the organic solvent is removed, washed and dried to obtain a toner base containing at least a binder resin and a colorant. . External additives of inorganic fine particles are added to and mixed with the toner base in the external addition and mixing step, and then unnecessary aggregates and coarse particles are removed in the sieving step to produce a product toner. The configuration for obtaining the toner base is not limited to the wet method, and may be a dry method using a pulverization method.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vibration sieve device 100 used in the sieving step of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a configuration for applying ultrasonic vibration to the sieve member 2 provided in the vibration sieve device 100. .
The vibration sieving device 100 includes a sieving member 2 in which an opening having a predetermined opening diameter is formed in a cylindrical device body 1 provided with a toner inlet 3 at an upper portion, and sieving of toner with respect to the sieving member 2. And a vibration motor 6 that imparts a three-dimensional motion as a mechanical motion for performing the above. The mechanical motion provided by the vibration motor 6 is not limited to three-dimensional motion, and may be vibration motion in the vertical direction or horizontal direction, or a combination thereof.

The inside of the apparatus main body 1 is partitioned by a sieve member 2 into a sieve upper space 11 and a sieve lower space 12.
The toner charged from the toner inlet 3 reaches the upper surface of the sieve member 2 and is sieved by the mechanical movement of the sieve member 2 by the vibration motor 6.
The toner passing through the opening of the sieving member 2 by this sieving reaches the lower sieve space 12 and is discharged out of the apparatus main body 1 from the product toner discharge port 4 as product toner. On the other hand, the coarse powder having a large particle diameter that could not pass through the opening of the sieving member 2 during sieving moved on the upper surface of the sieving member 2 by the mechanical movement of the sieving member 2 while remaining on the upper surface of the sieving member 2. Then, when it reaches the coarse powder discharge inlet 5a, it is discharged out of the apparatus main body 1 from the coarse powder discharge port 5.

  Furthermore, the vibration sieve device 100 converts the received ultrasonic signal into ultrasonic vibration and applies the ultrasonic vibration transducer 8 to the sieve member 2 and the ultrasonic wave to be transmitted to the ultrasonic vibration transducer 8. And a sound wave transmitting device 7. In the vibration sieving device 100, by applying ultrasonic vibration to the sieving member 2, it is possible to prevent clogging of the sieving member 2 that has been generated only by applying mechanical motion by the vibration motor 6.

  The configuration for applying ultrasonic vibration to the sieve member is also described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, and the like. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a configuration that defines the relationship between the temperature of the sieve member and the temperature of the toner and the amount of toner supplied to the sieve member. Further, Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which the sieve member is divided into two stages to define the sieve openings and the space ratio.

In recent years, low-temperature fixing of image forming apparatuses has further progressed, and the following problems have arisen when a low-melting toner corresponding to this is screened with a conventional vibration sieving apparatus. That is, the toner is welded in the sieving step due to an increase in the temperature of the sieving member by using ultrasonic vibration. As a result, in the vibration sieve device described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, in addition to the aggregates formed before the sieving process that is the target of sieving from the product toner, it causes abnormal images. New loose aggregates may be formed.
When this loose aggregate is formed on the upper surface of the sieve member, it is removed from the toner as a product together with aggregates and coarse particles contained in the toner before sieving, but this leads to a decrease in yield. Further, when a slow aggregate is formed on the lower surface of the sieve member, an aggregate having a particle size larger than a predetermined particle size is mixed in the toner as a product.

  Patent Document 3 describes a configuration in which a sieve member having a larger opening than the first stage sieve member to which ultrasonic vibration is applied is arranged in the second stage. Thereby, when a slow aggregate is formed on the lower surface of the first stage sieve member by ultrasonic vibration, a larger aggregate larger than the opening of the second stage sieve member can be screened from the product toner, It is possible to prevent the product toner from being mixed with loose aggregates having a particle size larger than the predetermined particle size. However, since it is not possible to prevent the loose agglomerates smaller than the second stage opening and larger than the first stage opening from being mixed into the product toner, the merit of reducing the opening of the first stage sieve member is reduced. . Moreover, since it does not suppress generation | occurrence | production itself of a slow aggregate, the fall of a yield cannot be suppressed.

  As a result of repeating the confirmation experiment in order to improve the problem that the temperature of the sieving member 2 increases, which causes the formation of a slow agglomerate, the inventors have increased the temperature in the ultrasonic transmission device 7 and increased the ultrasonic output. It was confirmed that there is a correlation. That is, when the temperature in the ultrasonic transmission device 7 rises, the output (W) of the ultrasonic signal of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 rises, and the output of the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 that converts this signal into ultrasonic vibration is obtained. It was found that the ultrasonic vibration exceeding the desired ultrasonic vibration amplitude necessary for the sieving process was applied to the sieving member 2. When the operation of the vibration sieving device 100 is continued, the temperature inside the ultrasonic transmission device 7 increases, and the ultrasonic output (W) increases accordingly, and the ultrasonic vibration amplitude exceeding the ultrasonic vibration amplitude necessary for the sieving process is exceeded. By applying the sonic vibration to the sieve member 2, the temperature of the sieve member 2 is increased and a slow aggregate is formed.

  As the vibration sieve device 100, a device having a mesh attachment tension of 19 [N / cm] to the sieve frame member 21 using a 400 mesh (wire diameter 30 [μm], mesh opening 34 [μm]) mesh as the sieve member 2 As a result, heat generation increased when it was over 12 [μm], where it was desired to process with a normal amplitude of about 5 to 8 [μm].

The vibration sieve device 100 according to the present embodiment has an upper louver 9 and a lower louver 10 on the side surface and the lower surface of the housing of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 as a transmission device cooling unit that cools the ultrasonic transmission device 7 and suppresses temperature rise. Is provided. By providing the upper louver 9 and the lower louver 10, which are ventilation openings, in the housing, the exchange of the air inside the housing of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 and the outside air is promoted, and when the operation of the vibration sieve device 100 is continued, It can suppress that the temperature inside the sound wave transmitter 7 rises. Since the upper louver 9 and the lower louver 10 suppress the temperature increase of the ultrasonic transmission device 7, it is possible to suppress the temperature increase of the sieve member 2 over time due to the temperature increase of the ultrasonic transmission device 7. For this reason, since it is possible to suppress the welding of the toners due to the temperature increase of the sieve member 2, the sieve member 2 suppresses the generation of new aggregates in the toner to be sieved. be able to.

  In addition, the conventional vibration sieving device has an ultrasonic vibration converter, which is a heat source for the sieving member, attached to the secondary side of the sieving member, that is, the lower surface of the sieving member. It was the structure which a collection will be formed. For this reason, the structure which attaches an ultrasonic vibration converter to the process primary side of a sieve member, ie, the upper surface side of a sieve member, can be considered. However, merely changing the arrangement of the ultrasonic vibration converter of the conventional vibration sieving device to the upper surface side of the sieving member has promoted the formation of loose agglomerates on the upper surface side of the sieving member.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration in which the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is attached to the upper surface side of the sieve member 2, and FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the entire mechanism for attaching the ultrasonic vibration converter 8. 3 (b) is an enlarged explanatory view of a region α in FIG. 3 (a).
An arrow A side is a vibration area where members in the area vibrate across a broken line parallel to the casing of the apparatus main body 1 in FIG. 3A, and an arrow B side indicates each member with respect to the casing of the apparatus main body 1. It is a fixed area with a configuration for fixing. On the fixed area side, a U-packing 26 and a V-band 25 that sandwich the ends of the sieve frame member 21 and the sieve member 2 are provided.

In order to propagate the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 to the entire sieve member 2, the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is connected to the sieve member 2 via the sieve frame member 21. The sieving member 2 and the sieving frame member 21 are configured to be adhered by an adhesive 22, but as shown in FIG. 3B, when viewed locally, the sieving member 2 and the sieving frame member 21 There is a gap G between which the adhesion is insufficient.
When the ultrasonic vibration is transmitted by the ultrasonic vibration converter 8, the sieve frame member 21 vibrates as indicated by an arrow β in FIG. 3B around the fulcrum P fixed to the frame of the apparatus body 1. To do. In this case, the vertical fluctuation width is several [μm] level.

  When the temperature rises at the connecting portion between the sieve member 2 and the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 due to the use over time with the toner adhered to the gap G, the influence of ultrasonic vibration and heat The toner particles aggregate. Then, it peels off from the gap G at a certain timing and jumps out into the space on the upper surface side of the sieve member 2 where other toner particles are present. The slow agglomerates formed in this way are dispersed by ultrasonic vibration and may become particles having a particle size that can be used as a product toner. Collected and finally discharged from the coarse powder outlet 5 to the outside of the apparatus main body 1.

  In addition, a powder transportation device that supplies toner from the toner inlet 3 into the apparatus main body 1 of the vibration sieve device 100 is capable of batch transportation (batch delivery at a time, not divided supply in small quantities or constant quantity supply). In this case, during a certain period from the toner supply, the toner that is the object to be treated stays on the upper surface of the sieve member 2 for waiting for the treatment. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, in the configuration in which the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is arranged on the upper surface side of the sieve member 2, the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is buried in the toner. When the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is buried in the toner, the toner particles easily enter the gap G and are also easily affected by heat, so that the formation of a loose aggregate is further promoted. Since the formation of this slow agglomerate is performed on the upper surface side of the sieve member 2, it is possible to prevent the slow agglomerate from being mixed into the product toner, but the yield is deteriorated.

  On the other hand, if the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is provided on the lower surface side of the sieve member 2, the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is not buried in the toner even in the case of batch transportation, and the loose aggregate Is difficult to form. However, in the configuration in which the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is arranged on the lower surface side of the sieve member 2, each member shown in FIG. 3 is turned upside down, and the gap between the sieve member 2 and the sieve frame member 21 is insufficiently bonded. Since G is present, a small amount of agglomerates are formed, although in small quantities. Then, when the loose aggregate formed on the lower surface side of the sieve member 2 leaves the gap G, it falls down as it is, so that the aggregate is not dispersed by ultrasonic vibration and is mixed with the product toner. .

  As in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the vibration sieve device 100 of the present embodiment is an upper part of the sieve that is the primary side of the sieve process among the upper sieve space 11 and the lower sieve space 12 that are formed with the sieve member 2 interposed therebetween. An ultrasonic vibration transducer 8 is disposed in the space 11. For this reason, even in the vibration sieve device 100 of the present embodiment, in the case of batch transportation, the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is buried in the toner, but the aging of the sieve member 2 due to the temperature rise of the ultrasonic transmission device 7. Therefore, even if toner adheres to the gap G, the influence of heat can be suppressed, and aggregation of toner particles can be suppressed. Further, even if toner particles are aggregated and new slow aggregates are generated during the sieving process, the formation of the slow aggregates is performed on the upper surface side of the sieve member 2, so that the generated slow aggregates are generated. Is captured by the sieve member 2. The loose agglomerates are re-dispersed by further sieving processing and pass through the sieving member 2 or are discharged out of the apparatus main body 1 from the product toner discharge port 4. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the loose agglomerates from being mixed into the product toner, and the product toner can be continuously and stably produced.

  As described above, in the vibration sieving device 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the toner particles from aggregating, thereby preventing the yield from being deteriorated, and further, preventing the loose agglomerates from being mixed into the product toner. Therefore, the quality of the product toner can be improved.

The vibration sieve device 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an upper gallery 9 and a lower gallery 10 on a side surface and a lower surface of a housing of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 as a transmission device cooling means, and a radiating louver is provided below the ultrasonic transmission device 7. And the upper side surface.
FIG. 4 shows an ultrasonic transmission device 7 having another configuration that is further preferable as the transmission device cooling means.
The ultrasonic transmission device 7 shown in FIG. 4A has a configuration in which the air vent inside the ultrasonic transmission device 7 can be forcibly replaced by using a ventilation fan 20 at the lower surface as a ventilation fan 20 instead of a louver.
Further, FIG. 4B shows a more preferable configuration, in which a cooling air supply pipe 30 is arranged instead of the ventilation hole on the lower surface, and the ambient temperature of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 is increased by a cooling air supply device (not shown). It is configured to take in cooling air at a low temperature.

The opening of the sieve member 2 included in the vibration sieve device 100 is desirably in the range of 26 [μm] to 43 [μm].
FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the mesh opening of the experiment and the processing ability using a plurality of types of sieve members 2 having different mesh openings when the mesh-like sieve member 2 is used and the ultrasonic output is 25 [W]. It is a graph which shows. Note that the sieve member 2 is not limited to a mesh type, and may be a type in which a large number of circular holes having a uniform opening diameter are formed.
As shown in FIG. 5, if the mesh opening is less than 26 [μm], even if ultrasonic vibration is used, the production processing capacity of toner is remarkably lowered, which is not preferable as a production condition. On the other hand, if the opening is 44 [μm] or more, coarse particles generated before the sieving step cannot be removed.

6 and 7 are graphs of experiments in which the ultrasonic output value is changed using the sieve member 2 having a mesh opening of 34 [μm]. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between ultrasonic output and processing capability, and FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between ultrasonic output and the amount of loose aggregates.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the output value of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 is less than 15 [W], the ultrasonic vibration is insufficient and the production processing capacity is remarkably lowered, which is not preferable as a production condition. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the output value exceeded 40 [W], it was confirmed that the aggregates tend to increase rapidly.
From the results shown in the graphs of FIGS. 6 and 7, it is preferable that the ultrasonic output is operated in the range of 15 [W] to 40 [W]. Further, a more preferable condition is that the ultrasonic output in which the throughput and the aggregate amount relationship are constant is in the range of 25 to 30 [W].

FIG. 8 shows the temperature rise Δt [° C.] in the ultrasonic transmission device 7 and the ultrasonic output when the initial value of the output of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 is 25 [W] and the continuous operation is performed (at the time of continuous operation for 5 hours). It is a graph which shows the relationship with fluctuation | variation (DELTA) W [W].
As described above, since the ultrasonic output is preferably in the range of 25 to 30 [W], ΔW [W] is desirably 5 [W] or less. In order to keep ΔW below 5 [W], it is necessary to suppress the temperature rise Δt [° C.] in the panel of the ultrasonic transmitter 7 to 5 [° C.] or less. For this reason, like the vibration sieving device 100 of the present embodiment, by providing a transmission device cooling means, the temperature rise in the panel of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 is suppressed, and sieving is performed with an ultrasonic output within a preferable range. It can be carried out.

First, main raw materials will be described. A binder resin that can be used in this embodiment includes a polyester resin.
The polyester resin is usually obtained by condensation polymerization of alcohol and carboxylic acid.
Examples of the alcohol include glycols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and propylene glycol, etherified bisphenols such as 1.4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane and bisphenol A, and other dihydric alcohols. Mention may be made of monomers and trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol monomers.
Examples of carboxylic acids include divalent organic acid monomers such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, succinic acid, and malonic acid, 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-methylenecarboxy Mention may be made of trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid monomers such as propane and 1,2,7,8-octanetetracarboxylic acid.

  The binder resin that can be used in the present embodiment includes, in addition to the polyester resin, styrene such as polystyrene, poly-p-chlorostyrene, and polyvinyltoluene, and polymers of substituted products thereof; styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer Polymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer 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-vinylmethyl Styrene copolymer such as ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer Combined; 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 or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, paraffin wax and the like can be mentioned, and these can be used alone or in combination.

  Examples of the polymerizable monomer that can be used in this embodiment include aromatic vinyl monomers such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, and p-chlorostyrene, and unsaturated monomers such as acrylonitrile. Nitriles, methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, butyl (meth) acrylate, ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, lauryl (meth) acrylate, stearyl (meth) acrylate, and other unsaturated (meth) acrylic acids, butadiene And conjugated diolefins such as isoprene.

These polymerizable monomers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The toner production method of the present embodiment preferably includes a high molecular weight process in which an isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer dispersed in an aqueous medium containing inorganic fine particles and / or polymer fine particles is reacted with an amine. .
The prepolymer that can be used in the present embodiment is preferably a polyester-based prepolymer containing an isocyanate group, and is a polycondensate of a polyol (PO) and a polycarboxylic acid (PC) and further having a polyester having an active hydrogen group. It can be obtained by reacting with polyisocyanate (PIC).
In this case, examples of the active hydrogen group of the polyester include a hydroxyl group (alcoholic hydroxyl group and phenolic hydroxyl group), an amino group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, and the like. Among these, an alcoholic hydroxyl group is preferable.
Examples of the polyol (PO) include diol (DIO) and trivalent or higher polyol (TO), and (DIO) alone or a mixture of (DIO) and a small amount of (TO) is preferable.
Diols (DIO) include alkylene glycols (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, etc.); alkylene ether glycols (diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, Ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene ether glycol, etc.); alicyclic diols (1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.); bisphenols (bisphenol A, bisphenol F, Bisphenol S, etc.); alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.) adduct of the above alicyclic diol; Alkylene oxide phenol compound (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, etc.), etc. adducts.

Among them, preferred are alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms and alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols, and particularly preferred are alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenols and alkylene glycols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms. It is a combined use.
Trivalent or higher polyols (TO) include 3 to 8 or higher polyhydric aliphatic alcohols (glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, etc.); trivalent or higher phenols (Tris) Phenol PA, phenol novolak, cresol novolak, etc.); alkylene oxide adducts of the above trivalent or more polyphenols.
Examples of the polycarboxylic acid (PC) include dicarboxylic acid (DIC) and trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC), and (DIC) alone and a mixture of (DIC) and a small amount of (TC) are preferable.

Examples of the dicarboxylic acid (DIC) include alkylene dicarboxylic acids (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.); alkenylene dicarboxylic acids (maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc.); aromatic dicarboxylic acids (phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, Naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and the like).
Of these, preferred are alkenylene dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 20 carbon atoms.
Examples of the trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (TC) include aromatic polycarboxylic acids having 9 to 20 carbon atoms (such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid).
In addition, as polycarboxylic acid (PC), you may make it react with a polyol (PO) using the above-mentioned acid anhydride or lower alkyl ester (Methyl ester, ethyl ester, isopropyl ester, etc.).
The ratio of the polyol (PO) and the polycarboxylic acid (PC) is usually 2/1 to 1/1, preferably 1 as the equivalent ratio [OH] / [COOH] of the hydroxyl group [OH] and the carboxyl group [COOH]. 5/1 to 1/1, more preferably 1.3 / 1 to 1.02 / 1.

Examples of the polyisocyanate (PIC) include aliphatic polyisocyanates (tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,6-diisocyanatomethylcaproate, etc.); alicyclic polyisocyanates (isophorone diisocyanate, cyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); Aromatic diisocyanates (tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, etc.); araliphatic diisocyanates (α, α, α ′, α′-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, etc.); isocyanurates; And a combination of two or more of these.
When obtaining a polyester-based prepolymer having an isocyanate group, the ratio of the polyisocyanate (PIC) to the polyester-based resin (PE) having active hydrogen is such that the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group are The equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] is usually 5/1 to 1/1, preferably 4/1 to 1.2 / 1, and more preferably 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1.
The content of the polyisocyanate (PIC) component in the prepolymer A having an isocyanate group at the terminal is usually 0.5 to 40 [mass%], preferably 1 to 30 [mass%], more preferably 2 to 20 [% By mass].

As the amine, polyamines and / or amines having an active hydrogen-containing group are used.
In this case, the active hydrogen-containing group includes a hydroxyl group and a mercapto group.
Such amines include diamine (abbreviated as B1), trivalent or higher polyamine (abbreviated as B2), aminoalcohol (abbreviated as B3), aminomercaptan (abbreviated as B4), amino acid. (Abbreviated as B5), and those obtained by blocking the amino groups of B1 to B5 (abbreviated as B6).

Examples of the diamine (B1) include aromatic diamines (phenylenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine, 4,4′diaminodiphenylmethane, etc.); alicyclic diamines (4,4′-diamino-3,3′dimethyldicyclohexylmethane, diaminecyclohexane, Isophorone diamine etc.); and aliphatic diamines (ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine etc.) and the like.
Examples of the trivalent or higher polyamine (B2) include diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine.
Examples of amino alcohol (B3) include ethanolamine and hydroxyethylaniline.
Examples of amino mercaptan (B4) include aminoethyl mercaptan and aminopropyl mercaptan.

Examples of the amino acid (B5) include aminopropionic acid and aminocaproic acid.
Examples of the B1 to B5 amino group blocked (B6) include ketimine compounds and oxazoline compounds obtained from the B1 to B5 amines and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.).
Among these amines, (B1) and a mixture of (B1) and a small amount of (B2) are preferable.
Furthermore, when making a prepolymer and an amine react, the molecular weight of polyester can be adjusted using an elongation terminator if necessary.

Examples of the elongation terminator include monoamines having no active hydrogen-containing groups (diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, and the like), and those blocked (ketimine compounds).
The addition amount is appropriately selected in relation to the molecular weight desired for the urea-modified polyester to be produced.
The ratio of the amine and the prepolymer having an isocyanate group is the equivalent ratio of the isocyanate group [NCO] in the prepolymer having an isocyanate group and the amino group [NHx] in the amine (x is a number of 1 to 2). [NCO] / [NHx] is usually 1/2 to 2/1, preferably 1.5 / 1 to 1 / 1.5, more preferably 1.2 / 1 to 1 / 1.2. Good.

As the colorant in the present embodiment, all known dyes and pigments can be used. 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, Red Tan, Lead Zhu, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, Parared, Phisei Red, Lachlor 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, Resol Rubin GX , Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Tolujing 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, oil red, quinacridone , Pyrazolone red, polyazo red, chrome vermilion, benzidine orange, perinone orange, oil orange, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, alkali blue rake, peacock blue rake, Victoria blue rake, metal free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue, fast sky blue, Indanthrene blue (RS, BC), indigo, ultramarine, bitumen, anthraquinone blue, fast violet B, methyl violet lake, cobalt violet, manganese purple, dioxane violet, anthraquinone violet, chrome green, zinc green, chromium oxide, pyridian, Emerald Green, Pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Acid Green Lake, Malachite Green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, litbon and mixtures thereof can be used.
The content of the colorant is usually 1 to 15 [mass%], preferably 3 to 12 [mass%] based on the toner.
The colorant used in the present embodiment can also be used as a master batch combined with a resin.

  Resin for master batch production or binder resin to be kneaded with the master batch includes, in addition to the above-mentioned polyester resin, styrene such as polystyrene, poly p-chlorostyrene, polyvinyltoluene, and substituted polymers thereof; styrene- p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, 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-chloromethacrylate Methyl acid copolymer, styrene-a Lilonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid ester Styrene copolymers such as copolymers; polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid Resins, rosins, modified rosins, terpene resins, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, paraffin waxes and the like can be used, and these can be used alone or in combination.

This master batch can be obtained by mixing and kneading a resin for producing a master batch and a colorant under a high shear force to obtain a master batch.
At this time, an organic solvent can be used to enhance the interaction between the colorant and the resin. In addition, the so-called flushing method is a method of mixing and kneading an aqueous paste containing water of a colorant together with a resin and an organic solvent, transferring the colorant to the resin side, and removing moisture and organic solvent components. It is preferable that the wet cake can be used as it is.
For mixing and kneading, a high shear dispersion device such as a three-roll mill is preferably used.

Further, in the production of the toner according to the present embodiment, a wax may be included together with the binder resin and the colorant.
Known waxes can be used for the toner production method of the present embodiment, such as polyolefin wax (polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, etc.); long chain hydrocarbon (paraffin wax, sazol wax, etc.); carbonyl group-containing wax. Etc.
Of these, carbonyl group-containing waxes are preferred.

Carbonyl group-containing waxes include polyalkanoic acid esters (carnauba wax, montan wax, trimethylolpropane tribehenate, pentaerythritol tetrabehenate, pentaerythritol diacetate dibehenate, glycerin tribehenate, 1, 18 -Octadecandiol diol distearate, etc.); polyalkanol esters (tristearyl trimellitic acid, distearyl maleate, etc.); polyalkanoic acid amides (ethylene diamine dibehenyl amide, etc.); polyalkylamides (trimellitic acid tristearyl amide, etc.) And dialkyl ketones (such as distearyl ketone).
Among these carbonyl group-containing waxes, polyalkanoic acid esters are preferred.
The melting point of the wax of this embodiment is usually 40 to 160 [° C.], preferably 50 to 120 [° C.], and more preferably 60 to 90 [° C.].

A wax having a melting point of less than 40 [° C.] has an adverse effect on heat-resistant storage stability, and a wax having a melting point of more than 160 [° C.] tends to cause a cold offset when fixing at a low temperature.
Further, the melt viscosity of the wax is preferably 5 to 1000 [cps], more preferably 10 to 100 [cps] as a measured value at a temperature 20 [° C.] higher than the melting point.
Waxes exceeding 1000 [cps] are poor in improving hot offset resistance and low-temperature fixability.

The content of the wax in the toner is usually 0 to 40 [mass%], preferably 3 to 30 [mass%].
As an aqueous medium used in the present embodiment, water alone may be used, but a solvent miscible with water may be used in combination.
Examples of the miscible solvent include alcohol (methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (methylcellosolve, etc.), lower ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.), and the like.

The toner in this exemplary embodiment may contain a charge control agent as necessary.
All known charge control agents can be used, such as nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, chromium-containing metal complex dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (fluorine-modified). Quaternary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus simple substances or compounds, tungsten simple substances or compounds, fluorine-based activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and metal salts of salicylic acid derivatives.
Specifically, Nitronine dye Bontron 03, quaternary ammonium salt Bontron P-51, metal-containing azo dye Bontron S-34, oxynaphthoic acid metal complex E-82, salicylic acid metal complex E- 84, E-89 of a phenol-based condensate (above, Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), TP-302 of a quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex, TP 1415 (above, Hodogaya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), quaternary ammonium Copy charge PSY VP2038 of salt, copy blue PR of triphenylmethane derivative, copy charge of quaternary ammonium salt NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (above, manufactured by Hoechst), LRA-901, LR-147 which is a boron complex (Nippon Carlit Co., Ltd.), copper phthalocyanine, perylene, quinacridone Azo pigments, sulfonate group, carboxyl group, and polymer compounds having a functional group such as a quaternary ammonium salt.

In the present embodiment, the amount of charge control agent used is determined by the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of various additives used as necessary, and the toner production method including the dispersion method. The binder resin is preferably used in the range of 0.1 to 10 [parts by mass] with respect to 100 [parts by mass].
Preferably, the range of 0.2-5 [parts by mass] is good.
If it exceeds 10 [parts by mass], the chargeability of the toner is too high, the effect of the main charge control agent is reduced, the electrostatic attractive force with the developing roller is increased, the flowability of the developer is reduced, the image The concentration is lowered.

These charge control agents can be dissolved and dispersed after being melt-kneaded with a masterbatch and resin, and of course, they can be added directly when dissolved and dispersed in an organic solvent, or fixed on the toner surface after preparation of toner particles. May be.
As the external additive for assisting the fluidity, developability and chargeability of the toner in the present embodiment, inorganic fine particles can be preferably used.
The primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 5 [nm] to 2000 [nm], and particularly preferably 5 [nm] to 500 [nm].
Moreover, it is preferable that the specific surface area by the BET method of the primary particle diameter of this inorganic fine particle is 20-500 [m < ² > / g].

The use ratio of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 0.01 to 5 [mass%] of the toner, and particularly preferably 0.01 to 2.0 [mass%]. Specific examples of the inorganic fine particles include, for example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, quartz sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth. Examples include soil, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, pengala, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride.
In addition, polymer fine particles such as polystyrene obtained by soap-free emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization, and dispersion polymerization, polycondensation systems such as methacrylic acid ester and acrylic acid ester copolymer, silicone, benzoguanamine, and nylon, thermosetting Examples thereof include polymer particles made of a resin.

Such a fluidizing agent performs surface treatment to increase hydrophobicity, and can prevent deterioration of flow characteristics and charging characteristics even under high humidity.
For example, silane coupling agents, silylating agents, silane coupling agents having an alkyl fluoride group, organic titanate coupling agents, aluminum coupling agents, silicone oils, modified silicone oils and the like are preferable surface treatment agents. .
Examples of the cleaning property improver for removing the developer after transfer remaining on the photoreceptor or the primary transfer medium include, for example, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, fatty acid metal salts such as stearic acid, such as polymethyl methacrylate fine particles, polystyrene fine particles, etc. And polymer fine particles produced by soap-free emulsion polymerization.
The polymer fine particles preferably have a relatively narrow particle size distribution and a volume average particle size of 0.01 [μm] to 1 [μm].

The specific manufacturing process of the electrostatic image developing toner of the present embodiment will be described. Of course, the manufacturing method of the electrostatic image developing toner to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to these manufacturing methods. Absent.
<Production of polyester resin>
Polyhydric alcohol (PO) and polyvalent carboxylic acid (PC) are heated to 150 to 280 [° C.] in the presence of a known esterification catalyst such as tetrabutoxy titanate and dibutyltin oxide, and are produced while reducing the pressure as necessary. Water is distilled off to obtain a polyester resin.

<Preparation of prepolymer>
Polyester having a hydroxyl group obtained by the same method as that for the polyester resin is reacted with polyvalent isocyanate (PIC) at 40 to 140 [° C.] to obtain a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group.
When reacting polyvalent isocyanate (PIC), a solvent can be used as necessary.
Usable solvents are aromatic solvents (toluene, xylene, etc.) that are inert to isocyanate compounds; ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, etc.); esters (ethyl acetate, etc.); amides (Dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide and the like) and ethers (tetrahydrofuran and the like).

<Production of modified polyester resin>
The reaction between the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B) may be carried out by mixing with other toner constituent materials, or may be prepared in advance.
When preparing in advance, the polyester prepolymer (A) is reacted with amines (B) at 0 to 140 [° C.] to obtain a urea-modified polyester resin.
Also in the case of reacting the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B), a solvent can be used as necessary, as in the case of the prepolymer (A).
Solvents that can be used are as described above.

<Toner production method in aqueous medium>
As an aqueous medium used in the present embodiment, water alone may be used, but a solvent miscible with water may be used in combination.
Examples of the miscible solvent include alcohol (methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, cellosolves (methylcellosolve, etc.), lower ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.), and the like.
The toner particles may be formed by reacting a dispersion composed of a polyester prepolymer (A) having an isocyanate group in an aqueous medium with amines (B), or using a modified polyester resin prepared in advance. good.
As a method for stably forming a dispersion composed of a polyester resin or a polyester prepolymer (A) in an aqueous medium, a toner constituent material composed of a polyester resin or a polyester prepolymer (A) is added to the aqueous medium. However, other toner constituent materials such as wax and charge control agent may be mixed when the dispersion is formed in the aqueous medium, but after these toner constituent materials are mixed in advance. More preferably, the mixture is added and dispersed in an aqueous medium.

In this embodiment, toner constituent materials such as wax and charge control agent do not necessarily need to be mixed when forming particles in an aqueous medium, and may be added after the particles are formed. .
<Solid particulate dispersant>
Further, by adding a solid fine particle dispersant in advance to the aqueous medium, the dispersion of oil droplets in the aqueous phase is made uniform.
This is because the solid fine particle dispersant is arranged on the surface of the oil droplets at the time of dispersion, and the dispersion of the oil droplets is made uniform, and at the same time, coalescence of the oil droplets is prevented and the particle size distribution is sharp. Toner can be obtained.
The solid fine particle dispersant is present in a solid form that is hardly soluble in water in an aqueous medium, and is preferably inorganic fine particles having an average particle diameter of 0.01 to 1 [μm].

Specific examples of the inorganic fine particles include, for example, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, tin oxide, quartz sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth. Examples include soil, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, bengara, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, barium sulfate, barium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride.
Preferably, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, colloidal titanium oxide, colloidal silica, hydroxyapatite, or the like can be used.
In particular, hydroxyapatite synthesized by reacting sodium phosphate and calcium chloride in water under basic conditions is preferable.

  As a dispersant for emulsifying and dispersing the oil phase in which the toner composition is dispersed in an aqueous medium, anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene sulfonate, α-olefin sulfonate, and phosphate ester, alkylamine salts, Amino alcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, amine salt types such as imidazoline, and quaternary alkyltrimethylammonium salts, dialkyldimethylammonium salts, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salts, pyridinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, benzethonium chloride, etc. Nonionic surfactants such as ammonium salt type cationic surfactants, fatty acid amide derivatives, polyhydric alcohol derivatives such as alanine, dodecyldi (aminoethyl) glycine, di (octylaminoethyl) glycine and N-alkyl-N, N Amphoteric surfactants such as dimethyl ammonium betaine.

Further, by using a surfactant having a fluoroalkyl group, the effect of the dispersant can be increased in a very small amount.
Preferred anionic surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include fluoroalkyl carboxylic acids having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and metal salts thereof, disodium perfluorooctanesulfonyl glutamate, 3- [omega-fluoroalkyl (C6-C11 ) Oxy] -1-alkyl (C3-C4) sodium sulfonate, 3- [omega-fluoroalkanoyl (C6-C8) -N-ethylamino] -1-propanesulfonic acid sodium, fluoroalkyl (C11-C20) carvone Acids and metal salts thereof, perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids (C7 to C13) and metal salts thereof, perfluoroalkyl (C4 to C12) sulfonic acids and metal salts thereof, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid diethanolamide, N-propyl-N- (2-hydroxye L) Perfluorooctanesulfonamide, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salt, perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) -N-ethylsulfonylglycine salt, monoperfluoroalkyl (C6-C16) ethyl phosphate Examples include esters.

  Trade names for surfactants having a fluoroalkyl group include Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Florard FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129 (Sumitomo) 3M), Unidyne DS-101, DS-102, (Daikin Kogyo Co., Ltd.), Megafuck F-ll0, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812, F-833 (Dainippon Ink) Xttop EF-102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 123A, 123B, 306A, 501, 201, 204 (manufactured by Tochem Products), Footent F-100, F150 (manufactured by Neos), etc. Is mentioned.

  Examples of the cationic surfactant include aliphatic primary, secondary or tertiary amine acids having a fluoroalkyl group, and aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts such as perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamidopropyltrimethylammonium salts. Benzalkonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridinium salt, imidazolinium salt, trade names include Surflon S-121 (Asahi Glass), Florard FC-135 (Sumitomo 3M), Unidyne DS-202 (Daikin Industries) ), MegaFuck F-150, F-824 (Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd.), Xtop EF-132 (Tochem Products Co., Ltd.), Footgent F-300 (Neos Co., Ltd.), and the like.

Further, the dispersed droplets may be stabilized by a polymer protective colloid.
For example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-cyanoacrylic acid, α-cyanomethacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid or maleic anhydride and other (meth) acrylic monomers containing hydroxyl groups Such as β-hydroxyethyl acrylate, β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, β-hydroxypropyl acrylate, β-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl acrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 3-chloroacrylate 2-hydroxypropyl, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, diethylene glycol monoacrylate, diethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycerol monoacrylate, glycerol monomethacrylate, N -Methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide, etc., vinyl alcohol or ethers with vinyl alcohol, such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, or esters of compounds containing vinyl alcohol and carboxyl groups, such as Vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or their methylol compounds, acid chlorides such as acrylic acid chloride, methacrylic acid chloride, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole, ethylene imine, etc. Homopolymers or copolymers such as those having a nitrogen atom or a heterocyclic ring thereof, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, Oxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxypropylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxypropylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester, polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl Polyoxyethylenes such as esters, celluloses such as methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose can be used.

In addition, when an acid such as calcium phosphate salt or an alkali-soluble substance is used as the dispersion stabilizer, the calcium phosphate salt is dissolved from the fine particles by a method such as dissolving the calcium phosphate salt with an acid such as hydrochloric acid and washing with water. Remove.
In addition, it can be removed by an operation such as enzymatic degradation.

When a dispersant is used, the dispersant may remain on the surface of the toner particles, but it is preferable from the charged surface of the toner that the dispersant is washed and removed after the elongation and / or crosslinking reaction.
The elongation and / or crosslinking reaction time is selected depending on the reactivity of the isocyanate group structure of the polyester prepolymer (A) and the amines (B), but is usually 10 minutes to 40 hours, preferably 2 to 24 hours. It is.
The reaction temperature is generally 0 to 150 [° C.], preferably 40 to 98 [° C.].

Moreover, a well-known catalyst can be used as needed.
Specific examples include dibutyltin laurate and dioctyltin laurate. In order to remove the organic solvent from the obtained emulsified dispersion, a method in which the temperature of the entire system is gradually raised to completely evaporate and remove the organic solvent in the droplets can be employed. Alternatively, the emulsified dispersion can be sprayed into a dry atmosphere to completely remove the water-insoluble organic solvent in the droplets to form toner fine particles, and the aqueous dispersant can be removed by evaporation together. .

As a dry atmosphere in which the emulsified dispersion is sprayed, a gas obtained by heating air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide gas, combustion gas, or the like, in particular, various air currents heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point of the highest boiling solvent used is generally used. A spray dryer, belt dryer, rotary kiln, etc. can provide the desired quality in a short time.
The resulting dried toner powder is mixed and mixed with different particles such as charge control agent, fluidizing agent, colorant, etc., and mechanical impact force is applied to the mixed powder to fuse and fuse on the surface. It is possible to prevent detachment of foreign particles from the surface of the resulting composite particles.

Specific means include a method of applying an impact force to the mixture by blades rotating at high speed, a method of injecting and accelerating the mixture in a high-speed air stream, and causing particles or composite particles to collide with an appropriate collision plate, etc. is there.
As equipment, Ong mill (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), I-type mill (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.) has been modified to lower the pulverization air pressure, hybridization system (manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.), kryptron System (manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.), automatic mortar, etc.

Further, the toner of the present embodiment can be used as a magnetic toner containing a magnetic material, and examples of magnetic materials contained in the toner include iron oxides such as magnetite, hematite, and ferrite, iron, cobalt, and nickel. Metals or alloys of these metals such as aluminum, cobalt, copper, lead, magnesium, tin, zinc, antimony, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, manganese, selenium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and mixtures thereof It is done.
Magnetite is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of magnetic properties.
These ferromagnetic materials preferably have an average particle size of about 0.1 to 2 [μm]. The amount of the ferromagnetic material contained in the toner is about 15 to 200 [parts by mass] with respect to 100 [parts by mass] of the resin component. Particularly preferred is 20 to 100 [parts by mass] with respect to 100 [parts by mass] of the resin component.

Next, a method for removing loose agglomerates by continuous stable single-stage sieving in the sieving step after mixing external additives will be described.
In the toner in the sieving step, plate-like bodies and coarse particles in an aggregated state are mixed due to the wet manufacturing method. In a sieve having a large mesh, coarse particles cannot pass through the sieve and cannot be completely removed, and the purpose of the sieve is not fulfilled.
Further, in the case of a sieve having a small mesh, a plate-like thing remains on the sieve, and what is to pass through tends to accumulate there, and an efficient sieving process cannot be performed.
Further, by continuing the sieving process for a long period of time, the ultrasonic vibration transducer of the sieve generates heat, and as a result, loose aggregates are formed and mixed in the toner after the sieving process. Furthermore, as the temperature inside the ultrasonic transmission device rises, the ultrasonic output value rises and changes.

  On the other hand, the vibration sieving device 100 used in the sieving step of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes an ultrasonic vibration converter 8 on the upper surface side that is the primary side of the sieving member 2. Further, the opening of the sieve member 2 is in a range of 26 [μm] to 43 [μm], and ultrasonic output is provided by applying ultrasonic vibration and mechanical vibration and cooling the inside of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 with air. The rise of is suppressed. By suppressing the increase of the ultrasonic output, the temperature increase of the sieve member 2 due to the increase of the output of the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is suppressed, and the toners are welded to form a new loose aggregate. Can be suppressed. In addition, since the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 that causes the generation of loose aggregates is arranged on the upper surface side of the sieve member 2, even if the mild aggregates are formed, they are collected by the sieve member 2 and vibrate. By removing the loose agglomerates that have been broken and not broken as a coarse powder, it is possible to secure a toner having a desired product particle size.

<Two-component carrier>
When the toner of the present embodiment is used for a two-component developer, it may be used by mixing with a magnetic carrier. The carrier to toner content ratio in the developer is 100 parts by mass of the carrier. The toner is preferably 1 to 10 [parts by mass].
As the magnetic carrier, conventionally known ones such as iron powder, ferrite powder, magnetite powder, magnetic resin carrier having a particle diameter of about 20 to 200 [μm] can be used.

Examples of the coating material include amino resins such as urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, urea resin, polyamide resin, and epoxy resin.
Polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resins such as acrylic resins, polymethyl methacrylate resins, polyacrylonitrile resins, polyvinyl acetate resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl butyral resins, polystyrene resins and styrene acrylic copolymer resins, Halogenated olefin resin such as vinyl chloride, polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate resin and polybutylene terephthalate resin, polycarbonate resin, polyethylene resin, polyvinyl fluoride resin, polyvinylidene fluoride resin, polytrifluoroethylene resin, polyhexa Fluoropropylene resin, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic monomer, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and vinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride Fluoro such as terpolymers of emission and non-fluoride monomers including, and silicone resins.

Moreover, you may make conductive powder etc. contain in coating resin as needed.
As the conductive powder, metal powder, carbon black, titanium oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide or the like can be used. These conductive powders preferably have an average particle diameter of 1 [μm] or less. When the average particle diameter is 1 [μm] or less, the electric resistance is well controlled.
Further, the toner according to the present invention is not limited to the toner used for the two-component developer, but can also be used as a magnetic toner for a one-component developer that does not use a carrier or a non-magnetic toner.

As the magnetic carrier when the toner according to the present invention is used as a two-component developer, all known carriers can be used. For example, magnetic powder such as iron powder, ferrite powder, nickel powder, glass beads, and the like. And those whose surfaces are treated with a resin or the like.
Examples of the resin powder that can be coated on the magnetic carrier in this embodiment include a styrene-acrylic copolymer, a silicone resin, a maleic acid resin, a fluorine-based resin, a polyester resin, and an epoxy resin.

In the case of a styrene-acrylic copolymer, those having a styrene content of 30 to 90 [% by mass] are preferred.
In this case, when the styrene content is less than 30 [% by mass], the development characteristics are low, and when it exceeds 90 [% by mass], the coating film becomes hard and easily peeled, and the life of the carrier is shortened.
Moreover, the resin coating of the carrier in this embodiment may contain an adhesion imparting agent, a curing agent, a lubricant, a conductive material, a charge control agent, and the like in addition to the resin.

[Experimental example]
Hereinafter, an experimental example using an example that is a specific example of the vibration sieve device 100 of the present embodiment described above and a comparative example that does not have at least a part of the configuration of the vibration sieve device 100 of the present embodiment will be described. .
In addition, this invention is not limited only to the structure of the Example given here. In the following Examples and Comparative Examples, [parts] and [%] are based on mass unless otherwise specified.
Here, the toner obtained by the wet manufacturing method will be described.

[Example 1]
Prepare raw materials such as unmodified polyester, prepolymer, masterbatch (MB), ketimine necessary for oil phase preparation, prepare oil phase and water phase from these raw materials, etc., equipped with emulsification mechanism Using the mixing device, the oil phase and the aqueous phase are mixed to obtain an emulsified dispersion, followed by solvent removal, filtration, washing, and drying to obtain toner base particles. It was.

Below, each process of Example 1 is explained in full detail.
<Synthesis of unmodified polyester>
In a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling tube, a stirrer, and a nitrogen introduction tube, 690 [parts] of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2-mol adduct and 256 [parts] of terephthalic acid were placed and reacted at 230 [° C.] at normal pressure for 8 hours. Next, the reaction was carried out at a reduced pressure of 10 to 15 [mmHg] (1.3 to 2.0 [Pa]) for 5 hours and then cooled to 160 [° C.], and 18 [parts] of phthalic anhydride was added thereto. By reacting for 2 hours, an unmodified “polyester (B)” was obtained.

<Synthesis of prepolymer>
In a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling pipe, a stirrer and a nitrogen introduction pipe, 682 [parts] of bisphenol A ethylene oxide 2 mol adduct, 81 [parts] of bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 mol adduct, and 283 [parts of terephthalic acid] ], 22 parts by weight of trimellitic anhydride and 2 parts by weight of dibutyltin oxide, reacted at 230 [° C.] at normal pressure for 8 hours, and further 10-15 [mmHg] (1.3 The reaction was performed at a reduced pressure of ˜2.0 [Pa] for 5 hours, and then cooled to 160 [° C.], and 32 [parts] of phthalic anhydride was added thereto and reacted for 2 hours.
Next, the mixture was cooled to 80 [° C.] and reacted with 230 parts of isophorone diisocyanate in ethyl acetate for 2 hours to obtain [prepolymer (A)] containing an isocyanate group.

<Synthesis of ketimine>
In a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, 170 [parts] of isophoronediamine and 75 [parts] of methyl ethyl ketone were charged and reacted at 50 [° C.] for 5 hours to obtain [ketimine compound (1)]. Obtained.
<Manufacture of toner material solution>
In the tank, [Prepolymer (A)] is 14.3 [parts], [Polyester (B)] is 55 [parts], and ethyl acetate is 78.6 [parts], dissolved by stirring, Rice wax (melting point 83 [° C.]) 10 [parts] and copper phthalocyanine blue pigment 4 [parts] are put in, and 60 [° C.] with a TK homomixer at 12,000 [rpm] for 15 minutes. The mixture was stirred and dispersed at 20 [° C.] for 60 minutes using a bead mill.
This is designated as [toner material solution (1)].

<Manufacture of base particles>
Next, 306 [parts] of ion exchange water, 265 [parts] of a 10% tricalcium phosphate suspension, and 0.2 [parts] sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were placed in the tank and dissolved uniformly.
Next, while stirring at 12,000 [rpm] with a TK homomixer, 749 [parts] of [Toner material solution (1)] and 2.7 [parts] of [ketimine compound (1)] were added. The urea was reacted.
While observing the particle size and particle size distribution with an optical microscope, when the average particle size was larger than approximately 10 [μm], the stirring rotation speed was increased to 14,000 [rpm] and stirring was continued for another 5 minutes.
Thereafter, as a solvent removal step, the emulsified solution is heated to 45 [° C.], the stirring blade outer peripheral speed is 10.5 [m / s], and atmospheric pressure (101.3 [kPa]). Solvent removal was performed for 5 hours.
Then, it separated by filtration, wash | cleaned, and dried and the base particle A was obtained.

<Manufacture of toner>
Hydrophobic silica was added to 100 [parts] of the obtained base particle A in 1.0 [parts] and placed in a KAWATA super mixer, and then operated at 1100 [rpm] for 60 [seconds], and stopped for 60 [seconds]. Thereafter, operation was performed at 1300 [rpm] for 120 [seconds] and stopped for 60 [seconds]. Next, after adding 0.7 part of hydrophobized titanium oxide, similarly, the operation was stopped at 1100 [rpm] and 1300 [rpm], and 1.0 [part] of hydrophobic silica was added again. [rpm] for 60 [second] operation, 60 [second] stop, 1100 [rpm] operation for 60 [second], 60 [second] stop and mixing.

Thereafter, with a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side (upper surface side), ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: Under the condition of heat radiation gallery, ultrasonic output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
Change temperature of ultrasonic transmitter after 5 hours processing, record ultrasonic output value, ultrasonic vibration transducer temperature of sieve, and powder temperature of recovered toner using contact type thermometer manufactured by Testo Co., Ltd. The temperature was measured.

  The toner 50 [g] obtained after the sieving step is sieved with 200 mesh (wire diameter 50 [μm], opening 75 [μm]), and the loose agglomerates remaining on the sieve are manufactured by SHIMADZU : Measured using an AUW120D electronic balance, the amount of loose aggregates was 0.046 [mg / g], and the abnormal image (firefly) was a result of evaluating half-tone solid images of two A3 size copy papers An abnormal image was not confirmed.

[Example 2]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: ventilation fan, super Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.043 [mg / g], and the abnormal image (firefly) was an abnormal image as a result of evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. Was not confirmed.

Example 3
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
After that, with a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 26 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: ventilation fan, super Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.0.50 [mg / g], and the abnormal image (firefly) was evaluated as a half-tone solid coated image on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was not confirmed.

Example 4
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
After that, with a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 43 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: ventilation fan, super Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.036 [mg / g], and the abnormal image (firefly) was an abnormal image as a result of evaluating a halftone solid image on two A3 size copy papers. Was not confirmed.

Example 5
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: cooling air, ultra Sonication output initial value: 15 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.028 [mg / g], and the abnormal image (firefly) was an abnormal image as a result of evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. Was not confirmed.

Example 6
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: cooling air, ultra Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.035 [mg / g], and the abnormal image (firefly) was an abnormal image as a result of evaluating a half-tone solid image on two A3 size copy papers. Was not confirmed.

Example 7
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: cooling air, ultra Sonication output initial value: 30 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.065 [mg / g], and the abnormal image (firefly) was an abnormal image as a result of evaluating a halftone solid image on two A3 size copy papers. Was not confirmed.

The results of Examples 1-7 are shown in Table 1.

Example 8
In Example 8, toner obtained by a dry process is used.
Here, the toner obtained by the dry process will be described.
In preparing the toner, resins 1 and 2 having the following composition are prepared.
<Resin 1>
Composition: fumaric acid, adipic acid, dodecenyl succinic acid, 1.4-butanediol, 1.6-hexanediol Melting point: 90 [° C.]
<Resin 2>
Composition: terephthalic acid, fumaric acid, trimellitic anhydride, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, neopentyl glycol Te (tangential intersection): 65 [° C.]
F1 / 2 temperature: 125 [° C]

Resin 1 15 [parts], resin 2 85 [parts], ester wax (melting point 85 [° C.]) 5 [parts], zirconium salicylate 1 [parts], disazo yellow pigment 7 [parts], The toner-forming material having the composition was charged into a Henschel mixer “MF20C / I type” (Nippon Coke Co., Ltd .: former Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.), thoroughly stirred and mixed, and then kneaded with a twin-screw extruder manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd. did.
Next, the mass average particle diameter (D4) is 5.8 ± 0.5 [μm], and the ratio (D4 / D1) of the mass average particle diameter to the number average particle diameter (D1) is 1.2 to 1.3. Thus, pulverization and classification were performed to obtain base particles B.
The kneading was performed such that the temperature of the kneaded product at the outlet of the twin-screw extruder was around 120 [° C.].
The particles obtained here were used as base particles B, and were mixed and sieved under the same conditions as in Example 1 to obtain toner B.
Example 9
The base particles B obtained in Example 8 were sieved under the same conditions as in Example 6.

The results of Examples 8 and 9 are shown in Table 2.

[Comparative Example 1]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
After that, with a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: heat radiation gallery, ultra Under the condition of the sonic wave output initial value of 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner loose agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 0.872 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 2]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
After that, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: ventilation fan, super Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner loose agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 0.867 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 3]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
After that, with a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 26 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: ventilation fan, ultra Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.888 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 4]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
After that, with a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 43 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: ventilation fan, ultra Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner loose agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 0.863 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 5]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: cooling air, ultra Sonication output initial value: 15 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.835 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 6]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: cooling air, ultra Under the condition of sonic wave output initial value: 25 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 0.861 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 7]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Kogyo Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: cooling air, ultra Sonication output initial value: 30 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.922 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 8]
Base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions as in Example 1.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 25 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 1.970 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated as a result of evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 9]
Base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions as in Example 1.
Thereafter, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 26 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 25 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 2.121 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated as a result of evaluating two half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 10]
Base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions as in Example 1.
Thereafter, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 43 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of an initial output value of 25 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 1.789 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images of two A3-size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 11]
Base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions as in Example 1.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 15 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner agglomerated after the sieving step was 1.376 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated as a result of evaluating two half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 12]
Base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions as in Example 1.
Then, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: secondary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 30 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 3.355 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images of two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 13]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Thereafter, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 25 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner loose agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 0.563 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating halftone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 14]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Thereafter, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 26 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 25 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner loose agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 0.610 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 15]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Thereafter, using a circular vibration sieving machine manufactured by Kowa Industry Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 43 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 25 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of toner loose agglomerates obtained after the sieving step was 0.555 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 16]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Thereafter, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of initial output value: 15 [W], the sieving step was carried out for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.538 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

[Comparative Example 17]
The base particles A obtained in Example 1 were mixed under the same conditions.
Thereafter, using a circular vibration sieve machine manufactured by Kowa Industrial Co., Ltd., sieve opening: 34 [μm], ultrasonic vibration transducer mounting position: primary side, ultrasonic transmission device temperature rise suppression mechanism: none, ultrasonic Under the condition of an initial output value of 30 [W], the sieving step was performed for a total of 5 hours to obtain toner A.
The amount of loose agglomerates in the toner obtained after the sieving step was 0.655 [mg / g], and abnormal images (fireflies) were evaluated by evaluating half-tone solid images on two A3 size copy papers. An abnormal image was confirmed.

The results of Comparative Examples 1 to 17 are shown in Table 3.

[Comparative Example 18]
The base particles B obtained in Example 8 were sieved under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 1.
[Comparative Example 19]
The base particles B obtained in Example 8 were sieved under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 6.
[Comparative Example 20]
The base particles B obtained in Example 8 were sieved under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 8.
[Comparative Example 21]
The base particles B obtained in Example 8 were sieved under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 13.

The results of Comparative Examples 18 to 21 are shown in Table 4.

  As a characteristic of the toner, if the ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is continuously operated in a state of abnormal heat generation (50 to 55 [° C.]), a phenomenon called melt occurs in which the toner melts and particles are bonded to each other. Quality cannot be secured, resulting in a decrease in yield. Further, even if the temperature does not rise to the range of 50 to 55 [° C.], it is desired to suppress the temperature to 40 [° C.] or less as a temperature operation management standard in the toner manufacturing process. Here, when Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Examples 13 to 17 are compared, Comparative Examples 13 to 17 without the temperature rise suppression mechanism are Examples 1 to 1 in which the temperature of the ultrasonic vibration transducer 8 has the temperature rise suppression mechanism. Higher than 7 (approaching 40 [° C.]), the amount of loose agglomerates increases accordingly, and the image quality deteriorates.

From the results of the above experimental examples, in the sieving step in the toner manufacturing process, the temperature change in the ultrasonic transmission device 7 is suppressed, the mounting position of the ultrasonic vibration transducer 8 serving as a heat source, and the sieve opening Low melting point resin typified by toner, which can reduce the amount of loose agglomerates mixed into product toner, which affects the image quality in electrophotography, and can form high quality images. A method for producing the contained material can be provided.
In the present invention, in the toner sieving process, the conventional sieving operation has a two-stage sieving structure, and the agglomerates that cause deterioration in image quality in the electrophotographic image newly formed by the upper sieving are redispersed by the lower sieving. It is also possible to cope with what has been dealt with by a one-stage sieve.

In the present embodiment described above, a method for producing an electrophotographic toner as a low-melting-point resin-containing material and a configuration relating to an electrophotographic toner have been described. The low melting point resin-containing material produced by the same method for producing a low melting point resin containing material as in the present invention is not limited to the toner for electrophotography.
For example, chemical products such as synthetic resins, paints, pigments, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, flour for milling, starch, glucose, seasonings, spices, confectionery, bread crumbs, refined sugar, salted foods, iron and non-ferrous metal powders, foundry sand It can be applied to sorting metal products such as ferrite, aluminum oxide, shot blast balls, and other resin-containing materials having a low melting point (melting point of about 50 [° C. or lower) in various fields.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
[Aspect A]
A sieve member 2, a sieve motion imparting means such as a vibration motor 6 that imparts a motion for sieving powder to the sieve member 2, and the received ultrasonic signal is converted into ultrasonic vibration, In the vibration sieve device 100 having the ultrasonic vibration transducer 8 applied to the sieve member 2 and the ultrasonic transmission device 7 for transmitting an ultrasonic signal to the ultrasonic vibration transducer 8, an upper part for cooling the ultrasonic transmission device 7. Transmitting device cooling means such as a gallery 9 and a lower gallery 10 are provided. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, when the operation of the vibration sieve device 100 is continued, it is possible to suppress the ultrasonic transmission device 7 from being cooled and the internal temperature from rising. Since the temperature rise of the sieving member 2 over time due to the temperature rise of the device 7 can be suppressed, and the toner can be prevented from welding due to the temperature rise of the sieving member 2, It is possible to suppress generation of new aggregates in the toner to be sieved.
[Aspect B]
In [Aspect A], of the two spaces formed with the sieve member 2 interposed therebetween, the space on the side to which the powder to be sieved is supplied is defined as a sieve upper space 11 as a processing primary side space, and the two spaces The ultrasonic vibration converter 8 is a sieve member when the space where the powder such as toner that has passed through the sieve member 2 reaches the lower space 12 as a processing secondary side space. 2 is disposed in the upper sieve space 11 which is the processing primary side space. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, in addition to the configuration capable of suppressing the aggregation of powders such as toner particles, the toner particles are temporarily aggregated, and a new loose aggregation occurs during the sieving process. Even if agglomeration occurs, the formation of the slow agglomerates is performed on the upper surface side of the sieve member 2, so that the generated agglomerates are captured by the sieve member 2. The loose agglomerates are re-dispersed by further sieving processing and pass through the sieving member 2 or are discharged out of the apparatus main body 1 from the product toner discharge port 4. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the loose agglomerates from being mixed into the product toner, and the product toner can be continuously and stably produced.
[Aspect C]
In [Aspect A] or [Aspect B], a heat radiating louver such as an upper louver 9 and a lower louver 10 is provided on the housing of the ultrasonic wave transmitter 7 as a transmitter cooling means. According to this, as described with reference to FIG. 1 of the above-described embodiment, the temperature increase of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 can be suppressed with a simple configuration called a louver.
[Aspect D]
In any one of the [Aspect A] to [Aspect C], the ventilation fan 20 is provided in the housing of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 as the transmission device cooling means. According to this, as described with reference to FIG. 4A, the air inside the ultrasonic transmission device 7 can be forcibly replaced, and the temperature increase of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 can be further suppressed.
[Aspect E]
In any one of the [Aspect A] to [Aspect D], a cooling gas supply device that supplies a cooling gas into the housing of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 is provided as the transmission device cooling means. According to this, as described with reference to FIG. 4B, since the cooling air having a temperature lower than the ambient temperature is taken into the ultrasonic transmission device 7, the cooling performance is higher than the air replacement. The temperature rise of the ultrasonic transmission device 7 can be further suppressed.
[Aspect F]
In the method for producing a resin-containing material including a sieving step of sieving powder by at least sieving means, the vibration sieving device 100 according to any one of aspects A to D is used as the sieving means. As a result, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to secure product powder such as toner having a target product particle size.
[Aspect G]
In [Aspect F], the low melting point resin-containing material is an electrophotographic toner. As a result, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress the generation of new agglomerates that cause image quality degradation in electrophotography in the sieving step, so that the quality of the manufactured toner is improved. Can be achieved.
[Aspect H]
In [Aspect G], the sieving member 2 in the sieving step has 200 openings within 1 inch square, the opening opening is 75 [μm], and the wire diameter forming the opening is 50 [μm]. The amount of toner remaining on the sieving member 2 when the sieving step is completed with respect to the supply amount 1 [g] of the toner supplied to the sieving member 2 during the sieving step is 0.5 [mg]. It is as follows. Thus, it is possible to estimate the image quality without performing image evaluation by confirming the amount of loose agglomerates generated in the sieving step.
[Aspect I]
An electrophotographic toner is produced by the method for producing a low-melting-point resin-containing material described in [Aspect G] or [Aspect H]. In such a toner, agglomerates having a particle size larger than a predetermined particle size are prevented from being mixed in the toner, and deterioration of image quality and occurrence of contamination in the image forming apparatus can be prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Sieve member 3 Toner inlet 4 Product toner outlet 5a Coarse powder outlet 5 Coarse powder outlet 6 Vibration motor 7 Ultrasonic transmitter 8 Ultrasonic vibration converter 9 Upper louver 10 Lower louver 11 Sieve upper space 12 Lower sieve space 20 Ventilation fan 21 Sieve frame member 22 Adhesive 25 V band 26 U packing 30 Cooling air supply pipe 100 Vibration sieve device G Clearance P Support point

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-075547 JP 2008-076873 A JP 2010-122313 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-205307

Claims (8)

A sieve member;
Sieving motion imparting means for imparting motion for sieving powder to the sieving member;
An ultrasonic vibration converter for converting the received ultrasonic signal into ultrasonic vibration and applying the ultrasonic signal to the sieve member;
In a vibration sieve device having an ultrasonic transmission device that transmits an ultrasonic signal to the ultrasonic vibration transducer,
A vibrating screen device comprising a transmitting device cooling means for cooling the ultrasonic transmitting device. The vibration sieve device according to claim 1,
Of the two spaces formed with the sieve member in between, the space on the side to which the powder to be sieved is supplied is the processing primary side space,
When the space that is the other of the two spaces and the powder that has passed through the sieve member reaches the processing secondary side space,
A vibration sieving apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic vibration converter is disposed in the processing primary side space of the sieving member. The vibrating sieve device according to claim 1 or 2,
A vibration sieving device characterized in that, as the transmitting device cooling means, a heat radiating louver is provided in a housing of an ultrasonic transmitting device. The vibrating sieve device according to claim 1 or 2,
A vibration sieve device comprising a ventilation fan provided in a housing of an ultrasonic transmission device as the transmission device cooling means. The vibrating sieve device according to claim 1 or 2,
A vibration sieve device provided with a cooling gas supply device for supplying a cooling gas into a housing of an ultrasonic transmission device as the transmitting device cooling means. In a method for producing a resin-containing substance comprising a sieving step of sieving powder by at least sieving means,
A method for producing a resin-containing material, wherein the vibration sieving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is used as the sieving means. In the manufacturing method of the low melting-point resin containing substance of Claim 6,
A method for producing a low-melting-point resin-containing material, wherein the low-melting-point resin-containing material is an electrophotographic toner. In the manufacturing method of the low melting-point resin containing substance of Claim 7,
The sieving member in the sieving step has 200 openings within one inch square, the opening of the opening is 75 [μm], and the wire diameter forming the opening is 50 [μm]. ,
The amount of powder remaining on the sieving member when the sieving step is completed with respect to the supply amount of 1 [g] of the powder supplied to the sieving member during the sieving step is 0.5 [mg]. The manufacturing method of the low melting-point resin containing substance characterized by the following .

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