NON-MAGNETIC COMPONENT DEVELOPING METHOD

Abstract: A non-magnetic component developing method. This method is employed for an electrophotographic copying machine and an electrophotographic printer, and has the object of maintaining good printing quality for long periods of continuous printing. The developing agent for a latent-image carrier is delivered on a carrier and charged by friction with a member that serves to control the thickness of the developer layer. The developer is a toner which is obtained by agglomerating fine particles having diameters of 0.1 to 3.0 µm by fusion.

Description: This invention relates to a method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development. Such a method may be used for the development of an image in a copying machine or printer such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer, or an electrographic recording device by using a nonmagnetic monocomponent developer. A widely-known example of an electrophotographic process is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,297,691. This method generally produces a print by imparting a uniform electrostatic charge to a photoconducting insulator (such as, for example, a sensitive drum) by means of corona discharge, projecting an optical image onto the photoconducting insulator by various means thereby forming an electrostatic latent image thereon. The latent image is then developed into a visible image by using a fine powder called a toner, transferring the toner image, when necessary, onto a sheet of paper, and fusing the toner image by applying pressure, heat, vapor of solvent, or light, thereby fixing the fused toner image on the paper. As the toner for developing this electrostatic latent image, the particles obtained by dispersing a coloring agent, such as a dye or carbon black, in a binder resin formed by a natural or synthetic polymer resin and pulverizing the resultant dispersed mixture to a particle size on the order of 1 to 30 µm, have been used to date. These particles are called pulverized toner. The toner of this sort is generally used either by itself or in combination with a carrier such as glass beads for the development of the electrostatic latent image. When the toner is used in its simple form for developing (in a so-called method of monocomponent development), it is deposited on a development roller and is electrically charged by a Doctor blade. The toner is then transported to the latent image on the photoconductor by rotation of the development roller and development of the latent image is attained because the electrically-charged toner is exclusively attached to the latent image by the force of electrical attraction. In the conventional method of nonmagnetic monocomponent development, the amount of toner to be deposited on the development roller is regulated by means of the Doctor blade; a roller made of a metallic substance or hard rubber is used as the development roller, and a pulverized toner formed of a resin such as styrene-acryl is used as the toner. This conventional method involves a number of problems. These include: insufficient electrical charging and inferior print quality because the toner particles are crushed under the impact of the Doctor blade in the course of continued printing. Consequently the proportion of small particles content increases, and flowability is sacrificed because of the entry of finely crushed toner particles into the interstices between the toner particles of the standard particle diameter. Thus the efficiency of contact between the toner and the Doctor blade is degraded. Further, the finely crushed toner particles exhibit poor cleanability and escape contacting the cleaner blade and, with the toner's low capacity for electrical charging and the increase in the amount of untransferred toner as contributory factors, tend to accumulate on the surface of the photoconductor drum, possibly to the extent of interfering with the formation of the latent image and thereby contributing to the degradation of print quality. The occurrence of the finely crushed toner particles may be ascribable to the fact that the conventional method of nonmagnetic monocomponent development exposes the toner to immense stress "when the toner is electrically charged by contacting the metallic blade on the roller made of a metallic substance or hard rubber" and the fact that the toner particles obtained by the technique of pulverization inevitably have sharp corners and, therefore, tend to sustain fractures along such sharp corners. In contrast, suspended polymerization toner particles shaped like true spheres defy fracture. However, such particles have the problems that they readily assume the most densely packed state and hence sacrifice flowability, have poor charging properties, roll readily on a surface and consequently tend to escape contacting the cleaner blade of the photoconductor drum, and suffer from inferior cleanability. Also in the prior art, EP-A-291296 discloses a method for developing an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photosensitive drum using a one component developer containing particles having an average diameter of 7-15 µm. The present invention, produced in the light of the problems entailed by the prior art as described above, aims to provide a method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development that excels in resistance to fracture, charging properties, and cleanability, retains printing properties even in the course of continued printing, possesses the ability to produce highly durable prints of ideal quality, and defies alterations in printed images. To exhibit these properties, a method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development should use a toner that offers high resistance to fracture, avoids inducing a change in particle size distribution, enjoys ideal flowability as used in its simple form, and finds utility as a toner in simple form in the development. The method should allow the toner to contact the Doctor blade sufficiently and consequently manifest ideal charging properties, exhibit the ability to be cleaned completely with a cleaner blade even on the photoconductor drum, and succumb to thorough charging without sustaining any undue stress. The method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development is required to possess the following characteristics; (1) that the toner should not be fractured by pressure exerted by the Doctor blade, (2) that the toner in its simple form should exhibit high flowability and should be amply charged with the layer thickness-regulating blade, and (3) that the photoconductor drum smeared with the toner should be thoroughly cleaned with the cleaner blade. As measures to fulfill these characteristics, the following conditions are conceivable; (1) that the toner should offer due resistance to fracture and abrasion and possess no numerous sharp corners, (2) that the development roller and the Doctor blade should be made of elastic substances for the purpose of reducing the stress exerted on the toner, (3) that the toner particles should have an irregular shape and a duly large diameter so that the toner excels in flowability and charging properties and, when used in its simple form for the development, will avoid assuming the most densely packed state, and (4) that the toner particles should be in an irregular shape sufficient to tuck easily on the cleaner blade so that the photoconductor drum smeared with the toner will be cleaned completely. Among other measures mentioned above, the measure involving the use of a Doctor blade of an elastic material is devoid of practicability because the blade is prone to abrasion. The Doctor blade is kept under an applied voltage. The toner, therefore, is electrically charged by the friction thereof with the Doctor blade and the exertion of the electric charge. Thus, the material for the Doctor blade is generally limited to a metal possessing high electroconductivity. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development in which a developer is transported by a developer carrier to form a layer of developer on a latent image carrier and is caused to triboelectrify by a layer thickness-regulating member which simultaneously regulates the thickness of said layer, the method being characterized in that said developer is a toner obtained by coagulating minute particles of diameters in the range 0.1 to 3.0 µm and then heating the coagulated minute particles, thereby thermally fusing adjacent minute particles; said minute particles being formed by emulsion polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer in an aqueous type solvent in the presence of a water-soluble initiator; said toner produced by said thermal fusion having an average particle diameter in the range 5.0 µm to 10.5 µm and a BET specific surface area of not less than 1.76 m 2 /g and not more than 4.50 m 2 /g; and said developer carrier having a hardness of not more than 50° on the Ascar C scale. The development roller is preferably made of a soft electroconductive elastomer and preferably possesses a porous texture. For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating one example of the construction of an electrographic recording apparatus usable for working the method of this invention; Fig. 2 is a graph showing the particle distribution of a toner for use in the method of this invention; and Fig. 3 is a graph showing the particle distribution of the toner for use in the conventional pulverization method. The use of the technique of emulsion polymerization for the manufacture of a toner allows production of toner particles devoid of sharp corners and, therefore, capable of precluding possible fractures occurring along such sharp corners. The toner, when given an average particle diameter of not less than 5.0 µm and a BET value of not less than 1.76 m 2 /g, is then allowed to acquire a limited irregular shape, an extremely small particle diameter, and cleanability not easily attained with the conventional toner particles having the shape of true spheres. This cleanability may be ascribed to the fact that, in spite of their relatively small diameter, the toner particles are capable of being readily tucked to the cleaner blade of the drum because of their amorphous form. In the existing state, if the average particle diameter of the toner is not more than 5.0 µm, the cleanability of the toner on the drum is short of being satisfactory in spite of the amorphous form. The average particle diameter not less than 5.0 µm and the BET value not less than 1.76 m 2 /g are the magnitudes that are defined exclusively in the light of cleanability. When the process of toner production itself is improved in future so as to enhance cleanability, a toner having a particle diameter of not more than 5.0 µm and a BET value of not more than 1.76 m 2 /g may be rendered adaptable for this invention. In due respect of the cleanability that is attainable by the existing process, the average particle diameter must be not less than 5.0 µm and the BET value must be not less than 1.76 m 2 /g. The BET value must be not more than 4.50 m 2 /g to eliminate the problem of toner fracture owing to continued printing by enlarging the interface of fusion between the adjacent minute toner particles and consequently heightening the strength of fusion. If the BET value exceeds 4.50 m 2 /g and the interface of fusion between the adjacent toner particles is small, the toner succumbs to fracture and the finely crushed toner particles lower the amount of toner charging and jeopardize drum cleanability. The technique of emulsion polymerization is capable of coagulating very minute polymer particles and growing them to the toner particle diameter. If the average particle diameter of the toner exceeds 10.5 µm, the number of individual minute particles required to form one piece of toner is large and the total interface of fusion between the minute particles existing within one piece of toner is proportionately large to aggravate the possibility of the toner sustaining fractures at the site of an enlarged fusion interface. Further, as concerns the fracture of toner particles, the stress to be exerted on the toner is reduced as a result of the construction of the apparatus, specifically by forming the development roller with an Ascar C hardness of not more than 50°. The development roller may be formed of an electroconductive elastomer. The development roller may possess a porous texture which enhances the transportability of the toner and ensures the flowability of the developer formed of a toner having a relatively small diameter. The development roller may be formed in a single layer; this decreases the number of treatment steps during the process of manufacturing and improves the performance reliability of the produced development roller. The monomer to be used in the method of the present invention is not limited to styrene-acryl. It is required only to possess one ethylenically unsaturated bond in the molecular unit thereof. The monomers that fulfill this requirement include styrene and derivatives thereof such as o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, p-methoxystyrene, p-phenylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene, 3,4-dichlorostyrene, p-ethylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, p-n-butylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, p-n-nonylstyrene, p-n-octylstyrene, p-n-hexylstyrene, and p-n-dodecylstyrene; ethylenically unsaturated monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, and isobutylene; halogenated vinyls such as vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl bromide, and vinyl fluoride; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, and vinyl benzoylate; α-methylene fatty acid monocarboxylates such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, and diethyl aminoethyl methacrylate; vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, and vinyl isobutyl ether; vinyl ketones such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone, and methyl isopropenyl ketone; n-vinyl compounds such as N-vinyl pyrrole, N-vinyl corbazale, N-vinyl indole, and N-vinyl pyrrolidine; vinyl naphthalenes; and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid derivatives such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, and acrylamide, for example. These monomers may be used either alone or in the form of a mixture of two or more members. As the emulsifier for the emulsion polymerization, any of the known emulsifiers such as, for example, soap, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and fluorine type surfactants can be used. Generally, the amount of such emulsifier to be used is preferably in the range between 0.01 and 1% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 0.5% by weight, based on the amount of water. As the polymerization initiator, any of the known water-soluble polymerization initiators such as, for example, potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, and other persulfates, and hydrogen peroxide may be favorably used. Generally, the amount of such polymerization initiator is sufficient in the range between about 0.01% and about 10%, preferably between 0.05% and 5% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer mixture. As the coloring agent, any of the known pigments and dyes can be used. Examples of a black pigment are channel black and furnace black. The components for the raw material of the toner, when necessary, may incorporate therein such additives as a charge control agent and a flowability-improving agent, for example. The method to be adopted for the emulsion polymerization of the monomer mixture is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 281,172/1988 and No. 282,749/1988. Briefly, this method comprises first adding the monomer mixture to water already containing an emulsifier, dispersing and emulsifying the resultant mixture with a disperser or ultrasonic homogenizer, and stirring and heating the mixture to effect radical polymerization. This radical polymerization is carried out at a temperature exceeding 50°C, and generally falling in the range between 70°C and 90°C. The radical polymerization system is consequently formed and a coloring agent such as carbon and a charge-control agent added thereto are continuously heated to effect coagulation of minute emulsion particles. This process step gives rise to minute particles having an average particle diameter in the range between 0.1 and 3 µm. Then, the liquid in which the produced polymer is dispersed is stirred and a salting-out agent is added thereto to induce coagulation of the minute particles. The resultant mixture is continuously stirred and further heated [to a temperature exceeding the Tg point of the resin (generally in the neighborhood of 100°C)], to obtain a toner in which the minute component particles are fused. The average particle diameter of the toner can be controlled by the condition of salting-out and the form of the toner and the strength of fusion between the adjacent minute toner particles can be controlled by the heating time (the increase in the strength of fusion between the adjacent minute particles enlarges the area of fusion between the adjacent minute particles and allows the toner particles to approximate spheres). After the thermal fusion of the minute particles has been completed, the product is washed and recovered using a suitable method such as filtration or decantation, to obtain the emulsion polymerization toner. After a diligent study, the present inventors have perfected a method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development which, owing to the use of an emulsion polymer toner having an average particle diameter in the range between 5.0 and 10.5 µm and a BET specific surface area of not less than 1.76 m 2 /g and not more than 4.50 m 2 /g and a development roller made of a soft electroconductive elastomer having an Ascar C hardness not more than 50°, enables the toner to defy fracture due to the impact of the Doctor blade, exhibit ideal electroconductivity, confer cleanability on the photoconductor drum, and continue to produce highly durable prints of high quality even during the course of continued printing. The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following working examples. Of course, the invention is not limited to these working examples. EXAMPLES First, the electrographic recording apparatus to be used for working the method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development of this invention will be described below. Fig. 1 represents an example of the construction of the apparatus (apparatus example 1). In this apparatus, a toner 1 is disposed in a storing means 2 so as to contact a development roller 3, which roller is formed of a porous electroconductive elastomer and adapted to convey the toner along a prescribed circulation path including a developing area and reset roller 4 of the shape of a roller having the surface part thereof coated with a plasticizer. A bias voltage for transferring the toner 1 from the development roller 3 to the reset roller 4 (hereinafter referred to as the "reset bias") is applied between the development roller 3 and the reset roller 4. Thus, the development roller can be stably and infallibly deprived of mechanical and electrical hysteresis by the mechanical recovery relying on physical contact as well as by the electrical recovery resorting to the reset bias. The toner 1 stored in the storing means 2, which is kept in contact with the development roller 3, is supplied to the development roller 3 by a toner supplying means 5. A Doctor blade 6 converts the supplied toner 1 into a toner layer of a desired thickness and, at the same time, electrically charges the layer. As a result, the charged toner layer is transported to the developing area and used therein for development. A photoconductor drum 7 serves the purpose of allowing a latent image formed on the surface thereof to be transported to the developing part and then causing a developer image formed consequently thereon to be transported to the position at which the developer image is to be transferred onto a recording paper. The photoconductor drum 7, depending on the mode of formation of the latent image, may be made of a photoconductor material using a photoconducting substance (organic photoconductor material, selenium photoconductor material, or amorphous silicon photoconductor material, for example) or an insulating material. The development roller 3 used in the present apparatus is formed of a porous electroconductive elastomer possessing pores measuring 3 to 20 µm in diameter so as to allow entry of toner particles measuring approximately 5 to 10 µm in diameter. It has been confirmed that even when the pores are opened and allowed to intercommunicate, the toner particles inside the pores support one another and avoid occluding the pores so long as these pores have diameters not exceeding 20 µm. When the pores have diameters exceeding 20 µm, the entry of toner particles into the pores can be precluded so long as the pores are produced in a closed form. In the depressed parts, the distance between the latent image and the conductor (porous texture itself in this case) is so large that the developing bias fails to apply to the toner in the particular parts, and parts of low image density conforming to the depressed parts in the porous texture manifest themselves in a produced print. Thus, the pores in the development roller 3 preferably have diameters not exceeding 20 µm. The magnitude of volume resistance of the porous texture (sponge) is desired to be in the range between 10 4 and 10 10 Ωcm. If the electric resistance is unduly low, the charged member admits the flow of a large current and generates Joule heat and the development roller is damaged by burning. Conversely, if the electric resistance is unduly high, the potential difference between the surface of the carrier and the surface of the photoconductor drum increases so much as to induce the phenomenon of background fogging. The surface hardness of the development roller is set at 23° on the Ascar C scale. In another example of the apparatus (apparatus example 2), the surface hardness of the development roller is set at 45° on the Ascar C scale. Examples 1 - 3 Monomers [90 parts by weight of styrene (produced by Wako Junyaku), 10 parts by weight of butyl acrylate (produced by Wako Junyaku), and 5 parts by weight of n-butyl methacrylate (produced by Wako Junyaku)], Coloring agents [2 parts by weight of carbon black (150T, produced by Degussa) and 2 parts by weight of azochrome dye (S:34, produced by Orient K.K.)], Emulsifier [0.2 part by weight of Neogen SC (produced by Daiichi Kogyo K.K.)], Thermal polymerization initiator [0.2 part by weight of potassium persulfate], Salting agent [0.05 part by weight of an aqueous 10% sodium chloride solution), and Adjuvant [0.5 part by weight of hydrophobic silica (H-2000, produced by Hoechst)]. A monomer composition was prepared by stirring the monomers mentioned above by using a disperser (produced by Yamato Kagaku K.K.) for three minutes. Then, in 500 parts by weight of distilled water containing the polymerization initiator and the emulsifier mentioned above, the monomer composition was placed and stirred by using a disperser (4,000 r.p.m.) at normal room temperature (20°C) for three minutes. Subsequently, the resultant mixture was stirred with a three-one motor at 100 r.p.m. and simultaneously heated to 60°C to effect thorough polymerization of the monomer composition. Then, the resultant dispersion containing emulsion particles and the coloring agents such as carbon added thereto were continuously heated to induce agglomeration of emulsion particles and give rise to minute particles measuring 0.1 to 3 µm in diameter. The dispersion and the salting-out agent added thereto were continuously stirred and simultaneously heated to 100°C to effect thermal fusion of the adjacent emulsion particles for a fixed duration. The toner dispersed in water was separated by centrifugation and feltered. The separated toner was repeatedly washed with water until the pH value of the washings fell below 8 and the washed toner was dried to produce a toner having an average particle diameter of about 5 µm and a BET specific surface area of 3.18 - 4.50 m 2 /g. To this toner, 0.5 parts by weight of hydrophobic silica was added as a flowability-improving agent. The relation between the time spent for the thermal fusion and the properties of the produced toner is shown in Table 1. The apparatus examples 1 and 2 (capable of printing 20 sheets per minute) were each charged with 200g of the toner and operated for a continuous printing test to determine the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner on the development roller, and the change in the amount of electric charging. Even after continuous printing on 100,000 sheets of paper, the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner, and the charging properties were perfect. The toner that underwent this continuous printing was used for a continuous printing test on 20,000 sheets of paper under two sets of atmospheric conditions, 35°C and 80% RH and 10°C and 10% RH. The produced prints revealed neither loss of image density nor background fogging. The test results clearly indicate that the toner enjoys an ample charging capacity, exhibits ideal flowability, and continues to produce highly durable prints of high quality when it has an average particle diameter of not less than 5.0 µm and a BET specific surface area of not more than 4.50 m 2 /g. Examples 4 - 6 Minute polymer particles were prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. The polymer particles and 0.03 parts by weight of the salting-out agent added thereto were heated to 100°C to effect thermal fusion of the adjacent particles for a fixed duration. The resultant particles were washed and dried, to afford a toner having an average particle diameter of about 8 µm and a BET specific surface area 2.87 - 3.48 m 2 /g. The apparatus examples 1 and 2 mentioned above were each charged with 200 g of this toner and operated for a continuous printing test to determine the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner on the development roller, and the change in the amount of charging. Even after the continuous printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner, and the charging properties were perfect. Examples 7 and 8 Minute polymer particles were prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. The polymer particles and 0.01 parts by weight of the salting-out agent added thereto were heated to 100°C to effect thermal fusion of the polymer particles for a fixed duration. The resultant particles were washed and dried to produce a toner having an average particle diameter of about 10 µm and a BET specific surface area of 1.76 - 2.17 m 2 /g. The apparatus examples 1 and 2 mentioned above were each charged with 200g of this toner and operated for a continuous printing test to determine the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner on the development roller, and the change in the amount of charging. Even after the continuous printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner, and the charging properties were perfect. The test results clearly indicate that the toner offers perfect resistance to fracture and produces highly durable prints of high quality when it has an average particle diameter of not more than 10.5 µm and a BET specific surface area of not less than 1.76 m 2 /g. Comparative Examples 1 and 2 These comparative examples represent cases in which the toners had average particle diameters of not more than 5.0 µm. Minute polymer particles were prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. The polymer particles and 0.1 parts by weight of the salting-out agent added thereto were subjected to thermal fusion for durations of two and four hours. The toners consequently obtained had an average particle diameter of about 4 µm and BET specific surface areas of 4.57 - 4.96 m 2 /g. The apparatus example 1 (capable of printing 20 sheets of paper per minute) was charged with the toners and operated for a continuous printing test. In the test, the toners were deficient in flowability and in charging capacity and produced prints of unduly low image density. They also failed to impart satisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. Comparative Examples 3 and 4 These comparative examples represent cases in which the toners had BET specific surface areas of not less than 4.50 m 2 /g. Minute polymer particles were prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. The polymer particles and 0.05 parts by weight of the salting-out agent added thereto were subjected to thermal fusion for durations of one and two hours. The toners consequently obtained had an average particle diameter of about 5 µm and BET specific surface areas of 4.53 - 4.64 m 2 /g. The apparatus example 1 (capable of printing 20 sheets of paper per minute) was charged with the toners and operated for a continuous printing test to determine the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner on the development roller, and the change in charging capacity. After the continuous printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the toners showed a broad particle diameter distribution, betrayed poor flowability and an unduly low charging capacity, and produced prints lacking image density. They also failed to impart satisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. Comparative Examples 5 and 6 These comparative examples represent cases in which the toners had BET specific surface areas of not less than 4.50 m 2 /g. Minute polymer particles were prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. The polymer particles and 0.03 parts by weight of the salting-out agent added thereto were subjected to thermal fusion for durations of one and two hours. The toners consequently obtained had an average particle diameter of about 8 µm and BET specific surface areas of 4.52 - 4.57 m 2 /g. The apparatus example 1 (capable of printing 20 sheets of paper per minute) was charged with 200g of the toners and operated for a continuous printing test. After the continuous printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the toners failed to impart satisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. Comparative Example 7 This comparative example represents a case in which the toner had a BET specific surface area of not more than 1.76 m 2 /g. Minute polymer particles were prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. The polymer particles and 0.03 parts by weight of the salting-out agent added thereto were subjected to thermal fusion of the particles for 36 hours to produce a toner having an average particle diameter of about 8 µm and a BET specific surface area of 1.61 m 2 /g. In the printing test using this toner, the toner was found to impart unsatisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. Comparative Examples 8 - 10 These comparative examples represent cases in which the toners had particle diameters of not less than 10.5 µm. Minute polymer particles were prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. The polymer particles and 0.01 parts by weight of the salting agent added thereto were subjected to thermal fusion for durations of two, four, and eight hours. The toners consequently obtained had an average particle diameter of about 11 µm and BET specific surface areas of 1.11 - 1.76 m 2 /g. The apparatus example 1 (capable of printing 20 sheets of paper per minute) was charged with 200g of the toners and operated for a continuous printing test to determine the quality of print, the particle diameter distribution of the toner on the development roller, and the change in the charging capacity. After the continued printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the toners showed a broad particle diameter distribution, betrayed poor flowability and unsatisfactory charging capacity, and produced prints lacking in image density. They also failed to impart satisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. Comparative Example 11 This comparative example represents a case in which a metallic roller was used as the development roller. A toner having an average particle diameter 5.5 µm and a BET value of 4.29 m 2 /g was prepared by following the procedure of Example 1. In the same developing apparatus as used in Example 1, except that a metallic roller was used as the development roller, the toner was tested for continuous printing ability. After the continued printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the toner showed a broad particle diameter distribution, betrayed poor flowability and unsatisfactory charging capacity, and produced prints lacking in image density. It also failed to impart satisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. Comparative Example 12 This comparative example represents a case in which a roller made of hard rubber was used as the development roller. In the same developing apparatus as used in Comparative Example 11, except that a roller made of hard rubber was used as the development roller, a toner obtained by following the procedure of Comparative Example 11 was tested for continuous printing ability. After the continued printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the toner showed a broad particle diameter distribution, betrayed poor flowability and unsatisfactory charging capacity, and produced prints lacking in image density. It also failed to impart satisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. Comparative Example 13 This comparative example represents a case in which the development roller had a hardness of not less than 50° on the Ascar scale. In the developing apparatus identical to that of Comparative Example 11, except that the development roller was formed of a porous electroconductive elastomer (Ascar hardness 53°), a toner prepared by following the procedure of Comparative Example 11 was tested for continuous printing ability. After the continued printing performed on 100,000 sheets of paper was completed, the toner showed a broad particle diameter distribution, betrayed poor flowability and unsatisfactory charging capacity, and produced prints lacking in image density. It also failed to impart satisfactory cleanability to the photoconductor drum. The results of the examples and comparative examples cited above are collectively shown in Table 1. In the table given above, the marks o and x stand for the following levels in the two-point scale of the relevant property indicated. Resistance to fracture: o for absence of a discernible change in the particle quantity distribution as found by using a coaltar counter and × for a conspicuous increase in the part of particle quantity distribution having diameters of not more than 5 µm as found by the coaltar counter. Charging property: o for a charging capacity not less than -10 µC/g and × for a charging capacity not more than -10 µC/g. Cleanability: o for the absence of any discernible residual toner on the Photoconductor drum after passing through the cleaner unit and × for the presence of a discernible residual toner on the Photoconductor drum after passing through the cleaner unit. Comparative Example 14 The method of this invention and the conventional method were compared by means of the following test. The apparatus example 1 (capable of printing 20 sheets of paper per minute) provided with a porous electroconductive roller (Ascar hardness 28°C) was charged with the toner (polymerization toner) obtained in Example 1 and operated for a continuous printing test to determine the change in print image density and the toner particle diameter distribution (the index for the toner's resistance to fracture). Separately, the apparatus example 1 (capable of printing 20 sheets of paper per minute) provided with a hard roller (Ascar hardness 55°C) as the development roller was charged with a pulverization toner produced by the conventional method and operated in the same manner as above. The test results are shown in Table 2 and Figs. 2 and 3. Change in print density Developing roller Toner Print density (OD value) Initial After 9K equivalent running Hard roller Pulverization toner 1.30 1.18 Porous conductive roller Polymerization toner 1.42 1.34 It is clearly noted from the test results in Table 2 that the method of this invention has a smaller change in print image density than the conventional method. From Fig. 2, it is noted that the toner produced by the method of this invention excels in resistance to fracture. It is noted from Fig. 3 that the toner produced by the conventional method shows a wide particle diameter distribution and betrays deficiency in resistance to fracture. As described above, this invention provides a method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development that excels in resistance to fracture, charging ability, and cleanability, and produces highly durable prints of high quality. Thus, this invention finds extensive utility in the development of images in various copying machines and printers.

Claims: A method for nonmagnetic monocomponent development in which a developer is transported by a developer carrier to form a layer of developer on a latent image carrier and is caused to triboelectrify by a layer thickness-regulating member which simultaneously regulates the thickness of said layer, the method being characterized in that said developer is a toner obtained by coagulating minute particles of diameters in the range 0.1 to 3.0 µm and then heating the coagulated minute particles, thereby thermally fusing adjacent minute particles; said minute particles being formed by emulsion polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer in an aqueous type solvent in the presence of a water-soluble initiator; said toner produced by said thermal fusion having an average particle diameter in the range 5.0 µm to 10.5 µm and a BET specific surface area of not less than 1.76 m 2 /g and not more than 4.50 m 2 /g; and said developer carrier having a hardness of not more than 50° on the Ascar C scale. A method according to claim 1, wherein said developer carrier is formed of a soft electroconductive elastomer. A method according to claim 1, or claim 2, wherein said developer carrier has a porous texture. A method according to claim 3, wherein said porous developer carrier has pores not more than 20 µm in diameter. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said developer carrier has a volume intrinsic resistance in the range between 10 4 and 10 10 Ωcm.

Inventors: KATAGIRI YOSHIMICHI, NAKAMURA YASUSHIGE, SAWATARI NORIO, TAKEZAWA SATOSHI, KATAGIRI, YOSHIMICHI, NAKAMURA, YASUSHIGE, SAWATARI, NORIO, TAKEZAWA, SATOSHI, KATAGIRI, YOSHIMICHI, FUJITSU LIMITED, NAKAMURA, YASUSHIGE, FUJITSU LIMITED, SAWATARI, NORIO, FUJITSU LIMITED, TAKEZAWA, SATOSHI, FUJITSU LIMITED
Applicants: FUJITSU LTD, FUJITSU LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G03G9
IPC codes: G03G13, G03G9