Patent ID: 6951704

Claim:
A process for producing toner particles, which comprises: pre-dispersing at least a colorant or a release agent or a mixture of these in a first dispersion medium to prepare a first fluid mixture; preparing a second fluid mixture through a dispersion step of dispersing the colorant or the release agent or the mixture of these contained in the first fluid mixture by means of a fine-dispersion machine to obtain fine particles of the colorant, fine particles of the release agent or fine particles of the mixture of these; and adding a second dispersion medium to the second fluid mixture to form toner particles from the second fluid mixture; wherein; (i) said fine-dispersion machine has: at least a first treatment ring and a second treatment ring which is approachable to and separable from the first treatment ring; and a rotary drive mechanism which makes the first treatment ring rotate relatively to the second treatment ring; said second treatment ring being pressed against the first treatment ring when the first treatment ring stands stationary; and (ii) said first fluid mixture is introduced to the part between the first treatment ring and the second treatment ring to make the second treatment ring separate from the first treatment ring, and the colorant or the release agent or the mixture of these are dispersed in the form of fine particles by the aid of the rotation of the first treatment ring to obtain the second fluid mixture.