EP0421416A2 — Heat fixable toner and heat fixing method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 28 words

A heat fixable toner comprising a binder resin and a release agent, wherein said binder resin comprises a polyester resin and said release agent comprises a graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 28 words

A heat fixable toner comprising a binder resin and a release agent, wherein said binder resin comprises a polyester resin and said release agent comprises a graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 1, wherein said binder resin comprises a bisphenol type polyester resin and said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a polyolefin graft-modified with an aromatic vinyl monomer and an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 1, wherein said binder resin comprises a mixture of a linear polyester resin having an acid value of less than 5 mg·KOH/g and a non-linear polyester resin having an acid value of from 5 to 60 mg·KOH/g, and said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a graft-modified polyolefin having a low melting point.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 3, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin has a melting point of from 60 to 120°C.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 3, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin has a melting point of from 60 to 100°C.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 161 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 2, wherein; said polyester resin comprises a polyester resin obtained by co-condensation polymerization of an etherified bisphenol with a carboxylic acid or its derivative, including a carboxylic acid with two or more carboxylic groups, an anhydride thereof or a lower alkyl ester thereof; said polyester resin has the properties that the melt viscosity η′ measured with an overhead-type flow tester is from 10³ to 10⁶ poise at a temperature within the temperature range of from 80°C to 120°C, and an absolute value of the inclination of a graph is not more than 0.50 ℓn (poise)/°C when the natural logarithms ℓnη′ of the melt viscosity at 80°C and 120°C are plotted with respect to the temperatures; and said graft-modified polyolefin has a melt viscosity of from 1 to 250 cps (centipoise) at 160°C and is contained in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 % by weight based on the weight of the binder resin.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 238 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 2, wherein; said polyester resin comprises a polyester resin having an acid value of from 5 to 60, formed of; (A) an etherified bisphenol; (B) not less than 30 mol % of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, in all acid components; (C) 5 to 40 % by weight of an alkenyl-substituted dicarboxylic acid and/or alkyl-substituted dicarboxylic acid, based on the total amount of acids; and (D) a polycarboxylic acid wih three or more carboxylic groups and/or a polyol with three or more hydroxyl groups; an organic metal compound comprising a metal of a valence of two or more is contained in an amount of from 0.2 to 6 % by weight based on the weight of the binder resin; a coloring agent is contained; and said graft-modified polyolefin has a melt viscosity of from 1 to 250 cps (centipoise) at 160°C, is contained in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 % by weight based on the weight of the binder resin, and has the properties that the melt viscosity η′ measured with an overhead-type flow tester is from 10³ to 10⁶ poise at a temperature within the temperature range of from 120°C to 150°C, and an absolute value of the inclination of a graph is not more than 0.50 ℓn (poise)/°C when the natural logarithms ℓnη′ of the melt viscosity at 120°C and 150°C are plotted with respect to the temperatures.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 127 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 1, wherein; said binder resin contains a linear polyester resin having an acid value of less than 5 mg·KOH/g and a non-linear polyester resin having an acid value of from 5 to 60 mg·KOH/g, and contains an organic metal compound of a valence of two or more in an amount of from 0.2 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin; and said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a low-melting graft-modified polyolefin having a number average molecular weight Mn of not more than 1.0 x 10³, a weight average molecular weight Mw of not more than 2.5 x 10³, an Mw/Mn of not more than 3.0, and a melting point of from 60 to 120°C.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 39 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 1, wherein a grafting agent is used in an amount of from 0.1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin, to give said graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 1, wherein a grafting agent is used in an amount of from 1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin, to give said graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 9, wherein said grafting agent comprises an aromatic vinyl monomer and an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 10, wherein said grafting agent comprises an aromatic vinyl monomer and an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 1, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a polyolefin graft-modified with a grafting agent comprising from 95 to 5 % by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer and from 5 to 95 % by weight of an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 1, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a polyolefin graft-modified with a grafting agent comprising from 80 to 20 % by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer and from 20 to 80 % by weight of an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 13, wherein said aromatic vinyl monomer comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, p-ethylstyrene, p-n-butylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, p-n-dodecylstyrene, p-phenylstyrene and p-chlorostyrene.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 13, wherein said unsaturated fatty acid comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and citraconic acid.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 13, wherein said unsaturated fatty acid ester comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylate ester, acrylate ester, maleate ester, fumarate ester, itaconate ester and citraconate ester.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 86 words

A heat fixing method comprising heat-fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium, to said recording medium by means of a heater element stationarily supported and a pressure member that is opposed to and in pressure contact with said heater element and brings said recording medium into close contact with said heater element through a film interposed between them, wherein said toner comprises a binder resin and a release agent; said binder resin comprising a polyester resin and said release agent comprising a graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 86 words

A heat fixing method comprising heat-fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium, to said recording medium by means of a heater element stationarily supported and a pressure member that is opposed to and in pressure contact with said heater element and brings said recording medium into close contact with said heater element through a film interposed between them, wherein said toner comprises a binder resin and a release agent; said binder resin comprising a polyester resin and said release agent comprising a graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said toner has an endothermic peak T D at a temperature of from 40°C to 120°C.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said toner has an endothermic peak T D at a temperature of from 55°C to 100°C.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 49 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said film is peeled from the toner image after the toner image has been heat-fixed, and said film, when peeled, has a surface temperature of at least 30°C higher than the temperature of the endothermic peak TD of the toner.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 35 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 21, wherein said film, when peeled, has a surface temperature of from 40°C to 140°C higher than the temperature of the endothermic peak T D of the toner.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said heater element has a temperature of from 100°C to 300°C.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 39 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said toner image is heated with a heater element having a temperature of from 100°C to 300°C, through a film having a thickness of from 1 µm to 100 µm.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 24, wherein said film has a heat resistance.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 39 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 25, wherein said film has a layer formed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyimide, a polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, a tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, and a polyamide.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 25, wherein said film has a layer formed of a metal.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 25, wherein said film has at least one of a release layer and a low-resistance layer.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 25, wherein said film comprises a layer of a polyimide film and a fluorine resin layer.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 29, wherein said fluorine resin layer comprises a conductive material dispersed therein.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 15 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 30, wherein said fluorine resin layer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 34 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said film is pressed against the heater element by means of a pressure member under a total pressure of from 4 kg to 20 kg.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 23 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 32, wherein said pressure member is provided with a pressure roller having a rubber elastic layer.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 27 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 33, wherein said pressure member is provided with a pressure roller having an elastic layer formed of a silicone rubber.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said heater element is heated by applying an electric current of a pulse-like waveform to a resistor.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 22 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said heater element has a low heat capacity and is of linear structure.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 87 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein; said heater element is provided with a resistance material and a temperature sensor; and when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is represented by T₁, the surface temperature T₂ of the film opposed to the resistance material is about 10°C to about 30°C lower than the temperature T₁, and the surface temperature T₃ of the film on the part at which said film is peeled from the fixed toner image is substantially equal to the temperature T2.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 41 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said binder resin comprises a bisphenol type polyester resin and said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a polyolefin graft-modified with an aromatic vinyl monomer and an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 57 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said binder resin comprises a mixture of a linear polyester resin having an acid value of less than 5 mg·KOH/g and a non-linear polyester resin having an acid value of from 5 to 60 mg·KOH/g, and said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a graft-modified polyolefin having a low melting point.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 21 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 39, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin has a melting point of from 60 to 120°C.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 21 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 39, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin has a melting point of from 60 to 100°C.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 160 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 38, wherein; said polyester resin comprises a polyesterresin obtained by co-condensation polymerization of an etherified bisphenol with a carboxylic acid or its derivative, including a carboxylic acid with two or more carboxylic groups, an anhydride thereof or a lower alkyl ester thereof; said polyester resin has the properties that the melt viscosity η′ measured with an overhead-type flow tester is from 10³ to 10⁶ poise at a temperature within the temperature range of from 80°C to 120°C, and an absolute value of the inclination of a graph is not more than 0.50 ℓn (poise)/°C when the natural logarithms ℓnη′ of the melt viscosity at 80°C and 120°C are plotted with respect to the temperatures; and said graft-modified polyolefin has a melt viscosity of from 1 to 250 cps (centipoise) at 160°C and is contained in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 % by weight based on the weight of the binder resin.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 238 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 38, wherein; said polyester resin comprises a polyester resin having an acid value of from 5 to 60, formed of; (A) an etherified bisphenol; (B) not less than 30 mol % of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, in all acid components; (C) 5 to 40 % by weight of an alkenyl-substituted dicarboxylic acid and/or alkyl-substituted dicarboxylic acid, based on the total amount of acids; and (D) a polycarboxylic acid with three or more carboxylic groups and/or a polyol with three or more hydroxyl groups; an organic metal compound comprising a metal of a valence of two or more is contained in an amount of from 0.2 to 6 % by weight based on the weight of the binder resin; a coloring agent is contained; and said graft-modified polyolefin has a melt viscosity of from 1 to 250 cps (centipoise) at 160°C, is contained in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 % by weight based on the weight of the binder resin, and has the properties that the melt viscosity η′ measured with an overhead-type flow tester is from 10³ to 10⁶ poise at a temperature within the temperature range of from 120°C to 150°C, and an absolute value of the inclination of a graph is not more than 0.50 ℓn (poise)/°C when the natural logarithms ℓnη′ of the melt viscosity at 120°C and 150°C are plotted with respect to the temperatures.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 127 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein; said binder resin contains a linear polyester resin having an acid value of less than 5 mg·KOH/g and a non-linear polyester resin having an acid value of from 5 to 60 mg·KOH/g, and contains an organic metal compound of a valence of two or more in an amount of from 0.2 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin; and said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a low-melting graft-modified polyolefin having a number average molecular weight Mn of not more than 1.0 x 10³, a weight average molecular weight Mw of not more than 2.5 x 10³, an Mw/Mn of not more than 3.0, and a melting point of from 60 to 120°C.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 39 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein a grafting agent is used in an amount of from 0.1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin, to give said graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 39 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein a grafting agent is used in an amount of from 1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin, to give said graft-modified polyolefin.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 27 words

A heat fixable toner according to Claim 45, wherein said grafting agent comprises an aromatic vinyl monomer and an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 27 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 46, wherein said grafting agent comprises an aromatic vinyl monomer and an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 51 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a polyolefin graft-modified with a grafting agent comprising from 95 to 5 % by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer and from 5 to 95 % by weight of an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 51 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 18, wherein said graft-modified polyolefin comprises a polyolefin graft-modified with a grafting agent comprising from 80 to 20 % by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer and from 20 to 80 % by weight of an unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated fatty acid ester.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 35 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 49, wherein said aromatic vinyl monomer comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, p-ethylstyrene, p-n-butylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, p-n-dodecylstyrene, p-phenylstyrene and p-chlorostyrene.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 35 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 49, wherein said unsaturated fatty acid comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and citraconic acid.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 36 words

A heat fixing method according to Claim 49, wherein said unsaturated fatty acid ester comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylate ester, acrylate ester, maleate ester, fumarate ester, itaconate ester and citraconate ester.

Heat fixable toner and heat fixing method

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