US3967962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developing with toner polymer having crystalline and amorphous segments
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1975-10-22
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1995-10-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention is directed toward a method for obtaining a resinous toner image fixed to a copy substrate. The method involves applying to a copy substrate in image configuration a toner of specific polymeric composition and fixing the image to the copy substrate by the application of heat sufficient to fuse the toner. The toner composition comprises a finely divided mixture comprising a coloring material and a polymeric material which is block or graft copolymer consisting of at least one crystalline or crystallizable polymeric segment chemically linked to at least one amorphous polymeric segment, said crystalline or crystallizable segment individually having a glass transition temperature of less than about 20°C and a melting point of at least about 45°C, and said amorphous segment individually having a glass transition temperature less than the melting point of said crystalline or crystallizable segment. Toner materials according to the present invention exhibit thermal and mechanical properties which render them extremely useful in xerographic processes, particularly high speed process involving contact or flash fusing.
Inventors
- 👤 James J. O'Malley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:37
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G9/00; G03G9/08; G03G9/087; G03G9/08784; G03G9/08788; G03G9/08786
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In an electrophotographic imaging process including the steps wherein a particulate electrostatographic toner composition is applied in image configuration to the surface of a recording member, and said recording member bearing said toner composition in image configuration is subjected to heat or heat and pressure sufficient to fuse said toner composition to the surface of said recording member, the improvement which comprises conducting said imaging process using a finely divided toner composition comprising a uniform mixture of: a. a colorant material and b. a polymeric material, said polymeric material comprising a segmented copolymer consisting of at least one crystalline or crystallizable polymeric segment chemically linked to at least one isomeric amorphous polymeric segment, said segmented copolymer having a glass transition temperature of less than about 20°C and a melting point of at least about 45°C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an electrophotographic imaging process including the steps wherein a particulate electrostatographic toner composition is applied in image configuration to the surface of a recording member, and said recording member bearing said toner composition in image configuration is subjected to heat or heat and pressure sufficient to fuse said toner composition to the surface of said recording member, the improvement which comprises conducting said imaging process using a finely divided toner composition comprising a uniform mixture of: a. a colorant material and b. a polymeric material, said polymeric material comprising a segmented copolymer consisting of at least one crystalline or crystallizable polymeric segment chemically linked to at least one isomeric amorphous polymeric segment, said segmented copolymer having a glass transition temperature of less than about 20°C and a melting point of at least about 45°C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material has an average molecular weight within the range of about 5,000 to 200,000 grams per mole and a melting point within the range of about 45°C to about 150°C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said polymeric material is a block copolymer having a formula selected from the group consisting of: [BA] n , [AB] n , [BAB] n , and [ABA] n , wherein A represents the amorphous polymeric segment, B represents the crystalline or crystallizable polymeric segment, and n is a whole number equal to 1 or greater.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the average molecular weight of said A or B polymeric segments is within the range of about 1,000 to 20,000 grams per mole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said segmented copolymer is prepared by chemically reacting at least two preformed polymers, one of said preformed polymers being crystalline or crystallizable and having a glass transition temperature within the range of about 20°C. to -100°C. and a melting point within the range of about 45°C. to 150°C., and another of said preformed polymers being amorphous and having a glass transition temperature of less than 45°C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
184 words
An electrophotographic imaging process comprising the steps of subjecting the surface of a charged photoconductive insulating layer to a pattern of light and shadow such that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of said layer, developing said latent image by contact of said surface with a developer composition comprising a mixture of carrier particles and toner material, transferring the toner material in image configuration from said surface to the surface of a recording member, and heating the surface of said recording member sufficient to fuse said toner composition to the surface of said recording member, said toner material comprising a finely divided composition comprising a uniform mixture of: a. a colorant material and b. a polymeric material, said polymeric material comprising a segmented copolymer consisting of at least one crystalline or crystallizable polymeric segment chemically linked to at least one isomeric amorphous polymeric segment, said segmented copolymer having a glass transition temperature of less thant about 20°C, a melting point of at least about 45°C., and an average molecular weight within the range of about 5,000 to 200,000 grams per mole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
An electrophotographic imaging process comprising the steps of subjecting the surface of a charged photoconductive insulating layer to a pattern of light and shadow such that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of said layer, developing said latent image by contact of said surface with a developer composition comprising a mixture of carrier particles and toner material, transferring the toner material in image configuration from said surface to the surface of a recording member, and heating the surface of said recording member sufficient to fuse said toner composition to the surface of said recording member, said toner material comprising a finely divided composition comprising a uniform mixture of: a. a colorant material and b. a polymeric material, said polymeric material comprising a segmented copolymer consisting of at least one crystalline or crystallizable polymeric segment chemically linked to at least one isomeric amorphous polymeric segment, said segmented copolymer having a glass transition temperature of less thant about 20°C, a melting point of at least about 45°C., and an average molecular weight within the range of about 5,000 to 200,000 grams per mole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said polymeric material is a block copolymer having a formula selected from the group consisting of: [BA] n , [AB] n , [BAB] n , and [ABA] n , wherein A represents the amorphous polymeric segment, B represents the crystalline or crystallizable polymeric segment, n is a whole number equal to 1 or greater, and wherein the average molecular weight of each A or B polymeric segments is within the range of about 1,000 to 20,000 grams per mole.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said segmented copolymer is prepared by chemically reacting at least two preformed polymers, one of said preformed polymers being crystalline or crystallizable and having a glass transition temperature within the range of about 20°C. to -100°C. and a melting point within the range of about 45°C. to 150°C., and another of said preformed polymers being amorphous and having a glass transition temperature of less than 45°C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said segmented copolymer is a block copolyester having one or more repeating units of crystalline polyester chemically linked to one or more repeating units of amorphous polyester.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said colorant material is present at a level of from about 1% to about 20% by weight of said composition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the average particle size of the toner particles is within the range of about 1 to 30 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the developer composition comprises from about 0.5 to 10% by weight of toner particles and about 90 to about 99.5% by weight of carrier particles, said carrier particles having an average particle size greater than the toner particles whereby the toner particles adhere to and coat each carrier particle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said heating is carried out by passing the recording member through a zone of heat and pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said heating is carried out by exposing the developed surface of the recording member to electromagnetic radiation.
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US3639243A
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US3502582A
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US3657130A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-06 | 1980-01-05 | 1980-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-06 | 1984-01-05 | 1984-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-06 | 1988-01-05 | 1988-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |