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US4628019A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for developing electrostatic images and toner therefor

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1985-04-18
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Granted: 1986-12-09
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Expires: 2005-04-18
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Abstract

Abstract A substantially nonmagnetic toner comprising a colorant and a binder comprising a homopolymer or copolymer having a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of a number average molecular weight (Mn) of less than 5.0 is formed in a thin layer on a toner carrying member. The layer of toner is carried to a developing zone at which an image bearing member is disposed to face the toner carrying member with a clearance larger than the toner layer thickness and an electrostatic image on the image bearing member is developed with the thin layer of toner. The toner binder resin preferably comprises a copolymer of a vinyl monomer and an amonoacrylic monomer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Koshi Suematsu
  • 👤 Takeshi Ikeda
  • 👤 Atsuko Yamamoto
  • 👤 Koji Goto
  • 👤 Eiichi Imai

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 08:08
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G13/00; G03G13/06; G03G13/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 201 words
A process for developing an electrostatic image, comprising: defining a developing zone by disposing an electrostatic image bearing member having an electrostatic image on a surface thereof and a toner carrying member in an opposed relationship with a clearance therebetween; providing a layer of a substantially non-magnetic toner on a surface of said toner carrying member, said toner layer having a thickness less than the distance defined by said clearance at the developing zone, wherein said toner comprises a colorant and a binder resin comprising a nitrogen-containing copolymer having a ratio (Mw/Mn) of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn) which is less than 3.5, said nitrogen-containing copolymer being a copolymer of a vinyl monomer and an aminoacrylic monomer of the formula: ##STR4## wherein R 1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R 2 is an alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 3 is an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl and R 4 is an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl; and electrically transferring said toner to said electrostatic image bearing member by causing said toner to jump onto said electrostatic image bearing member, thereby developing said electrostatic image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 201 words
A process for developing an electrostatic image, comprising: defining a developing zone by disposing an electrostatic image bearing member having an electrostatic image on a surface thereof and a toner carrying member in an opposed relationship with a clearance therebetween; providing a layer of a substantially non-magnetic toner on a surface of said toner carrying member, said toner layer having a thickness less than the distance defined by said clearance at the developing zone, wherein said toner comprises a colorant and a binder resin comprising a nitrogen-containing copolymer having a ratio (Mw/Mn) of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn) which is less than 3.5, said nitrogen-containing copolymer being a copolymer of a vinyl monomer and an aminoacrylic monomer of the formula: ##STR4## wherein R 1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R 2 is an alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 3 is an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl and R 4 is an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl; and electrically transferring said toner to said electrostatic image bearing member by causing said toner to jump onto said electrostatic image bearing member, thereby developing said electrostatic image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the binder comprises more than 20% by weight of the nitrogen-containing copolymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein the nitrogen-containing copolymer is a copolymer of styrene and the aminoacrylic monomer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 113 words
a process according to claim 3, wherein the binder resin comprises from 20 to 90% by weight of a nitrogen-containing copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate copolymers, styrene-alkyl acrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-alkyl methacrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-alkyl acrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate copolymers and styrene-alkyl methacrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate copolymers; and from 10 to 80% weight of a polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene polymers, styrene copolymers, polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyesters, polyamides, epoxy resins, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid, phenolic resins, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-acrylate copolymers and higher fatty acids.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the toner is transferred to the electrostatic image bearing member to develop the electrostatic image, while an altering current bias and a direct current bias are applied between the electrostatic image bearing member and the toner carrying member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the toner is mixed with magnetic particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the toner layer at the developing zone has a thickness of 5 to 100μ.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the toner is a positively chargeable toner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 105 words
A toner for development, comprising a colorant and a binder resin containing 20% by weight or more of a nitrogen-containing copolymer of a vinyl monomer and an aminoacrylic monomer of the formula: ##STR5## where R 1 is hydrogen, metyl or ethyl, R 2 is an alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 3 is an alkylene having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl, and R 4 is an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl; said copolymer having a ratio Mw/Mn of less than 3.5 wherein Mw represents a weight average molecular weight and Mn represents a number average molecular weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 105 words
A toner for development, comprising a colorant and a binder resin containing 20% by weight or more of a nitrogen-containing copolymer of a vinyl monomer and an aminoacrylic monomer of the formula: ##STR5## where R 1 is hydrogen, metyl or ethyl, R 2 is an alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 3 is an alkylene having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl, and R 4 is an alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl; said copolymer having a ratio Mw/Mn of less than 3.5 wherein Mw represents a weight average molecular weight and Mn represents a number average molecular weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
A toner according to claim 9, wherein the nitrogen-containing copolymer an Mw of 5,000 to 50,000 and an Mn of 1,000 to 34,000.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
A toner according to claim 9, wherein the nitrogen-containing copolymer has a weight ratio of vinyl monomer: aminoacrylic monomer of 98:2 to 85:15.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
A toner according to claim 11, wherein the nitrogen-containing copolymer is a copolymer of styrene and the aminoacrylic monomer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 111 words
A toner according to claim 9, wherein the binder resin comprises 20 to 90% by weight of a nitrogen-containing copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylatecopolymers, styrene-alkyl acrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-alkyl methacrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-alkyl acrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate copolymers and styrene-alkyl methacrylate-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate copolmers; and 10 to 80% by weight of a polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene polymers, styrene copolymers, polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyesters, polyamides, epoxy resins, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylic acid, phenolic resins, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-acrylate copolymers and higher fatty acids.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 30 words
A toner according to claim 13, wherein the binder resin contains a styrene polymer or copolymer having an Mw more than 100,000 and a ratio of Mw/Mn more than 3.5.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 29 words
A toner according to claim 9, which is a substantially non-magnetic toner having a saturated mangetization of 10 emu/g or less under an external magnetic field of 5000 Oe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 12 words
A toner according to claim 9, which is a positively chargeable toner.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4386147A Cited
US4514487A Cited
US4514486A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-12-08 1990-06-09 1990-12-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-12-08 1994-06-09 1994-12-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-12-08 1998-06-09 1998-12-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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