US5659857A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image forming method
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1994-11-29
•
Granted: 1997-08-19
•
Expires: 2014-11-29
Abstract
Abstract An image forming method, comprising the steps of forming an electrostatic image on a electrostatic image-bearing member, developing the electrostatic image with toner particles having a first shape factor (SF-1) of 100-150 and containing a low-softening point substance to form a toner image on the electrostatic image-bearing member, transferring the toner image on the electrostatic image-bearing member to an intermediate transfer member which has been voltage-applied, transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer-receiving material by a transfer means which has been voltage-applied, and heat-fixing the toner image on the transfer-receiving material. The toner particles may preferably have a second shape factor (SF-2) of 100-140. The total of SF-1 and SF-2 may preferably at most 275, particularly at most 240, for improving transfer efficiency of the toner particles. The low-softening point substance may preferably be an ester wax having a long-chain (e.g., ≧C 10 ) alkyl group. The image forming method is effective in providing a high-quality (full-color) toner image with high transfer efficiency and free from toner sticking.
Inventors
- 👤 Masuo Yamazaki
- 👤 Koichi Tanigawa
- 👤 Katsuhiko Nishimura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G9/00; G03G9/08; G03G9/0825; G03G9/0827; G03G9/087; G03G9/08775; G03G9/08782; G03G7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An image forming method for forming a multi-color or full-color image comprising the steps of: forming an electrostatic image on a electrostatic image-bearing member, developing the electrostatic image with color toner particles having a first shape factor (SF-1) of 100-150 and containing a binder resin and a low-softening point substance to form a color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member, wherein said color toner particles contain said low-softening point substance in an amount of 5-30 wt. %, transferring the color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member to an intermediate transfer member which has been voltage-applied, transferring the color toner image on said intermediate transfer member to a transfer-receiving material by a transfer means which has been voltage-applied, and heat-fixing the color toner image on said transfer-receiving material to form said multi-color or full-color image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An image forming method for forming a multi-color or full-color image comprising the steps of: forming an electrostatic image on a electrostatic image-bearing member, developing the electrostatic image with color toner particles having a first shape factor (SF-1) of 100-150 and containing a binder resin and a low-softening point substance to form a color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member, wherein said color toner particles contain said low-softening point substance in an amount of 5-30 wt. %, transferring the color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member to an intermediate transfer member which has been voltage-applied, transferring the color toner image on said intermediate transfer member to a transfer-receiving material by a transfer means which has been voltage-applied, and heat-fixing the color toner image on said transfer-receiving material to form said multi-color or full-color image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having a second shape factor (SF-2) of 100-140.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 2, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having an SF-2 of 100-130.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 3, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having an SF-2 of 100-125.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image forming method according to claim 2, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having an SF-1 of 100-125, and SF-2 of 100-130, insulating properties and triboelectric charge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The image forming method according to claim 2, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having a sum of an SF-1 and SF-2 being at most 275.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The image forming method according to claim 6, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having a sum of an SF-1 and SF-2 being at most 275.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having insulating properties and triboelectric charge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having an SF-1 of 100-125.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 9, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having an SF-1 of 100-110.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having an SF-1 of 100-110, an SF-2 of 100-125, insulating properties and triboelectric charge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles comprising non-magnetic cyan toner particles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles comprising non-magnetic yellow toner particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles comprising non-magnetic magenta toner particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles comprising magnetic black toner particles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles comprising non-magnetic black toner particles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having a weight-average particle size of at most 10 μm and a coefficient of variation in number of at most 35%.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having a weight-average particle size of 4-8 μm and a coefficient of variation in number of at most 35%.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image forming method according to claim 17 or 18, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having a coefficient of variation in number of at most 30%.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
201 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein a first electrostatic image is formed on said electrostatic image-bearing member and developed with cyan toner particles to form a cyan toner image, which is transferred to said intermediate transfer member; a second electrostatic image is formed on said electrostatic image-bearing member and developed with yellow toner particles to form a yellow toner image, which is transferred to said intermediate transfer member; a third electrostatic image is formed on said electrostatic image-bearing member and developed with magenta toner particles to form a magenta toner image, which is transferred to said intermediate transfer member; a fourth electrostatic image is formed on said electrostatic image-bearing member and developed with black toner particles to form a black toner image, which is transferred to said intermediate transfer member; the cyan toner image, the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image and the black toner image on said intermediate transfer member are transferred to a transfer-receiving material; and the cyan toner image, the yellow toner image, the magenta toner image and the black toner image on said transfer-receiving material are fixed thereon under application of heat and pressure to form a multi-color image or a full-color image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of transferring the color toner image to said intermediate transfer member having an elastic layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The image forming method according to claim 21, including the step of transferring the color toner image to said intermediate transfer member, wherein said elastic layer has a medium resistance and is formed on a core metal to which a voltage is applied.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The image forming method according to claim 22, including the step of transferring the color toner image to said intermediate transfer member, wherein said elastic layer has a volume resistivity of 10 5 -10 11 ohm.cm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The image forming method according to claim 23, including the step of transferring the color toner image to said intermediate transfer member, wherein said elastic layer has a volume resistivity of 10 7 -10 10 ohm.cm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of transferring the color toner image to the transfer-receiving material employing the transfer means which includes a transfer roller to which a voltage is applied.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The image forming method according to claim 25, including the step of transferring the color toner image to the transfer-receiving material employing the transfer means, wherein said transfer roller has an elastic layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles containing said low-softening point substance inside thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said toner particles are directly produced by suspension polymerization.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said toner particles are directly produced by emulsion polymerization.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said low-softening point substance provides a DSC curve showing a temperature corresponding to a maximum heat absorption peak of 40°-90° C.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image forming method according to claim 30, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said low-softening point substance comprises an ester wax having a long-chain alkyl group.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The image forming method according to claim 1, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said low-softening point substance has a softening point of 40°-150° C.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
The image forming method according to claim 32, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said low-softening point substance comprises a compound selected from a group consisting of paraffin wax, polyolefin wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, amide wax, higher fatty acid, ester wax, and derivatives thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
117 words
An image forming method for forming a full-color image, comprising the steps of: forming an electrostatic image on a electrostatic image-bearing member, developing the electrostatic image with color toner particles having a first shape factor (SF-1) of 100-110 and containing a binder resin and a low-softening point substance in an amount of 5-30 wt. % to form a color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member, transferring the color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member to an intermediate transfer member which has been voltage-applied, transferring the color toner image on said intermediate transfer member to a transfer-receiving material by a transfer roller which has been voltage-applied, and heat-fixing the color toner image on said transfer-receiving material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
117 words
An image forming method for forming a full-color image, comprising the steps of: forming an electrostatic image on a electrostatic image-bearing member, developing the electrostatic image with color toner particles having a first shape factor (SF-1) of 100-110 and containing a binder resin and a low-softening point substance in an amount of 5-30 wt. % to form a color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member, transferring the color toner image on said electrostatic image-bearing member to an intermediate transfer member which has been voltage-applied, transferring the color toner image on said intermediate transfer member to a transfer-receiving material by a transfer roller which has been voltage-applied, and heat-fixing the color toner image on said transfer-receiving material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The image forming method according to claim 34, including the step of transferring the color toner image to the transfer-receiving material employing the transfer means, wherein said intermediate transfer member and said transfer roller each have an elastic layer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
47 words
The image forming method according to claim 35, including the step of transferring the color toner image to the transfer-receiving material employing the transfer means, wherein said elastic layer of said intermediate transfer member has a higher volume resistivity than said elastic layer of said transfer roller.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
85 words
The image forming method according to claim 36, wherein said intermediate transfer member has a surface hardness of 10-40 as measured by JIS K-6301, said transfer roller has a higher surface hardness than said intermediate transfer member and is pressed against said intermediate transfer member to form a nip in a concave shape with respect to said intermediate transfer member; and a voltage is applied to said transfer roller thereby to transfer the color toner image on said intermediate transfer member to said transfer-receiving material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
39 words
The image forming method according to claim 34, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles having an outer resin layer containing said low-softening point substance inside thereof and are produced by direct polymerization.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The image forming method according to claim 38, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said toner particles are produced by suspension polymerization.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
The image forming method according to claim 34, including the step of transferring the color toner image to said intermediate transfer member, wherein said intermediate transfer member comprises an elastic roller having an elastic layer showing a medium resistance.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
The image forming method according to claim 34, including the step of developing the electrostatic image with the color toner particles, wherein said low-softening point substance comprises an ester wax having at least one long-chain alkyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms.
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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) | 2000-08-18 | 2001-02-17 | 2001-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-18 | 2005-02-17 | 2005-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-18 | 2009-02-17 | 2009-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |