# US 10,120,296 B2 · Electrostatic latent image developing toner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,296 B2 - Document ID: US10120296B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/710,259 - Filed: 2017-09-20 - Published: 2018-03-29 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-29 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Kaori Matsushima; Noboru Ueda; Shiro Hirano; Kouji Sugama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120296B2 ## CPC - G03G 9/08755: {Polyesters} - G03G 9/0821: {characterised by physical parameters (magnetic parameters G03G9/083)} - G03G 9/0825: {characterised by their structure; characterised by non-homogenuous distribution of components (microcapsular toners G03G9/093)} - G03G 9/08728: {Polymers of esters} - G03G 9/08788: {Block polymers} - G03G 9/08795: {characterised by their chemical properties, e.g. acidity, molecular weight, sensitivity to reactants} - G03G 9/08797: {characterised by their physical properties, e.g. viscosity, solubility, melting temperature, softening temperature, glass transition temperature} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles which comprises a binder resin and a releasing agent. A main component of the binder resin is a polyester resin. The binder resin comprises a crystalline polyester resin, an amorphous polyester resin and a hybrid vinyl resin. The hybrid vinyl resin is composed of a vinyl polymer segment and at least one segment selected from a polyester polymer segment, an urethane polymer segment and an urea polymer segment which is chemically bound to the vinyl polymer segment. A main component of the hybrid vinyl resin is the vinyl polymer segment which comprises a structural unit derived from a monomer having a specific structure. A tetrahydrofuran-soluble fraction of the toner has a main peak of a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography within the range of 11000 to 30000. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrostatic latent image developing toner, comprising: toner particles which comprises a binder resin and a releasing agent, wherein a main component of the binder resin is a polyester resin, wherein the binder resin comprises a crystalline polyester resin, an amorphous polyester resin and a hybrid vinyl resin, wherein the hybrid vinyl resin is composed of a vinyl polymer segment and at least one segment selected from the group consisting of a polyester polymer segment, a urethane polymer segment, and a urea polymer segment which is chemically bound to the vinyl polymer segment, wherein a content of the vinyl polymer segment of the hybrid vinyl resin is within the range of 1 to 20 mass % with respect to the binder resin, wherein a main component of the hybrid vinyl resin is the vinyl polymer segment which comprises a structural unit derived from a monomer of a following formula (1), H2C═CR1—COOR2 (1) where R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 is a long-chain alkyl group of 6 carbon atoms or more, and wherein a tetrahydrofuran-soluble fraction of the toner has a main peak of a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography within a range of 11000 to 30000. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein an average circularity of the toner particles is within the range of 0.940 to 0.995, and wherein a coefficient of variation of a number particle size distribution of the toner particles is equal to or less than 20%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the number of carbon atoms of the long-chain alkyl group of R2 is equal to or less than 20. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the number of carbon atoms of the long-chain alkyl group of R2 is within the range of 8 to 18. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the long-chain alkyl group of R2 comprises a branched structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the releasing agent comprises a hydrocarbon releasing agent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the releasing agent comprises an ester releasing agent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the content of the vinyl polymer segment of the hybrid vinyl resin is within the range of 5 to 20 mass % with respect to the binder resin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein a content of the crystalline polyester resin is within the range of 1 to 30 mass % with respect to the binder resin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein a content of the vinyl polymer segment in the hybrid vinyl resin is within the range of 65 to 90 mass %. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein said at least one segment comprises the polyester polymer segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid vinyl resin is a block copolymer of the vinyl polymer segment and said at least one segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid vinyl resin comprises a main chain of the vinyl polymer segment and a side chain of said at least one segment. ### Claim 14 An electrostatic latent image developing toner, comprising: toner particles which comprises a binder resin and a releasing agent, wherein a main component of the binder resin is a polyester resin, wherein the binder resin comprises a crystalline polyester resin, an amorphous polyester resin and a hybrid vinyl resin, wherein the hybrid vinyl resin is composed of a vinyl polymer segment and at least one segment selected from the group consisting of a polyester polymer segment, a urethane polymer segment, and a urea polymer segment which is chemically bound to the vinyl polymer segment, wherein a content of the vinyl polymer segment in the hybrid vinyl resin is within the range of 65 to 90 mass %, wherein a main component of the hybrid vinyl resin is the vinyl polymer segment which comprises a structural unit derived from a monomer of a following formula (1), H2C═CR1—COOR2 (1) where R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 is a long-chain alkyl group of 6 carbon atoms or more, and wherein a tetrahydrofuran-soluble fraction of the toner has a main peak of a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography within a range of 11000 to 30000. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 14, wherein an average circularity of the toner particles is within the range of 0.940 to 0.995, and wherein a coefficient of variation of a number particle size distribution of the toner particles is equal to or less than 20%. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 14, wherein the number of carbon atoms of the long-chain alkyl group of R2 is equal to or less than 20. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 14, wherein the number of carbon atoms of the long-chain alkyl group of R2 is within the range of 8 to 18. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 14, wherein the long-chain alkyl group of R2 comprises a branched structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 14, wherein the releasing agent comprises a hydrocarbon releasing agent. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The electrostatic latent image developing toner according to claim 14, wherein the releasing agent comprises an ester releasing agent.