# US 6,503,676 B2 · Toner, external additive therefor and image forming method using the toner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,503,676 B2 - Document ID: US6503676B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/843,357 - Filed: 2001-04-26 - Published: 2001-12-13 - Granted: 2003-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2000-04-28 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Hiroshi Yamashita; Tomio Kondou; Hideki Sugiura; Hachiroh Tosaka; Osamu Uchinokura; Hitoshi Ueda; Yoshihiro Suguro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6503676B2 ## CPC - C09C 1/3081: {Treatment with organo-silicon compounds} - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - C09C 1/3684: {Treatment with organo-silicon compounds} - C09C 3/12: Treatment with organosilicon compounds {(C09C3/006 takes precedence)} - G03G 9/09716: {treated with organic compounds} - G03G 9/09725: {Silicon-oxides; Silicates} - C01P 2004/03: obtained by SEM - C01P 2004/04: obtained by TEM, STEM, STM or AFM - C01P 2004/32: Spheres - C01P 2004/51: Particles with a specific particle size distribution - C01P 2004/61: Micrometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 micrometer - C01P 2004/64: Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer - C01P 2004/84: one phase coated with the other - C01P 2006/60: Optical properties, e.g. expressed in CIELAB-values - C01P 2006/80: Compositional purity - C01P 2006/90: Other properties not specified above - Y10T 428/2995: Silane, siloxane or silicone coating - C09C: TREATMENT OF INORGANIC MATERIALS, OTHER THAN FIBROUS FILLERS, TO ENHANCE THEIR PIGMENTING OR FILLING PROPERTIES (treatment of materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone C04B14/00, C04B18/00, C04B20/00); PREPARATION OF CARBON BLACK {; PREPARATION OF INORGANIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE NO SINGLE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS AND WHICH ARE MAINLY USED AS PIGMENTS OR FILLERS} - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A toner including a binder resin; a colorant; and an external additive, wherein the external additive includes a particulate inorganic material, and a silicone oil, wherein the silicone oil is present on the particulate inorganic material in an amount of Ws by weight and present as a free silicone oil in an amount of Wfs by weight, and a free silicone degree defined as a ratio Wfs/Ws is from 10 to 70%. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An external additive for a toner, comprising: a particulate inorganic material; and a silicone oil, wherein the silicone oil is present on the particulate inorganic material in an amount of Ws by weight and present as a free silicone oil in an amount of Wfs by weight, and wherein a free silicone degree defined as a ratio Wfs/Ws is from 10 to 70%. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The external additive according to claim 1, wherein the free silicone degree is from 30 to 50%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The external additive according to claim 1, wherein the particulate inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of silica, titanium oxide and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 A method for preparing an external additive comprising: coating a particulate inorganic material with a silicone oil; and heating the inorganic material, wherein after the heating the silicone oil is present on the particulate inorganic material in an amount of Ws by weight and present as a free silicone oil in an amount of Wfs by weight, and a free silicone degree defined as a ratio Wfs/Ws is from 10 to 70%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the coating is performed while the heating is performed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the heating is performed after the coating is performed. ### Claim 7 A toner comprising: a binder resin; a colorant; and an external additive, wherein the external additive comprises: a particulate inorganic material; and a silicone oil, wherein the silicone oil is present on the particulate inorganic material in an amount of Ws by weight and present as a free silicone oil in an amount of Wfs by weight, and wherein a free silicone degree defined as a ratio Wfs/Ws is from 10 to 70%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, wherein the free silicone degree is from 30 to 50%. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, wherein the particulate inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of silica, titanium oxide and combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, wherein the toner has a weight average particle diameter not greater than 15 μm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, further comprising another inorganic external additive having a number average particle diameter less than the number average particle diameter of the particulate inorganic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, further comprising a particulate resin serving as another external additive, wherein the particulate resin has a number average particle diameter greater than the number average particle diameter of the particulate inorganic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, wherein the toner has a spherical degree not less than 0.93. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, wherein the toner is used for an image forming method comprising a non-contact heat fixing method. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, wherein the toner is used for an image forming method comprising a paper-driven image transferring method. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The toner according to claim 7, further comprises a magnetic material. ### Claim 17 A toner combination for forming a full color image, consisting of a cyan toner, a magenta toner, a yellow toner and a black toner, wherein at least one of the toners comprises: a binder resin; a colorant; and an external additive, wherein the external additive comprises: a particulate inorganic material; and a silicone oil, wherein the silicone oil is present on the particulate inorganic material in an amount of Ws by weight and present as a free silicone oil in an amount of Wfs by weight, and wherein a free silicone degree defined as a ratio Wfs/Ws is from 10 to 70%. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The toner combination according to claim 17, wherein the free silicone degree is from 30 to 50%. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The toner combination according to claim 17, wherein the particulate inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of silica, titanium oxide and combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The toner combination according to claim 17, wherein the toner combination is used for an image forming method comprising a non-contact heat fixing method. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The toner combination according to claim 17, wherein the toner combination is used for an image forming method comprising a paper-drive image transferring method. ### Claim 22 (depends on 7) A two component developer comprising: a magnetic carrier; and the toner according to claim 7. ### Claim 23 (depends on 7) A toner container containing the toner according to claim 7. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A toner container containing the two component developer according to claim 22. ### Claim 25 (depends on 7) An image forming method comprising: developing an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member with a developer comprising a toner to form a toner image thereon; and transferring the toner image onto a receiving material, wherein the toner is the toner according to claim 7. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22, 25) The image forming method according to claim 25, wherein the developer is the two component developer according to claim 22. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The image forming method according to claim 25, wherein the transferring is performed upon application of pressure to the receiving material. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The image forming method according to claim 25, further comprising fixing the toner image on the receiving material by a non-contact heating method. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The image forming method according to claim 25, wherein the transferring is performed while the image bearing member is driven by a paper-drive method. ### Claim 30 (depends on 7, 25) The image forming method according to claim 25, further comprising: repeating the developing and transferring using plural color developers each including a different color toner to form a full color image on the receiving material, wherein each of the plural color toners is a toner according to claim 7. ### Claim 31 (depends on 7) An image forming method comprising: developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member with a color developer comprising a color toner to form a color toner image on the image bearing member; transferring the color toner image on the image bearing member onto a receiving material upon application of pressure to the receiving material; and repeating the electrostatic latent image developing step and the color toner transferring step plural times using plural different color developers each including a different color toner to form a full color toner image on the receiving material, wherein each of the different color toners is a toner according to claim 7. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The image forming method according to claim 31, wherein the developing is performed by a developing device having plural color developing sections, wherein each of the plural color developing sections comprises one of the plural color developers, a developing roller and a regulating blade, wherein the developing further comprises: forming a layer of each of the respective plural color developers on the respective developing roller using the respective regulating blade; and contacting the layer with the electrostatic latent image to form the color toner image on the image bearing member. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The image forming method according to claim 31, further comprising: fixing the full color image on the receiving material by a non-contact heat fixing method. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The image forming method according to claim 31, wherein the transferring is performed while the image bearing member is driven by a paper-drive method. ### Claim 35 (depends on 7) An image forming method comprising: developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member with a color developer comprising a color toner to form a color toner image on the image bearing member; first transferring the color toner image on the image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer medium upon application of pressure thereto; repeating the electrostatic latent image developing step and the first color toner transferring step plural times using plural different color developers each including a different color toner to form a full color toner image on the intermediate transfer medium; and second transferring the full color image onto a receiving material, wherein each of the different color toners is a toner according to claim 7. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The image forming method according to claim 35, wherein the developing is performed by a developing device having plural color developing sections, wherein each of the plural color developing sections comprises one of the plural color developers, a developing roller and a regulating blade, wherein the developing further comprises: forming a layer of each of the respective plural color developers on the respective developing roller using the respective regulating blade; and contacting the layer with the electrostatic latent image to form the color toner image on the image bearing member. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The image forming method according to claim 35, further comprising: fixing the full color image on the receiving material by a non-contact heat fixing method. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The image forming method according to claim 35, wherein the transferring is performed while the image bearing member is driven by a paper-drive method. ### Claim 39 (depends on 7) An image forming method comprising: developing electrostatic latent images formed on plural image bearing members with plural color developers each comprising a different color toner to form a different color toner image on each of the image bearing members, respectively; and transferring the color toner images onto a receiving material one by one upon application of pressure to form a full color image thereon, wherein each of the different color toners is a toner according to claim 7. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The image forming method according to claim 39, wherein the transferring further comprises: first transferring the color toner images on the image bearing members one by one onto an intermediate transfer medium upon application of pressure to form the full color image on the intermediate transfer medium; and second transferring the full color image onto the receiving material. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The image forming method according to claim 39, wherein the developing is performed by a developing device having plural color developing sections, wherein each of the plural color developing sections comprises one of the plural color developers, a developing roller and a regulating blade, wherein the developing further comprises: forming a layer of each of the respective plural color developers on the respective developing roller using the respective regulating blade; and contacting the respective layer with the respective electrostatic latent image to form the different color toner image on each of the image bearing members. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The image forming method according to claim 39, further comprising: fixing the full color image on the receiving material by a non-contact heat fixing method. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The image forming method according to claim 39, wherein the transferring is performed while the image bearing member is driven by a paper-drive method. ### Claim 44 (depends on 7) An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member which bears an electrostatic latent image; a developing device which develops the latent image with a developer comprising a toner to form a toner image on the image bearing member; and a toner container containing the developer therein; wherein the toner is the toner according to claim 7.