# US 6,863,380 B2 · Toner used in image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 6,863,380 B2
- Document ID: US6863380B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/252,007
- Filed: 2002-09-23
- Published: 2003-05-08
- Granted: 2005-03-08
- Earliest claimed: 2001-09-26
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Atsunori Kitazawa; Kiyoteru Katsuki; Nobuhiro Miyakawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6863380B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/346: {by modulating the powder through holes or a slit}
- G03G 9/0819: {characterised by the dimensions of the particles}
- G03G 9/0823: {Electric parameters}
- G03G 9/09708: {Inorganic compounds}
- G03G 2217/0025: where the toner starts moving from behind the electrode array, e.g. a mask of holes
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

Toner is for use in an image forming apparatus of the TonerJet method, which satisfies any one of the following conditions: a) toner in which the content of reverse-polarity large-diameter toner is 10% by count or smaller; b) toner in which the content of reverse-polarity fine-powder toner is 2% by count or smaller; c) toner comprising a silica additive and a titanium oxide additive such that the content x of the titanium oxide additive is in the range of 0<x≦1.5 wt %. For instance, when an image is formed using toner satisfying the condition a) above, that is, toner in which the content of reverse-polarity large-diameter toner is 10% by count or smaller, filming does not occur and an image having an excellent quality is formed (denoted with “◯”). On the other hand, when an image is formed using toner in which reverse-polarity large-diameter toner exceeds 10% by count, filming occurs and the quality of an image deteriorates (denoted with “X”).

## Claims

### Claim 1

Toner for use in an image forming apparatus comprising:
a back electrode;
a toner carrier which carries toner; and
a toner transfer controlling means which is disposed between said toner carrier and said back electrode,
wherein a first content of said toner electrified to a predetermined polarity is transferred toward said back electrode from said toner carrier through toner passing apertures which are formed in said toner transfer controlling means, and arrive at an image receiving member which is transported between said toner transfer controlling means and said back electrode to thereby form a toner image,
wherein, a percentage of a second content of said toner is 10% or smaller than a count of total toner particles contained in said toner,
wherein said second content of said toner is electrified to a polarity opposite to said predetermined polarity and has a toner particle diameter of d or larger, where d is a number mean diameter of said toner.

### Claim 2

Toner for use in an image forming apparatus comprising:
back electrode;
a toner carrier which carries toner; and
a toner transfer controlling means which is disposed between said toner carrier and said back electrode,
wherein said first content of said toner electrified to a predetermined polarity is transferred toward said back electrode form said toner carrier through toner passing apertures which are formed in said toner transfer controlling means, and arrive at an image receiving member which is transported between said toner transfer controlling means and said back electrode to thereby form a toner image,
wherein, a percentage of a second content of said toner is 2% or smaller than a count of total toner particles contained in said toner,
wherein said second content of said toner is electrified to a polarity opposite to said predetermined polarity, and has a toner particle diameter of (d/2) or smaller, where d is a number mean diameter of said toner.

### Claim 3

Toner for use in an image forming apparatus comprising:
a back electrode;
a toner carrier which carries toner; and
a toner transfer controlling means which is disposed between said toner carrier and said back electrode,
wherein said toner is transferred toward said back electrode from said toner carrier through toner passing apertures which are formed in said toner transfer controlling means, and arrive at an image receiving member which is transported between said toner transfer controlling means and said back electrode to thereby form a toner image,
said toner comprising mother particles, a silica additive and a titanium oxide additive, wherein a content x of said titanium oxide additive satisfies the following relationship:
0<x≦1.5 wt %.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The toner for use in an image forming apparatus of claim 3, wherein said content x of said titanium oxide additive satisfies the following relationship:
0.2 wt %<x≦1.0 wt %.