U.S. patent application number 11/209668 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-02 for surface treating material and surface treating process.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoshio Tani.
Application Number | 20060046043 11/209668 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35943592 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060046043 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tani; Yoshio |
March 2, 2006 |
Surface treating material and surface treating process
Abstract
The present invention is an object to provide a surface treating
material and a surface treating process using the surface treating
material capable of giving simply and effectively desired surface
property on a surface of an image recording layer of an image
recording material after image recording, and the surface treating
material comprising at least a fusible particle and a hardly
fusible particle which are used for changing a surface property on
a surface of an image recording layer of an image recording
material after image recording, the fusible particle is melted to
form a continuous film by the surface treatment, and a flow
starting temperature of the fusible particle is 50.degree. C. or
more, and less than a heating temperature in the surface treatment,
and the hardly fusible particle is not melted with maintaining
particle shape by the surface treatment, and a volume average
particle diameter of the hardly fusible particle is 1 .mu.m to 30
.mu.m.
Inventors: |
Tani; Yoshio; (Shizuoka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG, KRATZ, QUINTOS, HANSON & BROOKS, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Minami-Ashigara-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
35943592 |
Appl. No.: |
11/209668 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/292.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 7/0073 20130101;
G03G 8/00 20130101; G03G 7/0046 20130101; Y10T 428/249924 20150401;
G03G 7/006 20130101; G03G 7/0053 20130101; G03G 7/0033 20130101;
G03G 7/0026 20130101; G03G 7/004 20130101; G03G 7/002 20130101;
G03G 7/0066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/292.1 |
International
Class: |
D04H 13/00 20060101
D04H013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 26, 2004 |
JP |
2004-247492 |
Claims
1. A surface treating material comprising: a fusible particle and a
hardly fusible particle which are used for changing a surface
property on a surface of an image recording layer of an image
recording material after image recording, wherein the fusible
particle is melted to form a continuous film by a surface
treatment, and a flow starting temperature of the fusible particle
is 50.degree. C. or more, and less than a heating temperature in
the surface treatment, and wherein the hardly fusible particle is
not melted with maintaining a particle shape by the surface
treatment, and a volume average particle diameter of the hardly
fusible particle is 1 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m.
2. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
surface treating material comprises a base, and a surface layer
comprising the fusible particle and the hardly fusible particle
disposed on or above the base.
3. The surface treating material according to claim 2, wherein the
surface treating material comprises a releasing layer comprising a
releasing agent between the base and the surface layer.
4. The surface treating material according to claim 2, wherein the
base is any one of a sheet shape, a belt shape, and an endless belt
shape.
5. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein a
total adhesion amount of the fusible particle and the hardly
fusible particle in the surface layer is 1 g/m.sup.2 to 30
g/m.sup.2.
6. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
surface property is changed on at least a part of the surface of
the image recording material.
7. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
surface property is any one selected from a matte, a semimatte, an
emboss, a luster, a silk finish, and a combination thereof.
8. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
surface treating material comprises a sea-island structure in a
state where the hardly fusible particle is dispersed with
maintaining the particle shape in the continuous film.
9. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein a
mixing mass ratio of the hardly fusible particle and the fusible
particle (hardly fusible particle/fusible particle) is 0.5/100 to
10/100.
10. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
fusible particle is transparent and a volume average particle
diameter is 1 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m.
11. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein a
volume average particle diameter of the hardly fusible particle is
2 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m and bigger than a thickness of the continuous
film.
12. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein a
particle size distribution of the hardly fusible particle is 0.4 or
less.
13. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
hardly fusible particle is of 2 kinds or more differing in at least
any one of volume average particle diameter and shape.
14. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
hardly fusible particle comprises any one of the hardly fusible
particle resin and an inorganic particle.
15. The surface treating material according to claim 14, wherein a
flow starting temperature of the hardly fusible particle resin is
higher than the heating temperature in the surface treatment.
16. The surface treating material according to claim 14, wherein
the hardly fusible particle resin is a crosslinking particle, and
the crosslinking particle comprises any one selected from a
crosslinking acrylic resin, a crosslinking styrene resin, a
crosslinking urethane resin, a crosslinking polyester resin, a
crosslinking epoxy resin, a crosslinking melamine resin, a
fluorine-containing setting-resin and a silicone-containing
setting-resin.
17. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
fusible particle comprises any one selected from a saturated
polyester resin, an acrylic resin, a polystyrene resin and
crystalline polyolefin resin.
18. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
fusible particle comprises a wax, and a melting point of the wax is
less than the heating temperature in the surface treatment.
19. The surface treating material according to claim 1, wherein the
image recording material is any one selected from an
image-receiving sheet for electrophotography, a recording sheet of
melting and heat transfer, a recording sheet of sublimation and
heat transfer, a thermosensitve recording sheet and an ink jet
recording sheet.
20. A surface treating process comprising: adhering a surface
treating material on a surface of an image recording layer of an
image recording material after image recording, forming a surface
treating layer on the surface of the image recording layer of the
image recording material after image recording, and wherein the
surface treating material comprises a fusible particle and hardly
fusible particle for changing a surface property of the image
recording layer of the image recording material after image
recording and, wherein the fusible particle is melted to form a
continuous film by a surface treatment, and a flow starting
temperature of the fusible particle is 50.degree. C. or more, and
less than a heating temperature in the surface treatment, and
wherein the hardly fusible particle is not melted with maintaining
a particle shape by the surface treatment, and a volume average
particle diameter of the hardly fusible particle is 1 .mu.m to 30
.mu.m, and wherein the hardly fusible particle is dispersed in a
continuous film which is formed by melting the fusible particle by
a heating and pressurizing treatment.
21. The surface treating process according to claim 20, wherein a
adhesion is performed by any one of an electrostatic adhesion, a
coating, an impregnation, a dipping and a spraying.
22. The surface treating process according to claim 20, wherein the
heating and pressurizing treatment is performed using a belt
surface treating device comprising a heating and pressurizing
member, a belt member and a cooler.
23. The surface treating process according to claim 20, wherein a
total adhesion amount of the fusible particle and the hardly
fusible particle is 1 g/m.sup.2 to 30 g/m.sup.2.
24. The surface treating process according to claim 20, wherein the
surface treating material is adhered on at least a part of an image
recording surface of the image recording material.
25. The surface treating process according to claim 20, wherein the
surface property is changed by changing any one of a total adhesion
amount of the surface treating material depending on an image
information, a combination of the hardly fusible particle and the
fusible particle, and a mixing ratio of the hardly fusible particle
and the fusible particle.
26. The surface treating process according to claim 25, wherein the
image information is at least any one selected from an image
brightness, an image density, an image tone, an image size, and a
combination thereof.
27. The surface treating process according to claim 20, wherein a
heating temperature in the heating and pressurizing treatment is
80.degree. C. or more.
28. The surface treating process according to claim 20, wherein the
surface property can be changed depending on a selection by a
user.
29. The surface treating process according to claim 28, wherein the
surface property is any one selected from a matte, a semimatte, an
emboss, a luster, a silk finish, and a combination thereof.
30. A surface treating process comprising: forming a laminated body
by putting together a surface layer of a surface treating material
and an image recording layer of the image recording material after
image recording by heating and pressurizing treatment, forming a
surface treating layer by cooling and separating the laminated body
from a base, and wherein the surface layer of the surface treating
material comprising a fusible particle and hardly fusible particle
are deposed on a base, wherein the surface layer changes a surface
property of the image recording layer of the image recording
material after image recording, wherein the fusible particle is
melted to form a continuous film by a surface treatment, and a flow
starting temperature of the fusible particle is 50.degree. C. or
more, and less than a heating temperature in the surface treatment,
and wherein the hardly fusible particle is not melted with
maintaining a particle shape by the surface treatment, and a volume
average particle diameter is 1 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m, and wherein the a
surface treating layer comprises the hardly fusible particle is
dispersed in the continuous film which is formed by melting the
fusible particle.
31. The surface treating process according to claim 30, wherein the
heating and pressurizing treatment is performed using a belt
surface treating device comprising a heating and pressurizing
member, a belt member and a cooler.
32. The surface treating process according to claim 30, wherein a
heating temperature in the heating and pressurizing treatment is
80.degree. C. or more.
33. The surface treating process according to claim 30, wherein the
surface property can be changed depending on a selection by a
user.
34. The surface treating process according to claim 30, wherein the
surface property is any one selected from a matte, a semimatte, an
emboss, a luster, a silk finish, and a combination thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a surface treating material
and a surface treating process using the surface treating material
capable of giving simply and effectively desired surface property
on a surface of an image recording layer of an image recording
material after image recording.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As a gloss treatment or semigloss treatment of a surface of
an image recording layer of an image recording material after image
recording, there is a conventional process forming a transparent
overcoat layer by adhering and melting transparent particle on the
surface of the image recording layer.
[0005] According to this process, gloss increases, but there are
problems such as in sheet accumulation after treatment,
accumulation shift occurs easily, glaringness occurs on the surface
of the image recording layer, and during repeated storing, in high
humidity storing, adhesion between sheets occurs, and fingerprint
adhesion trace is easily noticeable.
[0006] For the semi-gloss treatment, for example, forming of
non-continuous (sea-island) structure by transparent toner
(Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.05-232840), a
process blending particle on binding a resin of transparent toner
japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.10-123863), and the
forming process of the uneven surface by controlling the
transparent toner fixing condition (Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open (JP-A) No.2001-305816), are proposed.
[0007] In the proposal of the JP-A No.05-232840, the toner itself,
in order to form the uneven shaped surface, the toner cannot be
flattened to enhance roughness, and fixing property deteriorates,
and this causes falling of the toner. On the contrary, in order to
prevent the falling of the toner, there are problems such as when
the fixing property is increased, roughness decreases, and it is
difficult to obtain compatible condition.
[0008] In the proposal of the JP-A No.10-123863, there are problems
such as in comparison with transparent toner particle size,
considerably small size fine particle is blended, the uneven shaped
surface remains in a minor range and the effect is small, and in
the case of changing the uneven shape, it is necessary to change
the toner itself, cannot be dealt flexibly with.
[0009] In the proposal of the JP-A No. 2001-305816, there are
problems such as subtle control of fixing condition (toner
thickness and viscosity), lacking in reproducibility, and a limit
in controllable surface embodiment.
[0010] Thus, in the above-mentioned related arts, the present
situation is only unified surface treatment is possible and there
is no general versatility as a system, and in the point of
operating efficiency and operating property, there is no art
comprising sufficient satisfactory property, and further
improvement and development are desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a surface
treating material and a surface treating process using the surface
treating material capable of giving simply and effectively desired
surface property on a surface of an image recording layer of an
image recording material after image recording.
[0012] The surface treating material of the present invention
comprises a fusible particle and hardly fusible particle which are
used for changing a surface property on a surface of an image
recording layer of an image recording material after image
recording, wherein the fusible particle is melted to form a
continuous film by a surface treatment, and a flow starting
temperature of the fusible fine particle is 50.degree. C. or more,
and less than a heating temperature in the surface treatment, and
wherein the hardly fusible particle is not melted with maintaining
a particle shape by the surface treatment, and a volume average
particle diameter of the hardly fusible particle is 1 .mu.m to 30
.mu.m. The surface treating material of the present invention is
capable of giving simply and effectively desired surface property
on a surface of an image recording layer of an image recording
material after image recording selected from any one of a matte, a
semimatte, an emboss, a luster, a silk finish, and a combination
thereof.
[0013] The surface treating process of the present invention, in a
first embodiment, on a surface of an image recording layer of an
image recording material after image recording, comprises adhering
a surface treating material of the present invention, and forming a
surface treating layer where the hardly fusible particle is
dispersed in a continuous film by melting fusible particle by a
heating and pressurizing treatment.
[0014] The surface treating process of the present invention, in a
second embodiment, comprises forming a laminated body by putting
together a surface layer and an image recording layer of the image
recording material after image recording by heating and
pressurizing treatment, forming a surface treating layer by cooling
and separating the laminated body from a base, and the surface
layer comprising a fusible particle and hardly fusible particle are
deposed on a base, the surface layer changes a surface property of
the image recording layer of the image recording material after
image recording, wherein the fusible particle is melted to form a
continuous film by a surface treatment, and a flow starting
temperature of the fusible particle is 50.degree. C. or more, and
less than a heating temperature in the surface treatment, and the
hardly fusible particle is not melted with maintaining a particle
shape by the surface treatment, and a volume average particle
diameter is 1 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m, and the a surface treating layer
comprises the hardly fusible particle is dispersed in the
continuous film which is formed by melting the fusible
particle.
[0015] The surface treating process in the first and second
embodiment of the present invention is capable of giving simply and
effectively desired surface property on the surface of the image
recording layer of the image recording material selected from at
least any one of an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, a
melting heat-transfer recording sheet, a sublimation heat-transfer
recording sheet, a heat-sensitive recording sheet and an ink jet
recording sheet.
[0016] In the present invention, the hardly fusible particle
represents particle which has a flow starting temperature (or
melting point) is higher than the fusible particle, is able to
maintaining a particle shape far from melting during the surface
treatment after image recording, and specifically, does not melt at
130.degree. C. or less. The maintaining a particle shape also
includes slightly changed particle shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section diagram showing an
example of a surface treating apparatus for carrying out a surface
treating process of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is schematic diagram showing another example of a
surface treating apparatus for carrying out a surface treating
process of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a fixing belt part of FIG.
2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(Surface Treating Material)
[0020] The surface treating material of the present invention, in a
first embodiment, comprises a fusible particle and a hardly fusible
particle, and further comprises other components, if necessary.
[0021] The surface treating material of the present invention, in a
second embodiment, comprises a base, and at least a surface layer
comprising a fusible particle and a hardly fusible particle on the
base, and further comprises other layers, if necessary.
[0022] The surface treating material of the present invention is
used for changing surface property on a surface of an image
recording layer of an image recording material after image
recording. The Surface property can be suitably controlled by
forming a sea-island structure where the hardly fusible particle is
dispersed in a continuous film formed after surface treatment.
[0023] The surface property is preferably changed at least a part
of the surface of the image recording layer, and may be the entire
surface of the image recording layer.
[0024] The surface property may be preferably selected from any one
of a matte, a semimatte, an emboss, a luster, a silk finish, and a
combination thereof.
[0025] The surface property is preferably capable of changing
depending on the selection by a user.
[0026] A user selection means can be (1) a method assigning image
data displayed on a monitor with a mouse, (2) a method inputting
with a keyboard, and (3) a method pressing a monitor screen with a
finger.
[0027] According to the present invention, the surface property is
changed by changing any one of a total adhesion amount of the
surface treating material corresponding to image information, a
combination of the hardly fusible particle and fusible particle,
and a mixing ratio of the hardly fusible particle and fusible
particle.
[0028] Here, the image information may be at least one selected
from an image brightness, an image density, an image tone, an image
size and a combination thereof. For example, gloss can be given to
a part of a background of a sheet body. As high brightness part
becomes bright and dark part becomes matte by distributing the
gloss a three-dimensional effect can be given to the image.
[0029] The image recording material is not limited, and may be
suitably selected according to the purpose, for example, an
electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, a melting heat-transfer
recording sheet, a sublimation-heat-transfer recording sheet, a
heat-sensitive recording sheet and an ink jet recording sheet.
[0030] The electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, for example,
comprises a support, and at least a toner image-receiving layer on
the support, and the toner image-receiving layer accepts at least
one of a color toner and black toner, and on which image is
formed.
[0031] The electrophotographic image-receiving sheet is described
in detail.
[Support]
[0032] The support is not limited, and may be suitably selected
according to the purpose, for example, a raw paper, a synthetic
paper, a synthetic resin sheet, a coated paper, and a laminated
paper. The support can be a single layer composition, or a
laminated structure of 2 layers or more. Among them, laminated
paper comprising polyolefin resin layer on both surfaces of a raw
paper is preferable because of smooth gloss property and stretching
property.
--Raw paper--
[0033] The raw paper is not limited, and may be suitably selected
according to the purpose, specifically, a fine paper, for example,
the paper reported in 223 to 224 pages of "The Basic of
Photographic Engineering-Silver Salt Photograph Volume" (edited by
The Society of Photographic Science and Technology of Japan, Corona
Corporation) (issued 1979) is suitable.
[0034] The raw paper, used for a support is not limited as long as
it is a well-known material and may be suitably selected from
various materials according to the purpose, for example, natural
pulp of conifer and broadleaf tree, and a mixture of the natural
pulp and synthetic pulp, are suitable.
[0035] The pulp that can be used as the material of the raw paper
is desirable to be bleached broadleaf tree kraft pulp (LBKP), but
bleached conifer kraft pulp (NBKP) and broadleaf tree sulfite pulp
(LBSP) can also be used because they enhance the surface
smoothness, stiffness and dimension stability (curl property) of
the raw paper at the same time with good balance and to sufficient
level.
[0036] As the beating of the pulp, a beater and a refiner can be
used.
[0037] The Canada Standard Filtered Water Degree of the pulp is
preferably 200 ml to 440 ml C.S.F., and more preferably 250 ml to
380 ml C.S.F. because in the paper making step, the shrinkage of
the paper can be controlled.
[0038] Various additives, for example, fillers, dry paper
reinforcers, sizing agents, wet paper reinforcers, fixing agents,
pH regulators or other agents, or the like may be added, if
necessary, to the pulp slurry (hereafter, may be referred to as
pulp paper material) which is obtained after beating the pulp.
[0039] Examples of the fillers include calcium carbonate, clay,
kaolin, China clay, talc, titanium oxide, diatomite, barium
sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide, and the like.
Examples of the dry paper reinforcers cationized starch, cationized
polyacrylamide, anionized polyacrylamide, ampholytic
polyacrylamide, and carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol, and the
like.
[0040] Examples of the sizing agents include compound comprises
higher fatty acid such as higher fatty acid salt; rosin derivatives
such as rosin and rosin maleate rosin; paraffin wax, alkylketene
dimer, alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA); and epoxidized fatty
amide, and the like.
[0041] Examples of the wet paper reinforcers include polyamine
polyamide epichlorohydrin, melamine resin, urea resin, and
epoxidized polyamide resin, and the like. Examples of the fixing
agents include polyvalent metal salt such as aluminum sulfate and
aluminum chloride; cationic polymer such as cationized starch, and
the like.
[0042] Examples of the pH regulators include caustic soda and
sodium carbonate. Examples of other agents include defoaming
agents, dyes, slime control agents, fluorescent whitening agents,
and the like.
[0043] Further, flexibilizer can be added if necessary. The
flexibilizer, for example, may be the one described in "New Paper
Processing Handbook", pp. 554 to 555, (edited by Kamiyaku Time
Corporation) (issued 1980).
[0044] These various additives may be used alone or in combination.
Also, the amount of these various additives to be added to the pulp
paper material is not limited and may be suitably selected
according to the purpose, generally, preferably 0.1% by mass to
1.0% by mass.
[0045] For the pulp slurry, further, according to necessity, pulp
paper material comprising the above-mentioned various additives is
paper-made using paper machine such as a hand paper machine, a wire
paper machine, a cylinder paper machine, a twin wire machine and a
combination machine, and after that dried, and a raw paper is made.
Also, according to desire, the surface size treatment can be
carried out any one of before and after the drying.
[0046] The treatment solution used for sizing a surface is not
limited and may be suitably selected according to the purpose, for
example, may comprise a water-soluble polymer compound, a
water-resistant substance, a pigment, a dye and a fluorescent
whitening agent, and the like.
[0047] The water-soluble polymer compound, for example, may be
cationized starch, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxy-modified polyvinyl
alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, cellulose
sulfate, gelatin, casein, polyacrylic sodium, styrene-maleic
anhydride copolymer sodium salt and polystyrene sulfonic acid
sodium salt, and the like.
[0048] The water-resistant substance, for example, may be latex
emulsion such as styrene-butadiene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl
acetate copolymer, polyethylene and vinylidene chloride copolymer,
and polyamide-polyamine-epichlorohydrin, and the like.
[0049] The pigment, for example, may be calcium carbonate, clay,
kaolin, talc, barium sulfate and titanium oxide, and the like.
[0050] For the raw paper, in an attempt to improve the rigidity and
dimensional stability (curl properties), the ratio
(E.sub.a/E.sub.b) of vertical direction Young's modulus (E.sub.a)
and horizontal direction Young's modulus E.sub.b is preferably in
the range of 1.5 to 2.0. In the range of the value of
E.sub.a/E.sub.b is less than 1.5, or more than 2.0, it is not
preferable because the rigidity and the curl properties of the
recording material is likely to be inferior, and may interfere with
paper during the conveying operation.
[0051] Generally, it is understood that the "stiffness" of the
paper differs depending on the various manners in which the paper
is beaten, and after beating, the elastic force (rate) of the paper
produced by paper making can be used as an important factor to show
the degree of "stiffness" of the paper. By making use of the
relation of the dynamic elastic modulus and density showing the
properties of viscoelastic material of the paper, and using the
ultrasonic vibrating element to this, and measuring the sound
velocity transmitting all over the paper, the elastic modulus of
the paper can be seek according to the following equation in
particular. E=.rho.c.sup.2(1-n.sup.2) provided that, in the above
equation, "E" implies dynamic elastic modulus. ".rho." represents
density. "c" represents sound velocity all over the paper. "n"
represents Poisson's ratio.
[0052] Also, in the case of ordinary paper, as n=0.2 approximately,
there is no great difference even by calculating with the following
equation, and can be calculated. E=.rho.c.sup.2
[0053] Namely, if the density and sound velocity of the paper can
be measured, elastic modulus can be easily found. In the above
equation, when measuring sound velocity, various well-known
apparatuses such as Sonic Tester-SST-110 (manufactured by Nomura
Shoji Co., Ltd.) may be used.
[0054] For the raw paper, in order to give desired center line
average roughness on the surface, for example, as reported in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.58-68037, it is
preferable to use pulp fiber of fiber length distribution (for
example the total of 24 mesh screen residue and 42 mesh screen
residue, for example, is 20% by mass to 45% by mass, and 24 mesh
screen residue is 5% by mass or less. Also, the center line average
roughness can be adjusted by adding heating and pressuring to a
surface of the raw paper, with a machine calender and super
calender, and the like.
[0055] The thickness of the raw paper is not limited and may be
suitably selected according to the purpose, generally, preferably
30 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m, more preferably 50 .mu.m to 300 .mu.m, and
still more preferably 100 .mu.m to 250 .mu.m. The basis weight of
the raw paper is not limited and may be suitably selected according
to the purpose, for example, preferably 50 g/m.sup.2 to 250
g/m.sup.2, and more preferably 100 g/m.sup.2 to 200 g/m.sup.2.
--Synthetic Paper--
[0056] The synthetic paper is a paper with polymer fiber except
cellulose as a main component, and the polymer fiber, for example,
may be polyolefin fiber such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and
the like.
--Synthetic Resin Sheet (Film)--
[0057] The synthetic resin sheet (film) may be a film formed in a
sheet shape from synthetic resin, for example, polypropylene film,
stretched polyethylene film, stretched polypropylene film,
polyester film, stretched polyester film, and nylon film, and the
like. According to stretching, white color film comprising
white-colored film and white color pigment, may also be used.
--Coated Paper--
[0058] The coated paper is a paper where various resins are coated
on one surface or both surfaces on a substrate of a raw paper, and
the coating amount differs according to the application. Examples
of the coated paper include an art paper, a cast coat paper, and a
Yankee paper, and the like.
[0059] The resin is coated on the surface of the raw paper is not
limited and may be suitably selected according to the purpose,
however thermoplastic resin is suitable. The thermoplastic resin
can be (1) polyolefin resin (2) polystyrene resin, (3) acrylic
resin, (4) poly vinyl acetate or its derivatives, (5) polyamide
resin, (6) polyester resin, (7) polycarbonate resin, (8) polyether
resin (or acetal resin), and (9) other resins. These thermoplastic
resins may be used alone, or in combination.
--Laminated Paper--
[0060] The laminated paper is a paper may be formed by laminating
various resins, such as rubber or polymer sheets or films, which
may be referred to as laminating materials, on a substrate of a raw
paper. Examples of the laminating materials include polyolefin
resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyester resin, polystyrene
resin, polymethacrylate resin, polycarbonate resin, polyamide
resin, and triacetyl cellulose, and the like. These resins may be
used alone, or in combination.
[0061] The polyolefin resin, generally, is often formed by using
low density polyethylene resin, however, in order to increase the
heat resistance of the support, it is preferable to use
polypropylene, a blend of polypropylene and polyethylene, high
density polyethylene, and a blend of high density polyethylene and
low density polyethylene. From the point of cost and laminated
properties, using the blend of high density polyethylene and low
density polyethylene is the most preferable in particular.
[0062] The mixing ratio (mass ratio) of the high density
polyethylene and the low density polyethylene is preferably 1/9 to
9/1, more preferably 2/8 to 8/2, and still more preferably 3/7 to
7/3. When thermoplastic resin layers are forming on both surfaces
of the raw paper, the back surface of the raw paper, for example,
is preferably formed by using high density polyethylene, or a blend
of high density polyethylene and the low density polyethylene. The
molecular mass of the polyethylene is not limited, however, the
melt index for any one of the high density polyethylene and low
density polyethylene is preferably between 1.0 g/10 min to 40 g/10
min, and comprises extrusion suitability.
[0063] Treatment giving white light reflecting property can be
performed on these sheets or films. Treatment method like this, for
example, can be a method adding pigment such as titanium oxide into
these sheets or films.
[0064] The thickness of the support is preferably 25 .mu.m to 300
.mu.m, and more preferably 50 .mu.m to 260 .mu.m, and still more
preferably 75 .mu.m to 220 .mu.m.
[Toner Image-Receiving Layer]
[0065] The toner image-receiving layer, from the point of giving a
near-photographic feel to the electrophotographic image-receiving
sheet, is preferably a low transparency toner image-receiving layer
having a light transmittance of 78% or less, and more preferably
the light transmittance is 73% or less, and still more preferably
72% or less.
[0066] The light transmittance may be measured by forming a coating
layer with the same thickness on a separate polyethylene
terephthalate film (thickness 100 .mu.m) and for the coating layer,
using direct reading hazemeter (Suga Testing Machine HGM-2DP).
[0067] The toner image-receiving layer comprises at least a
thermoplastic resin, and according to necessity, comprises various
additives which are added in order to improve thermodynamic
properties of a toner image-receiving layer, for example, a
releasing agent, a plasticizer, a colorant, a filler, a
crosslinking agent, a charge control agent, an emulsifying agent,
and a dispersing agent.
--Thermoplastic Resin--
[0068] The thermoplastic resin is not limited and may be suitably
selected according to the purpose, may be (1) polyolefin resin (2)
polystyrene resin, (3) acrylic resin, (4) poly vinyl acetate or its
derivatives, (5) polyamide resin, (6) polyester resin, (7)
polycarbonate resin, (8) polyether resin (or acetal resin), and (9)
other resins. These can be used alone, or two or more may be used
in combination. Among them, because of toner imbedding, high
cohesive energy styrene resin, acrylic resin, and polyester resin
are suitably used in particular.
[0069] The (1) polyolefin resin, for example, may be polyolefin
resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and copolymer resins
of olefins such as ethylene and propylene and other vinyl monomers,
and the like. The copolymer resin of olefin and other vinyl
monomers, for example, may be ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and
ionomer resin, copolymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. The
derivatives of polyolefin resin may be chlorinated polyethylene and
chlorosulfonated polyethylene, and the like.
[0070] The (2) polystyrene resin, for example, may be polystyrene
resin, styrene-isobutylene copolymer, acrylonitrile-styrene
copolymer (AS resin), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer
(ABS resin), and polystyrene-maleic anhydride resin, and the
like.
[0071] The (3) acrylic resin, for example, may be polyacrylic acid
or its esters, polymethacrylic acid or its esters,
polyacrylonitrile, and polyacrylamide, and the like.
[0072] The polyacrylic acid esters may be homopolymer and plural
copolymer of esters of acrylic acid, and the like. The acrylic acid
esters, for example, may be methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate,
n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, n-octyl
acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-ethyl chloride acrylate, phenyl
acrylate, and .alpha.-chloromethyl acrylate, and the like.
[0073] The polymethacrylic acid esters, for example, may be
homopolymer and plural copolymer of esters of methacrylic acid. The
methacrylic acid esters, for example, may be methyl methacrylate,
ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate.
[0074] The (4) poly vinyl acetate or its derivatives, for example,
may be poly vinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol obtained by
saponificating poly vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl acetal resin
obtained by reacting polyvinyl alcohol with aldehyde (for example,
formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and butyraldehyde).
[0075] The (5) polyamide resin is a polycondensation products of
diamine and dihydric acid, and may be nylon 6 and nylon 66.
[0076] The (6) polyester resin is a polycondensation products of of
an acid component and an alcohol component. The acid component is
not limited and may be suitably selected according to the purpose,
for example, maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, itaconic
acid, glutaconic acid, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid,
isophthalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic asid, azelaic
acid, malonic acid, n-dodecenylsuccinic acid, isododecenylsuccinic
acid, n-dodecylsuccinic acid, isododecylsuccinic acid,
n-octenylsuccinic acid, n-octylsuccinic acid, isooctenylsuccinic
acid, isooctylsuccinic acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid,
and anhydride thereof or lower alkyl ester thereof, and the
like.
[0077] The alcohol component is not limited and may be suitably
selected according to the purpose, for example, dihydroxy alcohol
is preferable. Aliphatic diol, for example, ethylene glycol,
diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol,
1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol,
1,4-butenediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol,
1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol,
polypropylene glycol, and polytetramethylene glycol. The alkylene
oxide additive of bisphenol A, for example, may be
polyoxypropylene(2.2)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane,
polyoxypropylene(3.2)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane,
polyoxyethylene(2.0)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane,
polyoxypropylene(2.0)-polyoxyethylene
(2.0)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, and
polyoxypropylene(6)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, and the
like.
[0078] The (7) polycarbonate resin is generally polycarbonate from
bisphenol A and phosgene.
[0079] The (8) polyether resin (or acetal resin), for example, may
be polyether resin such as polyethylene oxide and polypropylene
oxide, and acetal resin such as polyoxymethylene obtained through
ring-opening-polymerization, and the like.
[0080] The (9) other resins may be polyurethane resin obtained
through additional-polymerization.
[0081] The thermoplastic resin preferably satisfies toner
image-receiving layer properties, which will be described later,
when formed into a toner image-receiving layer, and more preferably
satisfies the toner image-receiving layer properties by itself. It
is also preferable to use in combination two or more resins which
have different toner image-receiving layer properties.
[0082] The thermoplastic resin preferably has a molecular mass that
is larger than that of a thermoplastic resin used in the toner.
However, according to the relationship of the thermodynamic
properties of the thermoplastic resin used in the toner and the
properties of the resin used in the toner image-receiving layer,
the relationship of the molecular mass as described above is not
necessarily preferable. For example, when a softening temperature
of the resin used in the toner image-receiving layer is higher than
that of the thermoplastic resin used in the toner, there are cases
in which molecular mass of the resin used in the toner
image-receiving layer is preferably the same or smaller.
[0083] It is also preferred that the thermoplastic resin be a
mixture of resins with identical compositions having different
average molecular mass. The preferable relationship with molecular
mass of thermoplastic resins used in toners is disclosed in JP-A
No. 08-334915.
[0084] Molecular mass distribution of the thermoplastic resin is
preferably wider than that of the thermoplastic resin used in the
toner.
[0085] It is preferred that the thermoplastic resin satisfies the
physical properties disclosed in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 05-127413, 08-194394, 08-334915, 08-334916,
09-171265, and 10-221877.
[0086] For the thermoplastic resin for toner image-receiving layer,
(i) there is no discharge of organic solvent in the coating and
drying, and excels in environment suitability and operation
suitability, (ii) the releasing agent such as wax often difficult
to dissolve in a solvent at room temperature, often it is dispersed
in a solvent (water, organic solvent) before use. Further, an
aqueous dispersion is more stable and is excellently suitable for a
manufacturing process. In addition, with aqueous coating, wax
bleeds on the surface more easily during the process of coating and
drying, and the effects of a release agent (offset resistance,
adhesion resistance, and the like) is facilitated more easily.
Thus, aqueous resins such as aqueous polymer, water-dispersible
polymer are suitably used.
[0087] The aqueous resin, as long as it is any one of
water-dispersible polymer and aqueous polymer, the composition,
bonding structure, molecular structure, molecular mass, molecular
mass distribution, and embodiment are not limited and may be
properly selected depending on the application. Examples of
substituting groups which render a polymer aqueous include sulfonic
acid group, hydroxy group, carboxylic acid group, amino group,
amide group, and ether group.
[0088] The water-dispersible polymer, for example, maybe properly
selected from the group of resin, emulsion, copolymer thereof,
mixture, and cation-modified compound where the (1) to (9)
thermoplastic resins are water-dispersed, and may be used in
combination.
[0089] The water-dispersible polymer may be suitably synthesized or
commercially available ones. The commercially available ones, for
example, as water-dispersed polyester polymer, may be Vylonal
series manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., Pesredine A series
manufactured by Takamatsu Oil&Fat Co., Ltd., Tuftone UE series
manufactured by Kao Corporation, Polyester WR series manufactured
by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Elleair series
manufactured by Unitika Ltd. As water-dispersible acryl polymer,
may be Hiross XE, KE, PE series manufactured by Seiko Chemical
Industry Corporation, and Jurymer ET series manufactured by Nihon
Junyaku Co., Ltd.
[0090] The water-dispersible emulsion is not limited and may be
properly selected depending on the application, for example,
water-dispersible polyurethane emulsion, water-dispersible
polyester emulsion, chloroprene emulsion, styrene-butadiene
emulsion, nitrile-butadiene emulsion, butadiene emulsion, vinyl
chloride emulsion, vinylpyridine-styrene-butadiene emulsion,
polybutene emulsion, polyethylene emulsion, vinyl acetate emulsion,
ethylene- vinyl acetate emulsion, vinylidene chloride emulsion, and
methyl methacrylate-butadiene emulsion, and the like. Among them,
water-dispersible polyester emulsion is preferable in
particular.
[0091] The water-dispersible polyester emulsion is preferably
self-dispersing aqueous polyester emulsion, and among them,
carboxyl group comprised self-dispersing aqueous polyester resin
emulsion is preferable in particular. The self-dispersing aqueous
polyester emulsion represents aqueous emulsion comprising polyester
resin able to self-dispersing in aqueous solvent without using
emulsifying agent. The carboxyl group comprised self-dispersing
aqueous polyester resin emulsion represents aqueous emulsion
comprising carboxyl group as a hydrophilic group, and comprising
polyester resin able to self-dispersing in aqueous solvent.
[0092] The self-dispersing water-dispersible polyester emulsion is
preferably satisfying the following (1) to (4) properties. As this
is a self-dispersing type which does not use a surfactant, its
hygroscopicity is low even in a high humidity environment, its
softening point is not much reduced by moisture, and offset
produced during fixing, or sticking of sheets in storage, can be
suppressed. Moreover, since it is aqueous, it is very
environment-friendly and has excellent workability. As it uses a
polyester resin which easily assumes a molecular structure with
high cohesion energy, it has sufficient hardness in a storage
environment, assumes a melting state of low elasticity (low
viscosity) in the fixing step for electrophotography, and toner is
embedded in the toner image-receiving layer so that a sufficiently
high image quality is attained.
[0093] (1) Number average molecular mass (Mn) is preferably 5,000
to 10,000, and more preferably 5,000 to 7,000.
[0094] (2) Molecular mass distribution (mass average molecular
mass/number average molecular mass) is preferably 4 or less, and
Mw/Mn.quadrature.3 is more preferably.
[0095] (3) Glass transition temperature (Tg) is preferably
40.degree. C. to 100.degree. C., and more preferably 50.degree. C.
to 80.degree. C.
[0096] (4) Volume average particle diameter is preferably 20 nm to
200 nm, and more preferably 40 nm to 150 nm.
[0097] The amount of the water-dispersible emulsion in the toner
image-receiving layer is preferably 10% by mass to 90% by mass, and
more preferably 10% by mass to 70% by mass.
[0098] The water-soluble polymer is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application, and suitably synthesized or
commercially available ones may be used, for example, polyvinyl
alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol,
carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, cellulose sulfate,
polyethylene oxide, gelatin, cationized starch, casein, polyacrylic
sodium, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer sodium salt and
polystyrene sulfonic acid sodium salt, and the like. Among them,
polyethylene oxide is preferable.
[0099] The commercially available water-soluble polymer may be, as
water-soluble polyester, various plas coat manufactured by Goo
Chemical Co., Ltd., Finetex ES series manufactured by Dainippon Ink
And Chemicals, Inc., as water-soluble acryl, Jurymer AT series
manufactured Nihon by Junyaku Co., Ltd., Finetex 6161, K-96
manufactured by Dainippon Ink And Chemicals, Inc.; Hiross NL-1189,
and BH-997L manufactured by Seiko Chemical Industry
Corporation.
[0100] The water-soluble polymer may be those described in Research
Disclosure 17, pp. 26 of No. 643, Research Disclosure 18, pp. 651
of No. 716, Research Disclosure 307, pp. 8.sup.73 to 874 of No.
105, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.
64-13546.
[0101] The amount of the water-soluble polymer in the toner
image-receiving layer is not limited and may be properly selected
depending on the application, and it is preferably 0.5 g/m.sup.2 to
2 g/m.sup.2.
[0102] The thermoplastic resin may be used together with other
polymer materials, however, in this case, generally the amount is
used more than other polymer materials.
[0103] The amount of the thermoplastic resin for toner
image-receiving layer in the toner image-receiving layer is
preferably 10% by mass or more, more preferably 30% by mass or
more, still more preferably 50% by mass or more, and preferably 50%
by mass to 90% by mass in particular.
--Releasing Agent--
[0104] The releasing agent is blended in the toner image-receiving
layer for preventing the offset of the toner image-receiving layer.
The releasing agents used in the present invention are not limited
and may be properly selected depending on the application so long
as it is able to form a layer of the releasing agent on a surface
of the toner image-receiving layer by being heated and melted so as
to deposit and to remain on the surface of the toner
image-receiving layer, and by being cooled and solidified so as to
form a layer of the releasing agent, thereafter.
[0105] Examples of the releasing agents include at least one
selected from silicone compounds, fluorine compounds, waxes and
matting agents (i.e., the above-noted particles according to the
present invention).
[0106] Examples of the releasing agent include also the compounds
described in the literatures "Properties and Applications of Waxes,
Revised Edition" (published by Saiwai Shobo) and "The Silicon
Handbook" (published by THE NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN). Further,
preferred examples of the releasing agent include silicon
compounds, fluorine compounds and waxes which are used for
producing toners which are described in the following patent
documents: Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) Nos.
59-38581, 04-32380, Japanese Patent (JP-B) Nos. 2838498 and
2949558, JP-A Nos. 50-117433, 52-52640, 57-148755, 61-62056,
61-62057, 61-118760, 0242451, 0341465, 04-212175, 04-214570,
04-263267, 05-34966, 05-119514, 06-59502, 06-161150, 06-175396,
06-219040, 06-230600, 06-295093, 07-36210, 0743940, 07-56387,
07-56390, 07-64335, 07-199681, 07-223362, 07-287413, 08-184992,
08-227180, 08-248671, 08-248799, 08-248801, 08-278663, 09-152739,
09-160278, 09-185181, 09-319139, 09-319143, 10-20549, 1048889,
10-198069, 10-207116, 11-2917, 1144969, 11-65156, 11-73049 and
11-194542. These compounds may be used in combination.
[0107] Examples of the silicone compounds include silicone oils,
silicone rubbers, silicone particles, silicone-modified resins and
reactive silicone compounds, and the like.
[0108] Examples of the silicone oils include unmodified silicon
oil, amino-modified silicone oil, carboxy-modified silicone oil,
carbinol-modified silicone oil, vinyl-modified silicone oil,
epoxy-modified silicone oil, polyether-modified silicone oil,
silanol-modified silicone oil, methacryl-modified silicone oil,
mercapto-modified silicone oil, alcohol-modified silicone oil,
alkyl-modified silicone oil and fluorine-modified silicone oil, and
the like.
[0109] Examples of the silicone-modified resins include
silicone-modified resins produced by silicone-modifying resins,
such as an olefinic resin, a polyester resin, a vinyl resin, a
polyamide resin, a cellulose resin, a phenoxy resin, a vinyl
chloride-vinyl acetate resin, an urethane resin, an acrylic resin,
a styrene-acrylic resin or a silicone-modified resin produced by a
copolymer resin thereof, and the like.
[0110] The fluorine compounds are not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application. Examples of the fluorine
compounds include fluorocarbon oil, fluorocarbon rubber,
fluorine-modified resin, fluorosulfonic acid compound,
fluorosulfonic acid, fluoric acid compound and salts thereof and
inorganic fluoride, and the like.
[0111] The wax is generally classified into a natural wax and a
synthesized wax.
[0112] Preferred examples of the natural wax include vegetable wax,
animal wax, mineral wax and petroleum wax, and the like. Among
them, the vegetable wax is most preferred. As the natural wax is
preferably a water-dispersible wax particularly from the viewpoint
of the compatibility when a aqueous resin is used as the polymer in
the toner image-receiving layer.
[0113] The vegetable wax is not limited and may be properly
selected from conventional vegetable waxes which may be properly
synthesized or commercially available. Examples of the vegetable
wax include carnauba wax, castor oil, rape oil, soy bean oil, Japan
tallow, cotton wax, rice wax, sugarcane wax, candelilla wax, Japan
wax and jojoba oil, and the like.
[0114] Examples of the carnauba wax which is commercially available
include EMUSTAR-0413 (manufactured by Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.) and
SELOSOL 524 (manufactured by Chukyo Yushi Co., Ltd.). Examples of
the castor oil which is commercially available include purified
castor oil (manufactured by Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd).
[0115] Among them, the carnauba wax having a melting point of from
70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. is most preferable from the
viewpoint of providing an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet
which is excellent particularly in anti-offset properties, adhesion
resistance, conveyability and gloss, is less likely to cause crack
and splitting, and is capable of forming a high quality image.
[0116] The animal wax is not limited and may be properly selected
from conventional animal waxes. Examples of the animal wax include
bees wax, lanolin, spermaceti wax, whale oil and wool wax, and the
like.
[0117] The mineral wax is not limited and may be properly selected
form conventional mineral waxes which may be commercially available
or properly synthesized. Examples of the mineral wax include montan
wax, montan ester wax, ozokerite and ceresin.
[0118] Among them, particularly from the viewpoint of providing an
electrophotographic image-receiving sheet which is excellent
particularly in anti-offset properties, adhesion resistance,
conveyability and gloss, and in which the crazing is hardly caused
and an image having a high quality can be formed, the montan wax
having a melting point of from 70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. is
most preferred.
[0119] The petroleum wax is not limited and may be properly
selected conventional petroleum waxes which may be commercially
available or properly synthesized. Examples of the petroleum wax
include paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax and petrolatum, and the
like.
[0120] The amount of the natural wax in the toner image-receiving
layer is preferably from 0.1 g/m.sup.2to 4 g/m.sup.2, more
preferably from 0.2 g/m.sup.2to 2 g/m.sup.2.
[0121] When the amount is less than 0.1 g/m.sup.2, the anti-offset
properties and the adhesion resistance of the image-receiving sheet
may be particularly impaired. On the other hand, when the amount is
more than 4 g/m.sup.2, the quality of the image formed on the
image-receiving sheet may be impaired due to excessive wax.
[0122] The melting point of the natural wax is, particularly from
the viewpoint of the anti-offset properties and the conveyability,
preferably from 70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., more preferably
from 75.degree. C. to 90.degree. C.
[0123] The synthetic wax is classified into a synthetic
hydrocarbon, a modified wax, a hydrogenated wax and other synthetic
waxes produced from fats and oils. As the wax, from the viewpoint
of the compatibility of the wax with a hydrophilic thermoplastic
resin used as a thermoplastic resin for producing the toner
image-receiving layer, a water-dispersible wax is preferred.
[0124] Examples of the synthetic hydrocarbon include a
Fischer-Tropsch wax and a polyethylene wax.
[0125] Examples of the synthetic wax produced from fats and oils
include an acid amide such as stearamide and an acid imide such as
anhydrous phthalimide, and the like.
[0126] The modified wax is not limited and may be properly selected
depending on the application. Examples of the modified wax include
an amine-modified wax, an acrylic acid-modified wax, a
fluorine-modified wax, an olefin-modified wax, a urethane wax and
an alcohol wax, and the like.
[0127] The hydrogenated wax is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application. Examples of the hydrogenated
wax include hard castor oil, castor oil derivative, stearic acid,
lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, behenic acid, sebacic
acid, undecylenic acid, heptyl acid, maleic acid and a highly
maleinated oil, and the like.
[0128] The melting point of the releasing agent is, particularly
from the viewpoint of the anti-offset properties and the
conveyability of the image-receiving sheet, preferably from
70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., more preferably from 75.degree. C.
to 90.degree. C.
[0129] As the releasing agent incorporated in the composition of
the toner image-receiving layer of the present invention, a
derivative, an oxide, a refined product and a mixture of the
above-exemplified releasing agents may be also used.
[0130] These releasing agents may have a reactive substituent.
[0131] The amount of the releasing agent in the toner
image-receiving layer is preferably 1% by mass to 20% by mass, more
preferably 1% by mass to 8.0% by mass, still more preferably 1% by
mass to 5.0% by mass.
--Plasticizer--
[0132] The plasticizer is not limited and may be properly selected
from conventional plasticizers used for the resin depending on the
application. The plasticizer has the function to control the
fluidizing and softening of the toner image-receiving layer by the
heat and pressure applied on the toner image-receiving layer during
fixing of the toner.
[0133] Examples of a reference for selecting the plasticizer
include literatures, such as "Kagaku Binran"(Chemical Handbook)
(edited by The Chemical Society of Japan and published by Maruzen
Co., Ltd.), "Plasticizer, Theory and Application" (edited by Koichi
Murai and published by Saiwai Shobo), "Volumes 1 and 2 of Studies
on Plasticizer" (edited by Polymer Chemistry Association) and
"Handbook on Compounding Ingredients for Rubbers and Plastics"
(edited by Rubber Digest Co.).
[0134] Some plasticizers are described as an organic solvent having
a high boiling point or a heat solvent in some literatures.
Examples of the plasticizer include compound such as esters such as
phthalate esters, phosphorate esters, fatty esters, abietate
esters, adipate esters, sebacate esters, azelate esters, benzoate
esters, butyrate esters, epoxidized fatty esters, glycolate esters,
propionate esters, trimellitate esters, citrate esters, sulfonate
esters, carboxylate esters, succinate esters, malate esters,
fumarate esters, phthalate esters and stearate esters; amides such
as fatty amides and sulfonate amides; ethers; alcohols; lactones
and polyethylene oxides, which are described in patent documents,
such as JP-A Nos. 59-83154, 59-178451, 59-178453, 59-178454,
59-178455, 59-178457, 62-174754, 62-245253, 61-209444, 61-200538,
62-8145, 62-9348, 62-30247, 62-136646, and 2-235694.
[0135] These plasticizers may be incorporated in the composition of
the resin.
[0136] Further, a plasticizer having a relatively low molecular
mass can be also used. The plasticizer has a molecular mass which
is preferably lower than that of a binder resin which is
plasticized by the plasticizer and preferably 15,000 or less, more
preferably 5,000 or less. In addition, when a plasticizer is a
polymer, the plasticizer is preferably the same polymer as that of
the binder resin which is plasticized by the plasticizer. For
example, for plasticizing a polyester resin, the plasticizer is
preferably a polyester having a low molecular mass. Further, an
oligomer can be also used as a plasticizer.
[0137] Besides the above-noted compounds, examples of the
plasticizer which is commercially available include Adekacizer
PN-170 and PN-1430 (manufactured by Asahi Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.);
PARAPLEX G-25, G-30 and G-40 (manufactured by C. P. Hall Co.,
Ltd.); and Ester Gum 8L-JA, Ester R-95, Pentalin 4851, FK 115,
4820, 830, Luisol 28-JA, Picolastic A75, Picotex LC and Crystalex
3085 (manufactured by Rika Hercules Co., Ltd.).
[0138] The plasticizer may be optionally used for relaxing the
stress and strain (i.e., a physical strain, such as a strain in
elastic force and viscosity and a strain due to a material balance
in the molecule and the backbone chain and pendant moiety of the
binder) which are caused when the toner particles are embedded in
the toner image-receiving layer.
[0139] In the toner image-receiving layer, the plasticizer may be
finely (microscopically) dispersed, may be in the state of a fine
phase-separation in a sea-island structure and may be
compatibilized with other components, such as a binder resin.
[0140] The amount of the plasticizer in the toner image-receiving
layer is preferably 0.001% by mass to 90% by mass, more preferably
0.1% by mass to 60% by mass, still more preferably 1% by mass to
40% by mass, based on the mass of the toner image-receiving
layer.
[0141] The plasticizer may be used for controlling slip properties
(for improving the conveyability by reducing the friction),
improving the offset of the toner at the fixing part of the fixing
apparatus (peeling of the toner or the toner image-receiving layer
to the fixing part) and controlling the curling balance and
electrostatic charge (formation of a toner electrostatic
image).
--Colorant--
[0142] The colorant is not limited and may be properly selected
depending on the application. Examples of the colorant include a
fluorescent whitening agent, a white pigment, a colored pigment and
a dye.
[0143] The fluorescent whitening agent is not limited so long as
the agent is a conventional compound having an absorption in the
near-ultraviolet region and emitting a fluorescence having a
wavelength of 400 nm to 500 nm and may be properly selected from
conventional fluorescent whitening agents. Preferred examples of
the fluorescent whitening agent include the compounds described in
the literature "The Chemistry of Synthetic Dyes, Volume V" (edited
by K. Veen Rataraman, Chapter 8). The fluorescent whitening agent
may be a commercially available product or a properly synthesized
product. Examples of the fluorescent whitening agent include
stilbene compounds, coumarin compounds, biphenyl compounds,
benzo-oxazoline compounds, naphthalimide compounds, pyrazoline
compounds and carbostyril compounds. Examples of the commercially
available fluorescent whitening agent include white furfar-PSN,
PHR, HCS, PCS and B (manufactured by Sumitomo Chemicals Co., Ltd.)
and UVITEX-OB (manufactured by Ciba-Geigy Corp.), and the like.
[0144] The white pigment is not limited and may be properly
selected from conventional white pigments depending on the
application. Examples of the white pigment include an inorganic
pigment, such as titanium oxide and calcium carbonate, and the
like.
[0145] The colored pigment is not limited and may be properly
selected from conventional colored pigments. Examples of the
colored pigment include various pigments described in JP-A No.
6344653, such as an azo pigment, a polycyclic pigment, a condensed
polycyclic pigment, a lake pigment and a carbon black, and the
like.
[0146] Examples of the azo pigment include an azo lake pigment
(such as carmine 6B and red 2B), an insoluble azo pigment (such as
monoazo yellow, disazo yellow, pyrazolone orange and Vulcan orange)
and a condensed azo pigment (such as chromophthal yellow and
chromophthal red), and the like.
[0147] Examples of the polycyclic pigment include a phthalocyanine
pigment, such as copper phthalocyanine blue and copper
phthalocyanine green.
[0148] Examples of the condensed polycyclic pigment include a
dioxazine pigment such as dioxazine violet, an isoindolinone
pigment such as isoindolinone yellow, a threne pigment, a perylene
pigment, a perinone pigment and a thioindigo pigment, and the
like.
[0149] Examples of the lake pigment include malachite green,
rhodamine B, rhodamine G and Victoria blue B.
[0150] Examples of the inorganic pigment include an oxide such as
titanium dioxide and iron oxide red, a sulfate salt such as
precipitated barium sulfate, a carbonate salt such as precipitated
calcium carbonate, a silicate salt such as a hydrous silicate salt
and an anhydrous silicate salt, and a metal powder such as aluminum
powder, bronze powder, zinc powder, chrome yellow and iron blue,
and the like.
[0151] These pigments may be used alone or in combination.
[0152] The dye is not limited and may be properly selected from
conventional dyes depending on the application. Examples of the dye
include anthraquinone compounds and azo compounds, and the like.
These dyes may be used alone or in combination.
[0153] Examples of the water-insoluble dye include a vat dye, a
disperse dye and an oil-soluble dye, and the like. Specific
examples of the vat dye include C. I. Vat violet 1, C. I. Vat
violet 2, C. I. Vat violet 9, C. I. Vat violet 13, C. I. Vat violet
21, C. I. Vat blue 1, C. I. Vat blue 3, C. I. Vat blue 4, C. I. Vat
blue 6, C. I. Vat blue 14, C. I. Vat blue 20 and C. I. Vat blue 35.
Specific examples of the disperse dye include C. I. disperse violet
1, C. I. disperse violet 4, C. I. disperse violet 10, C. I.
disperse blue 3, C. I. disperse blue 7 and C. I. disperse blue 58.
Specific examples of the oil-soluble dye include C. I. solvent
violet 13, C. I. solvent violet 14, C. I. solvent violet 21, C. I.
solvent violet 27, C. I. solvent blue 11, C. I. solvent blue 12, C.
I. solvent blue 25 and C. I. solvent blue 55, and the like.
[0154] Colored couplers used in the silver halide photography may
also be used preferably as the dye.
[0155] The amount of the colorant in the toner image-receiving
layer is preferably 0.1 g/m.sup.2to 8 g/m.sup.2, more preferably
0.5 g/m.sup.2to 5 g/m.sup.2.
[0156] When the amount of the colorant is less than 0.1 g/m.sup.2,
the light transmittance of the toner image-receiving layer may be
high. On the other hand, when the amount is more than 8 g/m.sup.2,
handling properties, such as crack and adhesion resistance may be
impaired.
[0157] Among the colorants, the additional amount of the pigment is
preferably 40% by mass or less, more preferably 30% by mass or
less, still more preferably 20% by mass or less based on the mass
of the thermoplastic resin which forms the toner image-receiving
layer.
[0158] Examples of the fillers include an organic filler and an
inorganic filler which is a reinforcing agent for the binder resin
or a conventional filler as a reinforcer or a bulking agent. The
filler may be properly selected by referring to "Handbook of Rubber
and Plastics Additives" (edited by Rubber Digest Co.), "Plastics
Blending Agents--Basics and Applications" (New Edition) (published
by Taisei Co.) and "The Filler Handbook" (published by Taisei
Co.).
[0159] Examples of the filler include an inorganic filler and an
inorganic pigment. Specific examples of the inorganic filler or the
inorganic pigment include silica, alumina, titanium dioxide, zinc
oxide, zirconium oxide, micaceous iron oxide, white lead, lead
oxide, cobalt oxide, strontium chromate, molybdenum pigments,
smectite, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate and
mullite, and the like. Among them, silica and alumina are most
preferred. These fillers may be used alone or in combination. It is
preferred that the filler has a small particle diameter. When the
filler has a large particle diameter, the surface of the toner
image-receiving layer is easily roughened.
[0160] Examples of the silica include a spherical silica and an
amorphous silica. The silica can be synthesized by a dry method, a
wet method or an aerogel method. The silica may be also produced by
treating the surface of the hydrophobic silica particles with a
trimethylsilyl group or silicone. Preferred examples of the silica
include a colloidal silica. The silica is preferably porous.
[0161] Examples of the alumina include an anhydrous alumina and a
hydrated alumina. Examples of the crystallized anhydrous alumina
include .alpha.-type, .beta.-type, .gamma.-type, .delta.-type,
.xi.-type, .eta.-type, .theta.-type, .kappa.-type, .rho.-type and
.chi.-type anhydrous alumina. The hydrated alumina is more
preferred than the anhydrous alumina. Examples of the hydrated
alumina include a monohydrated alumina and a trihydrate alumina.
Examples of the monohydrated alumina include pseudo-boehmite,
boehmite and diaspore. Examples of the trihydrated alumina include
gibbsite and bayerite. The alumina is preferably porous.
[0162] The hydrated alumina can be synthesized by the sol-gel
method in which ammonia is added to a solution of an aluminum salt
to precipitate alumina or by a method of hydrolyzing an alkali
aluminate. The anhydrous alumina can be obtained by heating to
dehydrate a hydrated alumina.
[0163] The amount of the filler is preferably 5 parts by mass to
2,000 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass (in terms of dry
mass) of the binder resin in the toner image-receiving layer.
[0164] The crosslinking agent may be incorporated in the resin
composition of the toner image-receiving layer for controlling the
shelf stability and thermoplasticity of the toner image-receiving
layer. Examples of the crosslinking agent include a compound
containing in the molecule two or more reactive groups selected
from the group consisting of an epoxy group, an isocyanate group,
an aldehyde group, an active halogen group, an active methylene
group, an acetylene group and other conventional reactive
groups.
[0165] Examples of the crosslinking agent include also a compound
containing in the molecule two or more groups which can form a bond
through a hydrogen bond, an ionic bond or a coordination bond.
[0166] Specific examples of the crosslinking agent include a
compound which is conventional as a coupling agent, a curing agent,
a polymerizing agent, a polymerization promoter, a coagulant, a
film-forming agent or a film-forming assistant which are used for
the resin. Examples of the coupling agent include chlorosilanes,
vinylsilanes, epoxisilanes, aminosilanes, alkoxy aluminum chelates,
titanate coupling agents and other conventional crosslinking agents
described in the literature "Handbook of Rubber and Plastics
Additives" (edited by Rubber Digest Co.).
[0167] The toner image-receiving layer preferably comprises a
charge control agent for controlling the transfer and adhesion of
the toner and for preventing the adhesion of the toner
image-receiving layer due to the charge.
[0168] The charge control agent is not limited and may be properly
selected from conventional various charge control agents depending
on the application. Examples of the charge control agent include a
surfactant, such as a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant,
an amphoteric surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant; a polymer
electrolyte and a conductive metal oxide. Specific examples of the
charge control agent include a cationic antistatic agent, such as a
quaternary ammonium salt, a polyamine derivative, a cation-modified
polymethyl methacrylate, a cation-modified polystyrene; an alkyl
phosphate, an anionic antistatic agent, such as an alkyl phosphate
and an anionic polymer; and a non-ionic antistatic agent, such as a
fatty ester and a polyethylene oxide.
[0169] When the toner is negatively charged, the charge control
agent in the toner image-receiving layer is preferably a cationic
or nonionic charge control agent.
[0170] Examples of the conductive metal oxide include ZnO,
TiO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, In.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2,
MgO, BaO and MoO.sub.3. These conductive metal oxides may be used
alone or in combination. The conductive metal oxide may contain
(dope) another different element, for example, ZnO may contain
(dope) Al and In; TiO.sub.2 may contain (dope) Nb and Ta; and
SnO.sub.2 may contain (dope) Sb, Nb and a halogen element.
--Other Additives--
[0171] The toner image-receiving layer of the present invention may
comprise also various additives for improving the stability of the
output image or the stability of the toner image-receiving layer
itself. Examples of the additive include various conventional
antioxidants, anti-aging agents, deterioration inhibitors,
ozone-deterioration inhibitors, ultraviolet light absorbers, metal
complexes, light stabilizers, antiseptic agents and anti-fungus
agents.
[0172] The antioxidant is not limited and may be properly selected
depending on the application. Examples of the antioxidant include a
chroman compound, a coumarin compound, a phenol compound (e.g., a
hindered phenol), a hydroquinone derivative, a hindered amine
derivative and a spiroindan compound, and the like. With respect to
the antioxidant, there is a description in JP-A No. 61-159644.
[0173] The anti-aging agent is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application. Examples of the anti-aging
agent include anti-aging agents described in the literature
"Handbook of Rubber and Plastics Additives - Revised Second
Edition" (published by Rubber Digest Co., 1993, pp. 76-121).
[0174] The ultraviolet light absorber is not limited and may be
properly selected depending on the application. Examples of the
ultraviolet light absorber include a benzotriazol compound (see
U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,794), a 4-thiazolidone compound (see U.S. Pat.
No. 3,352,681), a benzophenone compound (see JP-A No. 46-2784) and
an ultraviolet light absorbing polymer (see JP-A No.
62-260152).
[0175] The metal complex is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application. Proper examples of the metal
complex include metal complexes described in patent documents, such
as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,241,155, 4,245,018, and 4,254,195; and JP-A
Nos. 61-88256, 62-174741, 63-199248, 01-75568 and 01-74272.
[0176] Also, preferred examples of the ultraviolet light absorber
or the light stabilizer include ultraviolet light absorbers or
light stabilizers described in the literature "Handbook of Rubbers
and Plastics Additives--Revised Second Edition" (published by
Rubber Digest Co., 1993, pp. 122-137).
[0177] The toner image-receiving layer may optionally comprise the
above-noted conventional additives for the photography. Examples of
the additive for the photography include additives described in the
literatures "Journal of Research Disclosure (hereinafter referred
to as RD) No. 17643 (December, 1978), No. 18716 (November, 1979)
and No. 307105 (November, 1989)". These additives are specifically
noted with respect to the pages of the Journal RD which are to be
referred to a table as shown in the following Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Journal No. Type of additives RD17643
RD18716 RD307105 1. Whitening agent p.24 p.648 right column p.868
2. Stabilizer pp.24-25 p.649 right column pp.868-870 3. Light
absorber pp.25-26 p.649 right column p.873 (Ultraviolet light
absorber) 4. Dye image stabilizer p.25 p.650 right column p.872 5.
Film hardener p.26 p.651 left column pp.874-875 6. Binder p.26
p.651 left column pp.873-874 7. Plasticizer, lubricant p.27 p.650
right column p.876 8. Auxiliary coating pp.26-27 p.650 right column
pp.875-876 agent (Surfactant) 9. Antistatic agent p.27 p.650 right
column pp.876-877 10. Matting agent -- -- pp.878-879
[0178] The toner image-receiving layer is disposed on the support
by coating the support with the coating liquid containing a
thermoplastic resin used for the toner image-receiving layer with a
wire coater or the like and drying the coating solution. The
Minimum Film Forming Temperature (MFT) of the thermoplastic resin
used in the present invention is preferably room temperature or
higher during the storage of the image-receiving sheet before the
printing and preferably 100.degree. C. or less during the fixing of
the toner particles.
[0179] The total thickness of the toner image-receiving layer is
not limited and may be properly selected depending on the
application, for example, is preferably 2 .mu.m or more, more
preferably 2 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m, preferably 5 .mu.m to 15 .mu.m in
particular. When the thickness is less than 2 .mu.m, shape forming
of specific roughness shape becomes difficult.
[Physical Properties of Toner Image-Receiving Layer]
[0180] The 180-degree separation strength of the toner
image-receiving layer at the temperature for the image-fixing at
which the image is fixed on the fixing member is preferably 0.1N/25
mm or less, more preferably 0.041N/25 mm or less. The 180-degree
separation strength can be measured according to the method
described in JIS K6887 using a surface material of the fixing
member.
[0181] It is preferred that the toner image-receiving layer has a
high degree of whiteness. The whiteness is measured by the method
described in JIS P 8123 and is preferably 85% or more. It is
preferred that the spectral reflectance of the toner
image-receiving layer is 85% or more in the wavelength range of
from 440 nm to 640 nm and the difference between the maximum
spectral reflectance of the toner image-receiving layer and the
minimum spectral reflectance of the toner image-receiving layer in
the wavelength range is within 5%. Further, it is more preferred
that the spectral reflectance of the toner image-receiving layer is
85% or more in the wavelength range of 400nm to 700 nm and the
difference between the maximum spectral reflectance of the toner
image-receiving layer and the minimum spectral reflectance of the
toner image-receiving layer in the wavelength range is within
5%.
[0182] With respect to the whiteness of the toner image-receiving
layer, specifically, an L* value is preferably 80 or higher, more
preferably 85 or higher, still more preferably 90 or higher in the
CIE 1976 (L* a* b*) color space. The color tint of the white color
is preferably as neutral as possible and more specifically, with
respect to the color tint of the whiteness, the value of
(a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2 is preferably 50 or less, more preferably 18
or less, still more preferably 5 or less in the (L* a* b*)
space.
[0183] It is preferred that the toner image-receiving layer has
high gloss after the image-forming. With respect to the gloss
luster of the toner image-receiving layer, the 45-degree gloss
luster is preferably 60 or higher, more preferably 75 or higher,
still more preferably 90 or higher over the whole range from white
where there is no toner, to black where toner is densed at maximum.
However, the gloss luster of the toner image-receiving layer is
preferably 110 or less. When the gloss luster is more than 110, the
image has a metallic luster and such a quality of the image is
undesirable.
[0184] The gloss luster can be measured according to JIS Z8741.
[0185] It is preferred that the toner image-receiving layer has
high smoothness after the fixing. With respect to the smoothness of
the toner image-receiving layer, the arithmetic average roughness
(Ra) is preferably 3 .mu.m or less, more preferably 1 .mu.m or
less, still more preferably 0.5 .mu.m or less, over the whole range
from white where there is no toner, to black where toner is densed
at maximum.
[0186] The arithmetic average roughness may be measured, for
example, according to the methods described in JIS B0601, B0651 and
B0652.
[0187] The toner image-receiving layer has preferably one of the
physical properties described in the following items (1) to (6),
more preferably several of them, most preferably all of them.
[0188] (1) The melting temperature (T.sub.m) of the toner
image-receiving layer is preferably 30.degree. C. or higher, more
preferably a temperature which is higher than T.sub.m of the toner
by 20.degree. C., or lower.
[0189] (2) The temperature at which the viscosity of the toner
image-receiving layer is 1.times.10.sup.5 cp is preferably
40.degree. C. or higher, more preferably a temperature which is
lower than the temperature at which the viscosity of the toner is
1.times.10.sup.5 cp.
[0190] (3) The storage elasticity modulus (G') of the toner
image-receiving layer at the temperature for the image-fixing is
preferably from 1.times.10.sup.2 Pa to 1.times.10.sup.5 Pa and the
loss elasticity modulus (G'') of the toner image-receiving layer at
the temperature for the image-fixing is preferably from
1.times.10.sup.2 Pa to 1.times.10.sup.5 Pa.
[0191] (4) The loss tangent (G''/G') of the toner image-receiving
layer is preferably from 0.01 to 10, wherein the loss tangent is
the ratio of the loss elasticity modulus (G'') to the storage
elasticity modulus (G').
[0192] (5) The storage elasticity modulus (G') of the toner
image-receiving layer at the fixing temperature differs from the
storage elasticity modulus (G') of the toner at the fixing
temperature, preferably by -50 to +2,500.
[0193] (6) The inclination angle of the molten toner on the toner
image-receiving layer is preferably 50.degree. or less, more
preferably 40.degree. or less.
[0194] The toner image-receiving layer preferably satisfies the
physical properties described in Japanese Patent No. 2788358 and
JP-A Nos. 07-248637, 08-305067 and 10-239889.
[0195] The surface electrical resistance of the toner
image-receiving layer is preferably in the range of from
1.times.10.sup.6 .OMEGA./cm.sup.2 to 1.times.10.sup.15
.OMEGA./cm.sup.2 (under conditions of 25.degree. C. and 65%
Relative Humidity).
[0196] When the surface electrical resistance is less than
1.times.10.sup.6 .OMEGA./cm.sup.2, the amount of the toner
transferred to the toner image-receiving layer is insufficient, and
the density of the obtained toner image may be too low easily. Cn
the other hand, when the surface electrical resistance is more than
1.times.10.sup.15 .OMEGA./cm.sup.2, more charge than the necessary
is generated during the transfer. Therefore, toner is transferred
insufficiently, image density is low and static electricity
develops causing dust to adhere during handling of the
electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, or misfeed, overfeed,
discharge marks or toner transfer dropout may occur.
[0197] The surface electrical resistance are measured based on JIS
K6911. The sample o is left under the condition where the
temperature is 20.degree. C. and the humidity is 65% for 8 hours or
more and after applying a voltage of 100V to the sample for 1
minute under the same condition as the above-noted condition, the
surface electrical resistance of the toner image-receiving layer is
measured using a micro-ammeter R8340 (manufactured by Advantest
Ltd.).
[Other Layers]
[0198] Examples of the other layers which the electrophotographic
image-receiving sheet comprises include a surface protective layer,
a backing layer, an contact improving layer, an intermediate layer,
an undercoat layer, a cushion layer, a charge control (inhibiting)
layer, a reflecting layer, a tint-adjusting layer, a storage
ability-improving layer, an anti-adhering layer, an anti-curl layer
and a smoothing layer, and the like. These layers may be in a
single layer structure or a formed of two or more layers.
--Surface Protective Layer--
[0199] The surface protective layer may be disposed on the surface
of the toner image-receiving layer to protect the surface of the
electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, to improve storage
ability to improve handling properties, to facilitate writing, and
conveyability within an equipment, to confer anti-offset
properties, or the like. The surface protective layer may have one
layer, or two or more layers. In the surface protective layer,
various thermoplastic resins or thermosetting resins may be used as
a binder, and are preferably the same types of resins as those of
the toner image-receiving layer. However, the thermodynamic
properties and electrostatic properties are not necessarily
identical to those of the toner image-receiving layer, and may be
individually optimized.
[0200] The surface protective layer may comprise the various
additives described above which can be used for producing the toner
image-receiving layer. In particular, in addition to the releasing
agents, the surface protective layer may include other additives,
for example matting agents or the like. The matting agents may be
any of these used in the related art.
[0201] From the viewpoint of fixing properties, it is preferred
that the outermost surface layer of the electrophotographic
image-receiving sheet (which refers to, for example, the surface
protective layer, if disposed) has good compatibility with the
toner. Specifically, it is preferred that the contact angle with
molten toner is for 0.degree. to 40.degree..
--Backing Layer--
[0202] The backing layer in the electrophotographic image-receiving
sheet is preferably disposed on a surface of the support, which is
the opposite of the surface on which the toner image-receiving
layer is disposed, in order to confer back surface output
compatibility, and to improve back surface output image quality,
curl balance and conveyability within equipment.
[0203] There is no particular limitation on the color of the
backing layer. However, if the electrophotographic image-receiving
sheet of the invention is a double-sided output image-receiving
sheet where an image is formed also on the back surface, it is
preferred that the backing layer is also white. It is preferred
that the whiteness and spectral reflectance are 85% or more, for
both the top surface and the back surface.
[0204] To improve double-sided output compatibility, the backing
layer may have an identical structure to that of the toner
image-receiving layer. The backing layer may comprise the
above-described various additives. Of these additives, matting
agents and charge control agents are particularly suitable. The
backing layer may be a single layer, or may have a laminated
structure comprising two or more layers.
[0205] Further, if releasing oil is used for the fixing roller or
the like, to prevent offset during fixing, the backing layer may
have oil absorbing properties.
[0206] Usually, the thickness of the backing layer is preferably
0.1 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m.
--Contact Improving Layer--
[0207] In the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, it is
preferred to dispose a contact improving layer in order to improve
the contact between the support and the toner image-receiving
layer. The contact improving layer may contain the various
additives described above. Among them, crosslinking agents are
particularly preferred to be blended in the contact improving
layer. Furthermore, to improve accepting properties to toner, it is
preferred that the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet
further comprises a cushion layer between the contact improving
layer and the toner image-receiving layer.
--Intermediate Layer--
[0208] An intermediate layer may for example be disposed between
the support and the contact improvement layer, between the contact
improvement layer and the cushion layer, between the cushion layer
and the toner image-receiving layer, or between the toner
image-receiving layer and the storage property improvement layer.
In the case of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet
comprising the support, the toner image-receiving layer and the
intermediate layer, the intermediate layer may of course be
disposed for example between the support and the toner
image-receiving layer.
[0209] The thickness of the electrophotographic image-receiving
sheet of the present invention is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application. The thickness is preferably
from 50 .mu.m to 550 .mu.m, more preferably from 100 .mu.m to 350
.mu.m.
<Toner>
[0210] In the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, the toner
image-receiving layer receives toners during printing or
copying.
[0211] The toner contains at least a binder resin and a colorant,
but may contain releasing agents and other components, if
necessary.
--Binder Resin for Toner--
[0212] The binder resin is not limited and may be selected from
resins used usually for producing the toner depending on the
application. Examples of the binder resin include homo-polymers or
copolymers produced by polymerizing or copolymerizing a vinyl
monomer or two or more vinyl monomers selected from the group
consisting of vinyl monomers, fro example styrenes, such as styrene
and parachlorostyrene; vinyl esters, such as vinyl naphthalene,
vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, vinyl fluoride, vinyl acetate, vinyl
propioniate, vinyl benzoate and vinyl butyrate; methylene fatty
carboxylate esters, such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate,
n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, n-octyl
acrylate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methyl
.alpha.-chloroacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and
butyl methacrylate; vinyl nitriles, such as acrylonitrile,
methacrylonitrile and acrylamide; vinyl ethers, such as vinyl
methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether and vinyl isobutyl ether; N-vinyl
compounds, such as N-vinyl pyrrole, N-vinyl carbazole, N-vinyl
indole and N-vinyl pyrrolidone; and vinyl carboxylic acids, such as
methacrylic acid, acrylic acid and cinnamic acid. Examples of the
binder resin include also various polyesters. The above-noted
examples of the binder resin may be used in combination with
various waxes.
[0213] Among these resins, a resin of the same type as that of the
resin used for producing the toner image-receiving layer according
to the present invention is preferably used.
--Colorant for Toner--
[0214] The colorant used for the toner is not limited and may be
properly selected from colorants generally used in the art in the
toner depending on the application. Examples of the colorant
include various pigments, such as carbon black, chrome yellow,
hansa yellow, benzidine yellow, threne yellow, quinoline yellow,
Permanent Orange GTR, Pyrazolone orange, vulcan orange, watchung
red, permanent red, Brilliant Carmine 3B, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Du
Pont Oil Red, Pyrazolone Red, Lithol Red, Rhodamine B lake, Lake
Red C, Rose Bengal, aniline blue, ultra marine blue, chalco oil
blue, methylene blue chloride, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine
green, malachite green oxalate; and various dyes, such as acridine
dyes, xanthene dyes, azo dyes, benzoquinone dyes, azine dyes,
anthraquinone dyes, indigo dyes, thioindigo dyes, dioxazine dyes,
thiazine dyes, azomethine dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, aniline black
dyes, polymethine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, diphenylmethane dyes
and thiazole dyes.
[0215] These colorants may be used alone or in combination.
[0216] The amount of the colorant is not limited and may be
properly selected depending on the application. The amount is
preferably from 2% by mass to 8% by mass, based on the mass of the
toner. When the amount of the colorant is less than 2% by mass, the
coloring power of the toner may be weakened. On the other hand,
when the amount is more than 8% by mass, the transparency of the
toner may be impaired.
--Releasing Agent for Toner--
[0217] The releasing agent used for the toner is not limited and
may be properly selected from releasing agents generally used in
the art in the toner depending on the application. Particularly
effective examples of the releasing agent include a highly
crystalline polyethylene wax having a relatively low molecular
mass, a Fischer-Tropsch wax, amide wax and a polar wax containing
nitrogen, such as a compound having a urethane bond.
[0218] The polyethylene wax has a molecular mass of preferably
1,000 or less, more preferable from 300 to 1,000.
[0219] The compound having a urethane bond is preferred in that
even if the compound has a low molecular mass, the compound can
maintain a solid state by a strong cohesive force of a polar group
and such a compound having a high melting point for the molecular
mass thereof can be produced. The compound has a molecular mass of
preferably from 300 to 1,000. Examples of a combination of
materials for producing the compound include a combination of a
diisocyanic acid compound and a monohydric alcohol, a combination
of a monoisocyanic acid compound and a monohydric alcohol, a
combination of a dihydric alcohol and a monoisocyanic acid
compound, a combination of a trihydric alcohol and a monoisocyanic
acid compound and a combination of a triisocyanic acid compound and
a monohydric alcohol. However, for preventing the molecular mass of
the compound from becoming too large, a combination of a compound
having a multiple functional group and another compound having a
single functional group is preferred and it is important that the
total amount of the functionality in a combination is always
equivalent.
[0220] Examples of the monoisocyanic acid compound include dodecyl
isocyanate, phenyl isocyanate and derivatives thereof, naphthyl
isocyanate, hexyl isocyanate, benzyl isocyanate, butyl isocyanate
and allyl isocyanate, and the like.
[0221] Examples of the diisocyanic acid compound include tolylene
diisocyanate, 4,4' diphenylmethane diisocyanate, toluene
diisocyanate, 1,3-phenylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene
diisocyanate, 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and isophorone
diisocyanate, and the like.
[0222] Examples of the monohydric alcohol include methanol,
ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol and heptanol.
[0223] Examples of the dihydric alcohol include various glycols,
such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and
trimethylene glycol. Examples of the trihydric alcohol include
trimethylol propane, triethylol propane and trimethanol ethane.
[0224] These urethane compounds may be mixed with the resin or the
colorant during kneading, as an ordinary releasing agent, and used
also as a kneaded-crushed toner. Further, in a case of using an
emulsion polymerization cohesion melting toner, the urethane
compounds may be dispersed in water together with an ionic
surfactant, polymer acid or polymer electrolyte such as a polymer
base, heated above the melting point, and converted to fine
particles by applying an intense shear in a homogenizer or pressure
discharge dispersion machine to manufacture a releasing agent
particle dispersion of 1 .mu.m or less, which can be used together
with a resin particle dispersion, colorant dispersion, or the
like.
[0225] The amount of the releasing agent in the toner is not
limited and may be properly selected depending on the application,
and preferably 1% by mass to 20% by mass, more preferably 1% by
mass to 10% by mass.
Other Components for Toner--
[0226] The toner may comprise other components, such as an inner
additive, a charge control agent and inorganic fine particles.
Examples of the internal additives include magnetic substances such
as ferrite, magnetite, reduced iron; and metals such as cobalt,
nickel and manganese; the alloys thereof; and the compounds
containing these metals.
[0227] Examples of the charge control agents include various charge
control agents used usually, such as a quaternary ammonium salt, a
nigrosine compound, a dye comprising a complex of a metal such as
aluminum, iron and chromium and a triphenylmethane pigment. It is
preferred that the charge control agents are difficultly dissolved
in water, from the view point of controlling the ion strength which
affect the stability during the cohesion and melting, and reducing
the pollution by the waste water.
[0228] Examples of the inorganic particles include any of the
external additives for toner surfaces generally used, such as
silica, alumina, titania, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate
and tricalcium phosphate. These particles are preferably used in
the form of a dispersion produced by dispersing the particles in an
ionic surfactant, a polymer acid or a polymer base.
[0229] Further, the toner may comprise as an additive surfactants
for the emulsion polymerization, the seed polymerization, the
pigment dispersion, the resin particles dispersion, the releasing
agent dispersion, the cohesion and stabilization thereof. Examples
of the surfactant include an anionic surfactant, such as a sulfate
ester surfactants, sulfonate ester surfactants, phosphate ester
surfactants and soaps; cationic surfactants, such as amine salt
surfactants and a quaternary ammonium salt surfactants. It is also
effective that the above-exemplified surfactants are used in
combination with nonionic surfactants, such as polyethylene glycol
surfactants, alkylphenol ethylene oxide adduct surfactants and
polyhydric alcohol surfactants. As dispersing units for dispersing
the surfactant in the toner, a general unit, such as a rotary
shearing type homogenizer; and a ball mill, a sand mill and a dyno
mill, all of which contain the media may be used.
[0230] The toner may comprise optionally outer additives. Examples
of the outer additives include inorganic particles and organic
particles. Examples of the inorganic particles include particles of
SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, ZnO, SnO.sub.2,
Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, BaO, CaO, K.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, ZrO.sub.2,
CaO.SiO.sub.2, K.sub.2O.(TiO.sub.2).sub.n,
Al.sub.2O.sub.3.2SiO.sub.O.sub.2, CaCO.sub.3, MgCO.sub.3,
BaSO.sub.4 and MgSO.sub.4. Examples of the organic particles
include particles of a fatty acid and derivatives thereof; a metal
salt of the above-noted fatty acid and derivatives thereof; and a
resin, such as a fluorine resin, a polyethylene resin and an
acrylic resin.
[0231] The average particle diameter of the above-noted particles
is preferably from 0.01 .mu.m to 5 .mu.m, more preferably from 0.1
.mu.m to 2 .mu.m.
[0232] The manufacturing method of the toner is not limited and may
be properly selected depending on the application. However, it is
preferred that the toner is produced according to a manufacturing
method of the toner comprising (i) preparing a dispersion of
cohesive particles of resins by forming cohesive particles in a
dispersion of particle resins, (ii) forming attached particles by
mixing the above-prepared dispersion of cohesive particles with a
dispersion of particles, so that the particles attaches to the
cohesive particles, thereby forming attached particles and (iii)
forming toner particles by heating the attached particles to be
melted.
--Physical Properties of Toner--
[0233] The toner has a volume average particle diameter of
preferably from 0.5 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m.
[0234] When the volume average particle diameter of the toner is
too small, handling properties of the toner, such as replenish
properties, cleaning properties and fluidity, may be affected
adversely and the productivity of the particles may be lowered. On
the other hand, when the volume average particle diameter of the
toner is too large, the quality and resolution of the image due to
graininess and transfer may be affected adversely.
[0235] It is preferred that the toner satisfies the above-noted
range of a volume average particle diameter and has a distribution
index of the volume average particle diameter (GSDv) of 1.3 or
less.
[0236] The ratio (GSDv/GSDn) of the distribution index of the
volume average particle diameter (GSDv) to the distribution index
of the number average particle diameter (GSDn) is preferably 0.95
or more.
[0237] It is preferred that the toner satisfies the above-noted
range of the volume average particle diameter and an average of the
shape factor is preferably 1.00 to 1.50 which is calculated by the
following equation: Shape factor=(.pi..times.L.sup.2)/(4.times.S)
where "L" represents the maximum length of the toner particles and
"S" represents the projected area of the toner particles.
[0238] When the toner satisfies the above-noted conditions, an
effect on the image quality, such as graininess and resolution
particularly can be obtained and moreover, dropout or blur which
may accompany with the transfer is difficultly caused. Further, in
this case, the handling properties of the toner may be difficultly
affected adversely, even if the average particle diameter of the
toner is not small.
[0239] From the viewpoint of improving the image quality and
preventing the offset during the image-fixing, it is appropriate
that the toner has storage elasticity modulus G' (as measured at a
circular frequency of 10 rad/sec) of 1.times.10.sup.2 Pa to
1.times.10.sup.5 Pa at 150.degree. C.
[0240] The melting heat-transfer recording sheet, for example,
comprises a support, and at least a heat-melting ink layer as an
image-recording layer is disposed on the support, and is used in a
method of transferring melted ink from heat-melting ink layer on a
thermal transfer recording sheet by heating with a thermal
head.
[0241] The sublimation-heat-transfer recording sheet comprises a
support, and at least an ink layer comprising heat diffusive dye
(subliming dye) is disposed on the support, and is used in a method
of transferring sublimated heat diffusive dye from ink layer on a
thermal transfer recording sheet by heating with a thermal
head.
[0242] The heat-sensitive recording sheet comprises a support, and
at least a heat-coloring layer is disposed on the support, and may
be a heat-sensitive material used in a thermo-autochrome method (TA
method) in which a repetition of heating by a thermal head and
fixing by ultraviolet ray records an image.
[0243] The ink jet recording sheet, for example, comprises a
support, and a porous-structured color-material-receiving layer is
disposed on the support, in the color-material-receiving layer the
following ink is absorbed in order to form an image. Examples of
inks include liquid ink such as aqueous ink, which uses dye or
pigment as a color material and oil ink, and solid ink a solid ink
which is solid at room temperature and which is melted and
liquefied when used for a print, and the like.
--Fusible Particle--
[0244] The fusible particle, substantially, is particle comprising
transparent material, and as long as it can melt and form a
continuous film during surface treating of the image recording
material after image recording, is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application, and comprises resin and
preferably wax, and further, according to necessity, comprises
other components.
[0245] The transparence means generally colorless transparence, and
according to the kinds and amount of particle comprised therein,
the transparency becomes lower a little, however, substantially,
colorless transparence.
[0246] The resin, substantially, as long as it is transparent, may
be properly selected depending on the application, for example, may
be polyester resin, polystyrene resin, polyacryl resin, other vinyl
resins, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, polyamide resin,
polyimide resin, epoxy resin, polyurea resin, and ethylene/acryl
copolymer, and the like. Among them, saturated polyester resin,
saturated acrylic resin, saturated polystyrene resin, and
crystalline polyolefin resin are preferable in particular.
[0247] The wax, as long as it has a melting point less than the
heating temperature during the image recording, is not limited and
may be properly selected depending on the application, for example,
a synthetic hydrocarbon, modified wax, hydrogenated wax, natural
wax, and the like and among them, natural wax is preferable.
[0248] Preferred examples of the natural wax include a vegetable
wax, an animal wax, a mineral wax and a petroleum wax, and the
like.
[0249] Examples of the vegetable wax include carnauba wax
(EMUSTAR-0413, manufactured by Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd., serozoyl
524, manufactured by Chukyo Yushi Co., Ltd., as commercially
available products), castor oil (refined castor oil manufactured by
Itoh Oil Chemical Co., Ltd., as commercially available products),
rape oil, soy bean oil, Japan tallow, cotton wax, rice wax,
sugarcane wax, candelilla wax, Japan wax and jojoba oil, and the
like.
[0250] Examples of the animal wax include bees wax, lanolin,
spermaceti wax, whale oil and wool wax, and the like.
[0251] Examples of the mineral wax include montan wax, montan ester
wax, ozokerite, ceresin, and fatty acid esters (santicizer DOA,
AN-800, DINA, DIDA, DOZ, DOS, TOTM, TITM, E-PS, NE-PS, E-PO,
E-4030, E-6000, E-2000H, E-9000H, TCP, and C-1100, manufactured by
New Japan Chemical Co., Ltd. as commercially available products),
and the like.
[0252] Examples of the petroleum wax include paraffin wax (paraffin
wax 155, 150, 140, 135, 130, 125, 120, 115, HNP-3, HNP-5, HNP-9,
HNP-10, HNP-11, HNP-12, HNP-14G, SP-0160, SP-0145, SP-1040,
SP-1035, SP-3040, SP-3035, NPS-8070, NPS-L-70, OX-2151, OX-2251,
EMUSTAR-0384, EMUSTAR-0136, manufactured by Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.,
serozoyl 686, 428, 651-A, A, H-803, B-460, E-172, 866, K-133,
hydoline D-337, E-139, manufactured by Chukyo Yushi Co., Ltd.,
125.degree. paraffin, 125.degree. FD, 130.degree. paraffin,
135.degree. paraffin, 135.degree. H, 140.degree. paraffin,
140.degree. N, 145.degree. paraffin, paraffin wax M, manufactured
by Nisseki Mitsubishi Oil Co., Ltd., as commercially available
products), microcrystalline wax (Hi-Mic-2095, Hi-Mic-3090,
Hi-Mic-1080, Hi-Mic-1070, Hi-Mic-2065, Hi-Mic-1045, Hi-Mic-2045,
EMUSTAR-0001, EMUSTAR-042X, manufactured by Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.,
serozoyl 967, M, manufactured by Chukyo Yushi Co., Ltd., 155
microwax, 180 microwax, manufactured by Nisseki Mitsubishi Oil Co.,
Ltd., as commercially available products), and petrolatum (OX-1749,
OX-0450, OX-0650B, OX-0153, OX-261BN, OX-0851, OX-0550, OX-750B,
JP-1500, JP-056R, JP-011P, manufactured by Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.,
as commercially available products), and the like.
[0253] The amount of the wax in the fusible particle is preferably
0.1% by mass to 20% by mass. When the amount is less than 0.1% by
mass, the releasing property deteriorates and adhesion resistance
falls, and offset occurs easily in the heating and pressurizing
treatment, and when it is more than 20% by mass, surface tackiness
occurs on the surface.
[0254] Besides the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin, the fusible
particle can comprise various components capable of mixing such as
stabilizers, all types of fillers, and the like, at arbitrary
ration.
[0255] The fusible particle may be commercially available or
suitably synthesized ones. In the case of the latter, the synthesis
method is not limited and may be properly selected depending on the
application. Examples of the commercially available particles, may
be Flo-Beads series manufactured by Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co.,
Ltd., Flo-Thene series manufactured by Sumitomo Seika Chemicals
Co., Ltd., Microgel series manufactured by Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.
manufactured, and Mipelon series manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals,
Inc, and the like.
[0256] The fusible particle, from the viewpoint of controlling
fluidity and charging property, it is preferable to add or adhere
on at least any one of outer additives of an inorganic particle and
organic particle on the surface of the fusible particle.
[0257] The inorganic particle is not limited and may be properly
selected from a group of well-known particles used as outer
additives depending on the application. Examples of the material
may be silica, titanium dioxide, stannic oxide, and molybdenum
oxide, and the like. Also, considering the stability of charging
property, those performing hydrophobing treatment by using silane
coupling agent and titanium coupling agent against these inorganic
particle, may also be used.
[0258] The organic particle is not limited and may be properly
selected from a group of well-known particles used as outer
additives depending on the application. Examples of the material
may be polyester resin, polystyrene resin, polyacryl resin, other
vinyl resins, polycarbonate resin, polyamide resin, polyimide
resin, epoxy resin, polyurea resin, and fluorine resin, and the
like.
[0259] The average particle diameter of these inorganic particle
and organic particle is preferably 0.005 .mu.m to 1 .mu.m. When the
average particle diameter is less than 0.005 .mu.m, the desired
effect may not be obtained because cohesion occurs when at least
any one of the inorganic particle and organic particle is adhered
on the surface of fusible particle. On the other hand, when it is
more than 1 .mu.m, it becomes difficult to obtain higher gloss
image.
[0260] The fusible particle melts to form a continuous film during
surface treatment of an image recording material after image
recording, and the flow starting temperature of the fusible
particle is 50.degree. C. or more, and less than a heating
temperature in the surface treatment after image recording. The
flow starting temperature is preferably 70.degree. C. or more, and
more preferably 70.degree. C. to 120.degree. C.
[0261] When the flow starting temperature is less than 50.degree.
C., in the case of the environmental temperature becomes high, the
sticking problem between sheets occurs easily, and when the flow
starting temperature is more than the heating temperature in the
surface treatment after image recording, fusible particle does not
melt and a continuous film may not be obtained.
[0262] The volume average particle diameter of the fusible particle
is 1 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m, and more preferably 1 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m,
and still more preferably 2 .mu.m to 15 .mu.m. When the volume
average particle diameter is less than 1 .mu.m, the particle is
transported difficultly, and when it is more than 30 .mu.m, it
becomes difficult to adhere particle uniformly on the image
surface, and melt to form a uniformed continuous film.
--Hardly Fusible Particle--
[0263] The hardly fusible particle, as long as it is capable of
maintaining a particle shape (including slightly transformed shape)
without melting during surface treatment after image recording, is
not limited and may be properly selected depending on the
application, for example, at least any one of hardly fusible
particle resin and inorganic particle is suitable.
[0264] The hardly fusible particle resin is preferably any one of
transparent and colored. The colored one is preferablely white. For
transparent, besides colorless transparent, colored transparent is
also included.
[0265] The flow starting temperature of the hardly fusible particle
resin is preferably higher than a heating temperature in the
surface treatment after image recording. When the flow starting
temperature of the hardly fusible particle resin is less than the
heating temperature in the surface treatment, the hardly fusible
particle resin is melted and transformed, and a change of the
surface property may not be able to be obtained.
[0266] The hardly fusible particle resin, as long as the flow
starting temperature is higher than the heating temperature in the
surface treatment of an image recording material after image
recording, is not limited and may be properly selected depending on
the application, for example, may be polyester resin, polystyrene
resin, polyacryl resin, other vinyl resins, polycarbonate resin,
polyamide resin, polyimide resin, epoxy resin, urethane resin,
melamine resin, fluorine resin, silicone resin, polyurea resin, and
ethylene/acryl copolymer, and the like. Among them, urethane resin,
epoxy resin, melamine resin, fluorine resin, and silicone resin are
suitable.
[0267] For the hardly fusible particle resin, crosslinking particle
is suitable. The crosslinking particle, for example, may be
crosslinking acrylic resin, crosslinking styrene resin,
crosslinking urethane resin, crosslinking polyester resin,
crosslinking epoxy resin, crosslinking melamine resin,
fluorine-containing setting-resin, and silicone-containing
setting-resin, and the like.
[0268] The hardly fusible particle resin may be commercially
available or suitably synthesized ones. In the case of the latter,
the synthesis method is not limited and may be properly selected
depending on the application. Examples of the commercially
available particles may be Chemisnow series and Fine Powder series
(both manufactured by Souken Chemicals Corporation), Techpolymer
series and Micropearl series (both manufactured by Sekisui Chemical
Co., Ltd.), Epostar series (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co.,
Ltd.) and Bellpearl (manufactured by Kanebo, Ltd.), and the
like.
[0269] The inorganic particle is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application, for example, silica,
colloidal silica, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, calcium
silicate, zeolite, kaolinite, halloysite, mica, talc, calcium
carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium sulfate, zinc oxide, zinc
hydroxide, alumina, aluminium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium
silicate, zirconium oxide, zirconium hydroxide, cerium oxide,
lanthanum oxide, and yttrium oxide, and the like.
[0270] The hardly fusible particle, from the viewpoint of
controlling fluidity and charging property, same as the fusible
particle, it is preferable to add or adhere on at least any one of
outer additives of inorganic particle and organic particle on the
surface. For the outer additive, the same one as the above can be
used.
[0271] The hardly fusible particle is preferably two kinds or more
differing in at least any one of volume average particle diameter
and shape from the viewpoint of capable of controlling surface
property suitably.
[0272] The volume average particle diameter of the hardly fusible
particle is 1 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m, and more preferably 2 .mu.m to 30
.mu.m, and still more preferably 3 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m. When the
volume average particle diameter is less than 1 .mu.m, the effect
of surface unevenness becomes not able to be obtained, and when it
is more than 30 .mu.m, grittiness appears on the image, and
clustering property declines.
[0273] The volume average particle diameter of the hardly fusible
particle is preferably bigger than the thickness of the continuous
film. In this case, since the hardly fusible particle projects from
the outermost surface of the continuous film, the effect of surface
unevenness can be obtained.
[0274] The particle size distribution of the hardly fusible
particle is preferably 0.4 or less, and more preferably 0.35 or
less. When the particle size distribution is less than 0.4, regular
unevenness is formed on the image surface and steady high image
quality is obtained.
[0275] When the particle size distribution is more than 0.4, in
order to turn adhesion resistance and traveling performance to
practical level, it is necessary to combine higher amount of
fusible particle, and grittiness appears on the image quality.
[0276] Here, the particle size distribution, for example, can be
measured by measuring arithmetic standard deviation and arithmetic
mean diameter at a condition of performing ultrasonic dispersion
for two minutes using particle size measuring apparatus (LA920,
manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.), and the following equation; particle
size distribution=(arithmetic standard deviation/arithmetic mean
diameter).
[0277] The mixing ratio of the hardly fusible particle and the
fusible particle (hardly fusible particle/fusible particle) is
preferably 0.5/100 to 10/100, and more preferably 1/100 to 5/100.
When the ratio of the hardly fusible particle is too much, it is
difficult to form the continuous film, image quality deteriorates
and it becomes fragile easily. On the other hand, when the ratio of
the fusible particle is too much, the effect of surface unevenness
may not be obtained.
[0278] The total adhesion amount of the fusible particle and the
hardly fusible particle in the surface treating material in a first
embodiment of the present invention is preferably 1 g/m.sup.2 to 30
g/m.sup.2, and more preferably 2 g/m.sup.2 to 20 g/m.sup.2. When
the total adhesion amount is too little, it is difficult to form
the continuous film, image quality deteriorates and it becomes
fragile easily, and when it is too much, bended crack may
occur.
[0279] The surface treating material in a second embodiment of the
present invention comprises a base, and at least a surface layer
comprising the fusible particle and the hardly fusible particle on
the base, a releasing layer, and further comprises other layers if
necessary.
[0280] The base, for example, maybe a plastic sheet, a metal sheet
and a belt member, and the plastic sheet, for example, is
preferable to comprise at least any one selected from polyimide,
polyethylenenaphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate,
polyetheretherketone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, and
polyparabanic acid.
[0281] The base is preferably any one of a sheet shape, a belt
shape and an endless belt shape, and among them, a belt shape is
suitable.
[0282] The belt member comprises a support film and a releasing
layer disposed on the support film.
[0283] The material for the support film, as long as it has heat
resistance, is not limited and may be properly selected depending
on the application. Examples of the material include polyimide
(PI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether sulfone (PES), poly
ether imide (PEI) and poly parabanic acid (PPA), and the like.
Among them, polyimide resin is suitable.
[0284] The releasing layer comprises preferably any one selected
from the group consisting of a silicone rubber, a fluorine rubber,
a fluorocarbon siloxane rubber, a silicone resin and a fluorine
resin. Among them, the following aspects i) and ii): i) a
fluorocarbon siloxane rubber layer disposed on the surface of the
belt member and ii) a silicone rubber layer disposed on the surface
of the belt member and a fluorocarbon siloxane rubber layer
disposed on the surface of the silicone rubber layer are
preferred.
[0285] The fluorocarbon siloxane rubber in the fluorocarbon
siloxane rubber layer has preferably in the backbone chain thereof
at least one of a perfluoroalkyl ether group and a perfluoroalkyl
group.
[0286] The fluorocarbon siloxane rubber is preferably a cured
product of a fluorocarbon siloxane rubber composition comprising
the following components (A) to (D):
[0287] (A) a fluorocarbon polymer comprising mainly a fluorocarbon
siloxane represented by the following formula (1) and having an
unsaturated fatty hydrocarbon group, (B) at least one of
organopolysiloxane and fluorocarbon siloxane which has two or more
.ident.SiH groups in a molecule, wherein the amount of a .ident.SiH
group is from one to four times (in mole) the amount of the
unsaturated fatty hydrocarbon group in the above-mentioned
fluorocarbon siloxane rubber composition, (C) a filler, and (D) an
effective amount of catalyst.
[0288] The fluorocarbon polymer as the component (A) comprises
mainly a fluorocarbon siloxane containing a repetition unit
represented by the following formula (1) and contains an
unsaturated fatty hydrocarbon group. ##STR1##
[0289] In formula (1), R.sup.10 represents an unsubstituted or
substituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 monovalent hydrocarbon group and is
preferably a C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl group or a C.sub.2 to C.sub.3
alkenyl group, most preferably a methyl group. "a" and "e" are
respectively an integer of 0 or 1, "b" and "d" are respectively an
integer of 1 to 4 and "c" is an integer of 0 to 8. "x" is
preferably an integer of 1 or more, more preferably an integer of
10 to 30.
[0290] Examples of the component (A) include a compound represented
by the following formula (2): ##STR2##
[0291] With respect to the component (B), examples of the
organopolysiloxane having .ident.SiH groups include an
organohydrogen polysiloxane having in the molecule at least two
hydrogen atoms bonded to a silicon atom.
[0292] In the fluorocarbon siloxane rubber composition, when the
fluorocarbon polymer as the component (A) has an unsaturated fatty
hydrocarbon group, as a curing agent, the above-mentioned
organohydrogen polysiloxane is preferably used. In other words, the
cured product is formed by an addition reaction between the
unsaturated fatty hydrocarbon group of the fluorocarbon siloxane
and a hydrogen atom bonded to a silicon atom in the organohydrogen
polysiloxane.
[0293] Examples of the organohydrogen polysiloxane include various
organohydrogen polysiloxanes used for curing a silicone rubber
composition which is cured by an addition reaction.
[0294] The amount of the organohydrogen polysiloxane is an amount
by which the number of .ident.SiH group in the organohydrogen
polysiloxane is preferably at least one, most preferably from 1 to
5, relative to one unsaturated fatty hydrocarbon group in the
fluorocarbon siloxane of the component (A).
[0295] As for the fluorocarbon containing .ident.SiH groups,
R.sup.10 in the formula (1), as one unit or entire of the compound,
is a dialkylhydrogen siloxy group, the terminal group is a
.ident.SiH group, such as a dialkylhydrogen siloxy group or a silyl
group. Such a preferred fluorocarbon siloxane can be represented by
the following formula (3). ##STR3##
[0296] As the filler which is the component (C), various fillers
used for a usual silicone rubber composition can be used. Examples
of the filler include areinforcing filler, such as mist silica,
precipitated silica, carbon powder, titanium dioxide, aluminum
oxide, quartz powder, talc, sericite and bentonite; and fiber
filler, such as asbesto, glass fiber, and organic fiber, and the
like.
[0297] As for the catalyst of component (D), the catalysts known in
the art as addition reaction catalyst may be exemplified, such as
chloroplatinic acid; alcohol-modified chloroplatinic acid; a
complex of chloroplatinic acid with olefin; platinum black and
palladium which are respectively supported on a carrier, such as
alumina, silica and carbon; and Group VIII elements of the Periodic
Table or compounds thereof such as a complex of rhodium with
olefin, chlorotris(triphenylphosphine) rhodium (Wilkinson catalyst)
and rhodium (III) acetyl acetonate. It is preferred that these
complexes are dissolved in a solvent, such as an alcohol compound,
an ether compound or a hydrocarbon compound to be used.
[0298] The fluorocarbon siloxane rubber composition is not limited
and may be properly selected depending on the application, and
optionally may comprise various additives. Examples of the various
additives include a dispersing agent, such as diphenylsilane diol,
low polymer of dimethyl polysiloxane in which the terminal of the
molecule chain is blocked with a hydroxyl group, and hexamethyl
disilazane; a heat resistance improver, such as ferrous oxide,
ferric oxide, cerium oxide and iron octylate; and a colorant, such
as a pigment, and the like.
[0299] The belt member can be obtained by coating a support film
with the fluorocarbon siloxane rubber composition and by curing the
resultant coated support film by the heating. Further optionally,
for example, the belt member can be obtained by coating the support
film with coating liquid prepared by diluting the fluorocarbon
siloxane rubber composition with a solvent, such as m-xylene
hexafluoride and benzotrifluoride, according to a general coating
method, such as spray coating, dip coating and knife coating. The
heat-curing temperature and time may be properly selected from the
ranges of from 100.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. and from 5 seconds
to 5 hours depending on the type of the support film and the
manufacturing method of the belt.
--Surface Layer--
[0300] The surface layer comprises fusible particle and the hardly
fusible particle, and further comprises other components, if
necessary.
[0301] The total amount of the fusible fine particle and the hardly
fusible fine particle is preferably 1 g/m.sup.2 to 30 g/m.sup.2,
and more preferably 2 g/m.sup.2 to 20 g/m.sup.2. When the total
amount is too little, it is difficult to form the continuous film,
image quality deteriorates and it becomes fragile easily, and when
it is too much, bended crack occurs.
[0302] The adhesion method of the fusible particle and the hardly
fusible particle to the base is not limited and may be properly
selected depending on the application, and may be an electrostatic
adhesion, a coating, an impregnation, a spraying, and a
dipping.
(Surface Treating Method)
[0303] The surface treating method of the present invention, in a
first embodiment, comprises the adhering and the forming a surface
treating layer, and further comprises others, if necessary.
[0304] The adhering is to adhere the surface treating material of
the first embodiment of the present invention on the surface of the
image recording layer of the image recording material after image
recording.
[0305] The adhering can controlled any one of the adhesion amount
of the surface treating material depending on the image information
and the mixing ratio of hardly fusible particle and fusible
particle.
[0306] The image information, for example, may be at least one
selected from an image brightness, an image density, an image tone,
an image size, and a combination thereof.
[0307] The adhering is not limited and may be properly selected
depending on the application, and may be an electrostatic adhesion,
a coating, an impregnation, a spraying, and a dipping.
[0308] The electrostatic adhesion is a method charging fusible
particle and hardly fusible particle by the direct current high
voltage obtained by a high voltage electrostatic generator, and
adhering on the grounded image recording layer surface of the image
recording material after image recording by electrostatic
attraction, and it has an electrostatic spraying method and an
electrostatic dipping method.
[0309] For the electrostatic spraying method, fusible particle and
hardly fusible particle are sent from a supply vessel to a spray
gun by air. According to high voltage (generally -40 kV to -90 kV)
obtained by a high voltage electrostatic generator, fusible
particle and hardly fusible particle obtain minus charge. On the
other hand, the surface of the image recording layer of the image
recording material after image recording is grounded, and fusible
particle and hardly fusible particle emitted by the head of the gun
are adhered on the surface of the image recording layer by an
electrostatic attraction. At this time, minus-charged fusible
particle and hardly fusible particle act strongly on the high
potential part, and as fusible particle and hardly fusible particle
adhered on the surface of the image recording layer adheres
thickly, minus charge accumulated on the adhesion layer and when
the thickness becomes more than a certain thickness, electrostatic
repulsion is produced and adhesion becomes difficult.
[0310] For the electrostatic dipping method, the bottom plate of
the dipping vessel loading the fusible particle and hardly fusible
particle is comprised of a perforated plate, and the electrode is
arranged at a fixed interval. The fusible particle and hardly
fusible particle inside the vessel become a flowing state by the
air stirred up from the porous bottom plate. On the other hand,
high voltage of -40 kV to -90 kV is applied to the electrode by a
high voltage electrostatic generator, and fusible particle and
hardly fusible particle floating in the ionized air are
minus-charged and lift up and whirl in the upper part inside the
vessel, and are adhered on the surface of the grounded image
recording layer of the image recording material after image
recording. Particles which are not adhered on the surface of the
image recording layer drop by gravity and again become charged
particle and rise, and repeat the movement to adhere again on the
surface of the image recording layer, and the adhesion of the
particle is performed.
[0311] The coating is not limited and may be properly selected from
a group of widely known coating methods depending on the
application, for example, may be spin coating method, dip coating
method, kneader coating method, curtain coating method, and blade
coating method. Among them, spin coating method and dip coating
method are preferable because of coating efficiency.
[0312] The surface treating layer forming forms a surface treating
layer where hardly fusible particle is dispersed all over a
continuous film formed by melting fusible particle by heating and
pressurizing treatment.
[0313] The heating and pressurizing treatment is preferable to be
performed using a belt surface treating device comprising a heating
and pressurizing member, a belt member, and a cooler.
[0314] The heating and pressurizing member is not limited and may
be properly selected depending on the application, for example, can
be a pair of heating roller, and a combination of heating roller
and pressurizing roller.
[0315] The cooler is not limited and may be suitably selected
according to the purpose, for example, a cooler capable of blowing
cold air and capable of controlling the cooling temperature and a
heat sink, are used.
[0316] When contacting the heating and pressurizing member of the
belt surface treating device, pressurizing is preferable. The
pressurizing method is not limited and may be properly selected
depending on the application, however, it is preferable to use nip
pressure. The nip pressure is preferably 1 kgf/cm.sup.2 to 100
kgf/cm.sup.2 and more preferably 5 kgf/cm.sup.2 to 30 kgf/cm.sup.2.
The heating temperature at the heating and pressurizing member is
preferably 80.degree. C. or more and more preferably 100.degree. C.
to 180.degree. C. The cooling temperature in the cooler is
preferably 80.degree. C. or less and more preferably 20.degree. C.
to 80.degree. C.
[0317] For the belt member, the above-mentioned belt member can be
used similarly.
[0318] Here, as a surface treating apparatus for carrying out
surface treating process involving in the first embodiment, the
apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is suitable.
[0319] In FIG. 1, insert opening 3 through which image recorded
image medium 2 are inserted and take-out opening 4 from which out
image medium are taken out are provided on the side of exterior 1
of the surface treating apparatus. In the surface treating
apparatus, rotation roller 5, conveyance roller 7, and between
assistance rollers 8, 9, endless belt 6, are spanned rotatably, and
are constructed so that an image medium go through adhesion region
11 where fusible particle and hardly fusible particle is adhered
and heat transferring region 12 is conveyed. Endless belt 6 is
formed by vulcanizing SIFEL 610 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical
Co., Ltd.) which is a fluorocarbon siloxane rubber precursor to be
the fluorocarbon siloxane rubber of 50 .mu.m thick on the surface
of polyimide (PI) film.
[0320] Also, in the inner surface of the above-mentioned endless
belt 6, between assistance rollers 8, 9, cooler 10 are
provided.
[0321] In the above-mentioned heat transferring region 12, the
image medium 2 inserted from the insert opening 3 is contacted with
the endless belt 6 where the fusible particle and hardly fusible
particle are adhered by the assistance roller 8 and heating roller
14 having built-in halogen heating lamp 13 for melting the fusible
particle. And, this image medium 2 is cooled by cooler 10 through
endless belt 6, and after conveyed to assistance roller 9 at which
only the image medium disposing with the surface treating layer is
removed by blade 15, then, the image medium can be taken out from
the take-out opening 4.
[0322] This embodiment comprises transfer fixing mechanism K1 is
constructed from assistance roller 8, halogen heating lamp 13, and
heating roller 14.
[0323] In the above-mentioned adhesion region 11, rotatable support
roller 16 is arranged so as to contact the conveyance route of
endless belt 6 with a certain space at its circumference surface.
Transfer electric field is acted between support roller 16 and
conveyance roller 7 by power source E. Rotatable feeding roller 17
is contacted with support roller 16 by pressing at the upper point
of the rotating direction of support roller 16 compared to adhesion
region 11. Feeding roller 17 is covered by particle case 18, and in
particle case 18, fusible particle and hardly fusible particle are
stored. This embodiment comprises charge coating mechanism K2 is
constructed from sheet conveyance roller 7, support roller 16,
feeding roller 17 and power source E.
[0324] By the rotation of support roller 16 and feeding roller 17,
fusible particle and hardly fusible particle are contacted and
charged by friction, and the uniformly charged fusible particle and
hardly fusible particle adheres on support roller 16, and then the
fusible particle and hardly fusible particle adhered on support
roller 16 are electrostatically stuck to endless belt 6 by transfer
electric field by power source E.
[0325] Here, the operation of the surface treating apparatus is
described.
[0326] Firstly, by the rotation of support roller 16 and feeding
roller 17, fusible particle and hardly fusible particle contacted
and charged by friction, and then the uniformly charged fusible
particle and hardly fusible particle are adhered on support roller
16.
[0327] On the other hand, endless belt 6 is conveyed by the
rotation of rotation roller 5, and in coating region 11, according
to applying minus voltage of the polarity opposite to the polarity
of the plus-charged fusible particle and hardly fusible particle to
sheet conveyance roller 7 by power source E, thereby fusible
particle and hardly fusible particle are electrostatically stuck to
adhere from support roller 16 onto endless belt 6. At this time,
endless belt 6 itself comprises insulation property and the
injection of charge to non-coated region is not occurred during the
above-mentioned electrostatic adsorption, therefore, fusible
particle and hardly fusible particle can be coated effectively and
uniformly with endless belt 6.
[0328] Next, image medium 2 which image is output inserted from the
insert opening 3 and the endless belt 6 with which fusible particle
and hardly fusible particle are coated, contacted by pressing with
assistance roller 8 and heating roller 14. At this time, according
to the heat generated by halogen heating lamp 13 built in heating
roller 14, fusible particle is melted, and further, a transparent
surface treating layer is formed between image medium 2 and endless
belt 6 by the compressive force of assistance roller 8 and heating
roller 14. And, these are conveyed by rotation of assistance roller
8, 9, and in the meantime, cooled by cooler 10 through endless belt
6, and the transparent surface treating layer is cured.
[0329] Finally, as the endless belt excels in separating property,
the image medium is separated by blade 15 while the transparent
surface treating layer is completely left on the image medium, and
the image medium 2 where the surface treating layer is formed can
be taken out from take-out opening 4.
[0330] In a second embodiment, the surface treating process of the
present invention, comprises lamination layer forming and surface
treating layer forming, and further, according to necessity,
comprises others.
[0331] The lamination layer forming is to form a lamination layer
by putting together with heating and pressurizing treatment a
surface layer of a surface treating material of the second
embodiment of the present invention on the surface of an image
recording layer of an image recording material after image
recording.
[0332] The surface treating layer forming forms a surface treating
layer where hardly fusible particle is dispersed in a continuous
film in which fusible particle is melted by heating and
pressurizing treatment.
[0333] The heating and pressurizing treatment is preferably
performed using a belt surface treating device comprising heating
and pressurizing member, and belt member. The heating and
pressurizing member and belt member are the same as the surface
treating process in the above-mentioned first embodiment.
[0334] As a surface treating apparatus for carrying out surface
treating process in the second embodiment, the apparatus shown in
FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 is suitable.
[0335] FIG. 2 shows schematic explanatory diagram of surface
treating apparatus, and in the surface treating apparatus, editor
(not shown) is on manuscript platform 24 provided above the top
surface of the main body, and by the editor, the surface treating
region of an image recording material after image recording is
specified. This surface treating region can be the entire copying
paper size, or a specific square region, or further, may be a
specific closed contour region.
[0336] The surface treating region of manuscript 23 put on
manuscript platform 24 is specified, and when the information is
input into CPU (not shown), CPU calculates writing timing and the
others of the specific region, and necessary information is sent to
LED array 33 arranged in a line facing surface treating layer
forming body 1A and in a axis direction of surface treating layer
forming body 1A. By charger 19, on uniformly charged surface
treating layer forming body 1A, in which the surface layer
comprises inorganic photoconductivity material and organic
photoconductivity material such as selenium, silicon and cadmium
sulfide, light exposure and electric elimination of a pattern part
corresponding to the specific surface treating region of manuscript
23 is exposed and electricity is removed by LED 33, and then an
electrostatic latent image is formed.
[0337] The Specified fusible particle and hardly fusible particle
from particle supply device 40 are supplied to the electrostatic
latent image adhered on surface treating layer forming body 1A.
Fusible particle and hardly fusible particle are charged to the
same polarity as the uniform charge on surface treating layer
forming body 1A by friction. At the time of this non-contact
phenomenon, from the power source (not shown), a phenomenon bias
where alternating current component of bias potential 1.8 kV and
frequency 8 kHz overlapped on direct current component of bias
potential -750V is applied to sleeve 34. A result, an action of
selectively conveying fusible particle and hardly fusible particle
on sleeve 34 of phenomenon contacting part to the latent image on
the surface treating layer forming body 1A is accomplished.
According to this, fusible particle and hardly fusible particle are
moved and absorbed to surface treating layer forming body 1A one by
one by an electrostatic force of the electrostatic latent image,
and fusible particle and hardly fusible particle are adhered at a
specific pattern. Bias is controlled and applied to the sleeve, and
the adhesion amount can be controlled.
[0338] The adhered fusible particle and hardly fusible particle, if
necessary, is recharged in order to improve transfer rate, and
then, is transferred by transferring device 30 onto image recording
medium 7A after image recording, which is conveyed from image
recording medium conveying device 28 through paper feeding roller
22 so as to correspond with the image region on surface treating
layer forming body 1A by timing roller 23. Image recording medium
7A where particle image on surface treating layer forming body 1A
is transferred, is separated from surface treating layer forming
body 1A by separating pole 26 and sent to belt fixing device 6A. On
the other hand, surface treating layer forming body 1A transferring
particle image to image recording medium 7A, subsequently continues
to rotate in the direction of the arrow, and after charge removed
by charge removing device 31, particles adhered on surface treating
layer forming body 1A is removed by cleaning blade 29A provided in
cleaning device 29. And, again, surface treating layer forming body
1A is charged by charger 19 and proceeds to the next
transferring.
[0339] FIG. 3 shows a belt fixing device. 41 is a moving endless
belt for fixing, and is spanned over heating roller 42 and
separating roller 43 with biased by tension roller 44 in between
them. For endless belt 41 is formed by vulcanizing SIFEL 610
(manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) which is a
fluorocarbon siloxane rubber precursor to be the fluorocarbon
siloxane rubber of 50 .mu.m thick on the surface of polyimide (PI)
film.
[0340] According to the driving rotation heating roller 42, the
endless belt 41 is revolved and conveyed a clockwise direction. 45
denotes a pressurizing roller contacting the circumference surface
of the endless belt 41 winding heating roller 42, is driven in an
anticlockwise direction or driven rotatably at the same speed as
heating roller 42, and image recording medium 7A on which particle
image is transferred, is attached between pressurizing roller 45
and endless belt 41 and conveyed. The pressurizing roller 45
provides high hardness with heating roller 42, and endless belt 41
is pressed to heating roller 42 so as to form a first nip
region.
[0341] The heating roller 42 and pressurizing roller 45 comprise
the same outside dimension and each has a built-in heater H1 and H2
with the same heat value respectively, and the temperature of the
circumference surface is controlled and managed by temperature
detection of each temperature sensor S1 and S2 respectively. F1 and
F2 are crossflow fan (hereinafter referred to as merely "fan"
below), which is a cooling unit provided at in and out side of
conveyance surface of endless belt, the air inhaled from the
outside of the apparatus through duct 47A and 47B respectively, fan
F1 blows the inhaled air which passes through several slit holes
46A opening in conveyance guide plate 46 directly cools the lower
surface of image recording medium 7A on which the particle image is
transferred, on the other hand, fan F2 blows the inhaled air at the
inner surface of endless belt 41 which indirectly cools the upper
surface of image recording medium 7A. Further, for each cleaning
roller 41A and 45A that clean particle adhered on each
circumference surface of endless belt 41 winding heating roller 42
and pressurizing roller 45, and further, in order to prevent the
adhesion of particle oil impregnated roller 41B is contacted by
pressing on endless belt 41.
[0342] The fixing action of particle image on image recording
medium 7A by the fixing device is described.
[0343] When image recording medium 7A where particle image is
adhered on the upper surface, is conveyed into the inside of the
apparatus as the arrow A direction in FIG. 3, passed through
conveyance guide plate 48A and conveyed with being attached between
endless belt 41 and pressurizing roller 45. At this time, image
recording medium 7A is heated at the same time from the upper
surface and lower surface by endless belt 41 and pressurizing
roller 45, and particle is melted. Namely, particle on image
recording medium 7A, at the above-mentioned nip, receives pressure
and heating uniformly by endless belt 41, to be melted. Because the
heating time is relatively short, there is no disorder of particle
image and the decline of image quality is restrained.
[0344] And then, after passing through the nip region, the melted
particle is adhered firmly to image recording medium 7A.
[0345] For the surface treating process of the present invention,
the change of the surface property is preferably at least one part
of the surface of the image recording layer, and can be the entire
surface of the image recording layer.
[0346] The surface property may be selected from any one of a
matte, a semimatte, an emboss, a luster, a silk finish, and a
combination thereof.
[0347] The surface property is preferably changeable depending on
the selection by a user.
[0348] For the present invention, the surface property is changed
by changing any one of a total adhesion amount of the surface
treating material corresponding to image information, a combination
of the hardly fusible particle and fusible particle, and a mixing
ratio of the hardly fusible particle and fusible particle.
[0349] The image information may be preferably at least one
selected from an image brightness, an image density, an image tone,
an image size and a combination thereof. For example, gloss can be
given to a background part of a sheet body. As high brightness part
becomes bright and dark part becomes matte by distributing the
gloss a three-dimensional effect can be given to the image.
[0350] According to the surface treating process of the present
invention, the surface treating layer comprises a sea-island
structure where fusible particle melts during surface treatment
after image recording and hardly fusible particle is disperses all
over a formed continuous film.
[0351] Surface property of at least one part of the surface of the
image recording of the image recording material is capable of
changing.
[0352] The volume average particle diameter of the hardly fusible
particle is preferably bigger than the thickness of the surface
treating layer. According to this, since the hardly fusible
particle projects from the outermost surface of the surface
treating layer, the effect of surface unevenness can be
obtained.
[0353] The image recording material can be used in at least any one
selected from image-receiving sheet for electrophotography, melting
heat transfer recording sheet, sublimation heat transfer recording
sheet, thermographic recording sheet, and ink jet recording
sheet.
[0354] The present invention will be illustrated in further details
with reference to the examples below, which are never intended to
limit the scope of the present invention.
EXAMPLES 1 TO 8 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 TO 4
--Image Forming--
[0355] A full-color image was formed by a Fuji Film Xerographic
Paper A4 size for Photo Recipe (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film
Co., Ltd.) as an image forming paper, and an image forming
apparatus DC 1250PF (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.).
--Preparation of Particle--
[0356] Hardly fusible particle shown in the Table 2 and fusible
particle shown in the Table 3 were used. For the particle,
SiO.sub.4 particle (the surface was hydrophobic treated by silane
coupling agent, average particle diameter of 0.05 .mu.m) was
adhered on the surface as an object to control fluidity and
charging property. The adhesion amount of SiO.sub.4 particle is 1
part by mass based on particle 100 part by mass.
[0357] --Hardly Fusible Particle-- TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Volume
average particle Particle size Name of articles Material diameter
distribution Particle A-1 Chemisnow Crosslinking 20.6 .mu.m 0.26
MX2000 acrylic resin Particle A-2 Techpolymer Crosslinking 17.4
.mu.m 0.32 XX08S acrylic resin Particle A-3 Techpolymer
Crosslinking 12.0 .mu.m 0.48 SBX-12 styrene resin Particle A-4
Tospearl 145 Silica 4.5 .mu.m 0.52 Particle A-5 Tipaque TTO-51
TiO.sub.2 0.02 .mu.m 0.58 Particle A-6 Aerosol OX-50 SiO.sub.2 0.05
.mu.m 0.32 Chernisnow MX2000, manufactured by Souken Chemicals
Corporation Techpolymer XX08S, Techpolymer SBX-12, manufactured by
Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd. Tospearl 145, manufactured by GE Toshiba
Silicones Company Limited. Tipaque TTO-51, manufactured by Ishihara
Industry Sangyo Kaisha Ltd. Aerosol OX-50, manufactured by Japan
Aerosol Co., Ltd. The particle size distribution in Table 1 was
measured that arithmetic standard deviation and arithmetic mean
diameter was measured at a condition of ultrasonic dispersion for
two minutes by particle size measuring apparatus (LA920,
manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.), and the following equation, particle
size distribution = (arithmetic standard deviation/arithmetic mean
diameter).
[0358] --Fusible Particle-- TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Volume Flow
average Name of starting particle articles Material temperature
diameter Particle B-1 Flo-Beads LDPE 107.degree. C. (mp) 7.5 .mu.m
LE1080 Particle B-2 Flo-Beads LDPE 107.degree. C. (mp) 10.8 .mu.m
CL2080 Particle B-3 Flo-Beads Ethylene acrylic 105.degree. C. (mp)
8.3 .mu.m EA209 acid Particle B-4 Prototype a Polyester resin
138.degree. C. 7.0 .mu.m Particle B-5 Prototype b Polyester resin
118.degree. C. 7.0 .mu.m Particle B-6 Prototype c Polyester resin
80.degree. C. 7.0 .mu.m Flo-Beads LE1080, CL2080 and EA209, all
manufactured by Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd. Prototype a was
classified by wind force type classifier after crushing polymer
(polyester resin) obtained by reacting terephthalic acid 100 mol as
acid component, and alcohol component 100 mol comprising bisphenol
A-ethylene glycol adduct 20 mol % and ethylene glycol 80 mol % by
jet mill. Prototype b was classified by wind force type classifier
after crushing polymer (polyester resin) obtained by reacting acid
component 100 mol comprising terephthalic acid 80 mol % and sebacic
acid 20 mol %, and alcohol component 100 mol comprising bisphenol
A-ethylene glycol adduct 90 mol % and ethylene glycol 10 mol % by
jet mill. Prototype c was classified by wind force type classifier
after crushing polymer (polyester resin) obtained by reacting acid
component 100 mol comprising terephthalic acid 40 mol % and sebacic
acid 60 mol %, and alcohol component 100 mol comprising bisphenol
A-ethylene glycol addition product 90 mol % and ethylene glycol 10
mol % by jet mill.
[0359] In Table 3, flow starting temperature was measured base on
JIS K 7210.
<Forming Method of Surface Treating Layer (I)>
[0360] Using the surface treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1,
according to the following conditions, by the combination shown in
Table 4, surface treating layer was provided on the surface of the
image recording layer of an image recording material forming a
full-color image.
--Transfer Electric Field--
[0361] 3 kV
--Belt--
[0362] Support of the belt: polyimide (PI) film, width of 50 cm,
thickness of 80 .mu.m
[0363] Releasing layer material of the belt : SIFEL 610, a
fluorocarbon siloxane rubber precursor (manufactured by Shin-Etsu
Chemical Co., Ltd.) was vulcanized to form a fluorocarbon siloxane
rubber of 50 .mu.m thick.
--Heating and Pressurizing--
[0364] Temperature of heating roller: 130.degree. C.
[0365] Nip pressure: 130N/cm.sup.2
--Cooling--
[0366] Cooler :heat sink length of 80 mm
[0367] Conveyance Speed: 53 mm/sec
[0368] Temperature: 80.degree. C.
[0369] Next, for each obtained image print after surface treatment,
traveling performance, image quality (gloss), appearance
(silk-finish photoprint style), granularity, adhesion resistance,
and fingerprint adhesive property were evaluated according to the
following conditions. The results are shown in Table 5.
<Evaluation of Appearance (Silk-Finish Photoprint Style)>
[0370] For the obtained full-color image, under an interior
illumination, sensory evaluation was performed based on the
following standard.
[Evaluation Standard]
[0371] A . . . high quality and stable silk-finish photoprint
style
[0372] B. . . quality to a certain degree
[0373] C . . . not sufficient
[0374] D . . . grittiness and glitter
<Evaluation of Image Quality (Gloss)>
[0375] Density was painted to 6 levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100%) in
every 10 square-centimeter size under B/W condition during image
forming. This 6 leveled parts, based on JIS Z 8741 was measured at
20.degree. measurement by a digital deflection glossmeter UGV-5D
(manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd.), and the minimum
value was recorded. For the present invention, 20.degree. gloss is
preferably 75 or more.
<Evaluation of Adhesion Resistance>
[0376] For the obtained image print, after the adjustment for 24
hours at 40.degree. C. under 80% Relative Humidity, putting
together with facing toner image surface, 500 g was loaded in 3.5
square-centimeter, and after being left for 7 days under the same
environment, a state where the sample was peeled off was evaluated
according to the following standard. In the present invention, the
adhesion resistance is preferably 2 or less.
[Evaluation Standard]
[0377] 1 . . . no peeling sound and no adhesion trace
[0378] 2 . . . a light peeling sound or an adhesion trace
[0379] 3 . . . adhesion trace is less than 25%
[0380] 4 . . . less than 25% to 50% is adhered
[0381] 5 . . . more than 50% is adhered
<Evaluation of Fingerprint Adhesive Property>
[0382] After pressing thumb on the image surface of the image print
after image recording, under an interior illumination, fingerprint
adhesive property was evaluated according to the following
standard. The evaluation results were shown by the average of 10
panelists.
[Evaluation Standard]
[0383] A . . . adhesion of fingerprint is extremely weak
[0384] B . . . adhesion of fingerprint is weak
[0385] C . . . fingerprint trace can be seen a little strongly
[0386] D . . . fingerprint trace can be seen strongly and
clearly
<Evaluation of Traveling Performance (Clustering)>
[0387] Image print was discharged from the surface treating layer
forming apparatus and when it was accumulated in an accumulation
case, the number that became irregular is shown.
<Evaluation of Granularity>
[0388] The evaluation of granularity was performed by visual
evaluation using uniformed images of 2 square-centimeter size
differing in average reflection density. The evaluation was
performed by assessors of 20 people according to the following 5
levels.
[Evaluation Standard]
[0389] 1 . . . texture is extremely rough
[0390] 2 . . . texture is rough
[0391] 3 . . . normal
[0392] 4 . . . texture is fine
[0393] 5 . . . texture is extremely fine.
[0394] Next, the result of the average value was found and
evaluated by the following standard.
[0395] A . . . when the average is more than 4
[0396] B . . . when the average is more than 2 and less than 4
[0397] C . . . when the average is less than 2 TABLE-US-00004 TABLE
4 Hardly fusible particle Forming Adhesion Adhesion Adhesion method
of Fusibile amount amount amount surface particle (g/m.sup.2) Type
(g/m.sup.2) Type (g/m.sup.2) treating layer Example 1 B-1 6 A-1 0.1
-- -- I Example 2 B-1 6 A-2 0.05 A-3 0.05 I Example 3 B-2 2 A-1 0.1
-- -- I Example 4 B-2 2 A-2 0.05 A-4 0.05 I Example 5 B-3 6 A-1 0.1
-- -- I Example 6 B-5 6 A-1 0.1 -- -- I Example 7 B-6 20 A-1 0.1 --
-- I Example 8 B-1 2 A-2 0.1 A-4 0.1 I Comparative B-1 6 nil I
Example 1 Comparative nil Example 2 Comparative B-4 6 A-1 0.1 -- --
I Example 3 Comparative B-1 6 A-5 0.1 A-6 0.1 I Example 4
[0398] TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Evaluation result Image Appearance
Fingerprint Traveling quality (silk-finish Adhesion adhesive
performance (gloss) photoprint style) Granularity resistance
property Example 1 0 79 A B 2 A Example 2 0 79 A B 2 A Example 3 0
78 A B 1 A Example 4 1 76 B B 1 A Example 5 0 80 A A 2 B Example 6
0 81 A A 2 B Example 7 0 83 B A 2 B Example 8 1 75 B A 1 B
Comparative 3 82 D A 2 C Example 1 Comparative 4 74 D A 3 D Example
2 Comparative 3 68 D C 2 B Example 3 Comparative 4 79 D A 2 C
Example 4
EXAMPLES 9 TO 16 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 5 TO 8
--Image Forming--
[0399] A full-color image was formed by an ink jet recording paper
(Kassai WPA420A, manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) as the
image recording paper, and an ink jet printer (manufactured by
Seiko-Epson Corporation, PM-800C).
--Preparation of Particle--
[0400] Particle mixture was prepared by using the particle in Table
2 and Table 3 with the combination shown in Table 6.
<Forming Method of Surface Treating Layer (II)>
[0401] Using the surface treating apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and
FIG. 3, according to the following conditions, by the combination
shown in Table 6, surface treating layer was provided on the
surface of the image recording layer of an image recording material
forming a full-color image.
--Transfer Electric Field--
[0402] 3 kV
--Belt--
[0403] Support of the belt: polyimide (PI) film, width of 50 cm,
thickness of 80 .mu.m
[0404] Releasing layer material of the belt: SIFEL 610, a
fluorocarbon siloxane rubber precursor (manufactured by Shin-Etsu
Chemical Co., Ltd.) was vulcanized to form a fluorocarbon siloxane
rubber of 50 .mu.m thick.
--Heating and Pressurizing--
[0405] Temperature of heating roller: 130.degree. C.
[0406] Nip pressure: 130N/cm.sup.2 TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 hardly
fusible particle Forming Adhesion Adhesion Adhesion method of
Fusible amount amount amount surface particle (g/m.sup.2) Type
(g/m.sup.2) Type (g/m.sup.2) treating layer Example 9 B-1 6 A-1 0.1
-- -- II Example 10 B-1 6 A-2 0.05 A-3 0.05 II Example 11 B-2 2 A-1
0.1 -- -- II Example 12 B-2 2 A-2 0.05 A-4 0.05 II Example 13 B-3 6
A-1 0.1 -- -- II Example 14 B-5 6 A-1 0.1 -- -- II Example 15 B-6
20 A-1 0.1 -- -- II Example 16 B-1 2 A-2 0.1 A-4 0.1 II Comparative
B-1 6 nil II example 5 Comparative nil example 6 Comparative B-4 6
A-1 0.1 -- -- II example 7 Comparative B-1 6 A-5 0.1 A-6 0.1 II
example 8
[0407] Next, for each obtained image print after surface treatment,
same as the Examples 1 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4,
traveling performance, image quality (gloss), appearance
(silk-finish photoprint style), granularity, adhesion resistance,
and fingerprint adhesive property were evaluated. The results are
shown in Table 7. TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Evaluation result
Appearance Fingerprint Traveling Image quality (silk-finish
Adhesion adhesive performance (glossiness) photoprint style)
Granularity resistance property Example 9 0 78 A A 2 A Example 10 0
79 A A 2 A Example 11 0 78 A A 1 A Example 12 1 75 B A 1 A Example
13 0 81 A A 2 B Example 14 0 82 A A 2 B Example 15 0 83 B A 2 B
Example 16 1 76 B A 2 B Comparative 4 82 D A 2 C example 5
Comparative 5 73 D A 3 D example 6 Comparative 5 64 D C 2 B example
7 Comparative 4 78 D A 2 C example 8
[0408] The surface treating material and a surface treating method
of the present invention are capable of giving effectively surface
property selected from any one of a matte, a semimatte, an emboss,
a luster, a silk finish, and a combination thereof on the surface
of the image recording layer of an image recording material after
image recording, for example, can be used widely in an
image-receiving sheet for electrophotography, a melting
heat-transfer-recording sheet, a sublimation
heat-transfer-recording sheet, a thermographic recording sheet, and
an ink jet recording sheet.
* * * * *