Patent Grant
6878499
The field of the proposed invention relates to high intensity blending apparatus and processes, particularly for blending operations designed to cause additive materials to become affixed to the surface of base particles. More particularly, the proposed invention relates to an improved method for producing surface modifications to electrophotographic and related toner particles.
High speed blending of dry, dispersed, or slurried particles is a common operation in the preparation of many industrial products. Examples of products commonly made using such high-speed blending operations include, without limitation, paint and colorant dispersions, pigments, varnishes, inks, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, adhesives, food, food colorants, flavorings, beverages, rubber, and many plastic products. In some industrial operations, the impacts created during such high-speed blending are used both to uniformly mix the blend media and, additionally, to cause attachment of additive chemicals to the surface of particles (including resin molecules or conglomerates of resins and particles) in order to impart additional chemical, mechanical, and/or electrostatic properties. Such attachment between particles is typically caused by both mechanical impaction and electrostatic bonding between additives and particles as a result of the extreme pressures created by particle/additive impacts within the blender device. Among the products wherein attachments between particles and/or resins and additive particles are important during at least one stage of manufacture are paint dispersions, inks, pigments, rubber, and certain plastics.
A typical blending machine and blending tool of the prior art is exemplified in
Turning now to.
Various shapes and thicknesses of blending tools and collision surfaces are possible. Various configurations are shown in the brochures and catalogues offered by manufacturer's of high-speed blending equipment such as Henschel, Littleford Day Inc., and other vendors. The tool shown in FIG. 2 is based upon a tool for high intensity blending produced by Littleford Day, Inc. Among the reasons for different configurations of blending tools are (i) different viscosities often require differently shaped tools to efficiently utilize the power and torque of the blending motor; and (ii) different blending applications require different intensities of blending. For instance, some food processing applications may require a very fine distribution of small solid particles such as colorants and flavorings within a liquid medium. Similarly, the processing of snow cones requires rapid and very high intensity blending designed to shatter ice cubes into small particles which are then mixed within the blender with flavored syrups to form a slurry.
Most high-speed blending tools of the prior art do not have raised vertical elements such as surfaces 19 shown in FIG. 2. Instead, a typical blending tool has a collision surface formed simply by the leading edge of its central shank 20. In many tools, the leading edge is rounded or arcurately shaped in order to avoid a “snow plow” effect wherein particles become caked upon a flat leading face much as snow is compressed and forms piles in front of a snow plow. The tool shown in
Because of the above snow plow, vortex, and density limitations, conventional tools such as shown in
Another characteristic of blending tools of the prior art is derived from the above limitations upon the height of the collision surface. Specifically, as explained above, conventional tools are thin in height and, if a vertical surface such as 19 is present, such vertical surface is also has a thin x-axis profile. Such thinness is required in order to avoid excessive vortices and low density regions in the lee of the tool. The trailing edges of conventional tools are sometimes rounded or arcurately shaped. However, because of the “thinness” of the tool in the y-axis, it is not necessary and it is not known to arcurately shape the leading or trailing surfaces of the tool except in the region proximate to the leading and/or trailing edge.
As noted above, different mixture formulations or products often specify different collision surface shapes and dimensions in order to optimize blend efficiency, blend time, and power consumption. For instance, if a fast blend process time is desired, then the blend tool can be rotated faster or a tool with a larger collision surface can be selected in order to increase the number of particle collisions per unit of time, or blending intensity. However, for any given viscosity, the power and configuration of the blending motor effectively limits the speed of the tool and the size of a collision surface such as surface 19.
When the same blending vessel is used for different formulations or products requiring different tools, then procedures for changing a conventional blending tool require the following steps (described in relation to
In addition to changing a blending tool to accommodate the requirements of different formulations or products, blending tools may require changing when excessively worn. Many industrial applications require blending of abrasive particles such as pigments, colorants (including carbon black), and electrophotographic toners. The above procedures for changing a tool must be used whenever a worn tool requires replacement.
The relevance of the above description of blending tool 16 to the manufacture of electrophotographic, electrostatic or similar toners is demonstrated by the following description of a typical toner manufacturing process. A typical polymer based toner is produced by melt-mixing the heated polymer resin with a colorant in an extruder, such as a Weiner Pfleider ZSK-53 or WP-28 extruder, whereby the pigment is dispersed in the polymer. For example, the Werner Pfleiderer WP-28 extruder when equipped with a 15 horsepower motor is well-suited for melt-blending the resin, colorant, and additives. This extruder has a 28 mm barrel diameter and is considered semiworks-scale, running at peak throughputs of about 3 to 12 lbs./hour.
Toner colorants are particulate pigments or, alternatively, are dyes. Numerous colorants can be used in this process, including but not limited to:
Any suitable toner resin can be mixed with the colorant by the downstream injection of the colorant dispersion. Examples of suitable toner resins which can be used include but are not limited to polyamides, epoxies, diolefins, polyesters, polyurethanes, vinyl resins and polymeric esterification products of a dicarboxylic acid and a diol comprising a diphenol. Any suitable vinyl resin may be selected for the toner resins of the present application, including homopolymers or copolymers of two or more vinyl monomers. Typical vinyl monomeric units include: styrene, p-chlorostyrene, vinyl naphthalene, unsaturated mono-olefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, and isobutylene; vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, vinyl fluoride, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl butyrate, and the like; vinyl esters such as esters of monocarboxylic acids including methyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methylalphachloroacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and butyl methacrylate; acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylimide; vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, and the like; vinyl ketones such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone, methyl isopropenyl ketone and the like; vinylidene halides such as vinylidene chloride, vinylidene chlorofluoride and the like; and N-vinyl indole, N-vinyl pyrrolidene and the like; styrene butadiene copolymers, Pliolites, available from Goodyear Company, and mixtures thereof.
The resin or resins are generally present in the resin-toner mixture in an amount of from about 50 percent to about 100 percent by weight of the toner composition, and preferably from about 80 percent to about 100 percent by weight.
Additional “internal’ components of the toner may be added to the resin prior to mixing the toner with the additive. Alternatively, these components may be added during extrusion. Various known suitable effective charge control additives can be incorporated into toner compositions, such as quaternary ammonium compounds and alkyl pyridinium compounds, including cetyl pyridinium halides and cetyl pyridinium tetrafluoroborates, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,672, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, distearyl dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, and the like. Particularly preferred as a charge control agent is cetyl pyridinium chloride. The internal charge enhancing additives are usually present in the final toner composition in an amount of from about 1 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight.
After the resin, colorants, and internal additives have been extruded, the resin mixture is reduced in size by any suitable method including those known in the art. Such reduction is aided by the brittleness of most toners which causes the resin to fracture when impacted. This allows rapid particle size reduction in pulverizers or attritors such as media mills, jet mills, hammer mills, or similar devices. An example of a suitable hammer mill is an Alpine RTM Hammer Mill. Such a hammer mill is capable of reducing typical toner particles to a size of about 10 microns to about 30 microns. For color toners, toner particle sizes may average within an even smaller range of 4-10 microns.
After reduction of particle size by grinding or pulverizing, a classification process sorts the particles according to size. Particles classified as too large are typically fed back into the grinder or pulverizer for further reduction. Particles within the accepted range are passed onto the next toner manufacturing process.
After classification, the next typical process is a high speed blending process wherein surface additive particles are mixed with the classified toner particles within a high speed blender. These additives include but are not limited to stabilizers, waxes, flow agents, other toners and charge control additives. Specific additives suitable for use in toners include fumed silica, silicon derivatives such as Aerosil.RTM. R972, available from Degussa, Inc., ferric oxide, hydroxy terminated polyethylenes such as Unilin RTM., polyolefin waxes, which preferably are low molecular weight materials, including those with a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 20,000, and including polyethylenes and polypropylenes, polymethylmethacrylate, zinc stearate, chromium oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, stearic acid, and polyvinylidene fluorides such as Kynar. In aggregate these additives are typically present in amounts of from about 0.1 to about 1 percent by weight of toner particles. More specifically, zinc stearate shall preferably be present in an amount of from about 0.4 to about 0.6 weight percent. Similar amounts of Aerosi.RTM is preferred. For proper attachment and functionality, typical additive particle sizes range from 5 nanometers to 50 nanometers. Some newer toners require a greater number of additive particles than prior toners as well as a greater proportion of additives in the 25-50 nanometer range. When combined with smaller toner particle sizes required by color toners, the increased size and coverage of additive particles for some color toners creates increased need for high intensity blending.
The amount of external additives is measured in terms of percentage by weight of the toner composition, and the additives themselves are not included when calculating the percentage composition of the toner. For example, a toner composition containing a resin, a colorant, and an external additive may comprise 80 percent by weight resin and 20 percent by weight colorant. The amount of external additive present is reported in terms of its percent by weight of the combined resin and colorant.
The above additives are typically added to the pulverized toner particles in a high speed blender such as a Henschel Blender FM-10, 75 or 600 blender. The high intensity blending serves to break additive agglomerates into the appropriate nanometer size, evenly distribute the smallest possible additive particles within the toner batch, and attach the smaller additive particles to toner particles. Each of these processes occurs concurrently within the blender. Additive particles become attached to the surface of the pulverized toner particles during collisions between particles and between particles and the blending tool as it rotates. It is believed that such attachment between toner particles and surface additives occurs due to both mechanical impaction and electrostatic attractions. The amount of such attachments is proportional to the intensity level of blending which, in turn, is a function of both the speed and shape (particularly size) of the blending tool. The amount of time used for the blending process plus the intensity determines how much energy is applied during the blending process. For this purpose, “intensity” means the number of particle collisions per unit of time. For an efficient blending tool that avoids snow plowing and excessive vortices and low density regions, “intensity” can be effectively measured by reference to the power per unit mass (typically expressed as W/lb) of the blending motor driving the blending tool. Using a standard Henschel Blender tool to manufacture conventional toners, the blending times typically range from one (1) minute to twenty (20) minutes per typical batch of 60-1000 kilograms. For certain more recent toners such as toners for Xerox Docucenter 265 and related multifunctional printers, blending speed and times are increased in order to assure that multiple layers of surface additives become attached to the toner particles. Additionally, for those toners that require a greater proportion of additive particles in excess of 25 nanometers, more blending speed and time is required to force the larger additives into the base resin particles.
The process of manufacturing toners is completed by a screening process to remove toner agglomerates and other large debris. Such screening operation may typically be performed using a Sweco Turbo screen set to 37 to 105 micron openings.
The above description of a process to manufacture an electrophotographic toner may be varied depending upon the requirements of particular toners. In particular, for full process color printing, colorants typically comprise yellow, cyan, magenta, and black colorants added to separate dispersions for each color toner. Colored toner typically comprises much smaller particle size than black toner, in the order of 4-10 microns. The smaller particle size makes the manufacturing of the toner more difficult with regard to material handling, classification and blending.
The above general description of a process for making electrophotographic toners is well known in the art. More information concerning methods and apparatus for manufacture of toner are available in the following U.S. patents, and each of the disclosures of which are incorporated herein: U. S. Pat. No. 4,338,380 issued to Erickson, et al; U. S. Pat. No. 4,298,672 issued to Chin; U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,493 issued to Jadwin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,293 issued to Mincer, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,465 issued to Ziobrowski; U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,014 issued to Burness, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,430 issued to Jadwin, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,040 issued to Niimura, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,003 issued to Kiriu, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,308 issued to Mahabadi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,157 issued to Haack, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,439 issued to Chang et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,962 issued to Anderson, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,079 issued to Higuchi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,751 issued to Bertrand et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,132 issued to Ott et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,034 issued to Proper et al.: and U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,079 issued to Tompson et al.
As described above, the process of blending plays an increasingly important role in the manufacture of electrophotographic and similar toners. It would be advantageous if an apparatus and method were found to accelerate the blending process and to thereby diminish the time and cost required for blending. Similarly, since different formulations and products often require different blending speed and intensities, it would be advantageous if an apparatus and method were found to allow a single blending tool to be reconfigured in situ for various blending intensities rather than requiring cleaning, removal, and replacement of the entire blending tool for each required change in intensity. Lastly, it would be advantageous to create an improved toner having a greater quantity of surface additives than heretofore manufactured and having such additives adhere to toner particles with greater force than heretofore manufactured.
A process for making toners, comprising: mixing a toner resin and a colorant; extruding the resin and colorant mixture; attriting the resin and colorant mixture; classifying the attrited particles into particles averaging sizes within a range between 4 to about 10 microns in size; and blending sufficient surface additive particles averaging less than about 50 nanometers in size with the classified particles in a high intensity blender such that the weight of surface additives that become attached is greater than two (2) percent of the weight of the classified particles and such that the blending is intense enough to yield Additive Adhesion Force Distribution percent values after 10 minutes of sonification and 12 kilojoules of energy greater than 40 percent.
One aspect of the present invention is an improved process for making toners, comprising: mixing a toner resin and a colorant; extruding the resin and colorant mixture; attriting the resin and colorant mixture; classifying the attrited particles into particles averaging 4 to 10 micron in size; and blending sufficient surface additive particles and the classified particles in a high intensity blender for at least 10 minutes such that the weight of attached surface additives is greater than three (3) percent of the weight of the classified particles.
Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connection with its preferred embodiments and methods of use, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments and method of use. On the contrary, the following description is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
One aspect of the present invention is creation of a blending tool capable of generating more intensity (collisions/unit of time) than heretofore possible. This increased intensity is the result of an enlarged collision surface employing an aerodynamic-like shape that enables enlargement of the collision profile while minimizing vortices and particle voids in the zone behind the rotating blending tool. The combination of a larger collision profile and minimization of voids and vortices behind the tool result in more collisions per unit of time, or intensity. Such increase of intensity allows blending time to be decreased, thereby saving batch costs and increasing productivity.
Accordingly, a blending tool 50 of the present invention is shown in
For clarity, the portion of collision anvil 55 that adds to the profile of the tool can be considered its “leading surface” and is labeled 57 in FIG. 3. This is the surface that most directly impacts the particle media. The portion of collision anvil 55 to the rear of the leading surface can be considered its “trailing surface” and is labeled 56 in FIG. 3. Using the arcurately shaped trailing surface of the present invention, it is possible to increase the height, or y-axis dimension, of the collision anvil to exceed (even by a factor greater than 2 or 3) the depth, or z-axis dimension, of center shank 51 in the region proximate to where collision anvil 55 is attached. It is also possible to increase the width, or x-axis dimension, of collision anvil 55 to a width that exceeds (even by a factor greater than 1.5 or 2) the height, or y-axis, of center shank 51 in the region of center shank 51 proximate to where collision plate 35 is attached. For a large collision anvil 55, it is preferred that collision anvil 55 be hollow or comprised of a relatively thin plate in order to reduce its weight. Specifically, it is preferable that the leading surface of collision anvil 55 or other enlarged collision element of the present invention be less than one-half inch thick and preferably as thin as {fraction (3/16)} inch thick.
It should be recognized that application of the above design principles enables any number of designs, including the design discussed below relating to use of adjustable and spaced apart collision plates. Although the preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention comprises an arcurate shape over the entire trailing and leading surfaces, it may be possible to achieve an acceptable result using a negative slope over less than all (perhaps approximately one-half) of the entire trailing surface. It also preferred that most or all of the leading surface have an arcurate shape. The larger the profile of the collision surface, the larger the proportion of the trailing surface that must be negatively sloped in order to achieve the effects of the present invention.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a blending tool that allows reconfiguration of the effective collision surface size and profile without removal of the entire tool. Referring to
Connecting mechanism 33 can assume any number of arrangements long as it allows adjustment of the profile of the tool. In the embodiment shown, mechanism 33 allows arm 34A to pivot about the axis of center shank 31. In effect, mechanism 33 forms an articulator hinge that allows arm 34A to assume any number of angles in relation to center shank 31. This articulator hinge is a simple bolt and nut fastener that can be loosened and tightened with standard tools such as socket wrenches. Any number of other articulator hinges are possible as long as they allow arm 34A to pivot when the hinge is loosened and to be held rigidly in place once the hinge is tightened.
An example of an alternate embodiment of an articulator hinge 33 is shown in FIG. 5. The embodiment shown in
It should be recognized that may alternate designs for reconfigurable tools are possible. For instance, the above description of a leading edge flap could accomplish this purpose. Similarly, a movable collision surface, preferably a collision plate, could be connected directly to the center shank without an arm to provide spaced apart separation between the surface and the center shank. Although many such variations are possible, however, the preferred embodiment comprises an arm and a spaced apart collision plate as described above in relation to
The advantages of the reconfigurable blending tool of the present invention is made clear when the adjustment procedures are compared to the procedures necessary to change-out the non-adjustable tooling of the prior art. The conventional procedures are described above-and require, among other steps, cleaning of the blending vessel and tool to gain access to the lock mechanism of the drive shaft of the blending machine followed by typical use of a crane or hoist to lift the tool out of the vessel. In contrast, the comparable process for altering the configuration of the blending tool of the present invention is as follows (numbers are in reference to FIG. 1 and
In sum, blending tool 16 of the present invention with its articulator hinge enables significant time, safety,; and productivity savings. Among, the advantages are: 1) elimination of the need for a crane or hoist, thereby saving time (especially if such crane or hoist is not immediately available) as well as a requirement for expensive supplementary equipment such as a hoist; 2) human operators do not need to simultaneously position and fasten during removal of the old tools and placement of the new tool; and 3) cleaning tasks are greatly curtailed and simplified since the entire tool need not be cleaned for replacement, handling, or storage. Cleaning of vessel 10 is also lessened and shaft 14 need not be cleaned at all. Lastly, it is obviously less expensive to be able to use a single flexible blending tool for various formulations and products than to require an inventory of tools which must be substituted each time a formulation or product requires a different tool configuration.
The flexibility of the blending tool of the present invention is demonstrated in
Yet another aspect of the present invention is an improved toner with a greater quantity of surface additives and with greater adhesion of these additive particles to the toner particles. As discussed above, newer color toner particles are in the range of 6-10 microns, which is smaller than previous monochrome toner particles. Additionally, whereas prior art toners typically have surface additives attached to toner particles at less than 1% weight percent, newer color toners require more robust flow aids, charge control, and other qualities contributed by surface additives. Accordingly, the size of surface additive particles is desired to be increased into the 30 to 50 nanometer range. The combination of smaller toner particles and larger surface additive particles makes attachment of increased amounts of additives more difficult.
In order to measure the adhesive force of surface additives to toner particles, a measurement technique is required. Such a technique is disclosed in patent applications titled “Method for Additive Adhesion Force Partcle Analysis and Apparatus Thereof”, U.S. Ser. No. 09/680,066, filed on Oct. 5, 2000, and “Method for Additive Adhesion Force Partcle Analysis and Apparatus Thereof”, U.S. Ser. No. 09/680,048, filed on Oct. 5, 2000. The technique taught in such applications yields a value known as an “Additive Adhesion Force Distribution” (“AAFD”) value. Both applications are hereby incorporated by reference. In effect, AAFD value is a measure of how well a surface additive sticks to a toner particle even after being blasted with intense sonic energy. As specifically applied to the improved toners herein, the AAFD measurement technique comprises the following:
Stage 1—Stirring
1. Weigh approx. 2.6 g toner into 100 ml Beaker
2. Add 40 ml 0.4% Triton-X solution
3. Stir for 5 min. in 4 station automated stirrer (Start at ˜20K rpm, slowly increase to 30K-40K-50K rpm)
4. Check for non-wetted particles, re-stir if necessary.
Stage 2—Sonification (4 horn setup)
1. Sonify at 3 kJ, 6 kJ and 12 kJ in sonifier model Sonica Vibra Cell Model VCX 750 made by Sonics and Materials, Inc. using four (4) ⅝ inch horns at frequency of 19.95 kHz.
2. Horns are matched and calibrated for each energy level. For 3 kJ, the time is 2.5 to 3.0 minutes; for 6 kJ, time is 5.0 to 6.0 minutes; and for 12 kJ, time is 10.0-12.0 minutes.
3. Horn should be 2 mm from beaker bottom.
4. Transfer to labeled disposable 50 ml Centrifuge Tube (Pour ½ in, swirl, pour remainder in, add distilled water to bring solution to 45 ml.)
5. Centrifuge immediately
Stage 3—Centrifuging
1. Centrifuge at 2000 rpm for 3 min.
2. Decant supernatant liquid, add 40 ml distilled water, shake well. (add 10 ml Triton-X solution if necessary)
3. Centrifuge at 2000 rpm for 3 min.
4. Decant supernatant liquid, add 40 ml DI, shake well
5. Centrifuge at 2000 rpm for 3 min.
6. Decant supernatant liquid, add very small amount of distilled water. Re-disperse w/spatula.
Stage 4—Filtering
1. Turn on filtration machine with wet Whatman #5 Filter
2. Rinse spatula with distilled water onto filter center; pour rinse slowly into center of filter; rinse 1 or 2 times with squirt of distilled water; pour rinse onto filter slowly, rinse with 10 ml distilled water; pour rinse onto filter
3. Turn off filter machine
4. Remove filter and dry overnight on top of oven in hood.
Stage 5—Grinding/Pellet Press
1. Transfer Toner to weighing paper by turning filter over and tapping filter with spatula without scraping filter.
2. Curl weighing paper and pour sample into plastic grinder container.
3. Grind for 4-5 min.
4. Press into pellets
Stage 6—Compute AAFD Value
Analyze by Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (WDXRF) to compare percent of remaining surface additives (particularly SiO2 and TiO2) to percent of additives in non-sonified control pellets. The ratio equals the AAFD value expressed as a percent. WDXRF works because each additive such as SiO2 can be detected by its characteristic frequency.
A series of Pareto analyses confirms that when AAFD values are computed for variations of blend intensity, blend energy (speed of tool), and amount of additives, the factor that most influences AAFD values is blend intensity. The second ranking factor is minimization of the amount of additives present. However, as discussed above, a goal of the improved toner of the present invention is both an increase in adhesion and an increase in the total quantity of additives. As such, an improved blending tool offering increased blend intensity is a prime factor in achieving the improved toner of the present invention.
A second set of Pareto analyses corroborates the importance of blend intensities and the relevance of AAFD values. In the second set of analyses, the ability of toner particles to flow easily without sticking together was measured in relation to blend intensity, blend energy, and the total quantity of additives. Certain surface additives such as silica are added to toner particles to ameliorate this tendency to stick together, or “cohesion”, of toner particles. In the second set of Pareto analyses, blend intensity is again found to be the most significant factor in ameliorating the cohesion tendency of toners. The second most important factor is the quantity of additive particles. This is not surprising since the characteristic of certain additive particles is to decrease cohesion forces.
It is believed that blend intensity is the most important factor for AAFD values and for minimization of cohesion between toner particles both because blend intensity leads to greater mechanical and electrostatic adhesion between surface additive particles and toner particles and because the greater the blend intensity, the more even the distribution of additve particles around the surface of toner particles.
Turning now to
The results are consistent with the above described Pareto analyses. Specifically, where blending is most intense and the quantity of surface additives is smallest (the curve with round data points), then the AAFD values are highest. Where blend intensity is least but surface additive quantities are greatest (the square-surrounding-circle data points), then AAFD values are lowest. Since both high AAFD values and high quantities of surface additives are desired, then a preferred embodiment of the improved toner made using high intensity blending is represented by the curve with diamond data points, i.e. a toner comprising 4 to 10 micron toner particles having greater than 4 percent by weight of surface additives that average more than 30 nanometers, such toner yielding MFD values in excess of 40 percent after 10 minutes of sonification at 12 kJ of energy. Such high additive quantities and high AAFD values are achievable using the high intensity blending of the present invention.
In summary, the blending tool of the present invention includes a collision plate, arcurate surfaces, and articulator hinge. When compared to known blending tools in the prior art, the present invention permits higher blend intensity than heretofore possible without snow plow compaction in front of the tool or vortices and voids in the wake of the tool. Additionally, the articulator hinge of the present invention enable a single blending tool of the present invention to assume a wide variety of different configurations, each enabling a different level of blend intensity as may be required by different formulations and products. Together, these improvements of the present invention enable greater blend intensity and overall productivity as well as savings in tool and inventory cost, time, and safety. When these advantages are applied to the manufacture of toners, substantial cost savings result. Moreover, the high intensity blending of the present invention yields an improved toner composition having greater quantities of surface additives than heretofore known and with greater adhesion between surface additives and toner particles.
It is, therefore, evident that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a blending tool and toner particles that fully satisfies the aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with several embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
This is a Divisonal of patent application Ser. No. 10/024,196, filed on Dec. 21, 2001 by the same inventor, and claims priority therefrom. This divisional application is being filed in response to a restriction requirement in that prior application. Attention is directed to commonly owned and assigned copending Applications Nos.: U.S. Ser. No. 09/748,920, filed Dec. 27, 2000 entitled “BLENDING TOOL WITH AN ENLARGED COLLISION SURFACE FOR INCREASED BLEND INTENSITY AND METHOD OF BLENDING TONERS” and U.S. Ser. No. 09/749,059, filed Dec. 27, 2000 entitled “BLENDING TOOL WITH AN ADJUSTABLE COLLISION PROFILE AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING THE COLLISION PROFILE”.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3944493 | Jadwin et al. | Mar 1976 | A |
| 4007293 | Mincer et al. | Feb 1977 | A |
| 4054465 | Ziobrowski | Oct 1977 | A |
| 4079014 | Burness et al. | Mar 1978 | A |
| 4298672 | Lu | Nov 1981 | A |
| 4338380 | Erickson et al. | Jul 1982 | A |
| 4394430 | Jadwin et al. | Jul 1983 | A |
| 4433040 | Niimura et al. | Feb 1984 | A |
| 4845003 | Kiriu et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
| 4894308 | Mahabadi et al. | Jan 1990 | A |
| 4937157 | Haack et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
| 4937439 | Wanninger et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
| 5370962 | Anderson et al. | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5624079 | Higuchi et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5714299 | Combes et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
| 5716751 | Bertrand et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
| 5763132 | Ott et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5874034 | Proper et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
| 5998079 | Thompson et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6245474 | Hsu et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6599673 | Kumar et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20030211416 A1 | Nov 2003 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10024196 | Dec 2001 | US |
| Child | 10461669 | US |
