JP2011110512A - Powder dispersion device, classification apparatus, classification method, and method for manufacturing toner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder classification apparatus and a classification method by which classification precision is improved and stabilized and particles within a needed size range are separated at a high yield without deposition of a powder material in the classification apparatus for a long duration and also a method for manufacturing a toner. <P>SOLUTION: The powder dispersion device is for dispersing powder agglomerates and comprises a dispersion chamber having a supply port for supplying a powder containing powder agglomerates and a discharge port for discharging the powder and a gas jetting means installed in the dispersion chamber, so that the powder dispersion device disperses the powder agglomerates by shear force of gas current generated by the gas jetting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder dispersion device, a classification device, a classification method, and a toner manufacturing method.

  Conventionally, a rotary mechanical classifier for separating a micron-order powder material into coarse powder and fine powder is known. Such a rotary mechanical classifier is composed of a mechanism that performs centrifugal separation using the centrifugal force of a rotating rotor that rotates a powder material. In the rotary mechanical classifier, a plurality of rotating rotors each having a plurality of blades arranged in an annular shape, and a plurality of fluids for supplying fluid for dispersing and classifying the powder material from the outer periphery of the rotor are provided. The blades are composed of a louver disposed on the outer periphery of the rotor and a cylindrical classification chamber for centrifugally classifying the powder material supplied to the gap between the rotary rotor and the louver into fine powder and coarse powder. The powder material supplied to the classification chamber in the gap between the rotary rotor and the louver is affected by the flow sucked from the inside of the rotary rotor in which a plurality of blades are arranged in an annular shape and the flow of the rotary rotor. The powder material is separated into the powder material guided to the inside of the rotary rotor and the powder material guided to the outside of the rotary rotor according to the balance of the force received by the powder particles, and discharged to the fine powder outlet or the coarse powder outlet. The powder material is separated into coarse powder and fine powder.

Here, the configuration and operation of a conventional rotary mechanical classifier will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional rotary mechanical classifier. In FIG. 1, 1 is a supply port to which a powder material is supplied, 2 is an air supply port for efficiently classifying the supplied powder material, and 3 is a coarse portion of the classified powder material. A coarse powder outlet for discharging powder, 4 indicates a fine powder outlet for discharging fine powder out of the classified powder material, and 5 indicates a rotating rotor. In addition, the whole classification apparatus main body consists of a substantially cylindrical housing | casing.

  In the conventional classifying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, first, a certain amount of powder material is supplied from the powder material supply port 1, and then the supplied powder material rotates radially from the upper surface of the rotary rotor 5. It is guided to the outer periphery of the rotor 5 and reaches the classification chamber 7. At this time, air for guiding the supplied powder material to the classification chamber 7 is supplied from the classification air supply port 2. On the other hand, when suction is performed by a suction device (not shown) such as a suction fan communicating with the fine powder discharge port 4, the supplied powder material passes through the fine powder discharge chamber 9 from the through hole 13 inside the rotary rotor 5, and is fine powder. Head to the outlet 4. At this time, since the rotary rotor 5 is rotating, fine powder having a desired particle diameter or less is discharged from the fine powder discharge port 4, but powder material larger than the desired particle diameter is rotated by the centrifugal force of the rotary rotor 5. It is guided to the outside of the rotor 5 and discharged from the coarse powder outlet 3 through the coarse powder discharge chamber 8. Since the amount of the powder material inside the classification chamber 7 decreases, if the powder material is supplied from the powder material supply port 1 and set so that the amount of the powder material inside the classification chamber 7 is always constant. Continuous classification is possible.

  Thus, continuous classification is possible in a conventional rotary mechanical classifier. In order to classify the desired particle size, it is necessary to always provide an even balance of force to the powder material in the classification chamber. It is difficult to provide an even balance of force, and this is one of the causes that reduce the classification efficiency.

By the way, in recent years, with respect to the toner, a toner having a small particle size distribution which is excellent in dot reproducibility with little dot fluctuation in the development process and the transfer process is demanded due to a demand for high image quality. Therefore, as a toner manufacturing apparatus, a toner having a particle diameter of 2 μm or less is classified accurately, and a toner having a particle diameter of 3 to 4 μm is efficiently collected on the product side, so that a toner having an average particle diameter of about 5 μm can be obtained with high yield. There is a need for a device that can handle the above.
In recent years, toners that are easily adhered and fused have been used due to the following requirements. That is, (1) low-temperature fixing of toner from the viewpoint of reducing energy consumption, (2) use of a low softening point binder resin for color toners, and (3) separation corresponding to oil-less fixing. There is a need for a toner containing a mold.
Among these toner distributions, particularly toners having a particle size of 2 μm or less cause side effects such as heat-resistant storage stability, background contamination, and filming on the photoreceptor, and there is a problem of reducing mixing into the toner. Therefore, a toner having a sharp classification distribution from which toner having a particle diameter of 2 μm or less is removed is demanded.

  Thus, in order to classify a powder material with a small particle size distribution with high adhesion, such as toner, with high accuracy, it is necessary to always provide an even balance of force to the powder material in the classification chamber. However, since the air does not flow smoothly due to the adhesion of the powder material in the classification device, it becomes difficult to balance the powder material in the classification chamber with an equal force, and this is one of the causes of reducing the classification accuracy. It is connected.

  As an apparatus for improving the classification efficiency, for example, in a rotary mechanical classifier disclosed in Patent Document 1, a raw material powder is swirled by rotating an impeller type classification rotor, for example, around a vertical axis. In addition, by flowing classification air from the classification space formed on the outer peripheral side of the classification rotor toward the inner side in the radial direction of the classification rotor, the fine powder in the raw material powder has a conveying force due to the airflow rather than the centrifugal force accompanying rotation. Because it is large, it rides on the classification air flow and passes through the classification blade. On the other hand, the coarse powder is blown to the outside because of the greater centrifugal force due to rotation, so it cannot pass through the classification blade. And coarse powder.

  In addition, in the rotary mechanical classifier disclosed in Patent Document 2, two impeller-type classifying rotors are coaxially arranged in one casing, and raw material powder is placed on the outer circumference of each of the two classifying rotors. The fine powder discharged from the fine powder discharge section of the classification rotor on the front stage is made fine, the fine powder discharged from the fine powder discharge section of the classification rotor on the rear stage is made medium and coarse. A classifier for toner is proposed in which the coarse powder discharged from the powder discharge unit is classified into coarse powder, the raw material powder such as toner is classified into three categories of fine powder, medium powder and coarse powder, and this medium powder is used as a toner product. ing.

  However, in the above classifier, if the coarse powder is mixed in the fine powder after classification, or if the fine powder is mixed in the coarse powder, the classification accuracy and the product yield are lowered. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize such mixing.

Further, in the classifier disclosed in Patent Document 3, the suction pressure of the outlet pipe is made lower than the classifier internal pressure, so that the adhesion on the discharge pipe is eliminated, and as a result, there is no adhesion of toner in the classifier. It is said that excellent classification accuracy can be obtained.
However, the use of the classifier with the above configuration reduces adhesion of toner in the classifier, and stable classification accuracy can be obtained even for a long time operation, but it is insufficient in terms of improvement of classification accuracy and product yield. It is.

Moreover, in the above classifier, if the coarse powder is mixed in the fine powder after classification, or if the fine powder is mixed in the coarse powder, the classification accuracy and the product yield are lowered. Therefore, in order to minimize such contamination, classification is performed. It has been proposed to disperse agglomerates of powder material before being fed into the apparatus.
For example, in the powder dispersion apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 4, powder supplied from a supply port to a collision member provided in a powder dispersion container by a plurality of gas injection means provided on a side wall On the other hand, by injecting gas in the direction toward the collision member, the powder material containing the powder aggregate can be made to collide with the collision member and be sufficiently dispersed.
However, when the powder dispersing apparatus having the above configuration is used, the dispersibility of the powder material is improved and the powder agglomerates are reduced, so that the classification accuracy and the product yield are improved. Since the powder material adheres to and the collision force when the powder material collides with the collision member is reduced, the dispersion ability becomes insufficient, and the improvement of classification accuracy and product yield cannot be maintained for a long time.

In the powder dispersion device disclosed in Patent Document 5, the supplied powder is swirled in the dispersion container by the swirling flow of the gas in the powder dispersion container formed by the swirling flow forming means, The powder agglomerates collide with the inner peripheral surface of the dispersion container due to the centrifugal force imparted by the swirling, and are dispersed by the collision force. Because it moves to the discharge side by the flow, dynamic friction force is applied to the powder aggregate from the inner peripheral surface of the dispersion container, and the powder aggregate that was not dispersed by the collision with the inner peripheral surface of the dispersion container is also dispersed. It is supposed to be possible.
However, even if the powder dispersing apparatus having the above-described configuration is used, the swirling flow reduces the adhesion of the powder material to the inner peripheral surface of the dispersing container, but is insufficient to improve the classification accuracy and the product yield. This is because as the supply amount of the powder material increases, the proportion of the powder that moves to the discharge side while turning inside the dispersion container without contacting the inner peripheral surface increases and is applied from the inner peripheral surface. In the case of powder materials that are not sufficiently obtained, and once dispersed by collision with the inner peripheral surface of the dispersion vessel, the probability of contact between the powder materials increases, so that the agglomeration occurs again. The effect is not obtained. Therefore, with the above configuration, it is difficult to obtain stable classification accuracy and product yield over a long period of time, and there is room for improvement.
Therefore, in the above configuration, it is difficult to obtain a stable classification accuracy and product yield over a long period due to adhesion of the powder material, and there is still room for improvement.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems and achieve the following objects. That is, according to the present invention, there is no adhesion of the powder material in the classifier for a long period of time, and the improvement and stability of the classification accuracy can be achieved, and particles in a required size range are separated in a high yield. An object of the present invention is to provide a powder dispersion device, a classification device and a classification method, and a toner production method.

Means for solving the problems are as follows. That is,
<1> A powder dispersion apparatus for dispersing powder agglomerates, the dispersion chamber having a supply port for supplying powder containing the powder agglomerates and a discharge port for discharging the powder And a gas jetting means provided in the dispersion chamber, wherein the powder aggregate is dispersed by the shearing force of the air flow generated by the gas jetting means.
<2> The gas ejection unit is the powder dispersion apparatus according to <1>, wherein the gas ejection unit is arranged so that collision between airflows occurs.
<3> The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <1> to <2>, wherein the gas jetting unit is arranged so that convection is generated as an air flow.
<4> The gas ejection unit is the powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <1> to <3>, which is provided on a wall surface having a supply port.
<5> The discharge port is the powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <1> to <4>, which is provided at a position facing the supply port.
<6> The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <1> to <5>, further including an inclined surface having an inner diameter that continuously increases from the discharge port toward the gas jet port of the gas jetting unit.
<7> The gas ejection means is provided on a wall surface of a dispersion chamber provided with a supply port, and is any one of the items <1> to <6>, which is a tubular structure extending in a direction perpendicular to the wall surface. Is a powder dispersion apparatus.
<8> The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <6> to <7>, wherein an air flow is ejected from the gas ejection unit toward the inclined surface.
<9> The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <6> to <8>, wherein an angle α formed by the inclined surface and the opening of the discharge port is 40 degrees to 60 degrees.
<10> The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein the plurality of gas ejection units provided in the dispersion chamber are formed in a nozzle shape.
<11> The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <1> to <10>, wherein the gas outlets of the plurality of gas ejection means provided in the dispersion chamber are formed toward the inside of the dispersion chamber. is there.
<12> The angle β formed by the axis along the longitudinal direction of the gas ejection unit and the gas ejection port of the gas ejection unit is 90 ° to 180 °, according to any one of <1> to <11>. It is a powder dispersion device.
<13> The powder dispersion according to any one of <1> to <12>, wherein the gas ejection ports of the plurality of gas ejection means provided in the dispersion chamber have a mechanism that can be adjusted to an arbitrary position. Device.
<14> The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of <1> to <13>, wherein an inner wall surface of the dispersion chamber is formed of a porous member, and a trace amount of gas is ejected from the porous member.
<15> The powder disperser according to any one of <1> to <14>, wherein a plurality of gas ejection units are provided.
<16> Four gas ejection means are provided on the concentric circle of the wall surface provided with the supply port of the dispersion chamber, and the straight line connecting the four gas ejection means is a square. > To <15>.
<17> A classifying apparatus comprising: a dispersing unit for dispersing powder containing powder agglomerates; and a classifying unit for classifying the powder dispersed by the dispersing unit, wherein the dispersing unit Is a powder dispersing apparatus according to any one of <1> to <16>.
<18> A classification method using the classification apparatus according to <17>.
<19> A toner production method comprising at least a step of classifying powder using the classification device according to <17>.
<20> When the length from the wall surface where the supply port of the dispersion chamber is provided to the inclined surface is H1, and the length in the longitudinal direction of the gas ejection means is H2, H2 / H1 is 0.7 to 1. The powder disperser according to any one of <1> to <16>, which is 0.
<21> The diameter according to any one of <1> to <16>, wherein D1 / D2 is 1.2 to 2.0 when the dispersion chamber has a diameter D1 and a distance D2 from the plurality of gas ejection units. It is a powder dispersion device.

  According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems in the prior art can be solved, and there is no adhesion of the powder material in the classification device for a long period of time, and improvement and stability of classification accuracy can be achieved, and the required size. It is possible to provide a powder dispersion device, a classification device and a classification method, and a toner production method capable of separating particles in the above range with high yield.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a classification device. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view showing an example of the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the powder dispersion apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of another embodiment of the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of another embodiment of the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the case where the powder aggregate is sheared due to the difference in velocity of the airflow. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an example in which powder aggregates are sheared by different airflow directions. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an example of another embodiment of the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of another embodiment of the powder dispersing apparatus of the present invention.

(Powder disperser)
A powder dispersion apparatus according to the present invention includes a dispersion chamber having a supply port for supplying powder containing powder agglomerates and a discharge port for discharging powder, and gas jetting means provided in the dispersion chamber. The dispersion chamber preferably includes an inclined surface having an inner diameter that continuously increases from the discharge port toward the gas discharge port of the gas discharge means.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the powder dispersion device of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the powder dispersion device shown in FIG.
The powder dispersion device includes a supply port 20 through which powder material is supplied, a dispersion chamber 21 for efficiently dispersing the supplied powder material, and gas ejection means 22 provided inside the dispersion chamber 21. The dispersed powder is discharged, and a discharge port 23 provided at a position facing the supply port 20 is provided. Each gas ejection means 22 is provided on the wall surface having the supply port 20, and is arranged so that airflow is ejected to the inclined surface 211 side so that convection is generated and the airflows collide with each other, and the supply port 20 is provided. It has a tubular structure extending in a direction perpendicular to the wall surface in the dispersion chamber.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispersion chamber 21 includes an inclined surface 211 whose inner diameter continuously increases from the discharge port 23 toward the gas jet port of the gas jet means 20. By providing the inclined surface 211, convection can be generated in the dispersion chamber 21 as an air flow.

  The angle α (inclination angle) formed between the inclined surface 211 and the opening 231 of the discharge port 23 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately changed according to the purpose of use. The angle α formed is 40 degrees to 60 degrees. It is preferably 45 ° to 60 °, more preferably 50 ° to 60 °. If the angle α is less than 40 degrees, the powder material supplied in the apparatus may stay and adhere to the inclined surface, and if it exceeds 60 degrees, the air current is efficiently convected in the dispersion chamber. It may not be possible to

  The relationship between the length H1 from the wall surface where the supply port 20 of the dispersion chamber 21 is provided to the inclined surface 211 and the length H2 in the longitudinal direction of the gas ejection means 22 is not particularly limited and depends on the purpose of use. The ratio H2 / H1 is preferably 0.70 to 1.00, more preferably 0.80 to 0.95, and 0.85 to 0.90. Is particularly preferred. When the H2 / H1 is less than 0.70, the powder aggregate once dispersed may be re-aggregated because it is far from the discharge port 23, and when it exceeds 1.00, the inclined surface 211 The air velocity at which the powder aggregates collide with each other may decrease.

  The shapes of the supply port 20, the dispersion chamber 21, the gas ejection means 22, and the discharge port 23 in the powder dispersion device are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and a polygonal shape. A circular shape is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of preventing the powder material from adhering to the inside of the powder dispersing apparatus due to flow stagnation during continuous operation and from the viewpoint of easy processing.

  A plurality of the gas ejection means 22 can be installed in the dispersion chamber 21 depending on the type of powder material to be dispersed and the supply amount per hour. By installing a plurality of the gas jetting means 22 on the wall surface where the supply port 20 is provided, the shearing force due to the air flow generated by the gas jetting means 22 can be changed to an optimum condition, so that it is even more reliable. Powder agglomerates can be dispersed.

  The relationship between the diameter D1 of the dispersion chamber 21 and the distance D2 between the plurality of gas ejection means 22 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately changed according to the purpose of use, but D1 / D2 is 1.2 to 2.0 is preferable, 1.5 to 2.0 is more preferable, and 1.8 to 2.0 is particularly preferable. If the D1 / D2 is less than 1.2, the gas jetting means 22 are separated from each other, so that the airflow speed at which the powder aggregates collide with each other may be reduced. The air flow from the gas ejection means 22 toward the supply port 20 becomes large, and the powder material may not be supplied smoothly.

As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, since the air flow 30 ejected from the gas ejection port 24 of the gas ejection means 22 in the dispersion chamber 21 is in convection, the air flows 30 collide with each other in the dispersion chamber 21. Or touch. At that time, shear force of the air current is generated. The powder agglomerates supplied from the supply port 20 collide with the airflow 30 colliding in the dispersion chamber, and are dispersed by the shear force (collision force) of the airflow at that time. Further, the collided particles are moved to the discharge port 23 side by the air flow, and the particles that are not dispersed by the collision of the powder aggregates are also dispersed by the shearing force applied by the air flow at the discharge port 23 at this time. The In addition, some of the collided particles are lifted up to the supply port side by the collided airflow, and then dispersed by the collision of the powders by the airflow that collides with the airflow again. Things can be dispersed. Further, since the powder dispersion device includes the inclined surface 211, the convection of gas in the dispersion chamber 21 is promoted, and the powder aggregate can be dispersed effectively.
As the shearing force of the airflow, the shearing force due to the collision of the opposing airflows 30, the shearing force due to the contact of the airflows 30 having different speeds as shown in FIG. 6, and the airflows with different traveling directions as shown in FIG. 7. 30 shear force due to contact.

The ejection speed of the air current ejected from the gas ejection port 24 is preferably 10 m / s to 40 m / s, more preferably 10 m / s to 30 m / s, and particularly preferably 10 m / s to 20 m / s. When the ejection speed is less than 10 m / s, the impact force between the powder materials becomes small, so that the powder agglomerates cannot be sufficiently dispersed, and the classification efficiency may be reduced. When s is exceeded, the amount of the powder material that is lifted by the airflow that collided in the dispersion chamber 21 increases, and the residence time in the dispersion chamber 21 increases, so that the probability of contact between the powder materials increases. Therefore, there is a possibility that the re-aggregation and the classification efficiency are lowered.
The gas ejected from the gas ejection port 24 of the gas ejection means 22 is not particularly limited as long as it does not react with the powder containing the powder aggregate supplied from the supply port 20, and for example, air, nitrogen, etc. In particular, air is preferable.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the powder dispersion apparatus, the gas ejection port 24 of the gas ejection means 22 may be installed toward the inside of the dispersion chamber 21. By doing so, it is possible to increase the velocity of the colliding airflow formed by the ejected gas, to increase the collision force between the powder aggregates, and more reliably to the powder aggregates Can be dispersed.
The angle β formed by the axis along the longitudinal direction of the gas ejection means 22 and the gas ejection port 24 can be appropriately changed according to the purpose of use, but is preferably 90 ° to 180 °, preferably 90 ° to 150 °. The degree is more preferable, and 90 to 120 degrees is particularly preferable. When the angle β formed is less than 90 degrees, the air flow from the gas ejection means to the inlet becomes large, and the powder material may not be supplied smoothly. When the angle β exceeds 180 degrees, the ejection opening of the gas ejection means Since they are not opposed to each other, the airflow speed at which the powder aggregates collide with each other may decrease.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface of the dispersion chamber 21 is formed of a porous member 25, and a small amount of gas is ejected from the porous member 25, so that the powder aggregate adhered to and deposited on the wall surface is formed. Since it is possible to prevent the powder from being discharged from the dispersion chamber 21 without being dispersed, the powder aggregate can be more reliably dispersed.

  In addition, if there exists the conditions which generate | occur | produce the shear force of an airflow, the form of the said powder dispersion apparatus will not be specifically limited, For example, a form as shown in FIG.8 and FIG.9 may be sufficient.

(Classification device)
As shown in FIG. 1, the classification device of the present invention includes a rotatable rotating rotor 5 having a plurality of blades arranged in an annular shape, and is provided inside the rotating rotor 5 and communicates with the fine powder discharge chamber 4. A plurality of blades are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary rotor 5 in order to supply a fluid for dispersing and classifying the powder material from the through hole 13 for sucking fine powder and the outer peripheral portion of the rotary rotor 5. And a louver 6 and, if necessary, other members.
Since the classification device is connected to the outlet 23 of the powder dispersion device and the powder supply unit of the classification device, the classification is performed in a state where the powder aggregates contained in the powder material to be classified are dispersed. It is thrown into the device. Therefore, since the powder aggregates contained in the powder material to be classified are dispersed, they are put into the classification device and reach the classification chamber 7 without re-aggregation. A strong balance of force can be provided, and centrifugal classification can be efficiently performed over a long period of time into coarse powder and fine powder. A classifier and a powder dispersion device may be connected by providing a connecting pipe (not shown) below the discharge port 23.

  The shapes of the classification chamber 7, the coarse powder discharge chamber 8, and the fine powder discharge chamber 9 are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and are usually circular, but are elliptical or polygonal. It doesn't matter. However, from the viewpoint of efficiently collecting the coarse powder centrifugally separated from the rotary rotor 5 while swirling, it prevents the powder material from adhering to the inside of the classification device due to the stagnation of the flow during continuous operation. From the viewpoint of making it easy to process, it is preferable that the shape is circular.

(Classification method)
The classification method of the present invention is performed using the classification device.
In the classification device shown in FIG. 1, first, a certain amount of powder material is supplied from the powder material supply port 1, and then the supplied powder material is radially supplied from the upper surface of the rotary rotor 5. It is guided to the outer periphery and reaches the classification chamber 7. At this time, air for guiding the supplied powder material to the classification chamber 7 is supplied from the classification air supply port 2. On the other hand, when suction is performed by a suction device (not shown) such as a suction fan communicating with the fine powder discharge port 4, the supplied powder material passes through the fine powder discharge chamber 9 from the through hole 13 inside the rotary rotor 5, and is fine powder. Head to the outlet 4. At this time, since the rotary rotor 5 is rotating, fine powder having a desired particle diameter or less is discharged from the fine powder discharge port 4, but powder material larger than the desired particle diameter is rotated by the centrifugal force of the rotary rotor 5. It is guided to the outside of the rotor 5 and discharged from the coarse powder outlet 3 through the coarse powder discharge chamber 8. Since the amount of the powder material inside the classification chamber 7 decreases, if the powder material is supplied from the powder material supply port 1 and set so that the amount of the powder material inside the classification chamber 7 is always constant. Continuous classification is possible.

  The rotational peripheral speed of the rotary rotor 5 is preferably 20 m / s to 70 m / s. If the rotation peripheral speed is within such a range, a desired classification efficiency can be obtained. If the rotational peripheral speed is less than 20 m / s, the classification efficiency may decrease. If it exceeds 70 m / s, the centrifugal force by the rotating rotor 5 becomes too large, and the powder to be collected by the suction means. There is a possibility that the material is led to the coarse powder outlet 3 and the fine powder is not classified.

  The classification device and classification method of the present invention can stabilize the classification efficiency by a simple equipment change, and have a desired particle size range with little error and good classification accuracy with high efficiency over a long period of time. Since it can be classified, for example, it can be very effectively applied to the production of fine powder products having a particle size of micron, such as toners, resins, agricultural chemicals, cosmetics, and pigments. Among these, it is suitable for the toner production method described below.

(Toner production method)
The toner production method of the present invention includes at least a classification step, and includes a melt-kneading step, a pulverization step, and other steps as necessary.
The said classification process is performed using the said classification apparatus of this invention mentioned above.

<Melting and kneading process>
In the melt-kneading step, in the melt-kneading step, toner materials are mixed, and the mixture is charged into a melt-kneader and melt-kneaded. As the melt kneader, for example, a uniaxial or biaxial continuous kneader or a batch kneader using a roll mill can be used. For example, KTK type twin screw extruder manufactured by Kobe Steel, TEM type extruder manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd., KCK kneader manufactured by Asada Iron Works Co., Ltd., PCM type twin screw extruder manufactured by Ikegai Iron Works, manufactured by Buss A kneader or the like is preferably used. This melt-kneading is preferably performed under appropriate conditions so as not to cause the molecular chains of the binder resin to be broken. Specifically, the melt-kneading temperature is determined with reference to the softening point of the binder resin. If the temperature is higher than the softening point, cutting is severe, and if the temperature is too low, dispersion may not proceed.

  The toner material contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, a release agent, and a charge control agent, and further contains other components as necessary.

-Binder resin-
Examples of the binder resin include styrenes such as styrene and chlorostyrene; monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, and isoprene; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, and vinyl butyrate; acrylics Α-methylene aliphatic monocarboxylic acid esters such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate Vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether and vinyl butyl ether; homopolymers such as vinyl ketones such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone and vinyl isopropenyl ketone; It is.
Among these, typical binder resins include, for example, polystyrene resin, polyester resin, styrene-acrylic copolymer, styrene-alkyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-alkyl methacrylate copolymer, and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. Examples of the polymer include styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyethylene resin, and polypropylene resin. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

-Colorant-
The colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known dyes and pigments according to the purpose. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, iron black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow (10G, 5G, G), cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, ocher, yellow lead, titanium yellow, polyazo yellow, oil yellow, Hansa yellow (GR, A, RN, R), pigment yellow L, benzidine yellow (G, GR), Permanent Yellow (NCG), Vulcan Fast Yellow (5G, R), Tartrazine Lake, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Anthrazan Yellow BGL, Isoindolinone Yellow, Bengala, Lead Red, Lead Red, Cadmium Red, Cad Muum Mercury Red, Antimon Zhu, Permanent Red 4R, PA Red, Faise Red, Parachlor Ortho Nitroaniline Red, Resol Fast Scarlet G, Brilliant Fast Scarlet, Brilliant Carmine BS, Permanent Red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Fast Scarlet VD, Belkan Fast Rubin B, Brilliant Scarlet G, Risor Rubin GX, Permanent Red F5R, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Pigment Scarlet 3B, Bordeaux 5B, Toluidine Maroon, Permanent Bordeaux F2K, Helio Bordeaux BL, Bordeaux 10B, Bon Maroon Light, Bon Maroon Medium, Eosin Lake B, Rhodamine Lake Y, Alizarin Lake, Thioindigo Red B, Thioindigo Maroon, Oh Lured, Quinacridone Red, Pyrazolone Red, Polyazo Red, Chrome Vermilion, Benzidine Orange, Perinone Orange, Oil Orange, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Peacock Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Metal Free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue (RS, BC), Indigo, Ultramarine Blue, Bitumen, Anthraquinone Blue, Fast Violet B, Methyl Violet Lake, Cobalt Purple, Manganese Purple, Dioxane Violet, Anthraquinone Violet, Chrome Green, Zinc Green, Oxidation Chrome, Pyridian, Emerald Green, Pigment Green B, Naphthol Green B, Green Gold, Ash Examples include degreen lake, malachite green lake, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium oxide, zinc white, and lithobon. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a color of the said coloring agent, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the thing for black, the thing for color, etc. are mentioned. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
Examples of the black material include carbon black (CI pigment black 7) such as furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black, and channel black, copper, iron (CI pigment black 11), and titanium oxide. And organic pigments such as aniline black (CI Pigment Black 1).
Examples of the magenta color pigment include C.I. I. Pigment Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 48: 1, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 53: 1, 54, 55, 57, 57: 1, 58, 60, 63, 64, 68, 81, 83, 87, 88, 89, 90, 112, 114, 122, 123, 163, 177, 179, 202, 206, 207, 209, 211; C.I. I. Pigment violet 19; C.I. I. Bat red 1, 2, 10, 13, 15, 23, 29, 35, etc. are mentioned.
Examples of the color pigment for cyan include C.I. I. Pigment Blue 2, 3, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 15: 6, 16, 17, 60; I. Bat Blue 6; C.I. I. Acid Blue 45, copper phthalocyanine pigments having 1 to 5 phthalimidomethyl groups substituted on the phthalocyanine skeleton, green 7 and green 36, and the like.
Examples of the color pigment for yellow include C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 55, 65, 73, 74, 83, 97, 110, 151, 154, 180; C.I. I. Bat yellow 1, 3, 20, orange 36 and the like.

  The content of the colorant in the toner is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 1% by mass to 15% by mass, and more preferably 3% by mass to 10% by mass. When the content is less than 1% by mass, a reduction in the coloring power of the toner is observed. When the content exceeds 15% by mass, poor pigment dispersion in the toner occurs, the coloring power decreases, The characteristics may be degraded.

  The colorant may be used as a master batch combined with a resin. The resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, styrene or a substituted polymer thereof, styrene copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate resin, polybutyl Methacrylate resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene Examples thereof include resins, aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, and paraffins. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  Examples of the styrene or substituted polymer thereof include polyester resin, polystyrene resin, poly p-chlorostyrene resin, and polyvinyl toluene resin. Examples of the styrene copolymer include a styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, a styrene-propylene copolymer, a styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, a styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, and a styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer. Polymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene- Butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene An acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, Styrene - maleic acid copolymer, styrene - like maleic acid ester copolymer.

  The masterbatch can be produced by mixing or kneading the masterbatch resin and the colorant under high shear. At this time, it is preferable to add an organic solvent in order to enhance the interaction between the colorant and the resin. Also, the so-called flushing method is preferable in that the wet cake of the colorant can be used as it is, and there is no need to dry it. The flushing method is a method of mixing or kneading an aqueous paste containing water of a colorant together with a resin and an organic solvent, and transferring the colorant to the resin side to remove moisture and the organic solvent component. For the mixing or kneading, for example, a high shear dispersion device such as a three-roll mill is preferably used.

-Release agent-
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said mold release agent, According to the objective, it can select suitably from well-known things, For example, waxes, such as carbonyl group containing wax, polyolefin wax, and long-chain hydrocarbon, are mentioned. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

Examples of the carbonyl group-containing wax include polyalkanoic acid esters, polyalkanol esters, polyalkanoic acid amides, polyalkylamides, and dialkyl ketones. Examples of the polyalkanoic acid ester include carnauba wax, montan wax, trimethylolpropane tribehenate, pentaerythritol tetrabehenate, pentaerythritol diacetate dibehenate, glycerin tribehenate, and 1,18-octadecane. Examples thereof include diol distearate. Examples of the polyalkanol ester include tristearyl trimellitic acid and distearyl maleate. Examples of the polyalkanoic acid amide include dibehenyl amide. Examples of the polyalkylamide include trimellitic acid tristearylamide. Examples of the dialkyl ketone include distearyl ketone. Of these carbonyl group-containing waxes, polyalkanoic acid esters are particularly preferred.
Examples of the polyolefin wax include polyethylene wax and polypropylene wax.
Examples of the long chain hydrocarbon include paraffin wax and sazol wax.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content in the said toner of the said mold release agent, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, 40 mass% or less is preferable and 3 mass%-30 mass% are more preferable. When the content exceeds 40% by mass, the fluidity of the toner may be deteriorated.

-Charge control agent-
The charge control agent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. However, since a color tone may change when a colored material is used, a colorless or nearly white material may be used. Preferably, for example, triphenylmethane dyes, molybdate chelate pigments, rhodamine dyes, alkoxy amines, quaternary ammonium salts (including fluorine-modified quaternary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus alone or compounds thereof, tungsten Examples thereof include a single substance or a compound thereof, a fluorine-based activator, a metal salt of salicylic acid, and a metal salt of a salicylic acid derivative. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

Commercially available products may be used as the charge control agent. Examples of the commercially available products include quaternary ammonium salt Bontron P-51, oxynaphthoic acid metal complex E-82, and salicylic acid metal complex. E-84, phenolic condensate E-89 (all manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries), quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex TP-302, TP-415 (all manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), No. Quaternary ammonium salt copy charge PSY VP2038, triphenylmethane derivative copy blue PR, quaternary ammonium salt copy charge NEG VP2036, copy charge NX VP434 (both manufactured by Hoechst); LRA-901, boron complex LR-147 (Nippon Carlit Co., Ltd.); quinacridone, azo pigment; sulfone Group, a carboxyl group, and the like and polymeric compounds having a quaternary ammonium salt or the like.
The charge control agent may be melted and kneaded with the master batch and then dissolved or dispersed, or may be added together with the toner components when directly dissolving or dispersing in the organic solvent, or the toner. You may fix to the toner surface after particle manufacture.

  The content of the charge control agent in the toner varies depending on the type of the binder resin, the presence / absence of an additive, a dispersion method, and the like, and cannot be generally specified. On the other hand, 0.1 mass part-10 mass parts are preferable, and 0.2 mass part-5 mass parts are more preferable. When the content is less than 0.1 parts by mass, the charge controllability may not be obtained. When the content exceeds 10 parts by mass, the chargeability of the toner becomes too large and the effect of the main charge control agent is reduced. As a result, the electrostatic attractive force with the developing roller increases, which may lead to a decrease in developer fluidity and a decrease in image density.

-Other ingredients-
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said other component, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, an external additive, a fluid improvement agent, a cleaning property improvement agent, a magnetic material, a metal soap etc. are mentioned.

  The external additive is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected from known ones according to the purpose. For example, silica fine particles, hydrophobized silica fine particles, fatty acid metal salts (for example, zinc stearate, And aluminum oxide stearate); metal oxides (for example, titania, alumina, tin oxide, antimony oxide, etc.) or their hydrophobized products, fluoropolymers, and the like. Among these, hydrophobized silica fine particles, titania particles, and hydrophobized titania fine particles are particularly preferable.

<Crushing process>
The pulverization step is a step of performing fine pulverization using at least one pulverizer and, optionally, at least one coarse powder classification step, and the pulverizer used in the pulverization step is not particularly limited, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, an airflow type grinder, a fluid bed type grinder, a mechanical grinder etc. are mentioned, for example.
Examples of the airflow type pulverizer include a supersonic jet pulverizer manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Industry Co., Ltd., a super jet mill manufactured by Nissin Engineering Co., Ltd., and a micron jet manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation.
Examples of the fluidized bed pulverizer include a counter jet pulverizer manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation and a cross jet mill manufactured by Kurimoto Steel Works.
Examples of the mechanical pulverizer include a kryptron manufactured by Earth Technica Co., Ltd., a super rotor manufactured by Nisshin Engineering Co., Ltd., and a turbo mill manufactured by Turbo Industry Co., Ltd.

(toner)
The toner is manufactured by the toner manufacturing method of the present invention.
The fine powder content of the toner having a particle size of 4.0 μm or less is preferably 15% by number or less, and more preferably 10% by number or less. Moreover, as a coarse powder content rate with a particle size of 12.7 micrometers or more, 5.0 mass% or less is preferable, and 0 mass%-2.0 mass% are more preferable. The toner preferably has a volume average particle diameter of 5.0 μm to 12.0 μm.
Here, the particle size distribution and the volume average particle size are measured using, for example, a particle size measuring device particle size measuring device (Coulter Counter TA-II, Coulter Multisizer II, or Coulter Multisizer III, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.). Can do.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

In this example, a mixture of 85 parts by mass of a styrene-acrylic copolymer and 15 parts by mass of carbon black was melt-kneaded and cooled, coarsely pulverized with a hammer mill, and finely pulverized with a fluidized bed pulverizer. An example in which the powder material thus obtained is classified by the classifying apparatus shown in FIG.
In the following examples and comparative examples, the particle size distribution and volume average particle size of the particles were measured as follows.

Example 1
As shown in FIG. 4, the gas jetting means is installed on the concentric circles at intervals of 90 degrees and so that the straight line connecting the four gas jetting means becomes a square, thereby constituting a powder dispersion device. The relationship between D1 and D2 was D1: D2 = 3: 2, and the relationship between H1 and H2 was H1: H2 = 1: 0.95. In addition, the inclination angle α was 45 degrees and the angle β formed was 180 °.
The injection pressure from each injection port was set to 0.1 MPa, the rotational peripheral speed of the rotary rotor of the classifier shown in FIG. 1 was set to about 60 m / s, and 100 kg of powder material was classified. The obtained coarse powder has a volume average particle size of 6.8 μm (measured by a Coulter counter), a fine powder content (number%) of 4 μm or less, 8.5%, and a coarse powder content (wt%) of 12.7 μm or more. The ratio of coarse powder after classification to the charged powder material, that is, the classification yield was about 63%.

<Measurement of volume average particle size and particle size distribution>
As a measuring device for the volume average particle size and particle size distribution of the particles by the Coulter counter method, there are Coulter counter TA-II, Coulter multisizer II, or Coulter multisizer III (both manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.). The particle size and particle size distribution were measured.
First, 0.1 to 5 mL of a surfactant (alkylbenzene sulfonate) was added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 mL of the electrolytic aqueous solution. Here, 1 mass% NaCl aqueous solution was prepared using 1st grade sodium chloride as electrolyte solution, for example, ISOTON-II (Coulter company make) can be used. Next, 2 to 20 mg of a measurement sample was added. The electrolytic solution in which the sample was suspended was subjected to a dispersion treatment for 1 to 3 minutes using an ultrasonic disperser, and the volume distribution of the powder was calculated by measuring the volume of the powder using the 100 μm aperture as the aperture. . From the obtained distribution, the volume average particle size and particle size distribution of the powder were determined.
As channels, 2.00 to less than 2.52 μm; 2.52 to less than 3.17 μm; 3.17 to less than 4.00 μm; 4.00 to less than 5.04 μm; 5.04 to less than 6.35 μm; 6 Less than 35 to 8.00 μm; less than 8.00 to less than 10.08 μm; less than 10.08 to less than 12.70 μm; less than 12.70 to less than 16.00 μm; less than 16.00 to less than 20.20 μm; Using particles of less than 40 μm; 25.40 to less than 32.00 μm; 32.00 to less than 40.30 μm, particles having a particle diameter of 2.00 μm to less than 40.30 μm were targeted.

(Example 2)
When the same apparatus as in Example 1 was used except that the powder dispersion apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 was configured and the angle α formed was 55 °, the obtained coarse powder had a volume average particle size of 6. 7 μm (measured by Coulter counter), fine powder content (number%) of 4 μm or less, 8.7%, coarse powder content (wt%) of 12.7 μm or more, 0.0%, classification for the charged powder material The ratio of the subsequent coarse powder, that is, the classification yield was about 64%.

(Example 3)
When the same apparatus as in Example 2 was used except that the powder dispersion apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 was configured and the angle β formed was 90 °, the obtained coarse powder had a volume average particle size of 6. 9 μm (measured by Coulter counter), fine powder content (number%) of 4 μm or less, 8.3%, coarse powder content (weight%) of 12.7 μm or more, 0.0%, classification with respect to the charged powder material The ratio of the coarse powder after that, that is, the classification yield was about 67%.

Example 4
When the same apparatus as in Example 3 was used except that the powder dispersion apparatus of the aspect shown in FIG. 4 was configured and the relationship between D1 and D2 was D1: D2 = 2: 1, the obtained coarse powder was obtained. The volume average particle size is 6.9 μm (measured by a Coulter counter), the fine powder content (number%) of 4 μm or less is 8.5%, and the coarse powder content (wt%) of 12.7 μm or more is 0.0%. The ratio of coarse powder after classification to the charged powder material, that is, the classification yield was about 69%.

(Example 5)
It was obtained when the same apparatus as in Example 4 was used except that the powder dispersion apparatus of the aspect shown in FIG. 4 was configured and the relationship between H1 and H2 was H1: H2 = 1: 0.85. The coarse powder has a volume average particle size of 6.8 μm (measured by a Coulter counter), a fine powder content (number%) of 4 μm or less 8.6%, and a coarse powder content (weight%) of 12.7 μm or more 0.0%. The ratio of coarse powder after classification to the charged powder material, that is, the classification yield was about 70%.

(Example 6)
As shown in FIG. 5, when the same apparatus as in Example 5 was used except that the inner wall surface of the dispersion chamber was formed of a porous member and a mechanism for ejecting a small amount of air was used, the resulting coarse powder was The volume average particle size is 6.8 μm (measured with a Coulter counter), the fine powder content (number%) of 4 μm or less is 8.8%, the coarse powder content (wt%) of 12.7 μm or more is 0.0%, The ratio of coarse powder after classification to the charged powder material, that is, the classification yield was about 71%.

(Comparative Example 1)
The same operation as in Example 1 was performed except that the powder material was classified without being dispersed by the powder dispersion device. The obtained coarse powder has a volume average particle size of 6.5 μm (measured by a Coulter counter), a fine powder content (number%) of 4 μm or less, 14.2%, and a coarse powder content (wt%) of 12.7 μm or more. The ratio of coarse powder after classification to the charged powder material, that is, the classification yield was about 59%.

The results of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Example 1 are summarized in Table 1.
In the table, “α” represents the angle α formed, and “β” represents the angle β formed.

  From Table 1, the yields of Examples 1 to 6 are 63% to 71%, while the yield of Comparative Example 1 is 59%, which is lower than the yields of Examples 1 to 6. Recognize. From this, by using the powder dispersion apparatus of the present invention, improvement in classification accuracy and stability can be achieved, and particles in a required size range can be separated in a high yield.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Powder material supply port 2 Classification air supply port 3 Coarse powder discharge port 4 Fine powder discharge port 5 Rotating rotor 6 Louver 7 Classification chamber 8 Coarse powder discharge chamber 9 Fine powder discharge chamber 13 Through-hole 20 Supply port 21 Dispersion chamber 211 Inclined surface 22 Gas ejection means 23 Ejection port 231 Opening 24 Gas ejection port 25 Porous member 26 Powder aggregate 30 Airflow

Japanese Patent No. 4010625 JP 2001-293438 A JP 2008-26457 A JP 2007-75681 A JP 2007-187736 A

Claims (19)

A powder dispersion apparatus for dispersing powder agglomerates,
A dispersion chamber having a supply port for supplying the powder containing the powder aggregate and a discharge port for discharging the powder;
Gas ejection means provided in the dispersion chamber,
A powder dispersion apparatus, wherein the powder aggregate is dispersed by a shearing force of an air flow generated by the gas jetting means.   The powder disperser according to claim 1, wherein the gas jetting means is arranged so that collision between airflows occurs.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein gas jetting means is arranged so that convection is generated as an air flow.   The powder dispersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas ejection means is provided on a wall surface having a supply port.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the discharge port is provided at a position facing the supply port.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an inclined surface having an inner diameter that continuously increases from the discharge port toward the gas jet port of the gas jetting unit.   The powder dispersion means according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gas ejection means has a tubular structure provided on a wall surface of a dispersion chamber provided with a supply port and extending in a direction perpendicular to the wall surface. apparatus.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein an air flow is ejected from the gas ejection means toward the inclined surface.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an angle α formed by the inclined surface and the opening of the discharge port is 40 to 60 degrees.   The powder dispersing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plurality of gas ejection means provided in the dispersion chamber are formed in a nozzle shape.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein gas ejection ports of a plurality of gas ejection means provided in the dispersion chamber are formed facing the inside of the dispersion chamber.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an angle β formed by an axis along the longitudinal direction of the gas ejection means and a gas ejection port of the gas ejection means is 90 degrees to 180 degrees.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the gas ejection ports of the plurality of gas ejection means provided in the dispersion chamber have a mechanism that can be adjusted to an arbitrary position.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an inner wall surface of the dispersion chamber is formed of a porous member, and a trace amount of gas is ejected from the porous member.   The powder dispersion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of gas ejection means are provided.   The gas jetting means is provided with four gas concentric circles on the wall surface provided with the supply port of the dispersion chamber, and the straight line connecting the four gas jetting means is provided in a square shape. The powder dispersion apparatus according to any one of the above.   A classifying apparatus comprising: a dispersing means for dispersing powder containing powder agglomerates; and a classifying means for classifying powder dispersed by the dispersing means, wherein the dispersing means is claimed. A classifying apparatus, which is the powder dispersing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 16.   A classification method using the classification device according to claim 17.   A toner production method comprising at least a step of classifying powder using the classification device according to claim 17.